BQ: Instead of looking at traditions of men "in church" since the Protestant Reformation, or since the beginning of Catholicism I prefer to look at what the Bible says. However, it is interesting to look at writings from outside of the Bible, yet close to the 1st century, to see what people who observed Christianity noted about it. Does what the Bible mentions, or what the early congregations did, really match up with what we're familiar with?

 

Let's look at a couple of things. "We keep the...day [Sunday] with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead." (The Letter of Barnabas, around 100 AD)

 

Above we saw that meeting on the first day of the week was important to a man named Barnabas, and Acts 20:7 shows us that God talks of it, too: "On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight."

 

We should not discount the importance of assembling!

 

 

 

BQ:   We're looking at what early Christian assemblies were described as looking like, and comparing and contrasting those descriptions with what the Bible says, and with what our own assemblies may look like. 

 

Barnabas also wrote, "Do not live separate lives, by each going his own way, as those who have already been justified; but by coming together in harmony, you must discuss what leads to the benefit of all. For Scripture says, “Woe to those who are wise to themselves, and have understanding in their own sight!” We should be spiritual; a complete temple to God."

 

This is very much like Acts 2:47-48, which says, "Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people." 

Often when we have repeated problems, it's because we don't spend enough time together with other Christians, but instead start becoming best friends with the world. God and early Christians considered daily fellowship with Christians to be vital. Do you?

 

 

 

 

BQ: Pliny the Younger was governor of Pontus/Bithynia from 111-113 AD. He wrote to Roman Emperor Trajan of Christians he was dealing (torturing and killing) with saying,

 

“they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath not to (do) any wicked deeds, never to commit any fraud, theft, or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate.”

 

The picture here is of a very familial assembly, with a simple meal also being taken. Other references show that meals were often a theme, and that the Lord's Supper was usually consumed after, or during, a "feast of love" on Sundays. 

 

 

 

 

BQ:  So how do writings on early Christian congregations match up with the New Testament? Today we'll look at something the "Didache [Teaching]" said. The Didache was probably written between 80-150AD.

 

"Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day: But every Lord's day you gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure." 

Other than references to eating and the Lord's Supper (here it may be speaking of a common meal, the Lord's Supper, or more likely, both), we also see that they were trying to deal with overcoming sin. Not in a melodramatic way, but rather as a system of accountability. This seems to be like James 5:16, which says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

 

 

 

BQ: We've seen a but of what the Didache wrote about early Christian assemblies, and today we'll look at how it also said, "But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they are reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned."

 

Often we get into petty feuds with our brothers and sisters, but Jesus said, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Mt 5:22-24) 

 

Maintaining unity is of vital importance in the war against Satan. What, though, was the sacrifice spoken of? Romans 12:1 makes that clear, saying, "present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your rational service."  If our lives are to be acceptable, we must be reconciled with ours spiritual family.

 

 

 

 

BQ: Justin Martyr wrote his famous Apology from Rome circa 150 A.D.  He noted something that many Christians want to discount these days, saying, 

 

“After we have thus cleansed the person who believes and has joined our ranks, we lead him or her in to where those we call ‘brothers’ are assembled.” It is the person who has been “initiated” by baptism that is brought into the fellowship of “brothers.”

 

Baptism was practiced by Jews, and made integral to becoming a Christian by God. Why is baptism so important? God says a ton on this, but we'll look at just a few bullets:

 

— "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."  (Col 2:11-12)

 

—"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27)

 

—"...while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:20-21)

 

God says that baptism saves us and clothes us in Christ, and early Christians considered baptism the point at which souls became part of a spiritual family.

 

 

 

 

BQ:  Some Christians believe that assembling with other Christians isn't that important, but we see God telling us it was important in the Bible, and also writings of early Christians who remark on it's value, too.  Justin Martyr wrote of it around 150 AD,

 

"And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits;…Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought… and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited…helps the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need."

Here we see a picture that includes prayer, the Lord's Supper, and deacons.  But it also fits in with  James 1:27, which said, "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." Helping those in need among us has always been an important part of being like Christ. 

 

 

 

 

BQ:  In his defense of Christianity, Tertullian (~155-222 AD) wrote a stunningly-long letter, but I've picked out some bits that may be of extra value to us when looking at what people close to the time of Christ thought was valuable.

 

"We are a body knit together as such by a common religious profession, by unity of discipline, and by the bond of a common hope. We meet together as an assembly and congregation, that, offering up prayer to God as with united force, we may wrestle with Him in our supplications...We pray, too, for the emperors, for their ministers and for all in authority, for the welfare of the world, for the prevalence of peace, for the delay of the final consummation.". 

