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By Neal Griffin
There are at least ten interesting contrasts between the practices of today's religionists and the practices of the first New Testament Christians.
1. The located, salaried, pulpit minister, special clergy system is foreign to
the Bible. Early-day Christians sent to the needs of evangelists. They did
not keep a locally-situated pulpiteer to emphasize party positions. Early-day
evangelists preached to the lost. Today's evangelists preach to the saved.
2. The New Testament Christians promoted the Christ of the church. They did
not promote churches or movements of any kind.
3. New Testament elders were in the field shepherding the sheep. Today's
elders are in administrative offices administering the corporate affairs of
corporate entities. They are officers and not servants. They have positions
of authority. They fire and hire Christians. New Testament Christianity has
no positions of authority. Matthew 20:26-27
4. Many denominated religious organizations impose creedal entry requirements
over and above God's Kingdom entry requirements. Most of these requirements
are imposed from the pulpit and the nature of them is dependent upon which
particular party is in control. When Christ accepted us, He did not impose a
party position. His emphasis was on love and acceptance. Many of today's
churches emphasize rejection and division.
5. Ornate cathedrals were not necessarily implied for the first Christians.
So, how can they be necessarily implied for us? "God dwells not in temples
made with hands". Unconscionable amounts of money are spent on cathedral-type
auditoriums, and with every church split a new building is required. And with
each new building must come a new, salaried, locally-situated pulpiteer. The
horrible truth of this is that the barely-used building is entirely for our
comfort, and the huge salary to the "minister" is for the comfort of our own
ears. These two expenses take up well over 90% of the income of most
denominated institutions. In every case, the corporate boards in charge of
these buildings apply for tax exclusion instead of "rendering unto Caesar what
is Caesar's". All of this is usually done under the guise of "preaching the
gospel". It is an historically documented fact that early Christians met in
homes. Church buildings, as we know them, did not show up until about 300
A.D.
6. Early Christians never referred to their kinship in Christ with
denominating names. They were called "Christians", a term that describes
"WHAT" they were and not "WHO" they were. They were members of Christ. They
did not place their membership in denominated organizations. Their fellowship
was never institutionalized into a corporate entity that has life separate and
apart from its members.
7. Early Christian assemblies were participatory. Participants built one
another up to love and good works. Modern assemblies are spectator events.
Very little participation can be allowed. A typical "worship service"
involves 20-40 minutes of oration from the pulpit, 15 minutes of singing, 10
minutes or so of the Lord's Supper, a 5 or 10 minute collection, and 5 or 10
minutes of led prayer. Except for singing, most assemblies are for ingesting.
8. Many modern-day church goers give all of their available charity money to
their "church", and are not able to help with real cases of need. This is
modern day "corban".
9. Many modern-day churches teach or imply that worship in spirit and truth is
something that is done in their Sunday "worship services". New Testament
worship is not done in a specific place nor at a specific time. John 4:21-24.
New Testament religion is caring for widows and orphans and keeping unspotted
from the world. James l:27. New Testament worship is the offering up of our
lives as living sacrifices to God. Romans l2:2.
10. Modern religionists all subscribe to the particular creed of their
denomination. These creeds are either written or unwritten. New Testament
Christians had not corrupted themselves with man-made creeds.
If you find any or all of these ten points to be true in your practice of religion, and if they get your dander up, perhaps some changes should be made.
Please think on these things. I believe them to be true to the Word.
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