BK » The early Church and tools of shalom
The early Church and tools of shalom
Courtesy of Ryan (who is at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis):
1. “The apostles’ teaching.†Fundamental to the life of the Church is teaching, or doctrine. Jesus said in his send-off to the apostles to make disciples “teaching everything that I have commanded you†(Matthew 28v19). It’s evident throughout the book of Acts that the apostles’ teaching revolved around the crucified and risen Messiah; even their understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures is filtered through the lens of Christ (e.g., 2v25-29). Forming the life of the band of Jesus-followers is the Word of God.
2. “Fellowship.†Does this mean pot-lucks? Coffee hour, or basketball? Fellowship can happen in those contexts, of course, but they are not themselves koinonia. We are often mistaken in this regard. The first chapter of 1 John is helpful here: fellowship comes through shared faith. So this means encouragement and exhortation; rebuke, if necessary, and consolation. In other words, spurring one another on in the Faith that is our glue.
3. “The breaking of bread.†Here is the culmination of our fellowship: sharing in the Lord’s Supper. At Christ’s table, there can be no animosity between brothers and sisters, for we all humbly come seeking the forgiveness of God. We’re all on our knees together, likewise acknowledging we’re beggars before the Most High, desperate for His mercy. This is the pinnacle of fellowship, both with Christ and with one another.
4. “The prayers.†Well attested throughout Acts is the early disciples’ profound sense of utter dependence on God for all things. Petitioning Him that his Kingdom would come, that His will would be done. I can hear their prayers, even now–feel the urgency in their cries. Lord, foster in me this kind of reliance on you.
Ryan is indeed right. Disregard for the orthodox church, that is the historical church and all the theology (and practice) comes with it a disregard for the very institutions of the scripture. Ryan is right to emphasize that teaching and doctrine are essential. The church is not a place of universal acceptance or all thought is possible. No the church has tough words for the sinner and is not accomodating and does not acquiensce to the whims and fancies of the world. At the center of the scriptural preaching (the epistles) is Christ, crucified and risen. If your church doesn’t preach this but rather talks morality, endtimes, prosperity, and the like without Christ, it is not Christian.
His words in regards to fellowship are difficult words to hear. We’d like to believe the coffee and donuts are fellowship but routinely they are merely social hour. They may build community but they often miss the Gospel.
Be sure to read the whole post.
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Fellowship = in our case, our Little Church. This small group Bible Study has met for 19 years. Our purpose is to study the Bible, encourage each other in the faith, exhort each other, rejoice with each other, and, console each other. Praise God for our Christian friends!
Exactly! Social get-togethers alone need not apply.