Devotion 4.29.26

Acts 6

Seven Chosen to Serve

"1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith"

How do you handle conflict when it comes your way? How are we to handle conflict in the church? Is there a difference between how we deal with conflict in church as opposed to our "normal" life?

It's worth noting that "iron sharpens iron" is not a secular sentiment that found its way into the church. "Iron sharpens Iron" comes from Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron,

  so one person sharpens another.

Iron goes through heat, is beaten against itself, and is used in a state of friction to shape and sharpen itself. We only grow as we go through life by experiencing life, all facets of it, good, bad, and in-between. Yet, in life, we work hard to minimize conflict, to the point of praying that it works itself out or hoping it somehow goes away.

Today's passage teaches us a great deal about conflict, how to handle it and how to resolve it.* We have a situation presented as the apostles go about fulfilling the Great Commission, the well-known mission of the church. One of the groups that has become part of the great number of believers presents a complaint. Their widows are not getting their fair share of the distribution (a legal matter). 

The apostles hear the complaint. They don't dismiss it or hope it goes away. Instead, they call together the full group of disciples (meaning deacons and others who comprise a local church council according to the study notes). They frame the issue, and they give a proposed solution. The council concurs and selects some who will be responsible for the solution and everyone agrees. The solution apparently worked because the reading concludes that "the Word of God continued to increase and they added to their number daily."

We learn that they did not turn away from conflict, but we also learn that they pointed it toward a mission-level solution (making disciples). The apostles stated clearly that they were not going to forgo the work of Word and Sacrament ministries "to serve tables." In essence, they are saying we do have a problem, but it is not a mission-level problem. It is one rooted in the organizational layout. Hence, it is yours to solve. The hearers of this do not argue with their observations (a key point). Instead, they work with the group to provide men who meet the requirements and work the solution. 

We see this model used again in Acts 15. It is worth learning and using as a church today, and it can be used in life. Hear the problem. Pray over it. Lift it to a mission-level and either act or give it to a group more logical to take on the solution. In the end, we are to work in concert with one another.

Pray with me: Gracious God, Help us not to turn away from problems and conflict or potential conflict in life. Help us learn how to address conflict in a manner pleasing to you to help us sharpen, grow in the faith, and to add to your kingdom a number of disciples daily. In Christ's name, Amen.

*I had the privilege of attending a seminar over a weekend dealing with this passage as how our fathers, the apostles, addressed conflict in the church. It was a very powerful presentation. If you'd like to learn more, here is the title of that study:

Sandcastles and Fortresses. James Qualban

Dr. Qualban was who our church body in Texas used when a church found itself in conflict.

The Study Bible offers considerable analysis as well on this passage.