serving the Word/serving at tables

Good morning folks,
Our passage today relates an early controversy in the church and its solution. There was a dispute over food distribution between Hellenists and Hebrews. Remember at this point everyone in the church is Jewish but it seems that there was some degree of division based on degree of comfort within Greek society. When the passage talks about Hellenists it may mean Jewish Christians who were Jewish by conversion rather than by blood. It also might mean Jewish Christians who spoke Greek and had a largely Greek cultural outlook rather than Jews raised in Palestine apart from Greek culture. In either case the point at issue is Greek culture versus Hebrew culture within Judaism.

This passage recounts the election of the first deacons. Stephen and the others were chosen because of their character, wisdom and faith to make sure everyone in need was being served. It's interesting that the deacons were elected to take care of day to day responsibilities so the apostles could "devote themselves to serving the word," but Stephen immediately starts preaching and arguing in the synagogue. Clearly serving the word and serving at tables isn't mutually exclusive, but knowing that the details are taken care of allowed the apostles to be more effective in their ministry. We don't have deacons anymore at Laurelton, but the ministries of community care and attention to need continue to be important parts of our calling as a church. All kinds of service are rooted in faith; as we see with Stephen, we never know where that faith will lead us.

May God give us strength for the journey,
Sam

Acts 6:1-15

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.”

5What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

8Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. 13They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; 14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” 15And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.