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What can we learn for the First Century Church? Part 3

January 15, 2025 / / 0 Comments

The story of the work of Jesus Christ in His people has long fascinated and challenged me. I have to admit that as a kid I could not get enough of fantasy stories in movies and comic books that featured heroic acts by individuals with super powers. So naturally I was interested when I learned in the bible about real heroes who trusted in God and were able to accomplish amazing things!

At the same time I felt a disconnect between the Christian world of that time and that which I saw in the bible. Growing up it seemed as though it was more about what we cannot do rather than what we can do through Christ. When I found a church that read, and studied and preached from the book of Acts in the bible I was immediately drawn to it. None of us were super heroes like Samson, David, Daniel, or even Peter and Paul. But that did not stop us from desiring a greater experience of the power of the Holy Spirit.

In that desire the Lord did some wonderful things among us. His presence was very real in our meetings. Over the years we also had some great disappointments. From where I stand, it looks like eventually many lowered their expectations of what God might do supernaturally among us. A few even rationalized that the only supernatural work would be that which takes place within us.

Of course we know that the main focus of Jesus was always on the condition of our hearts. Our prayer is to be for the will of God our Father to be accomplished in earth as it is in heaven. That must first be fulfilled within us by the miracle of the New Birth. It does not end there, however. If heaven enters my heart, my entire life will eventually change. The miracles and the amazing spread of the Gospel in the book of Acts came about through people who were dramatically changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was by that same power that they believed and obeyed Christ. What can we learn from them? I submit that like them, we can still hear from God, follow Him, and be empowered to obey Him! Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God!

My hope is that in our day we will revisit the book of Acts with open hearts and minds. By many accounts the Christian church is in decline at least in the West. Yet, there is still the possibility that believers in our day can “turn the world upside down” as did the early Christians. Maybe we can cast off unnecessary practices that have become heavy burdens, and take up the very principles that enabled the early Christians to overcome impossible odds. This is not a boring faith by any means, but an adventure that has continued for thousands of years!

If you are interested in considering more things that the First Century Church could teach us, I hope you will join me in this study by subscribing to my blog at https://livingtruth.com or my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/livingtruthcom

What can we learn from the First Century Church? Part 2

January 13, 2025 / / 0 Comments

All Christian groups that consider themselves orthodox agree on 2 things. It is absolutely necessary to them to acknowledge that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. His birth was miraculous. They also insist that Jesus was literally and bodily resurrected from the grave. These and other amazing signs are proof that Jesus is the Son of God, and not simply a wise teacher or a very good man.

The stories of the miracles that Jesus performed are well known even among unbelievers today. In Luke’s second volume of Gospel history many miracles are recorded as well. These are not nearly as well known. In a previous article I shared a quote from the British minister and bible translator, J. B. Phillips. He suggested that the modern church world has reason to become disturbed or uncomfortable by what we see in the New Testament book of Acts.

Could it be possible that we hear less preaching and teaching from the book of Acts because of the challenges the Early Church presents to us? It is so wonderful to think of our lovely Savior and His power to forgive, heal, control nature, atone for our sins and rise from the grave. We quickly cry “heresy” when anyone denies that His miracles were real. He was the Son of God! However, in Acts we see the same power to heal and work miracles in ordinary humans like us!

Not only do we see them healing the sick but we also see other strange behaviors. Today if someone claims that God talked to them we might roll our eyes or even begin to avoid them. In Acts, as in many other biblical passages, it appears very normal for God to give counsel and direction to individuals in various unusual ways. Again, conservative Christians can be very dogmatic in proclaiming that we have a book that came into being by the very fact that God spoke to and through men. Interestingly, some of those same people claim that God would never, ever do that again!

As I look around I have to admit that miracles like those we see in the bible are not as common place today. Then I have to ask myself, “why is that so?” Some offer various explanations to to answer that question, but Jesus gave one explanation to His disciples that might just apply to us today. They asked Him why they could not deliver a certain child from demon possession. His answer was this: It was because of their unbelief. (Matthew 17:19-20).

