The reality of the 1st century church and the 21st century church are so opposite that it's difficult to find evidences of the former in the latter. What was a standard in 33 AD is barely recognizable today. I realize this is a very general statement about a very specific topic. Please bear with me. Since the beginning of time mankind has taken to task what definition fits on a certain people, time, community and future. What was once thought impossible is now in museums. The world has changed so much over time that we no longer have any idea what was first meant by Christian living. Circumstances and their responses have been crippled with minimization on major issues and making major issues out of minimal ones. It's what mankind does to fit inside a definition. If we don't like how the definition looks and that definition requires something I'm uncomfortable with; simply change the definition. George Orwell, in his book "198"4, speaks of the changing of history in order to justify the existence of a certain group of leaders. Everyone was expected to adjust to this new version of history as gospel. Civilization, in that world, were expected to capitulate or be retrained so they could fit back into the new society. Civilization has done the same with Christianity. Redefine so that our disobedience can be justified and rationalized into obedience.
Karl Menninger, in his book "Whatever Became of Sin", traces the behavior of mankind backwards from today identifying mankind's redefining of responsibility for sin. Blaming and shaming being the greatest motivators in doing so. Menninger is correct in stating that all of our redefining is for the sake of our comfort on every level with whatever it is we want to do. This is especially true in the Christian community. Becoming all things to all people for Paul resembles nothing what he intended in today's Christian life. For Paul, the surrender of his person and all that it represented is essential to bring Christ to others on an ongoing and saving manner. Today we ask that others become like us so that they can then belong to our distorted world of self-centered living. Our expectations have turned from what we give to what we can get. Give little and take a lot. Jesus argued the opposite. Give everything and receive the blessings of heaven so much that you will not be able to contain them. What a difference from the prosperity preachers of today. Shame on them. They truly have their reward. In the meantime instead of edifying those who belong to Christ, they victimize and rob from them in the name of a redefined Christianity. As Paul would say, they follow no Gospel at all.
Why is it we belong to a body of believers? Is it for reasons dictated by Christ or is it for more human like reasons. The church for many is a wonderful social gathering marked by food and drink. I've attended a Christian home group that is comprised of individuals whose focus is on wine tasting. It's not that wine tasting is bad for any of us. Rather, we need to be asking ourselves two questions. The first is whether or not this edifies Christ and the body of believers? The second is whether or not it's what Jesus instructed when he told us to not "forsake the gathering of yourselves."? Is our desire to be "inclusive" so strong that we deny the very basis of our belief? Have we moved to that place where it's more important to guard someone's feelings in order that they not deal with the guilt of their sin? Do we avoid saying anything because, "I'm a sinner too and have no room to judge."? How many of our churches, denominations have gone so far from the first church that their worship is not recognizable and not even Scriptural? Those and other questions form how you and I think, serve and obey. It's not a do what you want and feel what you want world. It's a world where the unrealistic expectations are now regarding those who hold true to the faith in a negative, hindering and "wrong" manner. The first century faith and community are for many now wrong. It's still your choice. Do what God wants or do what you want. That's it. No other choices.
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