Church

On the eve of the Persian Gulf War, ABC correspond­ent Sam Donaldson asked a young soldier if he was afraid. The soldier responded by gesturing toward his buddies and saying that he was not afraid because he was with his family. The other soldiers shouted to the young manto repeat what he had just told Donaldson. The soldier repeated his answer: "This is my family, and we'll take care of each other."'

The early church exemplified the feelings that the young soldier had toward his platoon. Luke tells us that after Pentecost Christians in Jerusalem "were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need" (Acts 2:44-45. NIV). These early Christians knew that if they were to survive in a hostile world, they would have to look out for one another. We, too, live in a world fraught with many dangers. Yet we need not be afraid when the church is our spiritual family and we are committed to taking care of each other.