To the ends of the Earth

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Opinion

The book of Acts sets the stage for a fascinating drama about the origins of the Christian community following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. It is a theological treasure chest which often goes overlooked and understudied.

The drama contains several characters and scenes depicting the struggles, journeys and trials of every Christian community. Many of the great debates within the book still play out as churches define who is in and who is out, what missions they should be exploring, determining the role of leadership and authority in the church and my favorite – moving us beyond our church doors to the ends of the Earth.

The first chapter in Acts presents us with the basic problem of participating in Christ’s ministry AND seeing Christ in all things after his ascension. We must remember, the early church community was running out of patience for the return of Jesus and the establishment of the new Kingdom. In other words, the church was stuck in a rut.

The geography quickly betrays the other Gospel accounts. Jesus meets them in Jerusalem, not Galilee, which in turn sets the symbolic center of what is to come next. Jerusalem is the center of the world for ancient Jews and Christians. It is fitting that Jesus ascends from the center of the world and that Jesus’ word is sent outward to the perimeters. Notice that the word of Christ moves faster than the character’s feet. News about Jesus is reaching people faster than the messenger. Something is at work.

Jesus tells the disciples to be witnesses of what is taking shape. They really wanted to know when the restoration of the Kingdom was going to happen – you know, setting goals, marking the calendar, having certainty that all will be done.

If you have ever witnessed a building project from start to finish, you may notice that at first, things seem to move really slowly. The Baker Hotel restoration project will seem to be at a standstill for a little while. But the engineers, planners and architects are busy making and reviewing the plans. Materials need to be gathered and placed for use. Infrastructure needs to be built to connect it to the outside world. From the standpoint of the observer, nothing but a chain-link fence seems to be taking shape. We are asked to be the observers and to be witness of that which is taking shape.

And with that, Jesus exits the stage by going up.

The next scene is typical of most people who have witnessed something they can’t explain – they remain focused on the past. It takes a pair of angels to nudge them from their spots. The disciples did not even know they were approached as the angels ask, “Why are you looking up?” So fixated on grasping for what has gone, we often miss what is happening around us. Daydreamers miss out on daily life. Traditionalists cannot see, nor accept, the continuity of change. Even the longing for past loved ones builds barriers to meeting and loving new people in one’s life. So struck by the angel’s question, the disciples gradually lower their heads to see what lies ahead.

It is then the entire community gathered. A church is formed. A place where people find hope, dream, work out problems, debate, eat and drink, wonder and wander together. This very interesting bunch gathers and Peter begins to preach. Remember…And thus the church began. More importantly, our story in faith begins. The word even reaches us here, at the ends of the Earth.