The purpose of this lesson: to challenge Christians to consider how the word church was used in the New Testament in reference to Christians.
In this lesson the focus will be on the New Testaments use of the word church in regard to the men and women who belong to and follow Jesus Christ as he directs us to God (John 14:6).
The focus of this lesson is on church as it is used to refer to Christians.
First, look at the contrast of Acts 8:1-3 and Ephesians 5:23-32. Act 8:1-3 concerns the church in one particular placeJerusalem. Ephesians 5:23-32 concerns Jesus headship over all his people in all congregations (also see Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). In the New Testament the church can refer to followers of Jesus Christ in one place or in numerous places who have differing cultures. It is used to refer to (in our concepts) a congregation of Christians or numerous congregations of Christians.
The basic contrast is between a local church (we refer to as a congregation) and multiple churches or congregations. This is not a reference to what are referred to as denominations today. There were no groups known as denominations in the New Testament. Congregations had regional differences, but not differences that caused them to be recognized as different religious groups.
Second, note Jesus did not use the word church much in the four gospels included in the New Testament. Jesus usage of church in the New Testament gospels is confined to Matthew 16:17-19 and 18:15-20. Jesus ministry was basically to the Jewish people (Matthew 10:5, 6; 15:21-28; Acts 13:44-46). In the New Testament gospels, Jesus was more likely to use the concept of kingdom, though Jesus acknowledged people who were not Jews would be in that kingdom (Matthew 10:10-12). Most of the uses of church are found in Acts and the epistles.
In Jesus teachings during his ministry among the Jewish people, those people seemed to relate to the concept of kingdom better than the concept of church. The Jewish people had been kingdom in much of the Old Testament period and some of the intertestamental period, and they longed for their kingdom to be restored.
The objective of all good teaching is to communicate the information/concepts in an understandable manner to those who are taught. People have not heard merely because they have received information in a form they do not understand, but the teacher grasps. People hear when they understand what they hear.
Third, all Christians everywhere look to Jesus Christ for guidance and direction. Only he is the head of Christians on earth. All living Christians everywhere are a part of and compose collectively his body on earthin spite of differences in language and customs expressed in procedures. Jesus Christ is not restrained by differences in language or ways of doing things. Those things may challenge us, but they do not challenge the Lord of all who are in Christ.
Christians need to grasp two things. (a) The context of different cultures will produce differences. (b) Jesus Christ and God transcend cultural differences. Motives behind acts are as important as the acts. Matters that may be important considerations to people may be unimportant to God.
How did Jesus Christ envision men and women who would be his disciples? How did he see people who would be subjects and citizens in Gods kingdom? Did he think in terms of an institution that was controlled by a human CEO or a group of humans who acted collectively as a CEO group? Did he think in terms of a democratic government where everyone was a law to himself or herself? Did he think in terms of correct and incorrect procedures that represented his preferred culture? Was he interested in controlling human behavior or producing a people of faith? Would people follow him out of a sense of fearful obligation or be overwhelmed by his loving forgiveness?
In determining context which is important to determining meaning, care should be taken not to substitute our thoughts for Gods thoughts. For example, the concepts of CEOs, democracy, or manufacturing may be factors in our typical thinking, but did not exist in the thought process of the first century. It is simple to think that the objective of Christianity is control, not faith.
Consider some things as you ponder this essential question. One, the message of the writings in the New Testament made sense (were understandable) to the people to whom those writings were sent. They were not written to make sense centuries later to peoples and in a world those people could not imagine. The better we understand the Mediterranean world of the first century, the better we will understand the context and meaning of those writings. The old adage that they mean what they say and say what they mean usually declared scripture meant what the teacher or commenter thought. The issue was, How informed was the thought presented?
Do not fall into the convenient trap of thinking the Bible was written for us, not for them. Would you like for people of the future to think that way in 100 years? It is much easier to ignore the Bibles context to determine religious meaning for today. It is much easier to focus on it means to me than it is to determine it said to them and apply that meaning to todays situation.
Two, they understood a rule by kings who must be obeyed, but the modern forms of democracy did not exist. Never in the church was any human called the king. Nor was there a neat form of hierarchy that existed to control the church as was and is often the case in the church through the centuries.
The rule of kings does not make sense to us and our forms of governing do. The opposite was true then. They understood the rule of kings and empires. What were their realities commonly do not even exist for most people today.
