posted
As a student of history, I often have understanding of scripture enlightened a bit by seeing something in the light of another historic episode.
While meditating on the question, "Should there be teaching at most house to house gatherings?" I began studying out the passage in Acts about what the early church did. Friends of mine who want to have teaching in Lord's Day meetings would probably quote the verse about the people devoting themselves to "prayer, fellowship, breaking of bread and the apostles' teaching", making the assumption that it meant that the people devoted themselves to LISTENING to Apostles while they were teaching.
But, if I look at a similar modern day example, it might read like this, "The communists devoted themselves to revolution, literature distribution and to Chairman Mao's teaching..." We would not think, "Chairman Mao was there teaching" but that the people discussed Chairman Mao's teaching, as written and dictated.
This would then make more sense in regards to Paul's explanations of what "should" happen in gatherings - that several would speak. If they all came planning to ask questions or tell something about what they had already learned about the teachings of Jesus, there would be a lot more "dialogos" than if a teacher came prepared to give a lecture.
I hate to get my theology from the communists - but, of course, Marx used what he learned pursuing his MDiv to create his movement, and though his message was warped his method worked well because he was literal in doing things the Jesus way.
"Ah, Lord, let the servants of the kingdom of light not be dumber than the servants of darkness." (Luke 16:8)
Your thoughts?
Laurie Ann No more sissy prayers. No more wimpy dreams!
posted
Your case is a plausible one, imo, sister. The apostles couldn't have been everywhere teaching, being few in number regardless of what defines an apostle. But surely their teachings sparked dialogue in every corner.
Notice how short the so-called 'sermons' in the NT really are, btw. There would have been plenty of time for dialogue as well. (Possibly, the recorded sermons may have been the highlights of what was preached.)
For what it's worth, the meetings mentioned in the Corinthian church had a provision for the "others to judge" what was being uttered. Such a mechanism would help defeat erroneous teachings. Yet, for the most part, that provision is ignored in the modern churches.
And let us not overlook talking with God while together. Jesus referred to the Temple as a 'house of prayer.'
It should be no surprise that the saints and their leaders are, at times, more backward than the rest of humanity. They have a long tradition as well of being more evil than their neighbors. Here is just one of several such indictments:
quote:2 Kings 21:9-12 But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel. And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying, Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly ABOVE ALL that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.
posted
OK, I'm back, hopefully on track... with another idea about how the gospel was dispersed via the apostles as they set things in motion - then moved on. After the initial preaching, others picked up the good news and spread it around. Thus, the whole town was full of their teachings (aka: apostles' doctrine) - not so much full of sermons or sermon listeners. But I must add that such things are not necessarily excluded.
This Good News was the stuff talked up around the water coolers of the town not to mention the more "formal" dialoguing as the saints met up.
IMO, as always.
quote:Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have FILLED Jerusalem with your doctrine (teachings), and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
posted
Great discussion! Perhaps a few other things to factor in are time and the lack of specifics in scripture.
TIME. Most of us live in quick "microwave" mode, and miss the importance of elongated, daily fellowship. LA, you quoted the verse in Acts 2 that highlights Doctrine, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread (communion), and Prayers. Which they Continued in Steadfastly. Most of us are used to a two-hour-ish "service" once a week, out of a sense of duty. By our standards today, these early Christians would be wacko-fanatics! Everyday?!!!?? "How in the world they have time for all the TV they need to watch??" Ha Ha. I believe the transmission of the gospel happened much more quickly and efficiently because of their daily interaction with other believers.
LACK OF SPECIFICS. Does anyone else find it interesting how the Bible gets really detailed in some areas, but is so vague in others? I think there is great, divine purpose in that. A purpose that allows for latitute in cultures, times and generations, creativity, etc. Notice that there are no commands to knock on doors, pass out flyers, or fundraise. However, many of us have done these things. We should be in tune with the Spirit of Christ to do what He wants, when He wants, whatever way He wants.
In Acts 8:4, persecution came to the church and an interesting thing happened: they went everywhere preaching the word. If there is one basic skill we believers should be REALLY GOOD at is simply preaching the word. I've preach the word by simple home Bible studies, in restaurants, homes, and over coffee tables, individually or in small groups for years. I do this because that's how I was taught and I've seen great results. 2 Tim. 2:2 shows us the pattern of teaching to other faithful believers the things we've been taught. Which can and should be happening when we meet open co-workers, neighbors, Mon - Sun and even in our home church gatherings. If we, like the apostles, teach teachers to teach, then the word should increase and diciples should multiply.
posted
I think this is a good bit of the reason why everything Jesus taught was in "bite-sized pieces". That meant even illiterates could follow Jesus.
I wonder even if Jesus' open air meetings looked very different from the pictures we have in our mind. Was it more like a crowd milling around, and people coming close to listen to a parable or two, then going to a corner to talk about it? Was it not so much that Jesus had supernatural voice- carrying power, but that people gossiped the gospel from one to another across the hillside?
Sometimes I wonder if our family should use our drama background to try to "stage" reconstructions of these scenes in more realistic ways than your typical Bible movie to get a better idea of how it "should" be done! Or, maybe we wouldn't figure out better, but get more and varied realistic ideas about possibilities. Would a re-enactment of Pentecost and the following weeks give us a better picture of how the world could be turned upside-down?
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