New, But Not Improved

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:42

Every time I read about the early church in the book of Acts, I can't help but wonder what God thinks when He looks at the church today. It seems we have strayed far from the original model, and the "new" looks nothing like early church. When I was a Pastor, I would sometimes say, "We never change the truth of the message, but the methods in which we share it must change." I am now seeing that while there is some truth to that remark, I am having to question some of the methods I am now seeing in churches today.

One fact I notice about the original church is that it was not about the place, it was about the Presence. Early Believers met from house to house. This gave those who attended a sense of family. More churches are going to home groups for this reason. People who are in these groups are doing the Christian life together. If these groups have good leaders who are grounded in the Word and keep their focus on the Holy Spirit, the members are maturing in the Lord. Those without the Word and the Spirit are just another social club.

Another point to consider is the early church was not about the lights, but The Light. I really don't mind dimming the lights or adding more light to the stage area. I understand that lighting can affect the atmosphere of any room, but do we really have to have the "concert affect" to draw people to the Lord? Just how much of this is Spirit-led verses being flesh-led? If it is truly lifting someone's spirit, then go for it. But if we are totally honest, the flashing, spinning, blinking, multi-colored lights do more to excite the flesh than the spirit. When the true "Light", Jesus Christ, shows up, no other lights can compare. It's not the amount of light on the stage that counts, it is whether the Light of the World shows up on our stages.

Next, there is the music. I love music and songs that exhort, glorify, magnify, elevate, praise, thank, and bring worship to the Lord. Never has there been a time when so many new Christian songs have been written by so many individuals and church groups. While it can be good, it can also be a hindrance. It is easy to worship to a song that you know verses constantly having to learn new songs. Unfortunately, a lot of good songs get left behind while we are chasing after the next new thing. I am meeting more and more young people who do not even know the hymns I sang when I came to Christ. More people are worshiping the music rather than the One it is written about.

Let's not forget the love and unity that was a major factor in the early church. Jesus even said we would be known as His followers IF we have love one for another. Once we were saved, the Church was to become our spiritual family. Together we would love, share, grow, pray, worship, serve, and mature as believers of the One Body of Christ. I am concerned at the amount of people whose circle of friends are outside the Church. It is one thing to associate with the world with the aim of winning them to Christ. It is another thing when we live just like the world and claim to be in a relationship with Christ. Were we not told to come out from among the world and be separated unto the Lord? We should desire fellowship with the Church Body, not friendship with the world.

Also, the early church was a Body that served one another and those in need outside the church. I visit so many churches where people are spiritual consumers rather than godly servants. Too often, people come to church and expect to see the Preacher use his gift, while never using their own. As born-again Believers, we all have talents from our parents and gifts given to us from God, through the Holy Spirit. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we die to self, take up our cross, and follow Him. He leads us to serve others around us, especially in the Body. But many put the money in the plate on Sunday as if paying their dues for childcare, great music, and good preaching. And if they don't get their money's worth, they go somewhere else. Jesus said He did not come to be served, but to serve. He also said the same is expected from us as His followers.

Prayer was foundational for the early church and should be for us today. We can have a special event and fill up the church with people, but if we invite the church to a special prayer time, we may be disappointed at the lack of interest. The sin of prayerlessness is widespread in many churches today. It takes a tragedy or a crisis to get people on their knees. But God desires for us to spend time with Him through prayer. Like the early church, we would see many signs and wonders if only we would pray. Souls would be saved and lives transformed. The anointing on the leadership would increase while the strength of the enemy would decrease. If only we would pray like the early church.

It is my prayer that everyone who reads this letter will be challenged to examine themselves to see where we stand in comparison to the early church. We must allow the Holy Spirit to trim and prune us, if needed. Let us read Act 2:41-47 and line ourselves up to its teaching. Yes, we must stay with the total truth of the Word, but we had best check our methods lest we hand our churches over to the enemy. While more churches are motivated by performance and programs, the early church was motivated by the power of the Holy Spirit.