Improvements?
January 10, 1999
Dear Friends,
What improvements have been made on the first century model of worship?
My cousin Rich came over one night and started asking me about the Christadelphians. Rich is a Southern Baptist who is beginning to make himself a name in modern gospel music circles. He is honest, bright and articulate. He had heard my father and I talk about the Christadelphians but wanted to know more.
I suggested to Rich that the Christadelphians were the a group of people who were trying to be as much like the first century church as was possible within a twentieth century context. (Whether this is really a goal of ours or not, I will save for another week!) Rich then made a statement which I still marvel over. He said in effect that we were missing out on the “improvements” that had been made in Christianity over the last 2000 years.
I posed the question back to him whether he really believed we could improve the inspired format, teachings, lifestyle, etc. of the first century, apostolic, Spirit-filled church. Could we honestly say we had a better handle on things than the apostles Peter and Paul? Rich said he had never really thought of it that way.
The thought of the week is really the questions of the week. Can WE improve on the Truth? Have the Christadelphians created a better model for worship and service to God than the apostles and the first century ecclesia? Are we exactly the same as the first century ecclesia?
If we come to the conclusion that the answer is no, it begs a few questions. First, in what ways are we different from the first century ecclesia? Second, are the differences in worship derived from our different circumstances (i.e. Holy Spirit gifts vs. no Holy Spirit gifts, apostolic authority vs. no apostolic authority, etc.) or are they simply matters of tradition, culture or something else? Finally, is there any detriment in moving away from the apostolic pattern in these areas?
It would be presumptuous of me to suggest that I had all of the answers to the above questions, so I will leave them as questions for you. However, I would suggest that we each need to ponder them and reach some conclusions. It seems to me that however you answer the questions it will influence the way you approach the truth, your worship and your Bible.
Have a great week!
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