Streams of Mercy

I’m re-reading Who is This Man? by John Ortberg. This was to have been our Lenten Study in 2020, but the covid lock-down changed our plans. I’m looking forward to sharing this study in Lent 2023.

Ortberg speaks of the Church as an “alternative community”, made up of Jesus’ followers – ordinary people who rearranged their lives in radical ways:

“They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together. Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. All the Lord’s followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. Day after day, they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.” (Acts 42-47)

Ortbery goes on the share what he feels is “God’s Dream for the Church.”

This idea behind Disney’s “It’s a Small World” ride – of a diverse world gathered together like a family – is an idea that originated with Jesus. It’s interesting to note that the ride began as “Children of the World” an attraction PEPSI hired Walt Disney to develop for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Conceived as a tribute and fundraiser for UNICEF, the original design called for the national anthems of every country featured throughout the ride to be played simultaneously. Anticipating a loud racket of competing words and melodies, Disney asked two songwriters to create one song that could be easily translated into many languages and played as a round. The result was “It’s a Small World After All.”

Ortberg poses the question, “As Jesus followers, what kinds of things do we do that cause our presence in the world to be more like a loud racket of competing words and melodies rather than one song?” A question to be answered in our Lenten Study!

Elizabeth