Bible Question:
Doc: I wonder: if the church today should operate exactly as it did in the book of Acts, which part of Acts should we emulate -- the first chapters, the last, or somewhere in between? Since Acts is a book of transition, at which stage of transition should we be? Maybe Israel should operate exactly as it did in the book of Judges. Grace to you, Kalos |
Bible Answer: Dear Brother Kalos, I think we get a better picture of the first century church by taking the whole of the epistles into account. It is often called the "primitive church" from those days. It was in its infancy, as you have well pointed out in your jest regarding what should be normative. God graciously and mightily moved in its growth, but those early churches were often in real messes. The Gospel needed to be spread, so Christ commanded: Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 1:8). (Note how each manifestation of the Holy Spirit took place consecutively in confirmation of this command!) In terms of normative behavior, I think we get wrapped up in cultural junk, when the principles of our behavior are bypassed. A couple of my professors have spent time in Africa and the Orient. They don't do things the way we do them. Yet the "regulative principle" is always observed in those who dearly love the Lord. Glory will be an incredible place, where cultural geographic distinctives will be combined, crossing the spectrum of time! Sorry... rambling again. :-) In Him, Doc |