A group of disparate disciples, now made kindred, stood atop the Mount of Olives processing revelations from Jesus (Acts 1:12). They had very little uniformity before, and now they had a common anxiety on the journey back to Jerusalem. They wondered, What type of witnesses shall we be if the kingdom of Israel is not to be immediately restored?
These were not the ideal suspects for a revolutionary movement. The roll call consisted of fishermen, unlearned disciples of a beheaded vagabond, a Zealot, a promiscuous woman, and a tax collector. They’re the casting troupe in a sports film about underdogs turned overachievers. Yet this group did just that: overachieve.
After being indwelt with the Spirit of God, these peculiar people preached to thousands, healed many, and established an institution that would change the world. The Book of Acts shows us how the church withstood oppressive regimes and grew despite persecution.
However, the church also faced internal turbulence. Discrimination found its way into the fellowship of this newly minted family. To deal with this, they were to “choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” and “turn this responsibility over to them” (Acts 6:3).
Today we are similar witnesses, facing a similar set of discriminations and hoping for a similar solution. Can we appoint people to wisely address the dividing wall of hostility in the church? We at CT pray that we can be called ones who are full of the Spirit and wisdom to take on that responsibility. That is exactly what the Big Tent Initiative intends to do.
Christianity Today’s Big Tent Initiative brings people closer to stories and individuals they might not have had access to before. The Big Tent Initiative displays God’s wisdom through the tapestry of his people. This is not a new posture for CT, though it is currently under threat.
In 1957, Christianity Today’s founder, Billy Graham, tore down the dividing wall of his crusades by adding Howard Jones as an associate evangelist and inviting Broadway star, singer, and actress Ethel Waters as a featured soloist. This was done as a direct reproach of segregated gatherings.
In 1974, Graham wrote about “the greatest of all threats—disintegration from within.” The same solution in the days of Acts, in Graham’s day, and in ours is to not endorse tribalism that confirms our stereotypes.
Proximity is the first step to healing. The Big Tent Initiative offers opportunities for proximity and hospitality, increasing the chances of the disintegrated becoming united disciples. There is a great plank in the eye of the American church, and a disparate collection of Christians just might be the exemplar of God’s supernatural overachieving work.
Join us in this essential kingdom work. Learn more about the Big Tent Initiative at SeekTheKingdom.com.
Sho Baraka is editorial director of the Big Tent Initiative at CT.
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