Instead of making excuses for our shortcomings today, maybe we would do better to share the confession of the father of the boy in that same story, he cried out
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) I don’t know about you, but I believe that is a prayer that God will answer!

If you are interested in considering things that the First Century Church could teach us, I hope you will join me in this study by subscribing to my blog at https://livingtruth.com or my facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/livingtruthcom

 

What can we learn from the First Century Church?

January 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

The Western World has the story of Jesus Christ embedded in its culture and its history. The four accounts of His life in the New Testament are among the most well-known books in the world today. But what of the events that followed His life, His teachings, His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven?

Today I would submit that the second volume of this story that began in Luke’s gospel has the potential of shaking modern Christianity down to its foundations! In our bibles this book is entitled “Acts,” or “The Acts of the Apostles.”

In the preface of his translation of Acts, “The Young Church In Action,” J.B. Phillips wrote:

“It is impossible to spend several months in close study of the remarkable short book, conventionally known as the Acts of the Apostles, without being profoundly stirred and to be honest, disturbed. The reader is stirred because he is seeing Christianity, the real thing, in action for the first time in human history. The newborn Church, as vulnerable as any human child, having neither money, influence nor power in any ordinary sense, is setting forth joyfully  and courageously to win the pagan world for God through Christ. The young Church, like all young creatures, is appealing in its simplicity and its singleheartedness. Here we are seeing the Church in its first youth, valiant and unspoiled — a body of ordinary men and women joined in an unconquerable fellowship never before seen on this earth.

“Yet we cannot help feeling disturbed as well as moved, for this is surely the Church as it was meant to be. It is vigorous and flexible, for these are the days before it  . . . .  became fat and short of breath through prosperity, or muscle bound by over organization. These men did not make ‘acts of faith’ they believed. They did not ‘say their prayers,’ they really prayed.  They did not hold conferences on psychosomatic medicine, they simply healed the sick. But if they were uncomplicated and naive by modern standards, we have ruefully to admit that they were open on the God-ward side in a way that is almost unknown today.”

If anyone is interested in why these comments were made, and want to be challenged by them, I hope you will subscribe to my blog at https://livingtruth.com or my facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/livingtruthcom where we will seek to find what can be learned from the First Century Church!

Judgement or Truth?

January 10, 2025 / / 0 Comments

It is not hard to be narrow-minded and judgmental. In fact it can be difficult to resist that tendency for some of us. It is even more difficult when surrounded by others who take pleasure in discovering the faults of others.

My mother and a few others who were important in my growing up actively worked to find the good in others and in our circumstances. For that I am grateful to God to this day. However, at times I have felt at times a gnawing sense of responsibility to my fellow human beings that I cannot ignore.

Around the world and for the past 2,000 years people have received Christ within their own cultural contexts. I have learned to accept this as well as the fact that I do not have to understand why everyone worships in their particular form. At the same time I have learned that there can be inherent problems in some forms.

Whenever Christians develop customs or traditions that contradict the teachings of Christ we should all be concerned. That should be obvious. Yet it is possible that in our desire to fulfill His purposes, we can develop traditions that actually hinder us from fulfilling them. I know this because I have been caught up in these situations myself.

Recently I wrote a post encouraging older believers to pass their wisdom and experience down to succeeding generations. During this new year I will be attempting to take my own advice. While trying to not be offensive or controversial, I am expecting that controversy will become unavoidable. To some my concerns might seem petty or reactionary. All I ask is that you consider what I offer, and that you develop your own critical thinking skills.

My faith in Christ is built upon His work in my life through personal experience, His Word in the bible, and the power of the Holy Spirit Who works within me. If that is also true for you, I believe we have some common ground already! If you are interested in where I am going with this topic, I invite you to subscribe to my blog, https://livingtruth.com or my facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/livingtruthcom and join the discussion!

