Bible Question: What were some of the problems that the early church faced in the first century? What are some of the problems that the church is facing today? How did the early church deal with their problems, and how is the present-day church (or churches) dealing with theirs?Please try to document your answers as much as possible. --Hank |
Bible Answer: What are some problems of the church today? Ryrie's Study Bible lists some of these 'new challenges' on page 2104: "1. Secularism, with its stress on materialism, relativism, and man's wisdom, technology, and science. 2. Extreme poverty in the Third World. 3. The resurgence of non-Christian religions. 4. Threats to the family worldwide. 5. The shifting of mission-sending from America to Third-World countries. 6. The liberalizing of the Roman Catholic Church by Vatican II and Neo-Thomism." Undoubtedly, the most serious problem that the early church faced was persecution. And we have this problem very much so today! All we need to do is see (http://www.persecution.com) in order to find out all the places where Christians are being persecuted. And of course, we are constantly guarding against 'false Christs' or those who teach a 'different Gospel', which is precisely what the early church faced with Gnosticism, and we today have to face with cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism and Oneness Pentecostals. Basically, Paul motioned the early church to keep their focus on Christ to keep them from being led astray or assailed by these dangers. And Paul's message (inspired by the Holy Spirit) still speaks volumes today! Nolan |