Chapter 1 - The Early Church
Many
Christians today feel a little nostalgic as they read the New
Testament. Things then seemed so simple. Today there are vast,
competing, religious organizations. They are powerful movements,
dipping their fingers into political and social reform. Is the
simplicity and spirituality of the early church forever gone?
Down
through the years there have been individual congregations which have
turned aside from the main current of Christendom and have determined
to go back to the Scriptures as a guide. They have been largely ignored
by organizational Christianity but have known real spiritual blessing
and the exulting joy of pleasing their Lord in these matters. What were
some of the characteristics of the early churches?
Attraction to a Person
The
early disciples were held together, not by membership in an
organization, but by devotion to a Person. They had heard the call of
Christ and became His followers (Matt. 4:18-20). Their whole life
centered in Him; learning from Him, obeying Him, loving Him. This
relationship was an intensely personal one. It revealed itself on a
fanatical loyalty. Peter voiced their common sentiment when he said,
"Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee" (Matt. 26:35).
After
Christ's ascension, new disciples drank of the same spirit. They
preached in Christ's Name (Acts 4:12, 18), baptized in His Name (Acts
10:48), gathered in His Name (Matt. 18:20), did miracles in His Name
(Acts 3:6), defied opposition in His Name (Acts 4:18-20), suffered
willingly for His Name (Acts 5:41). Is it any wonder that they began to
be called "Christians" (Acts 11:26) by the world?
Believers
today who catch this spirit turn away from all ecclesiastical brand
names and delight to carry the Name of Christ before the world. They
desire to use only terms found in the Bible for Christians, such as
believers, brothers, saints. For them the Scripture is still relevant:
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus..." (Col. 3:17).
Submission to the Word
For
believers in those early days the only authority was the Word of God.
The Old Testament already existed and as the New Testament began to be
written it was recognized as having the same authority (II Peter 3:15,
16). The Apostles stressed teaching of the early converts (Acts 2:42).
Had not their Lord commanded them, "... teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you . . ." (Matt. 28:20)? Lives
which had been lived independently of God were now to be molded by
teaching of the Word (Rom. 6:17).
The most prominent activity of
the early church in its meetings was teaching (Acts 2:42). The Word
must shed its light on every aspect of life. Those who had lived in
darkness must now walk in the light (I John 1:6, 7). There was no
recourse to a higher authority. "If any man think himself to be a
prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write
unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:37). Those today
who would follow the pattern of the early church must stress afresh the
absolute, unchanging authority of God's Word for all matters of faith
and conduct. If God has not spoken, then man can never really know
spiritual truth.
Leadership by Elders
The
early churches were like families, families of God's people. Some were
young in the faith and others were more mature in their knowledge of
the Lord and His Word (I John 2:13, 14). In every family there must be
leadership and this is true of the local church. After a church had
been formed and had been meeting for some time the early missionaries
returned and pointed out those who were qualified to take the
leadership (Acts 14:21-23). Later the qualifications for such
leadership were spelled out in detail for succeeding generations to
follow (Titus 1:5-9; I Tim. 3:1-7). To be a leader one must have a good
knowledge of the Bible, be morally above reproach and have a Godly,
orderly home.
These leaders were called elders or bishops
(overseers) and were the shepherds of the flock (Acts 20:28). Theirs
was a heavy responsibility. One day they must give an account for the
progress of the work left in their hands (Heb. 13:17). In every local
church there was a group of men who serve in this responsibility, never
only one, who was the elder or pastor. "In the multitude of counselors
there is safety" (Prov. 11:14). The early missionaries left each
church in the charge of such local elders. There was no higher
authority, no federation of churches, no bishop over a diocese or
superintendent over an area. It was all delightfully simple. Leadership
was left in the hands of local, spiritual men, who could best make
decisions governing the work under their care.
Liberty for the Holy Spirit
Each
local church was left under the care of a group of elders with the
Scriptures for a guide book (Acts 20:32). The apostles had tremendous
confidence in the Word of God as being sufficient for spiritual growth
and guidance (II Tim. 3:16, 17). Besides leaving them with a Book they
left them with a quiet certainty that God the Holy Spirit would
continue to work in their hearts and lives. "Being confident of this
very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform
(complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).
The
Lord Jesus Himself had promised them power for witnessing with the
coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). In a wonderful way they had known
this enabling power to speak boldly for Christ, regardless of the
opposition (Acts 4:19, 20). The Gospel spread like a running fire
through the Roman world, fueled by the Spirit of God.
When the
apostles left small groups of Christians behind them, they did so with
a confidence that the Holy Spirit, Who had led them to Christ, would
continue to lead and empower them. They believed He would raise up
spiritual gifts among them for the growth of the believers (Eph. 4:11;
I Cor. 12:4-7). Each believer was taught that he was needed and had a
function to fulfill in the local body (I Cor. 12:12). Each realized
that he was now the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19), and that
the very life of God was to be expressed in him.
These early
churches encouraged the development of each person's gift. Here there
was no division into clergy and laity with preaching reserved for a
privileged class. Most of the meetings were informal with various ones
taking part. All the men could feel free to pray publicly (I Tim. 2:8).
(In mixed meetings of the church men did take the leadership - I Cor.
14:34). Others might lead the group in a hymn or give teaching or
exhortation to the Christians. In this way the various gifts began to
develop and became known to the group (I Cor. 14:26). In time some
would become known as prophets or teachers and did most of the
speaking. However, there was always to be opportunity for a new voice
to be heard and new gift to show itself (I Cor. 14:31). No wonder Paul
could speak of the church as a body, with each member contributing his
part (Eph. 4:11-16).
The Lord's Supper
The
various activities in the meetings of the early churches are seen in
Acts 2:42: "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers." Teaching,
fellowship, breaking of bread; (Lord's supper) and prayer — these
marked their early gatherings. Their Lord's command, "This do in
remembrance me", was still very fresh in their thinking. At times, in
their love and fervency, they may have remembered him daily (Acts
2:46). Later the churches adopted the practice having the Lord's supper
every Sunday (Acts 20:7).
It was a high point in their meetings,
a time of intense worship and adoration as various ones led in prayer,
follow by the partaking of the loaf and cup. Hearts were melted in the
presence of God as the Savior's agony on the cross was remembered. The
loaf and cup were only symbols to refresh and aid the memory; a broken
body, poured out blood. The early churches rekindled their devotion to
Christ often remembering Him in this way. Christians today desperately
need similar devotion to Christ (I Cor. 11:23-26).
The Lords Return
As
Christians turned away from the table with moist eyes it was to face a
hostile world. Their hearts were full of love for one another (Acts
2:44, 45). They were deeply concerned for those who had not yet
received Christ - without Him men were doomed (Acts 4:12). They
evangelized wherever they went, telling men of this wonderful Savior of
theirs. Always they were marked as men who were waiting, waiting for
Christ to return.
No group can claim to be truly Christian which
is not marked by a deep faith in the coming again of the Christ. "You
turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God and to wait
for his Son from heaven . . . "(I Thess. 1:9, 10). Each church regarded
itself as a pilgrim colony from heaven, earnestly waiting for the King
to return (Phil. 3:20). Then, and not before then, all of their hopes
would be realized. This was the "blessed hope" that lifted their hearts
and caused them to sing. The last prayer of the Bible is uttered with a
longing sigh, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev, 22:20).
Simplicity,
spirituality, power... it makes one long for the days of the early
church. Still God is the same and down through the years small groups
of Christians have returned to the simplicity of the early church and
found the blessing of God. There is no better way to do God's work. "If
ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17).