By speaking the truth in love, we can grow up into Christ in all things, and fulfill our destiny in Him! (Ephesians 4:15, Romans 8:29).

Who Are The Elders?

January 8, 2025 / / 4 Comments

In the modern church the most important role in most congregations is that of the person who does most of the preaching on Sundays, the traditional pastor. Beside the preaching and providing most of the direction for the community, this person is expected to perform baptisms, the dedication of babies, weddings, and funerals whenever the occasion calls for them.

However in the New Testament book, the Acts of the Apostles, no such person is found. Of course, the apostles who were personally chosen and trained by Jesus were front and center in this history of the Early Church. After that, we see prophets and evangelists in action and important in establishing the churches.

The congregation at Jerusalem was organized and led by the 12 apostles. The second major center was North in Antioch of Syria, and was led by prophets and teachers, which were mentioned by name in Acts 13:1. This group was led by the Holy Spirit to send Saul and Barnabas out as missionaries. Saul, also called Paul preached the Gospel with Barnabas and later Silas, on many journeys across the Mediterranean Sea.

Whenever converts to Christ came together in any area, Paul appointed elders to lead them. This practice goes all the way back to Moses, who had taken upon himself more responsibility than was necessary. The Lord instructed Moses to gather seventy men of the elders — the older men of Israel, so He could impart the Holy Spirit’s gifting of Moses to them. These unnamed men were to share the load with Moses. (Numbers 11:16)

Many historians believe that this was less of an office, but more of a charge. The appointment of an elder did not make one an elder. He was already an older man, but he was to be blessed and ordained to fulfill the duties that were already his.

Examples of this are found in both Acts 20:25-35 and 1 Peter 5:1-4. In Paul’s last address to the elders at Ephesus, he charged them to:

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
(Acts 20:28 NASB)

In the older English language, the words “shepherd” and “pastor” were interchangeable. Thankfully, modern English translations have clarified the fact that the elders of the churches in Acts were the same people who were elsewhere referred to as “pastors,” in Ephesians 4:11. Another source of confusion is the fact that the work of the “overseer,” later took on the official sounding title of “bishop.”

It is this simple: This same body of elders were held responsible of “shepherding,” tending God’s flock, and “overseeing,” watching over them to protect and lead them by example.

Peter affirms this in his first letter.

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
(1 Peter 5:1-4 NASB)

Somehow we often miss the picture of the church as a family. The adults are the responsible ones. They are the ones who provide for the younger ones.

In all of this my hope is to encourage all of you seniors, men and women in the body of Christ. You have not only an opportunity, but a duty to put your years of experience to good use. In our society you might not get the respect that elders in the early church received. Maybe you have not earned it! Maybe you thought you should stay out of the way and let the “official” leaders make all the calls. Or maybe you are acknowledged as an elder in your church, but you are asked only to study the financial numbers in the budget or in the unfilled pews.

Please consider this: Somewhere in your circle there are younger people who could use your help. Maybe they don’t even know it. It might be up to you to reach out to them and show some love and concern. Pray for them and seek the Lord’s help for opportunities to serve them.

We all know it is easy to criticize and complain about the failures in Christianity. It is not as easy to share another’s load as did the 70 elders of Israel. However, I believe our response to Christ’s example and charge to us will elicit His response with the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill that call!

I Love Christian Gatherings!

December 30, 2024 / / 4 Comments

I love Christian gatherings. That was not always true in my younger days. Then in my early twenties I was humbled by circumstances in my life to the point that I came to a greater level of surrender to Christ. At that point I was drawn to other believers with whom I found more in common than before. The meetings we had in the church building were very exciting, powerful and encouraging. We were in a time of what some call revival, others might call a “move of God.” Many believers that I knew outside of that fellowship were also experiencing a new awareness of the presence of God in their lives. It was a time that I will never forget. In this environment, evangelism is free and natural. Who wouldn’t want to share joy such as this?