Third, the industrial revolution with its manufacturing processes had not occurred. The concept of a CEO or a group of CEOs was not in their thought process. That may be the way we think, but it was not the way they thought.
While we cannot think or imagine existing in a world with no manufacturing or CEOs, they existed in a world with neither.
Fourth, little is said about controlling others as today we think of religious control. Much is said about having faith in Jesus Christ and being motivated by that faith.
It is critical to religious thought to understand the contrast between controlling and believing. Controlling is commonly a matter of power; believing is commonly a matter of personal choice based on personal reasons.
Fifth, there is much emphasis on being guided by Gods values as Christians made choices and exercised behavior decisions. Christians were urged to be Gods people, not to seek to control harsh situations. Consider 1 Peter 2:11-3:17.
Choice is not a religious blessing until choice seeks Gods values. We choose because we trust, not because we are forced.
Sixth, rarely was fear used as a motivation for accepting the good news concerning Jesus. People became disciples in the joy of deliverance, not because they were afraid of hell. Hell is real, and eternal accountability is certain. Jesus is the means of living before God in hope rather than fear. Early Christians were people filled with hope, not terror.
Instilling fear is simple short-term, but ineffective long-term. People typically get weary of being afraid and rebel. Fear must quickly become faith, or fear becomes disastrous. Fear rebels; love commits. Fear enslaves; love appreciates. Fear requires an enforcer; love serves indefinitely.
Early congregations cared for Christians and respected peopleeven those who did no believe in Jesus (Galatians 6:10). They did good works all the time wherever they wereat home or elsewhere. They were Gods light, salt, and yeast in all circumstances. They learned that being an individual who behaved by Gods values was bigger than language, bigger than procedures, bigger than ways of doing things, and bigger than cultures. Being Gods church locally and worldwide was a devotion of joyful hope, not a matter of fearful privation.
Christians who trusted Gods values declared by Jesus were an asset to their society (even if it was corrupt), and they were helpful to Christians and their needs. Christians functioned as a community of people who cared for each other.
How pitiful it is that those who are Gods people through the risen Jesus are seen as those who declare, You are headed for hell! Come be a part of us, and we will teach you how to really feel like guilty failures! The risen Jesus, our Lord and King, died to give us the privilege of existing in the joy of an indestructible hope!
Christians do not exist to promote fear. They exist to promote hope. In no generation will everyone respond to hope in Christ. Control will not produce faith. Gods values must be accepted through believing and the trust believing produces. There are no shortcuts.
For Thought and Discussion
1. What is the focus of this lesson?
The focus is on the New Testaments use of the word Christian as it refers to people who follow Jesus Christ.
2. Give the basic contrast between Acts 8:1-3 and Ephesians 5:23-32.
The basic contrast is between the church at a specific place (Acts) and the church at many places (the Ephesian headship of Jesus).
3. Discuss Jesus use of the word church in the New Testament gospels.
The discussion should include this understanding: In the gospels, Jesus rarely used the word church.
4. All Christians everywhere look to Jesus for what?
All Christians look to Jesus for guidance and direction.
5. Discuss ways of looking at men and women who are Jesus disciples.
This lesson suggested the CEO style of leadership, a democratic form of government, a preferred culture, and some form of control (such as fear) as possible options in our thinking. Are there others? The discussion should include this understanding: Many ways that are common to our thinking did not exist in the first century.
6. What six things were you asked to think about?
a. The New Testament writings were given to people of the first century to address their needs and situations.
b. They understood rule by kings and empires, but not democracy as it is practiced today.
c. The industrial revolution and manufacturing had not occurred (they did not know our leadership forms, found in institutions).
d. Christianity did not seek to dominate thinking through control.
e. Christianity was based on learning and practicing Gods values.
f. Rarely was fear used as a motivation for accepting Gods will in Jesus Christ.
7. What did early congregations do?
They cared for Christians, respected people, and did good works.
8. Where were early Christians Gods light, salt, and yeast?
They were light, salt, and yeast wherever they were in all circumstances.
9. What is pitiful?
It is pitiful to try to promote Jesus and the gospel by the fear of hell and by increasing the feeling of guiltiness in the saved.
10. Why did the risen Jesus die for us?
Jesus died for us to give us the privilege of existing in the joy of an indestructible hope.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 3