The first century church was, for the most part, an uneducated rowdy bunch, simple folks by most accounts. But when it came to God they had something, something we can verily fathom having long ago substituted more “user-friendly” irrelevant aspirations into our Christian walk. Does the church today replicate the first century church? You be the judge:
They used the miraculous power of God to draw people to God's salvation message. We use the promise of blessings to draw people to church. They made disciples. We make converts. Their message was Christ-centered. Our message is humanistic and self-centered. They lived as a functional, organic body of believers. We live as a disjointed association of strangers.
They had intimate relationship with God and with his children. We leave intimate relationship to our pastor. They loved those who hated them. We love those who love us back. They loved God by loving “the least of these”, connecting the first and second commandments of Jesus. We love by donating old clothes to goodwill for a tax receipt. They genuinely believed others mattered more than they do, so they served in humility. We genuinely believe we deserve the very best, so we serve our selves.
They were poor rich people, who gave and gave and gave. We are rich poor people, who do not know we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. They gave generously out of their poverty, out of their need and lack. We give out of our abundance, but not abundantly. Their works were made of gold, silver and precious stones. Our works are made of hay, wood and stubble. They stored up treasures in heaven. We build bigger barns.
They saw life as a movie about God. We see life as a movie about us. They set their minds on things above, being mindful of the things of God. We set our minds on things below, being mindful of the things of man. They stripped their life down to one obsession, the passionate pursuit of Jesus. We feast on our obsession for riches, pleasures and the things of this life. They crucified “self” taking up their personal cross daily to follow Jesus. We wear our gold cross around our neck and leave “self” denial to the “fanatics.”
They were concerned about character more than comfort. We are concerned about comfort, more than character. They cleansed themselves, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. We stand with defiled temples presuming upon God’s grace. They had the Holy Spirit’s power fueled by God’s love. We have the “anointing”, bartered from some televangelist for a price. They gave up what they could not keep, to get what they could not buy. We try to keep what we cannot keep, forsaking what we cannot buy.
They embraced suffering in the flesh as the pathway to spiritual maturity. We reject suffering in the flesh as sin’s reward or an attack of the enemy. They considered earthly suffering and loss as momentary light afflictions. We consider earthly suffering and loss as a lack of faith. They considered martyrdom a privilege in striving for their eternal reward and crown. We consider any and all suffering to be avoided as we strive for earthly riches, pleasures and comfort. They carried their “not-love” of their life, even unto death. We go kicking and screaming to the grave.
Their “blessed hope” was Christ's return. Our blessed hope is health, wealth and long life, the American dream sanctified. They believed there are only two days on the calendar, “today” and “that day.” We have our vacations planned years in advance. They lived in anticipation of eternity. We live in anticipation of our next toy. They expected their best life later. We expect our best life now.
GOD MEASURED THEIR LIFE
BY HOW WELL THEY LOVED
BY HOW WELL THEY LOVED
WE MEASURE OUR LIFE
BY THE THINGS WE POSSESS
BY THE THINGS WE POSSESS
IGNORING GOD’S LOVE-JUDGMENT TO COME
THEIR HEART WAS GOOD SOIL
OUR HEART IS THORNY SOIL
Don’t drink the Kool-Aid of complacency that everything is OK within ‘the church” today. It is not! Whether these are tendencies or full blown realities they are found throughout the Body of Christ in varying degrees, regardless of denominational flavor. Spiritual erosion is rampant and a clear sign of the times. THESE ARE THE TIMES OF THE SIGNS
IF LIFE IS A BUCKET
THEIR BUCKET HAD MANY HOLES
AND LEAKED THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEREVER THEY WENT
OUR BUCKET IS INTACT
FILLED TO OVERFLOWING WITH SPIRITUAL CLICHÉS
WHILE PEOPLE DIE OF THIRST
ALL AROUND US
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