Christian community
1 - The early church
2 - The service of the early christians
3 - Spiritual leadership
4 - Abuses in traditional churches
5 - Back to the roots
___________________________
1 - The early church
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. (…) And all that believed were together, and had all things common."
The Bible: Acts chap. 2, verses 42-47
Christians are disciples (= pupils) of their common Lord, Jesus Christ. The word "Christian" appears only three times in the New Testament. It was used primarily by outsiders – sometimes derogatorily – to describe people who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The term "church" (ancient Greek: "eklesia") means "the called out one." The Church of God consists of people whom God has called out of the world to serve Him. This means that Christians no longer allow themselves to be determined by the norms and standards of the world, which are largely incompatible with the will of God, but rather by the commandments of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (See: Who is Jesus Christ?).
The Bible gives us insight into the life and community of the first Christians some 2,000 years ago. The Acts of the Apostles records that the first Christians not only shared the same creed, but also their entire lives—that is, their time, their joys and sorrows, their experiences with God, and even their possessions. It is said that all believers were of one heart and one soul. This means that they all had the same purpose: to serve God and one another with complete devotion. As children of God, they saw themselves as a family, as brothers and sisters who, through their faith in Jesus Christ, had become partakers of eternal life.
2 - The service of the early christians
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service."
The Bible: Romans chap. 12, verse 1
The early Christians met regularly in the Temple in Jerusalem (destroyed around 70 AD) and in their homes. They spent almost all of their time together praying, praising God, and interceding for all people. They also did good deeds among the people, ministering to the needs and concerns of all believers, and boldly proclaiming the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ (See: What does faith mean?).
The worship service of the early Christians was not limited to a few hours on a particular day, unlike in many churches today. Nor did the various tasks in the early church rest on the shoulders of individuals, while the rest assumed the role of passive listeners, as is often the case today. Quite the opposite: all believers felt a sense of responsibility for one another, and each of them was actively involved in the church's ministry. The believers' motivation lay in their love for God and for one another. Communal meals were also an integral part of the early Christians' gatherings and a sign of their solidarity with one another.
3 - Spiritual leadership
"And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed."
The Bible: Acts chap. 14, verse 23
When the first churches were established, Jesus instructed the apostles to appoint so-called "elders" and appoint them as overseers over the congregations. The task of an elder is to lead God's church. This includes making decisions that are in God's will and for the good of the community. Another important task of the elders is to teach the believers, which means making God's Word understandable to them so that they can understand God's will and apply it in their lives. At the same time, it was the duty of an elder to protect the congregation from false teachings and harmful influences that could endanger the believers' relationship with God or their salvation.
Their role also included ensuring that congregational meetings were orderly and civilized, and that every member of the community could contribute and grow using the talents and gifts they had received from God. Elders themselves had to be impeccable role models for the believers in everything they did. The spiritual health of a congregation depended largely on them. Unlike many religious communities today, no theological degree was required to serve as a congregational leader. Rather, it was a believer's personal calling, spiritual maturity, and virtuous conduct that qualified them for this important ministry.
4 - Abuses in traditional churches
Jesus Christ says:
"Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not what I say?"
The Bible: Luke chap. 6, verse 46
More and more Christians are recognizing the sometimes serious abuses that exist in traditional churches. This applies to both the state church and many non-denominational churches. Among the most common problems are:
-
Teachings and traditions not derived from the Bible
-
many church members who do not believe in Jesus or the truths of the Bible glauben and do not live according to God's commandments
-
formal gatherings with no real fellowship among believers
-
hardly any opportunities to use one's own gifts and participate in community building
-
distance between church and church leadership
-
few genuine role models of leadership
-
Tolerance of blatant sins among believers
-
rigid or deadlocked structures and a lack of willingness to carry out fundamental reforms
-
growing distance from the teachings of the Bible
-
Influence of esotericism and spiritualism (New Age and hypercharismatics)
-
increasingly adapting to the spirit of the time
-
leisure, culture and entertainment are often in the foreground; while the spiritual recedes into the background
-
Generating financial income and members is more important than preaching the Word
The result is that more and more people—especially young people—are leaving the churches or even turning away from God entirely. Others are accepting the abuses and corrupting teachings of their congregation, which are leading them away from God and ultimately to damnation. Jesus and his apostles already warned of this apostasy in the last days. Those who remain faithful to the truth and point to it are often met with hostility and, not infrequently, expelled from their church. Many of them are seeking connection with faith communities where Christ and God's Word are still clearly at the center (See: True and false church).
5 - Back to the roots
"For by his act we were given existence
in Christ Jesus to do those good works which God before made ready for
us so that we might do them."
The Bible: Ephesians chap. 2, verse 10
In recent decades, many so-called house churches have emerged that seek to return to the original teachings of the apostles and build on the model of the early Christians sharing faith and goods. This trend is steadily increasing worldwide. Instead of gathering in special buildings, believers now gather in their homes, as was also the custom among the early Christians. Instead of following a prepared "service program," believers allow themselves to be led by the Spirit of God and shown by Him how they can organize their community in accordance with God's will and for the benefit of all. Instead of formal membership, everyone sees themselves as part of the community and contributes with devotion and commitment to the building up of the church. Proclaiming the gospel, as Jesus commanded his followers, is also an essential part of the believers' daily ministry.
We, too, have it in our hearts to live community according to the example of the early Christian church, because we are convinced that this corresponds to God's will for his church and that this is how vibrant and fruitful community work is possible. We believe that church should not be a religious institution that one attends solely out of tradition, but rather a place where the presence of God—that is, the love, holiness, and peace of God—becomes visible in the community of people. Neither a name nor the building in which one meets matters. What is crucial is that everything is done to the glory of God and in accordance with His Word and will. Then—and only then—does the church prove itself to be the true church of God.
Jesus Christ says:
"Your will be done."
The Bible: Matthew chap. 6, verse 10