Sandbagging
As in making strong where needed
Sandbagging against Red River flooding, Fargo, North Dakota, 2011 (author’s mediocre photo)
After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (Acts of the Apostles 18:23)
Back in 2011, I went with a busload of coworkers and church pals to help the people of Fargo assemble pallet loads of sandbags to strengthen their containment of the Red River as it flooded.
I remembered that this week as I read the Book of Acts during Morning Prayer. Our sandbaggin’ team traveled about four hours north to help folks protect their city; the Apostle Paul and his missionary team went from one place to the next to strengthen fellow Christians.
Fargo flood support is a repeating thing, as the Red River likes to crawl over its banks and visit town in springtime. Paul’s support of churches became a repeated thing, as his travels took him to places in which he’d previously preached and planted congregations.
The Greek word rendered strengthening in Acts 8:23 connotes further support or reestablishment. (The root word literally means to turn resolutely in a certain direction, as used to describe Jesus in Luke 9:51, When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. The word in the verse from Acts adds a preposition suggesting action upon a previous action, a renewal of previous purpose.)
So what Paul was doing for the Christians he revisited was to turn them back from any misdirection of false teaching, weakened faith, or church corruption and get them back to their original zeal for the Good News, when they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. (Acts 13:48-49)
In my last post here, I wrote of “decontaminating” the church of evils that diminish it. That’s part of what Paul did on his visits. But more than that, he pointed churches in the right way, encouraging teaching and conduct representative of the Lord who saved them,
Brothers and sisters, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1 Corinthains 1:10)
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus… (Philippians 2:1-5)
Those are just a few examples of Paul’s strengthening of Christians — taken from letters he sent between or after his visits with them.
Brothers and sisters, it’s not enough to roar our judgments about church failures and corruptions. One need not even be a Christian to do that. Paul shows us the more excellent way of correcting with love in order to guide toward godliness.
This week I was able to be part of a prayer gathering for a distressed church. A bishop offered a reflection that was not a rehash of the problem(s), but a strengthening much like what Paul offered, reorienting us toward standing together in the strength of God.
I think that all of us have the capacity to strengthen other Christians, by visits, calls, texts, social media, letters… you name it, we can encourage one another to turn away from the deceptions and distractions and back into the way of the Lord we want to follow.