Since then I have never lost the desire to gather with other people who love God. There have been many painful times, for sure. Close friends have suffered illnesses like cancer, others experienced divorce or loss of a child. When people become close through their faith in Christ, they learn to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” There is also the pain of separation. Sometimes families move away from the area. Sometimes they are called to serve elsewhere. Sometimes strong disagreements can cause separation. Like I said, there are many painful times, but still I have never lost the desire to gather with the people of God. Over the years I have been exposed to various concepts of what a meeting should be like. I have learned to respect the patterns and traditions of others for the most part, as long as Jesus Christ is at the center.

There have been times when my entire week has been centered around the church I am a part of. I am not saying that is necessarily a bad thing. I have been in close communication with others involved in the planning of meetings. Much of this time helps to build relationships among us. Having often been a part of the group that provides the music and leads in the singing of praises, I know how much time that can require. Other times I have had the privilege of teaching, and I need to invest in preparation for that part of the service.

Getting together in men’s and women’s groups and small group bible studies during the week have been also normal for my wife and me. One of her favorite aspects of Christian fellowship is in teaching children about God and the bible on Sundays and during summer Vacation Bible School. Other opportunities have come along for us to serve at senior centers and homeless shelters and we are blessed in them.

All of this can and should be beneficial and a part of life in the Kingdom of God. At the same time I can see the possibility of some misconceptions here. Is this all there is that constitutes what we read about in the bible of life in Christ? Could everything become too focused on that one event on Sunday morning which is over after an hour or so? Think for a moment. In the bible, the people of God always had meeting times. In the New Testament, they were highly motivated to gather because of Christ. Yet there is very little of our modern forms seen in the Old or New Testaments. Have we enshrined our traditions, however wonderful they might be, while limiting other possibilities?

Everywhere we read about the need to serve one another, to build up one another in Christ, to love one another. Nowhere are we encouraged to always gather together around one man or woman to hear only what one individual has to say. In Paul’s writings it was always about everyone having a gift from God by which others can be served. He even describes a gathering where everyone could take his or her turn at sharing what God has given to them.

The greater danger is in placing too much control in the hands of a few individuals. It is true, some are more experienced than others, but we are all a part of His Royal Priesthood, called out of darkness into His marvelous light. These days, many are learning about other valid expressions of Christian community. They are finding the freedom to serve in the gifts that the Holy Spirit has placed within them, without rejecting the true call to unity in Christ.

They are meeting in parks, restaurants, in their own homes, or anywhere that serves His purpose for them. They do not need the support of an ancient denomination or their bank accounts to “plant a church.” They are the church, the community of born-again believers in Christ. They know who they are in Him, and do not need a name or someone with a title to approve of them.

More importantly they need to understand their total and utter dependence upon their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Only by humbling themselves before Him can anyone find true fellowship as His body, the fulness of Him Who fills all in all!

I need the Church, the Body of Christ!

November 9, 2024 / / 2 Comments

It is popular among some to criticize the Christian church today. Being myself a part of the church, I know there are many problems among us. I would so much love to see us all grow up into Christ as Paul described in his letter to the Ephesians. My hope is not in us, those whom God has brought together in Christ, but in Jesus Himself, the author and finisher of our faith. To be clear, I am not referring to every man-made institution that calls itself a church. In fact, I believe many people who criticize Christianity are confusing the true faith with these institutions and organizations that might have truly done things worthy of criticism.

The Greek word translated into English in most bibles as “church” is actually referring to an assembly or gathering of people. Even in the bible it is used in reference to a town counsel as well as an angry mob! (Acts 19:32, 39, 41). The assembly most referred to in the bible is the community of believers in Christ. It is composed of many members and yet it is one body with Jesus Christ as the Head. Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22-23)

In my earlier years I did not have much respect for the Christian church. I felt that I could have a relationship with God on my own. I didn’t believe I needed these other people. I felt they were trying to restrict my freedom as an individual. By my early 20’s God saw to it that I found how much I really needed this diverse collection of unusual and sometimes strange people. 50 years later I remain convinced of my need for them.

