Today our church had the privelege of hosting the funeral service for office Bruce W. Harrolle. Tragically, this young man was killed during a rescue operation while trying to save a couple of stranded hikers. Harrolle was DPS officer in Arizona, as well as a pilot and paramedic.
The campus was already buzzing with activity as I arrived around 6:45 a.m. this morning. Numerous police officers from a variety of branches were here securing the area and preparing to celebrate this man's life. Governor Napolitano is speaking this morning, so heightened security measures have been taken as they prepare for the thousands that will attend. To look out and around the campus this morning, there are literally hundreds of public safety vehicles here; everything from horses to helicopters. Lines of squad cars, police motorcycles, and fire engines are indicators of the community that is experienced among these groups. When one falls, they gather and mourn together. When one is attacked, the brotherhood is attacked. It makes me wonder if the community experienced by our law enforcement, our firefighters, or our military is closer to the community Christ speaks of in Acts than what the American body of believers is today.
What if the Church experienced and exhibited a similar sense of community; a similar sense of purpose and unity? Would it completely alter the view the world has about Christians if they saw us uniting and mourning the loss of a persecuted brother or sister? Would those outside the fold crave that unity, those relationships, that bond that comes only from walking with those inside? What if the Acts model for the Church had continued on through our day-in our culture?
Acts 2:42-47 says:
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What would this look like in 2008 United States? Been mulling this over in my own mind. Does my view of the Church mirror the framework laid out in Acts? Does my reality of being part of the Church accurately reflect Christ's plan for it? Some interesting things rolling around in my brain over this.
The campus was already buzzing with activity as I arrived around 6:45 a.m. this morning. Numerous police officers from a variety of branches were here securing the area and preparing to celebrate this man's life. Governor Napolitano is speaking this morning, so heightened security measures have been taken as they prepare for the thousands that will attend. To look out and around the campus this morning, there are literally hundreds of public safety vehicles here; everything from horses to helicopters. Lines of squad cars, police motorcycles, and fire engines are indicators of the community that is experienced among these groups. When one falls, they gather and mourn together. When one is attacked, the brotherhood is attacked. It makes me wonder if the community experienced by our law enforcement, our firefighters, or our military is closer to the community Christ speaks of in Acts than what the American body of believers is today.
What if the Church experienced and exhibited a similar sense of community; a similar sense of purpose and unity? Would it completely alter the view the world has about Christians if they saw us uniting and mourning the loss of a persecuted brother or sister? Would those outside the fold crave that unity, those relationships, that bond that comes only from walking with those inside? What if the Acts model for the Church had continued on through our day-in our culture?
Acts 2:42-47 says:
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What would this look like in 2008 United States? Been mulling this over in my own mind. Does my view of the Church mirror the framework laid out in Acts? Does my reality of being part of the Church accurately reflect Christ's plan for it? Some interesting things rolling around in my brain over this.
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