Manna and Mercy

Video Clip

42. Journey Through Acts - IV

Summary: In the early church, we see the formation of a wilderness community where there is the sharing of manna for all. Everything belongs to God; our responsibility is to see that everyone has enough. This is a major theme of the early church: when the Spirit comes, the limits of our love are always expanding.  This concept invades one of the major debates of the day – the apartheid that existed between Jew and Gentile, and the question of whether Gentiles have to become Jews before they become Christians. The story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10 suggests that sometimes it might be someone outside of our religious formation who may be more in tune with the divine than we are. Peter, driven by the Holy Spirit to break religious law and enter the house of a Gentile, eventually recognizes God in Cornelius’ life. This is reflective of the early church – breaking down apartheid and embracing enemies. Today, if we’re going to be a Pentecostal community, we too need to break down modern-day barriers of segregation, whether it be racism, sexism, classism or discrimination based on sexual orientation. Pentecostal communities are driven by the all-embracing Spirit of God.

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