Contemplative Bible Reading

Acts 6:1 (New Living Translation)

1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

The church was born. Everyone was excited, cut to the heart, ready to explode, all in agreement. Well, uh, er, maybe the last one wasn’t quite true.

There were rumblings of discontent.

It seems that some of these rapidly multiplying believers came from a background of speaking Greek while some others came from a background of speaking Hebrew. Something was lost in the Greek-to-Hebrew-and-back translation. A little misunderstanding here, a little misunderstanding there, and perhaps some all-too-well-understood thoughts.

Anyways, someone felt there was an unbalanced distribution of food to widows. That seems trite to me today as there is more food around than anyone could possibly eat (at least here in this comfy coffee shop in a rich place). Still, this was an issue at the place and time of the newborn church.

Can’t we all just get along? (Someone said that, right?) Well, if we just adjusted a little here and a little there, we would all just get along, right? Perhaps not. Perhaps rumblings of discontent is a human malady that has always and will always persist.

Sigh. The church would be wonderful if it were just me and Jesus, right? Seems that way on some days, but that is pretty selfish and downright stupid. Please God, help me to love my fellow follower of You.