“Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:46-47 CSB

I really love reading through the beginning of the Church in the book of Acts, seeing how these believers came together as a community to share the Gospel and be there for each other. It’s pretty clear that in today’s world, things are very divided and tensions grow daily. What is even more disheartening and breaks me, is seeing that those who claim to follow Christ, spew the most hateful ideology of an us versus them mindset, all while mis-using Scripture to fuel their hate. Let me be clear, this is wrong and against the entire message of Christ and Scripture.

It’s so sad and yet also not surprising, we see that the goal of the enemy is to steal, kill, and destroy. What is a better way of doing that, than attacking the pride that lives in the heart?

Now, that sounds very bleak, but I have a heart for optimism and I truly believe that it does not have to be this way.

The truth is, the kingdom that Christ desires is one of diversity and deep love for one another.

We do not have to let ourselves fall into the trap that has been set, we can choose to follow the example that Christ left for us, to be a light in the world as a community because we are better together.

The book of Acts is where we should see the example of how to live as a community, both helping each other inside of the community and the world around us. This is the moment where Jesus has left them with the tools, not it is time for them to take up action and live out what they have taken in.

I have always loved stories where people come together to solve a problem in order to help the greater good. There are so many examples of this, but since this month of October I’m showing examples of my favorite spooky pieces of media, I think a great picture of this is, “Ghostbusters.” A movie about four people with a certain set of skills, albeit silly skills, come together in order to stop a world ending event. It’s a fun time to watch, and something I love every Halloween season.

If we let go of our pride and choose to live out the example of Christ, we will change the world for the better, together.

Being performative in your faith isn’t going to cut it, show me your faith by your actions of love towards the people around you. The people you like, and don’t like. The people who you want to impress, and the people you don’t think about.

You are made in the image of God and so is every single person around you.

You need to start living for Christ not just telling others you follow Christ. Your mindset should not be, “well the world seems sinful and I need to stay away,” we are called to be a light to everyone and your mindset should be to love so radically that people can’t help but see that light inside of you.

If someone who does not follow Jesus is uncomfortable around you, you need to make a change.

Over and over we see Jesus choose to love the people that weren’t the picture-perfect religious person of the day, and because of His love for them, they change their life for the better. Then, as Jesus leaves, He gives the church the Holy Spirit in order to empower them with supernatural love in order to keep doing what He started. The people around you are not projects, they are people in need of love.

The early church was sharing the good word by how they loved and reached out to those around them, and then continued to help the body that was growing by helping one another.

Do not let pride cause you to see the world around you as hopeless and retreat back into complacency, when Jesus tells us to go out and be a light.

I know it seems silly to use a goofy movie to help with a pretty heavy topic, but I think making truths practical and fun is a way we can learn and grow. We need to look at each other and understand that each person is unique and can bring so much to the table. You need people. We need each other. Not because you’re having to save the world from ghosts, but because the world is full of people that need the reminder that they are made in the image of God, worthy of His great love, and have so many things that they can bring to change the world.

Be a light in the world around you, because we are better together.

Don’t let pride cause you to isolate from the world that desperately needs what you can bring.

Read Scripture accurately, listen to Christ more than a talking head on your phone, and look at the people around you as people worthy of love and a part of God’s creation.

-Your pastor and friend, Joshua.

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About the Author: Joshua Thomas is a husband, father, and pastor doing what he can to love others the way Jesus did. You can find him reading a good book, sipping warm tea, taking pictures, or dreaming. He may not have it all figured out, but the journey is the best part. You can find him on the only social media he uses, Bluesky and Instagram