Thursday, May 1, 2014

The Good Old Days

The lament of older folks, the ranks of whom I’ve now joined, is, “I wish we could go back to the ‘good old days‘”.  Depending on your age, and condition of your mind, that time period can range from as far back as the 1920s, to10 minutes ago!  Some of us get all sentimental when we hear a Beatle’s song, while my parents do the same for a Benny Goodman tune.  Regardless, the point I want to make today is, there is a bygone era that we as Christians should be longing for, no matter our age.

 The  2nd book of Acts gives us a brief, but accurate description of this period.  “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:41-47.

Luke, the author of Acts, was a medical doctor, and a Greek.  He was a thorough and concise man who made it his goal to portray the early church and the events surrounding it clearly.  Heck, I’ve written longer texts than that, but none that are so illuminating.  Think about this passage for a moment.  Now, honestly tell me when is the last time you participated in a church like that, if indeed ever?   Don’t feel alone, I’d say most believers today are completely unaware of what the church is supposed to be like.  Let’s look inside those ancient windows, shall we?

 First of all this was a learning church. They knew how vital it was to know and follow the teachings of Jesus.  Everyday they would look forward to getting together and  learning.  Not mere rote memorization, but equipping themselves with the Word. We should all feel that same way, counting the day as a loss if we don’t learn something new about our amazing God.

It was a church of fellowship.  I don’t mean sitting around gabbing over coffee and donuts, but true togetherness, like a band of brothers.  You know how wonderful it is to be with people who have a passion for the hobby you enjoy.  It’s never a drudgery to talk and share about something we love.

It was a praying church.  These early Christians knew the perils that they faced couldn’t be met head on in their own strength.  They always went to God, before they went out to the world.

It was a reverent church.  That doesn’t mean they sat quietly, fearfully doing nothing.  The word actually translates into Awe.  Imagine that you are seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time.  The grandeur of it takes your breath away, leaving you in awe.  This was what they experienced daily, the absolute Awe of God and his world.

It was a church where things happened.  Remember, this scripture was written after the Day of Pentecost, and all the believers were filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Healings, miracles and all sorts of life-changing events happened all the time.

It was a sharing church.  Those who didn’t have enough were provided for by those who did.  This is not to say they didn’t work, work was expected, this was not merely a place to get free handouts.

It was a worshiping church.  People didn’t go through the motions of a worship service, they desired to be there, and their love for God flowed freely in authentic worship.

It was a happy church.  Unlike many folks today who are happiest when church is over, these folks couldn’t wait to get together, and as we see they did it often…gladly!  The Greek word kalos describes these people best.  It means goodness, but more than superficial goodness, but something that is so delightful, so winsome, that it attracts others to it.  Real Christianity is a lovely thing, and as we read, the church was growing rapidly because people were drawn to its loveliness.

OK, come away from the window, and look into the church you attend.  What do you see?  Or more importantly, what don’t you see.  It is my prayer that each and everyone of us can experience this ancient thing, in a contemporary way.  There’s no need to reinvent the “wheel”, God has left us the example. Ask God to show you how to reconnect, and He will.  Without these life-giving qualities in place, I fear the Christian church will not survive another generation.  We can’t let that happen, join with me in bringing back the Good Old Days!


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