Back to the Future

Many Christians lament the state of modern Christianity. It is understandable given the liberalism, legalism and compromise that permeate the Body of Christ. One of the most common ways suggested to correct these problems is to call for a "revival" within the Church. This revival usually contains the desire to return to the ways of the early Church to find our direction. However, I am of the opinion that the problems plaguing the modern day Church are similar to what we see written down in the New Testament.

"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."Acts 11:15-18

The role, purpose and means of baptism are a highly divisive topic today in most Christian circles. It was not any different in the early years of the Church. Historically, baptism was used as a means in which to convert a Gentile to Judaism. The thought was that Gentiles were unclean and needed to be washed prior to conversion. Given the fact that the majority of early Christians were Jews, it is understandable that they would bring this practice of baptizing Gentiles over into the early Church. They believed that a Gentile must first become a Jew before they could become a Christian. And it wasn’t until Acts chapter 11 that we see Peter realize that Gentiles did not need to be baptized before receiving the Holy Spirit and salvation. The modern Church is not any different as we still believe baptism is a requirement to be saved. While there is nothing wrong with the practice of baptism, it is neither required for salvation or as an act of obedience after salvation. I guess there are many believers today who haven’t come to the same understanding of baptism as Peter did.

"Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them... God, who knows the heart, 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 that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." Acts 15: 1-2, 8-11

The Apostle Paul spent a good portion of his ministry combating those that believed Christians were still obligated to keep the law. Not unlike Paul, I have encountered many believers who see nothing wrong with teaching others that they must be subject to the law or religious rules and regulations. Later, we see Peter’s response to this form of legalism as he, in no uncertain terms, tells these legalists that their preaching of law keeping is the proclamation of something not even the Jews of the Old Testament could bear. Keep in mind that this debate over law and grace took place in Acts chapter 15, during the early years of the Church. Nearly two thousand years later we see the same arguments and disagreements taking place with no end in sight.

"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them." Acts 19: 11-12

While doctrinal issues surrounding baptism and the law are important to resolve because of there centrality to the growth and life of a Christian, there are also some practices we see in the church that can be just as damaging if not comical. Who hasn’t turned on the radio or television to see a pastor promoting an item that promises a miracle so long as you contribute to their ministry? No doubt they have taken an isolated incident relating to Paul’s ability to heal the sick and cure people of evil spirits and made entire ministries out of it. If miracles were common they cease to be miracles. And if miracles can be purchased by supporting a ministry then it isn’t a loving act of God towards His creation, but His response to our request for a miracle. That is heretical and totally misses the point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:3

Too many Christians make the assumption that the early Church had it all together and if we just duplicate what they did we will be able to cure what ails the modern Church. Well, from what I see we are duplicating the early Church. Divisions created over baptism, law and grace and chasing after fleshly rewards have been around since the dawn of Christianity and are still alive and well today. Combine those problems with other issues the early Church struggled with like Christ’s finished work, the meaning of the resurrection, putting faith in men, false teachings and lack of maturity amongst believers, and it might as well be the first century A.D. All of these problems have robbed the Gospel of its simplicity as the Body spends too much time trying to figure itself out rather than being salt and light to the world. If we can’t agree on what we believe how do we expect to give a reason for the hope we have to those we desire to win for Christ? Therefore, the modern day Church doesn’t need to look back at the early Church in order to start a revival. Instead, the modern Church needs to be "vived" to begin with and build on that foundation so as to be able to preach the Gospel with the conviction Paul and Peter displayed at the beginning.