I write these thoughts today as
much for myself as I do anyone who might read them. I found in counseling
people that writing can bring things up from the “guts” that mere verbalizing
leaves buried. So I’ll take my own medicine on this and pick up my pen.
As Jan and I get ready to launch
an expression of “simple church” in a few weeks (September 4) I would like to
offer some initial thoughts on the subject. The name of our church is Acts 2:42
The Dalles. Our tag line, if you will, is “A simple church of simple people
simply loving God and one another.” I want to unpack the name and purpose here
to clarify some elements that I believe are foundational.
One can go online and search “simple
church” and come up with a myriad of ideas, opinions, motives, and comments,
both negative and positive, for the simple church movement. As I’ve researched and
wrestled with some of these things, I realize there are many models to follow,
networking groups to join, and sincere believers involved in many expressions
of simple church. But I also know there is a time to get off the web and listen
to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. He has the insight I need to go
about this in the way He wants for the people He knows will be a part of it
with us. It’s His expression I need to concern myself with. And the fullness of
that expression will unfold over time as people with varying needs, vision, and
gifts grow in community. But a departure point is necessary in any journey even
if the final destination (is there such a thing?) is evident or not. So I’ll
begin with our name, Acts 2:42, as a departure point in my unpacking of “A simple church of simple people simply
loving God and one another.”
Acts 2:42 is part of a longer portion of
scripture (Acts 2:42-47) that gives some insight into what the very early
church found as foundational in their day and circumstances. It reads, “And they continued stedfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Without
getting into a lengthy discussion of the original language, I’ll just point out
four elements that seemed to characterize their corporate gatherings.
So what was the apostles’ doctrine? It was the act or the matter of the
apostles’ instruction; the matter being Jesus. I’m sure the apostles opened up
the O.T. scriptures to these earliest Jewish believers as Jesus had done for
two disciples on their way to Emmaus the day of the resurrection. “And
beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the
scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27 KJV) We desire, above all else, to be people of the
Word. We believe that both the Old and New Testaments are God’s Word and that,
as Paul told Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV) The apostles also had the benefit of having
been mentored by the Master. They had an experience with Jesus to add to their
revelation of Jesus. So in applying that to today, we take scriptural
revelation and let the Holy Spirit confirm the Word in our experience as we
worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.
Fellowship was more to these early disciples than a monthly potluck
dinner. As they went from house to house they may have eaten together daily. This
perhaps served as an initial opportunity to build fellowship, but it did not remain
the focus of fellowship. True fellowship, koinōnia, takes time.
Over time it became partnership, participation, social intercourse. It
grew into more than a social gathering. Social interaction is different than
social intercourse. They were drawn together in intimate community. As I heard
Norman Clear joke more than once when commenting on a couple being pregnant, “I
guess they did more than say, ‘Howdy’.”
The breaking of bread in our scripture is looked at by many
commentators as the eating of a natural meal together, probably concluded by
the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. As in fellowship, the natural moved into
the spiritual. Remember, when Jesus instituted the Supper, it was in the midst
of the Passover meal. Remember our two
disciples on the Emmaus road? Even after expounding the scriptures to them,
they did not recognize Jesus until He broke the bread. How fitting, as we come
together in fellowship and spiritual teaching, that we on occasion continue our
time in the sharing of food and communion. Can one be done without the other? Of
course. But it seems a natural progression to include both. The love feast can
be an expression of our love for each other as well as our love for Jesus in remembering
and experiencing Jesus’ love for us.
In prayer. Actually in the prayers, says the original rendering. What
prayers? The temple prayers that the early believers were accustomed to. Of course, we can expand that today through
the examples and teachings on prayer in the New Testament. Giving time when we
come together to share our journey’s burdens and victories is a wonderful way
to deepen fellowship and call on the Father for one another in Jesus’ name.
Now why is simple so important? Because we've complicated our coming
together in so many ways and put so many expectations on our corporate
gatherings. The early church did not need the hottest worship team, the most eloquent
of preachers, or the softest pews. They didn't come to an event on a certain
day of the week to be entertained. They came together for their very survival.
I’m all for an anointed worship team and the word being presented in an
effective way. I’m not against comfortable facilities, either. But if those
things become so paramount in my thinking that I feel cheated in my “experience”
if they’re not present, I have become too complicated in my understanding of
what “church” really is. It only takes me to worship. It only takes me and
someone else for community. And really it can happen anywhere.
What are simple people? Common people. You and me people. People with
battle scars, people with defeats and victories along the way. People who aren't
afraid to be real and transparent and admit they don’t always have it all
together. People that can come to God as they are, but allow God to move them
along in their relationship with others and with Him. Simple isn't dense.
Simple is just plain real. And willing.
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