RESTORING FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANITY TODAY

By Jonathan L. Perz (www.hillcrestchurchofchrist.com)

Throughout time, man has departed from God’s ways. The Israelites, God’s people of old, continually departed from God’s teachings and had to repent and restore God’s ways. They  faced judgment after judgment for perverting the ways of God, yet they never learned. Romans 15:4 teaches us that these things were written “for our learning.” 1 Corinthians 10:11 teaches us that they were written “for our admonition.” Therefore, we must learn from their errors and stand fast in the truth of God’s word. 

The Israelites are not the only people who ever departed from the truth. Even among first century churches, apostasy ran rampant. In Galatians 1:6-9, we read of Paul’s amazement that the churches in Galatia had accepted a perverted gospel so soon after acknowledging the truth. The New Testament is filled with warning after warning that apostasy will take place and God’s ways will be departed from. Consider the following passages: 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 4:1-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-2; Jude 3-4; Rev. 2:4-5. In every instance of apostasy, repentance was commanded. Hence, only a fool would deny the possibility of apostasy today!

The Need For Restoration

In Jeremiah 6:16, the great prophet of God prophesied, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

Now more than ever, there is a need to restore the “old paths” of Christianity where the “good way” is. A quick look at today’s religious world reveals complete mayhem. It is difficult to find two churches in one city that teach the same thing. It is even more difficult to find a church that is like the church described in the first century. When these circumstances exist, something has gone terribly wrong.

Is this sectarian religious world, with all its different names, creeds, doctrines, teachings, ministries, and ideas what the Lord prayed for in John 17? I think not! Are those proclaiming Christianity today fulfilling what Paul spoke of in Ephesians 4:3 where he wrote, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?” Definitely not! We must ask ourselves, “Is Christ divided?” just as Paul asked the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:13). Obviously, our answer must be, “Of course not!” Yet, judging from the appearance of today’s “Christian” world, you cannot tell. Why? Simply stated, everyone has gone his own way, and turned crooked the straight paths of the Lord!

The Plight Of First Century Christianity

In the majority of “Christendom,” first century Christianity has been abandoned today! Sure, the core of the Gospel—the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ—remains in tact. It is the plan of salvation, the apostle’s doctrine, the pattern of the first century church, among other things, that have suffered perversion. Unfortunately, many souls have honestly and sincerely been deceived by such perversions.

Through time, many different people have taught various notions of Christianity. Some teachers have tried to make the word of God too simple. Some have made it too difficult. Some felt that our worship to God required innovation and modernization, thus they changed it. Some obviously believed the organization of the first century church was not good enough, so they tried to make it better. Some believed that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was irrelevant to today’s modern society, so they adjusted it to make it “relevant.” The turns, twists, and forks in what is supposed to be the “straight and narrow path” to salvation are too many to mention and were definitely not put there by God. Some happened long ago and carried through to today. The rest are added day by day. Overall, “Christianity” has changed without God’s permission. God’s perfect Way has been deemed imperfect. That is why we must repent and seek to restore first century Christianity today!

How Do We Restore First Century Christianity Today?

First, we must find the pure seed. The Bible has likened the Word of God unto a seed—an incorruptible seed (1 Pet. 1:23). This seed must be planted in the hearts of men. If the soil is right, it will grow and bear fruit. If the soil is poor, it will not bear fruit (consider the parable of the sower—Matt. 13:24ff). We know that a seed will bear fruit after its‘ own kind. The pure seed of God’s word will produce true Christians and nothing else. What happens when the seed is perverted, warped, manipulated, and changed? The result is what we have today: hundreds of different flavors of Christianity. We have division, sectarianism and denominationalism! This is why we must get back into our Bibles and imitate the first century church in doctrine, worship, organization, labors, and purity (1 Thess. 2:14). We must find the pure seed and begin planting it. Only then, will we reap pure Christianity!

Second, we must learn to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). This must be a diligent effort. So many today, depend upon the “clergy” to do the studying and interpreting for them. This is a dangerous practice to say the least. The Lord commanded “we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). Knowing we all will give answer for ourselves on the Day of Judgment, we cannot leave our salvation in the hands of someone else. We must learn to study God’s word for ourselves, test the spirits, and prove all things (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:21). When we do this, “we are workers that need not be ashamed.”  But when we trust another to do our studying for us, we could likely be the “blind following the blind” (Luke 6:39). That is why we must all learn as individuals to study our Bibles for ourselves and rightly divide the word of truth.

Third, we must seek Bible authority (a book, chapter and verse) for all that we say and do. The apostle wrote in Colossians 3:17, “and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord….” We can know by faith, which comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17), that if the Lord Jesus commanded us to do it, we must do it. God gave Him all authority (Matt. 28:18). We can also know by faith, that if the apostles did something or commanded us to do something, we can and must do it. The Lord gave the apostles authority (Matt. 16:19; 2 Cor. 10:8). Thus, we have our means of establishing authority for what we do. If we have a direct command, an approved apostolic example or we can necessarily infer that it was a practice of the first century Christians, we can know by faith it is acceptable for us to do. To do anything else is to act without the Lord’s authority and thereby sin. It is really that simple! We must seek God’s approval for all that we say and do (Col. 3:17).

Fourth, we must reestablish the pattern for the church set forth in the New Testament. The Bible says, in 2 Timothy 1:13, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” The work, worship, and organization of some churches has become secular and carnal in nature. Instead of saving souls, churches are feeding bellies. Instead of coming together to worship God, churches come together for entertainment and socialization. Instead of autonomous local congregations overseen by a plurality of qualified elders, churches have become institutionalized conglomerates led by one man oftentimes not qualified to be an elder or many men holding titles and positions nowhere designated in scripture. We must get back to the arrangement the Lord has designated for a local church, and accept no substitutes.

Finally, we must stand fast in the truth and never ever compromise it. It is written in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” God’s word offers no compromise because compromise is the door to apostasy. Compromise of truth involves giving into something other than truth, and inevitably departing from God’s word. This is why “Christianity” is in the mess that it is in today. Men have not only opened the door for compromise, they let it swing freely both ways. Sadly, all we have left to show for it is division and more division. Instead of restoration, people call for “unity in diversity” and “ecumenism,” neither of which are pleasing to God. This is why we must stand firm in the truth and never compromise it.

In Conclusion…

Let us all demand the truth of God’s word, the whole truth of God’s word, and accept nothing but the truth of God’s word. If the church you are part of does not resemble the church you can read of in the pages of the New Testament in every way, shape and form—demand restoration! If they “will not walk in the old paths” that Jeremiah wrote of in Jeremiah 6:16, then find a group who will. There is indeed a great need to restore first century Christianity today. This is the plea of the church of Christ that meets on Hillcrest Drive. We hope you will make it your plea too!