Exploring the Beginning… Again

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I haven’t written in a very long time. God led me to take a bit of a break and listen attentively to his voice about many things. God directed me to the Book of Acts, which I have been studying and absorbing for the past 4 months. God has now returned my “writer’s mojo” and I am developing several articles based upon what I am studying in Acts.

The Book of Acts (also referred to as The Acts of the Apostles) is about the events surrounding the very beginning and the formation of the early church. The year in which these events started was 33 A.D. Acts is written by Luke (who also wrote the Gospel of Luke) in around 62 A.D. Acts starts with Jesus instructing the apostles to stay in Jerusalem where they would receive the promised gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8) who would empower them to be Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and throughout the world. In Acts chapter 2, the promised Holy Spirit came and indwelt the apostles and they began with a spectacular and at times arduous journey of spreading the Gospel. Then in Acts chapter 9, the most famous and miraculous conversion in the Bible takes place when Saul of Tarsus, a man who persecuted many Christians, has a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ on his way to Damascus. Soon after, Saul became a follower of Jesus Christ and changed his name to Paul and started on his journey of spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul wrote many letters to edify and encourage newly formed churches. His letters (or epistles) make up just over half of the New Testament.

As I read about the zeal, boldness and fearlessness of the apostles I began to compare the church in Acts to the church of today in America. I was left wondering if the zeal for the Gospel is sometimes overshadowed by lethargy and the boldness for proclaiming it is shrouded in apprehension. So then, what’s so different between 33 A.D. and today? Three things I think:

1. DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO GOD’S PURPOSE… NO MATTER THE COST. In Acts 20:22-24 the Apostle Paul says, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me —the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Paul persevered and didn’t think about material loss when he knew there would be difficult times ahead to further the Gospel. He was Christ focused on kingdom building. I believe that there are many Christians today who would take this very same position. As there were in Paul’s time, today there are many social and political agendas that are banging on the doors of local churches. Today, that banging is so blatant and persistent that churches have caved into the pressure not in hopes to share and show the love of Christ but in the spirit of compromise with worldly ideology. While some approach the local church to seek understanding about salvation, some want full acceptance and want nothing to do with repentance. The church has to show the love of Christ in hopes to win people over and we must trust God to change hearts. But there will be a time when we will have to take a stand individually and collectively. Whose side will we be standing on? Will it be on God’s side or on the side of conformity with the world? This will be a dilemma for many Christians because the only thing they will gain is to suffer loss and maybe even to suffer persecution for the glory of God. This is a concept that American Christians are not accustomed to. As I read Acts 20:22-24, I realized how much material possessions has me in bondage. How difficult would it be for me to just walk away from it all and go into a place that God has called me to preach the Gospel? Would I turn back after reconsidering the loss of material luxury and comfort? Would I consider material loss and persecution a gain for the glory of God? These are all questions that I had to ask myself. Where godly truth is concerned, the areas of gray are eroding to black and white and we have to choose who we will serve. Therefore, we each have to ask ourselves, are we willing to stand on God’s side, even if it means to suffer loss?

2. AUTHENTICITY. The apostles were not perfect, but they were authentic in their God-given purpose to be Christ’s ambassadors and spread the Gospel locally and abroad. In addition, they encouraged Christians in the early church to also be authentic in their Christian walk. In current times, there is so much branding and marketing in churches. Sometimes, it’s like going through a fast food restaurant drive thru. Show up, get only what you want and leave as fast as you can. After reading about many examples of true Christian authenticity in Acts, I am more motivated to pray for authenticity in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ cannot be a contrived and pretentious thing. Church members today have settled for living their Christian lives vicariously through pastors and church leaders that they have placed on pedestals. I encounter Christians who have a stronger relationship with their local church than with Jesus Christ. Some churches are just an assembly of volunteers. This is not why the church exists. The purpose of the church is not to provide an “experience” for its members each week. In addition to making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), the purpose of the church is found in Ephesians 4:12-13…”to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” This will help Christ followers to abide in Christ and be authentic.

3. UNITY. Acts 2:42-47 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The early church devoted themselves to fellowship and growing in grace together. The foundation of their unity was simply based on one thing… Jesus Christ, who was their Lord and Savior. There is much unity in the church today. But sometimes we get so caught up in fellowshipping that we forget about those all around us who are lost. We also lose sight that Jesus Christ is returning. So, let’s be vigilant. Jesus Christ is coming back soon and the local church is not heaven, a country club or the extent of a Christian’s existence. Let’s pray for a kingdom focus for each of our churches. It is so wonderful to have authentic fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are like-minded and encourage each other as the Day of the Lord approaches (Hebrews 10:24-25). But just as in the early church in Acts, let us pray for the Lord to add more to our number who are being saved.

In conclusion, my journey in reading Acts has been a time of great self-examination. Going back to the read about the beginnings of the early church has actually shown me that I need to surrender and grow more. As I mentioned in the beginning of this article, God has given me more subjects to write about based on what I’ve read in Acts. The next article which I hope to finish in the next few weeks will be based on examining race and culture in the early church. Stay tuned. As always, thanks for listening and may God richly bless you.