Church — You Do The Math
Luke may have majored in math since he described the early church with words like full number, added, increased, and multiplied. Becoming and being church was a matter of doing the math. “The number of persons together were about 120” (Acts 1:15); perhaps disciples gathered by Jesus’ ministry. After hearing the good news of Jesus people believed and were baptized “and there were added that day about 3000 souls” (Acts2:41). This community of believers is described ending with “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (2:47). “The number of men came to be about 5000” (4:4). “The full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (4:32). “Great fear came upon the whole church” (first use of the word church in Acts 5:11). “More than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (5:14). “The word of God continued to increase and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith” (6:7). After Saul’s conversion the church had peace. “And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it multiplied” (9:31).
What does all this add up to when we do the math? Wow, look at the large numbers! While impressive they may be discouraging to us 20 or 30. Jesus speaks also of his church with this math – “For where two or three are gathered into my name, there am I among them” (Matt. 18:20). Whether 3000 and 5000 or 2 and 3, the key is to be gathered into the name of Jesus. Becoming the church and church membership is God’s act. He does the adding. We hear the good news, we believe Jesus is Lord and Christ, we repent and are baptized. God adds together those that receive the word, those who are being saved. That is how one becomes a member of the church.
Being the church is described in somewhat “unchurchly” terms of church organization and administration. Rather, it is devotion to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer; being of one heart and soul; great fear; word of God increasing; obedience to the faith; walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. May we do this math.
—Tom Yoakum