At the same time we can be very different from one another. To be honest I have serious difficulties with some others and their beliefs, actions and traditions. I have spent many hours questioning and trying to understand why and how we can be so different. In the end I can only seek the will of God for myself and my family. I will find fellowship anywhere and any time I can, and try to serve others as He leads me.

Part of what I have found to be God’s will for me is found in a key verse in the New Testament. In Ephesians 4:11-13 Paul writes:
“And He (Christ) gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.”
(NASB)

As a teacher in the body of Christ I am compelled to point out this great purpose that God has for His people, His church. At times I can see the hindrances that we have allowed to get in the way of that purpose. I have been forced many times to see how my zeal for plans that God has not made can become a distraction from His plan for a unified, and mature in knowledge body of believers in Him. Over the years I have failed many times to preserve the unity of the faith, and have seen many discouraging times in the church. This past year has been a time of some very shocking events in my church experience. Yet my hope in God’s plan for us all has not diminished. In fact my zeal to serve Him and His people has been increased! why? Because I am free in Him to a greater degree than before.

While I am still sorting through what I have learned in recent years, I am very excited about the future. Jesus is building His Church, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it!

Modern Church Verses New Testament Church

October 6, 2024 / / 3 Comments

The past 5 months have been one of the most painful times I have ever had in a church. Up until that time it was one of the most satisfying and rewarding I have known. Please understand that I realize that none of us are perfect in our attitudes, understanding and behavior. I love the church of Jesus Christ because it is His and not because it suits me. In fact I desperately need His spiritual family even with all its faults.

After considering the events of this period, I find myself again reevaluating the concepts of the modern church. Many of my questions are concerning the complexity of today’s situations verses the simplicity of that which we find in the New Testament.

Of course we know that times do change, but what about the principles we are taught concerning Christ? Can we learn anything from the examples that have been given by the New Testament Church?

Let me give this one example. I have been told that it takes $200,000 to start a church in America today. Can anyone show me any place in the Bible that places any such burden on the Gospel message? We do know that many sold their houses and lands to support the needs of the congregation after they received Christ, but none of the funds were used to build a building.

Even in the famous passage in 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 where collections were gathered on the first day of the week, we know that they were for needy believers in Judea, not for church buildings. Our buildings can serve us, the people of God, and can be used for His purposes, but have we given too much importance to them?

There, But By The Grace Of God Go I!

February 18, 2024 / / 5 Comments

Have you ever wondered, “What was I thinking?” Probably the craziest time in my life was my teen years. I had a wonderful Christian mother and was also surrounded by sincere believers in Christ. That, however did not stop me from doing stupid things, like shoplifting, vandalism and even breaking into a store to steal from others. By God’s grace, yes, HIS GRACE, I was eventually caught and punished. Several weeks of incarceration halted my life of crime, but it would not be until several years later that I would return to the wonderful life that Christ had planned for me.

To this day I do not understand how I could have hurt my mother so. How I could embarrass my family and shame myself after all the good things I had been taught and the examples I had seen?

This experience has taught me to be cautious of how I look at others. If God had not intervened for me through the justice system, through supportive family, friends and teachers, what direction my life might have taken? These are things for which I cannot take any credit.

However this cautiousness in itself does not satisfy my concerns for the situations we as a society, a community are in. If I look at a young person whose main activity in life is exploiting other young people by hooking them on addicting chemicals, or if I see the devastation that another young man causes through terrorism, yes, I can say, “there but by God’s grace go I.” Under the same circumstances of course, that could have been me. While this realization may help me, does it help anyone else?

People need compassion and empathy, but they also need the truth. They need direction, like the direction I received as a teen. I fear that in our day we like to take the easy way out. It can be very difficult to find the balance between compassion and lovingly telling the truth. We have to start somewhere. We cannot walk in everyone elses shoes, but we do all have some things in common. We have all sinned and have come short of the glory of God. We can all receive forgiveness and restoration through faith in the work that Jesus accomplished for us in His death and resurrection.

