When I read the Bible I see that they gathered in homes, there was no head leader, I do read elders (plural) and giftings in the church, no big me, little you crap.
2006-10-31 12:46:32 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Very interesting question. You're right - for about 3 centuries they gathered in homes. Pulpits, pews, ministers, sermons, all came much later and were largely influenced by the Roman Empire.
2006-10-31 12:52:18 · answer #1 · answered by meoorr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"crap"? Interesting theological term you're using there.
Pulpits started out as lecterns, and got fancy over the years.
Pews were simply benches with backs, the cheapest way to seat large numbers of people.
Scheduled services existed even in early-church home worship. I'm betting that the early Christians didn't communicate that there was a worship service by running around at the last moment, or sending out mental telepathy signals.
Yes, there were leaders. The Apostles were certainly early leaders, and their teachings were seen to be authoritative (although not rising to the level of popes of later years).
The early church in Acts also had every selling everything that they had to live in a commune -- are you advocating that as well?
2006-10-31 12:58:24 · answer #2 · answered by geek49203 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when you read the bible you'll see they gathered in temples and synagogues which are churches.
church being Ecclesiastical or gather for worship.
since the first church was at antioch many had worship services openly in building called churches--reference book of ACTS.
as persecution started--christians had to go __underground___
and thus home churches...
but building were the first prescribed worshiped centers...
and remain so today...
yet more services are conducted within home- than within man- made church buldings even today...
ther was head leaers in every church--read Apostle Paul writings--he made elders of each church that started on his missionary journeys..
elders are the head--be it pastor-preachers-minsters-layperson-ectsall group together by paul.
really- the BIBLE is quite simple when one reads it verse by verse chapter by chapter.
2006-10-31 13:09:10 · answer #3 · answered by cork 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Jesus himself told his follwers to abandon their wives and families to follow him; there's always been the cult of personality.
2006-10-31 14:48:36 · answer #4 · answered by adphllps 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