Ethno-Cultural Conflict in the Early Church (Acts 6:1-7) and the Implications for United States Churches

            Acts 6:1-7 relates one of the first internal conflicts that faced the early church. The text explains that the issue that troubled them was ethno-cultural in nature. As Jesus’ followers increased in number, the church’s capacity to meet the needs of its most vulnerable members understandably became strained. As a result, the Hellenistic Jews brought a complaint against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked when it came to their daily allotment of food (6:1).
The Hellenistic Jews were part of the Jewish diaspora that had settled in other parts of the world, and as a result preferred the Greek language and Greek customs.[1] Some of them may have had Greek ancestry as well, but identified as Jews due to conversion (cf. Esther 8:17). The Hebraic Jews, on the other hand, were natives of Israel, adhered to the Jewish culture, and spoke Aramaic.[2] It is no surprise, therefore, that ethno-cultural challenges emerged because these two cultures had not yet learned the ramifications of being one in Christ.
            The apostles wisely managed this problem be taking concrete steps that brought about a satisfactory conclusion:
  • They knew that Christ’s followers should look out for each other’s needs.
  • They recognized the problem at hand.
  • They recognized the severity of the problem.
  • They understood that the church should provide the solution to the problem instead of looking elsewhere for assistance.
  • They realized that the problem required a practical solution.
  • They knew that the solution must not inhibit their preaching of God’s Word.
  • They searched for godly, Spirit-filled men in the church with good reputations who could assist them in looking out for the needs of the church’s vulnerable members.
As you know, the office of deacon was woven into the fabric of the church. What we sometimes forget, however, is that the original purpose of deacons was to help address ethno-cultural divisions that were developing in the church.
            My prayer for 21st century churches is that instead of dividing across ethnic lines that we might continue to proclaim God’s Word, recognize the “racial” conflict that exists, admit its severity, and use the church’s people and resources to address these issues for God’s glory.
            One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One blood.

[1] F. F. Bruce, Commentary on the Book the Acts, in The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980), 128.
[2] Ibid.

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