Strategic Management has been a fashion for quite a while. Hong Kong SAR government embraces this business model, even in education sector. That every cent spent should be accountable to tax-payers has become the slogan of government officials. Therefore, schools spending public money in Hong Kong have to write up annual reports, school development plans, implementation plans etc. Catholic Diocesan schools in Hong Kong have to follow suit. Depending on the competence of school principals, teachers have to attend meetings after meetings to chunk out documents after documents. Luckily, most of these documents follow a certain format. Most of them begin with an SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis. SW are internal while OT are external. It is fun to put the early church under the microscope and do an SWOT analysis.
Strengths & opportunities of the early church were innumerable. For example, the disciples were able to speak in different languages, while the apostles work miracles. Everybody took part in an enviable communist lifestyle. Waves after waves of pilgrims visited Jerusalem day by day ... God is on their side and nothing is impossible for God when He wants things done. Therefore, it will be more meaningful to analyze the weaknesses of and threats to the early church.
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution (Acts 6:1)
Since the disciples were leading an admirable life, they were able to attract a huge number of followers into their community. The early church did not refuse admission. Nor did she raise the 'price' to limit membership. A strength turned out to create a burden too heavy for the church leaders to handle. Weakness of the early church began to surface. She began to buckle under her sheer size. A schism between Greek-speaking Jews and Hebrew-speaking Jews appeared. Solutions had to be sought. The church was badly in need of a structure. A division of labour had to be implemented.
And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:2-4)
Interestingly, Peter was not mentioned though he was present. It was a collective decision but who was the spokesman? Most probably it was James who was the first apostle to be killed. Seven deacons were elected though they were not yet so named. Their names suggest that they were Greek-speaking Jews. The division was simple. The apostles focussed on prayers and preaching while the deacons served tables and the daily distribution. Obviously, the division was not air-tight. How could it be? These deacons were all men of good repute and full of the Holy Spirit. It was impossible to confine the Holy Spirit to take care of daily distributions alone.
As in all complex situations, solutions generate further problems. The Jewish Council posed a constant threat to the early Church. There were many factors contributing to their hostility toward this newly emerging contestant. They were watching closely this Christ movement which showed no signs of disintegration as suggested by Gamaliel (Acts 5:38). Therefore, when Stephen stepped outside his boundary, the Council immediately sprang into action.
Stephen was supposed to take care of the daily distribution among the Greek-speaking widows. Somehow, the Holy Spirit made him work miracles (Acts 6:8) and spoke through him in debates with the Jews (Acts 6:10). Stephen had stepped outside his boundary. His death was anticipated.
And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel (Acts 6:15).
The expansion of the early Church in Jerusalem was commendable. The achievements of these Galileans were impressive. Even priests were admitted into the fold.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).
The day would come when no more people in Jerusalem would receive baptism because all residents in Jerusalem were baptised. There was no driving force for these Christians to go beyond Jerusalem. They had to be driven out with drastic actions. Looking at this situation, it was understandable that God put an enmity between Jesus and Satan; between the children of Jesus and those of Satan. The Christ movement needed persecutions to make her march outside to the ends of the world. Stephen just happened to be the detonator. Chinese strategists would quote Stephen's case as a counter example to warn people against not following the rules of the game. Stephen should have followed the apostles' instruction to leave the preaching job to them. But how could he?
But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge." (Acts 4:19)
See the truth in this statement? How would Peter answer when Stephen quoted his words while he tried to bring Stephen back along the party line? May God's will be done.
My Lord, You want me to step forth and answer Your call generously. It took a traumatic experience to uproot me from LaSalle. I feel sorry for myself for not answering Your call earlier. Open my eyes to discern Your will. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment