The Apostolic Diaspora

In my devotional time this morning, I noticed a recurring theme in the epistles of the Apostles James, Peter and Paul. These three men are writing believers that are “scattered” throughout many parts of Europe and Asia. The word scattered is the Greek word diaspora, which means dispersion. This refers particularly to the Jews and Gentile believers who were among foreign nations because of the persecution they experienced as a result of their conversion experience and commitment to the Gospel that contradicted many of their previous cultural and religious beliefs.

It’s interesting to note how these believers were contacted and connected with each other in various locations undisclosed in many cases to prevent further persecution. They found a way to identify that they were disciples of Jesus and more importantly they needed to be encouraged in their faith because out of comfort and convenience many wanted to revert back to Judaism and pagan traditions they were derived from. The Apostles found a way to reach out to them via correspondence by writing some of most profound truths we read in New Testament scripture that impacts many of us centuries upon centuries later.

We must put the blame where it belongs. Who is leading the persecution? Government and religious systems. As I was reading through these Epistles I see a parallel among 21^st century believers that are often persecuted through their government and religious systems that work hand in glove to limit, restrict, incarcerate and keep their thumb on those who are experiencing liberty in Christ manifested by the grace of God. There are believers who are scattered throughout the globe who are exiles from the trappings of churches, denominations, false teachers and teaching as well manipulative leadership involved in financial racketeering functioning like the mafia that hasn’t served beneficially to many of these believers spiritual lives and they have been forced out of many places because they do fit and do not belong because true Apostolic leaders have failed to remove themselves from these systems as well to shepherd those who are scattered as James, Peter, and Paul.

Of course, the benefit of believers being scattered as the book of Acts indicates is that they went everywhere preaching the Word. When many Jews were born again, they became landlocked and only preached to other Jews the gospel and did not reach beyond their own lands, borders, and culture with grace based truth who were not Jewish. So the persecution created progress for the gospel’s sake.

We are experiencing another Apostolic Diaspora and it is incumbent upon us as true Apostolic leaders to reach to those scattered within in our communities, cities, states, countries and continents who need to receive the graced based truth of the gospel. It is the desire of the Father to unite His people, the sheep of His pasture under the banner of His Son, Jesus, who is our Christ. Leaders, make your move! May we use every resource the Lord has availed for our disposal for the Diaspora!