When I remember how obstinate and hard-headed I was as a teenager, I can understand how our youth might be motivated to do stupid things as well. At the same time, my hope is that they do not have to make the same mistakes. This may sound hard on my part, but if they do make these kinds of mistakes, I pray that God’s grace might provide for the helpful kind of discipline that I received back then!

Perhaps you could join with me in praying for the necessary wisdom to reach others with compassion and faith. These are so needed in our time.

True Freedom

February 16, 2024 / / 2 Comments

What is true freedom?

In my lifetime I have known individuals who had fewer possessions than I have but had more freedom than I did. I have known people who had poorer health than mine, but more joy. At the same time I have been in difficult situations while being engulfed in perfect peace. Could it be that true freedom is the ability to live above one’s circumstances? Could it be that this kind of freedom could help a person actually change their circumstances?

What about the prisons of jealously, envy, hatred and lust? Is it possible to be enslaved by your own money, power, possessions and popularity?

Back in the sixties I thought that freedom meant freedom from responsibility. That is not what I am talking about now. I have at times taken upon myself too much responsibility. I do need to be free from that. And yet being responsible for my family is truly fulfilling. I would not want to released from serving my family and my community, as long as I understand that all things are not under my control.

Sometimes I would like to be free from this fight for personal freedom! What do I mean? well, it is tempting at times to give in to my weaker nature and drop out. Let everything around me fall apart, like it seems to want to anyway. I can dwindle away the hours on Youtube and try and forget about the important things. Then I become a prisoner of my own laziness.

The opposite happens when I push aside my passive tendencies and remember what our great and wonderful Savior Jesus did for us. His obsession was to set everyone free. A part of Him resisted the fight as well, but He overcame. His freedom was found in the Father’s will. He said that doing the will of His Father was like food that nourished Him.

Freedom from myself and my selfish desires is the ultimate goal to me. I will even go so far as to say that God wants you and I to know the freedom that Jesus enjoyed. His joy was in pleasing His Father but also in liberating others from spiritual and physical bondage! He did not travel around telling the sick and the poor to accept their circumstances. He preached to them about the Kingdom of God which is a realm of spiritual and physical freedom! He healed their minds, bodies and their souls. He said those who believed in Him could do these works and even greater.

If we fight to gain total freedom in Christ, this promise could be true for us as well!

Could There Be More?

February 15, 2024 / / 1 Comment

Have you ever wondered if there was more to life than working, playing, eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, surviving for the next day? Could there be something else? We can at times get so busy that we never stop to think, or wonder if we are just following everyone else. Is there a reason we are here? Or did we just happen along as an accident of nature? And if nature is guided by some evolutionary principle, why is that so?

The search for meaning is not a new one. A shepherd boy who later became King of ancient Israel had a question for His God. As a shepherd he might have looked up at the night sky many times in amazement. Later he wrote these words which have been preserved for later generations as the eighth Psalm in the bible.

Psalm 8:1
LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:3-4
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
NIV

David was not one to think that the universe was an accident or that it came about by chance. He quite naturally wondered why, not just why the universe existed, but why humans inhabited it. In his lifetime he had come to believe in a Creator God, who thought of him and cared for him. His relationship with his God was a personal one. It was so strong that even as a boy he could face a 9 foot tall warrior with his sling shot. His trust was not in his skill however. He believed the God that he and his fellow Israelites worshipped would stand with him to the victory!

If we were honest with ourselves, I believe we would admit that we know down deep that there is more to life than many of us realize. Jesus made famous this basic principle: We are here to love the Lord our Creator and God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I used to think that was simple and practical. Eventually I learned that God really wants to connect with us in a powerful way that actually empowers us to love. This love is supernatural. It restores us to our original purpose of bearing God’s image and bringing glory to His Name!

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