THE EARLY CHURCH...O BOY!

The early church had some rough going.  A story in Acts 15 tells us this truth. Acts 15:1 says, "Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and  were teaching, "Unless you are circumcised according to custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 


From Acts 15:5,6...Paul and Barnabas went into "sharp dispute and debate" with the men. So, they went up to Jerusalem where they were welcomed by the church.  They reported everything God had done through them throughout their travels.  But when the subject of circumcision for all believers  came up, Peter  said,  "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles may hear the message of the Gospel and believe.  God who knows our hearts, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.  He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.  Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke (circumcision)?  No!  We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."


James, leader of the Jerusalem church and brother of Jesus, through Mary and Joseph, judged, "We should not make it difficult for Gentiles turning to God.  Instead, abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.  You will be well to avoid these things."


All of the teachings of Moses were important to the Jews, but they agreed at least these four things to be important for the new Christians.  And the letter containing the news was delivered to Antioch.


Study/ "This letter answered the questions and brought great joy to the Gentile Christians in Antioch.  It appeals to the Holy Spirit's guidance and explains what is to be helpful when believers learn to be  careful not only in what they say, but also in how they say it.  We may be correct in our content. but we can lose our audience by our tone of voice or by our attitude."


So, what I learned from this is this......No church is without disputes. But this one may have destroyed the new church if these men had not met.


It makes me think of the importance of getting wise counsel and following the advice given.  However, we must never discount the Holy Spirit who may have an opinion or two, Himself!


Here's to the Church, and to all those who toughed it out to make it a truth.  And here's to us, that we may not be frivolous by what it offers to us, or in any way,  take the church for granted. Leave it to the people throughout the ages who kept wanting something different.  For good or bad, there are lots of churches to choose from out there.


I hope you find one where you feel at home.  I have, and I love worshipping with them.


Jo inMN