How does the book of Acts Church compare to todays Church?

Question

Wally - Are you a Christian? What other scriptures do you throw out because they don't align with your beliefs?

Answer 1

Just as it is written that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, the same should be with the church. This is how one can discern the true bride of Christ from those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of the Holy Spirit.

So the true church will be those that closely resemble that of the early church. And they will bare the signs of a believer as spoken in Mark 16.

Answer 2

On an finished, the church as all of us comprehend it in the present day does not resemble the acts of the apostles. there's a body of believers, which i'm one, who believes that the church should be doing merely what the apostles did. we are not Catholic nor Prodestant. we are Apostolic. The church should be preaching the messege that the apostles preached, that became the message then and that message has not replaced. So if a church isn't preaching that message, then are they ordained of God or of adult males? Acts 2:38,39 became the first message preached to the international from the church. Acts 2:38 Then Peter reported to them, "Repent, and be baptized everybody of you contained in the mane of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and also you shall recieve the present of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you and on your toddlers, and to all that are afar off, on an similar time as many because the Lord our God shall call." that's the message that became extra. all and sundry who says different is following denominationalism and that is erroneous. Jesus made it very sparkling, there is ONE body with many elements, not many bodies with many elements. Jesus also reported this, Mark 16:15-18 "bypass you into all international and carry forth the gospel to each and each and every creature. He that believes and is baptized will be kept, he that believes not will be damned. And those indications shall follow them that believe: In my call, they shall forged out devild, they shall talk with new tongues, They shall take up serpents, and in the adventure that they drink any deadly component, it shall not damage them, they shall lay palms on the sick and they shall recuperate." So if a church claimes to belong to him and does not believe or carry forth or practice this stuff, i wager they fairly do not belong to him. Sorry people, its a large pill yet we'd want to swallow it!

Answer 3

SO much has happened to the church since its early pure beginnings as recordedin the Book of Acts. There are some striking differences and the Lord has truly laboured over the centuries to recover the Church back to this purity.

In the Book of Acts we see that the brothers and sisters met day by day. They continued steadfastly with one accord not just in the temple but they broke bread from house to house. They partook of their food with exultation and simplicity of heart.

The word also shares in Acts 2 that God added daily those who were being saved.

This is a picture of the church life. Where the saints were simple. The church was not somewhere for men to make a name for themselves. These brothers and sisters were in one accord. Today we break bread in some churches once a month. Having home meetings in the house is seen sometimes as a threat to the " pulpit". The gatherings are so huge that its hard to keep track of one another and the intimate connection and closeness is not there. Church today seems to be more about numbers than being weighty in the Lord. The burden to deliver the word is placed on the shoulders of one man rather than " each one" having a portion to give for the building up of the Body.

By the time the Church passed through the the dark ages and the polution of the catholic church there was so much confusion that the Lord, century after century. starting with Martin Luther, had to recover all the things that have been lost or twisted over time.

I tell you brother. the Lord has been so faithful to Himself and His word. Today there is something called the "Lord's Recovery" that goes back all the way to the Beginning. That which was seen and heard.. what our hands handled concerning the Word of Life.

Its the only place that I see any similarities to the early church today.
They meet in cities all over the earth. Each church just called according to the believers meeting in that particular city. Same principle in the Bible. So we have the Church in Toronto. The Church in New York, the Church in Sydney, Athens, World wide brother. Same as in the Bible. " Church in COrinth.. the Church in ephesus.. the Church in Jerusalem etc.

These ones truly have the " Brotherly Love" as seen in the Church in Philadelphia. THey love the Lord's name and His word. They have no power by worldly standards..but the Lord has been faithful to open doors to the inhabited earth for the spreading of the Gospel of Grace and of the Kingdom.

Its such a mercy to see that the Lord has brought and recovered the church to what it should be on the earth.

These ones who stand for the Lord are attacked on every side. Satanic chaos runs rampant because the enemy hates what is happening all over the earth. But the Lord says that He will open doors that no man will shut and shut what no man can open. The thing about it brother is that this kind of way of meeting as the church has been going on for almost a century.

here is a link brother if you are at all curious about these brothers and sisters.

http://www.localchurches.org/

In Christ
sandy

Answer 4

I think it's similar to the comparison between homemade bread and Wonderbread. One takes several ingredients (people), some hard work and time, and comes from the oven solid and filling. The other we simply pick up as we pass by, and is soft and easily torn apart.

One needs to be made (worked on) on a regular basis and made use of while it's fresh, the other is full of preservatives and is easily replaced when it runs out, with little or no effort on the part of the person who bought it. (Sitting in church on Sunday and thinking that's all there is to Christianity).

I hope my analogy makes sense to someone besides me! :o)

Answer 5

The book of Acts highlights the zealous preaching work of the 1st century Christian congregation. (Acts 1:8; 5:42)

Professed Christians today sit on their butts and let paid ministers/priests do all the talking. That is, of course, with exception of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Bible is clear on the fact that true Christians share their faith with others. The good news "is, in fact, God's power for salvation" says Romans 1:16. If that is the case, why would a person not want to share it with others? Hence, Paul said to Timothy- and by extension true Christians today; "Preach the word, be at it urgently". (2 Timothy 4:2)

See also, Matthew 24:14; Romans 10:13-15, 18.

The vast majority of those who think of themselves as Christians have become like the good-for-nothing slave in Jesus parable who hid his talent in the ground. He did not increase Christ's belongings. In contrast, the Christians as portrayed in the book of Acts, and Jehovah's Witnesses today have worked hard for Christ's interests. Hence, as in the parable, they will enter into the joy of the Master. (Matthew 25:14-30)

Answer 6

That statement reminds me of the 'congregation' I left (I have Thanked God a few times). I hope you do not define the scriptural 'old testament' as Genesis-Malachi; if so the 7 deviations from God's word might also apply to your thinking.

Answer 7

The church in the book of acts is very similar to churches which are called Charismatic or Pentecostal Today.

I do not include those Penteocostals who deny the Trinity.

Pastor Art

PS to Wally: Sorry about your church, but I've been seeing the Day of Pentecost and the miracles which occured in the Book of Acts in pretty much every church I've been a part of as an adult.

Answer 8

The book of Acts was a transitional period for the beginning of the Church. Acts is a transitional book; therefore, we do not build doctrine on this book unless the rest of the New Testament confirms it. Because believers did not have the New Testament, God demonstrated His power and approval by miracles, revelations and speaking in tongues (languages) at Pentecost. This was to rapidly spread the news of a new dispensation of the Savior who had come to redeem mankind. This was a miracle at Pentecost not to be repeated. There is only one Pentecost like there is only one Calvary, one bodily resurrection and one ascension. On the day of Pentecost people from all over the known world heard the Gospel in their language so that they could return and tell their people that the Savior of the world was alive from the dead. Acts 2:4, 22-24. Today, the gift of tongues is no longer active. We have the Bible in most languages of the world. We just need to fulfil this commission by using the tongue that we have. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.

Answer 9

They were very similar to the synagogue meetings, not temple worship. Most churches today are far too structured and programed.
Most probably the small group meetings, with little to no hoopla would be real close.

Answer 10

Markus,
Our Non-Denominational Church follows only the New Testament examples to make decisions as to what we are supposed to be doing in our religious services and in our Bible Studies. We read, study, and obey GOD'S WORD and attempt to do only what we are told to do in the New Testament as HE has given us examples and direction to do. Have a great weekend and a wonderful LORD'S DAY!
Thanks,
Eds



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