 

Early Christians found being united to be absolutely critical to success for Christ, and Tertullian makes a comment similar to Eph 4:2-3, which says,"all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." It's hard sometimes, but being open to other opinions is important.  It's important to be united in a relationship instead of divided."  Notice also that Christians prayed for even those in government who sought to have them killed. Would you do the same?

 

 

 

BQ: Tertullian also wrote, "However it be in that respect, with the sacred words we nourish our faith, we animate our hope, we make our confidence more steadfast; and no less by inculcations of God’s precepts we confirm good habits....The tried men of our elders preside over us, obtaining that honour not by purchase, but by established character. There is no buying and selling of any sort in the things of God."<p> </p>

To inculcate is "to teach or instill be persistent instruction." Habits are formed by repetition, and early Christians realized that. Notice also that elders (also called "pastors") were considered important to early Christians, and God requires that they meet certain minimum qualifications, much like a job application has criteria for selection. In Titus 1:5-11, God elucidates, saying, 

 

"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,  namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,  but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,  holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict." (Titus 1:5-11)

 

1 Timothy 3:1-7 has further remarks. If your assembly has pastors, do they meet these qualifications?

 

 

 

BQ: Do you ever go to a congregation and feel like you're being fleeced for money?  Tertullian, like many others, also saw the need for helping out those who were not well off. He remarked of Christianity, 

 

"Though we have our treasure-chest, it is not made up of purchase-money, as of a religion that has its price. On the monthly day, if he likes, each puts in a small donation; but only if it be his pleasure, and only if he be able: for there is no compulsion; all is voluntary. These gifts are, as it were, piety’s deposit fund. For they are not taken thence and spent on feasts, and drinking-bouts, and eating-houses, but to support and bury poor people, to supply the wants of boys and girls destitute of means and parents, and of old persons confined now to the house; such, too, as have suffered shipwreck; and if there happen to be any in the mines, or banished to the islands, or shut up in the prisons, for nothing but their fidelity to the cause of God’s Church, they become the nurslings of their confession."

 

At Christ's Church in Billings, MT, no collection plate is passed, and instead, there is a wayward box that you'd have to search for in the hall, and there people can donate if they desire. Why do you think that collection plates are passed, and how do you feel if an assembly seems to be all about making money? 

 

 

BQ:  Jude says in verse 12, "These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear." What in the world does that mean? Early Christians seem to have had the Lord's Supper with a meal at which they showed loved to each other, and Tertullian's writings indicate that it was very common.  He said,

 

"Our feast explains itself by its name. The Greeks call it agape, i.e., affection [love]. Whatever it costs, our outlay in the name of piety is gain, since with the good things of the feast we benefit the needy...As it is an act of religious service, it permits no vileness or immodesty. The participants, before reclining, taste first of prayer to God. As much is eaten as satisfies the cravings of hunger; as much is drunk as befits the chaste. They say it is enough, as those who remember that even during the night they have to submit to God."

 

There's a ton that we can glean from this paragraph, but we see that it was considered service, not "worship," and that it was filled with love. What's more, becoming drunk was considered a vile act. Often Christians go out to the bars, yet Christ and early Christians knew and know that even at night we have to submit (worship) God.  Don't let the world hoodwink you on that one!

 

 

BQ: Tertullian wrote of early Christians assembling that, "each is asked to stand forth and sing, as he can, a hymn to God, either one from the holy Scriptures or one of his own composing—a proof of the measure of our drinking. As the feast commenced with prayer, so with prayer it is closed. "

Notice just how perfectly this matches with Eph 5:19, which says, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." 

 

God desired people to sing, to love, and to learn from song, but wanted everyone to avoid becoming drunk. 

 

 

 

BQ:  Ignatius of Antioch was sent to Rome to be executed around 110 AD, but he wrote before his death, 

 

"Therefore, make every effort to come together frequently for gratitude and praise of God. For whenever you are together frequently, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and his destructive plan is ruined by your unity of faith. 

Come together in common through grace...with an undivided mind, breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality – that is, the antidote so that we would not die but live for ever in Jesus Christ."

 

Here we notice a lot of important details. First, John 6:54 holds true. "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."  The Lord's Supper was considered critical to Christians.  Furthermore, frequently assembling was something that really gave Satan a black eye. 

 

What does that mean? Instead of hanging out with our fellow saints once per week, and those captive to Satan every other time we "go out," we should be doing out best to become a true family with those who are in Christ. Replace your friendship with the world with friendship with the saints, and become instead an ambassador and rescuer to those held captive by Satan.