The Fall of the Early Church

When the Lord Jesus said, “I will build My church,” what kind of church did He mean? In a Christian world that has fragmented into tens of thousands of denominations, denominational leaders generally refer to these denominations as the church. It is also widely accepted that there is a concept of the ‘visible church’ (the many denominations in Christianity) and the ‘invisible church’ (all true children of God throughout the world, whose number only God knows). This concept of the visible and invisible church was introduced by Martin Luther and is now widely accepted in Christianity. But is it true that these tens of thousands of denominations are the church that Jesus intended when He said, “I will build My church”?

If we truly want to understand what kind of church Jesus meant when He said, “I will build My church,” we should not look at the church as it existed 200 or 300 years ago. We must go back 2,000 years and look at the church described in the Book of Acts. It is in the Book of Acts that we find the church Jesus referred to when He said, “I will build My church.” In fact, in the Book of Acts we also find why the church we call the early church eventually fragmented into the tens of thousands of denominations we see today. Therefore, if someone longs to understand what the church built by Jesus looks like, they must seriously study the church recorded in the Book of Acts.

In the Book of Acts, which consists of only 28 chapters, there are approximately 40 occurrences of expressions such as ‘the Spirit led’, ‘the Spirit urged’, ‘the whisper of the Spirit’, ‘the Spirit said’, ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’, and similar phrases. Paul even referred to himself as a ‘prisoner of the Spirit’. This proves that the early church was a church whose members were directly led by the Holy Spirit. The only authority that operated in the early church was the authority of the Holy Spirit. The apostles, elders, and deacons all had to submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit. This is the church that Jesus built when He said, “I will build My church.”

Then what happened so that the early church, which was fully governed by the Holy Spirit, has now split into tens of thousands of denominations, each with its own rules made by its leaders? Acts 20:28–30 explains: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”

There are several points we must note from these verses to understand why the early church, once fully governed by the Holy Spirit, later fragmented into tens of thousands of denominations led by human authority.

First, the term ‘overseer’ comes from the Greek word ‘episkopos’, meaning ‘one who looks from above’, that is, one who observes the spiritual condition of the congregation—whether they are protected from the attacks of the devil and are growing spiritually. The term ‘overseer’ (episkopos) is synonymous with ‘elder’ (presbuteros), as they are used interchangeably in Acts 20:17 and Acts 20:28, and also in Titus 1:5 and 7. Thus, an overseer and an elder refer to the same person: presbuteros emphasizes maturity and experience, while episkopos emphasizes spiritual oversight. Both terms always appear in the plural, meaning that leadership in the early church was plural. There was never a single leader as is common in Christianity today.

Second, there were savage wolves (the devil) attacking the leaders of the early church. These wolves did not spare the flock, meaning they would tear the congregation apart just as wolves tear their prey.

Third, leaders who were influenced by these savage wolves would teach false doctrines with the intention of drawing disciples away from the truth so that they would follow them. Initially, the disciples followed the true path—being led solely by the Holy Spirit within. But because they were drawn away by leaders through false teachings, the disciples became divided: some followed one leader, others followed another.

Church leaders should only ‘equip’, not ‘draw’ disciples to themselves to become their followers. Consider Ephesians 4:11–12: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

The term ‘equipping’ comes from the Greek word ‘katartismos’, meaning ‘to bring into a condition that is suitable, proper, and fitting’. Through this equipping, the saints are prepared to build up the body of Christ. Therefore, it is the saints who build the body of Christ, but they must first be equipped by apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers so they can build correctly.

The function of these leaders corresponds to the function of “ligaments” and “joints” in Colossians 2:19: “…from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase of God.” To understand Colossians 2:19, we must grasp a key expression: ‘grows with the increase of God’. The original text (auxano ho auxesis ho theos) is best understood as ‘grows with the growth of God’.

What does it mean to grow with the growth of God? First, we must understand that the authority of a living organism is its life. Life governs, directs, and determines every movement of the organism. If life departs, the organism dies and cannot function. Therefore, the authority of a living being is its life.

Do we realize that the purpose of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation at the right hand of the Father is to give His life (zoe) to believers (the Body of Christ), and for this life to grow within them abundantly (John 10:10)? This ‘zoe’ life is Jesus Christ Himself, as He said, “I am the life” (John 14:6). Therefore, the authority of the church (the Body of Christ) is the authority of this ‘zoe’ life. Jesus exercises direct authority over the church through His life. He does not separate Himself from the church. When Saul persecuted the church, Jesus said, “Why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4–5).

If we understand that the authority of the church is the authority of ‘zoe’ life, and that this life must grow within believers until it overflows, then we understand the meaning of ‘the growth of God’—that is, the growth of God as the ‘zoe’ life. Thus, the church grows because the life of ‘zoe’ grows within it.

Now, what is the function of the “ligaments and joints”? Their function is to supply and to hold the body together so that it may grow through the growth of the ‘zoe’ life. The Greek word translated ‘supply’ (epichoregeo) means to provide, furnish, or equip. The word translated ‘knit together’ (sumbibazo) means to unite, arrange properly, teach, and instruct. Clearly, the function of “ligaments and joints” represents the role of the leaders in the Body (the church).

By properly understanding Colossians 2:19, we can grasp the role of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in Ephesians 4:11–12 as leaders of the Body of Christ. To simply equip, without drawing the Lord’s disciples to themselves. This is what we call body leadership.

We are still discussing the leaders of the Body (body leadership), which Paul describes as the function of “ligaments and joints” in the body (Colossians 2:19). In body leadership, there is clearly no HIERARCHY (levels of human authority). Why? Because in body leadership, the authority of the Body is solely the AUTHORITY OF LIFE. In the context of the Body of Christ, JESUS DIRECTLY GOVERNS HIS CHURCH THROUGH HIS LIFE (ZOE). Jesus never “delegated” His Life to be controlled by church leaders.

What is true is that church leaders must fully submit to the leading of the Life (‘zoe’) and function as “ligaments and joints” in the Body. The term ‘delegated authority’ exists only in an organizational context, where hierarchy is enforced by leaders. In the business world (companies), in politics, or in social structures, hierarchy is acceptable. However, in the church that Jesus established, hierarchy is not permitted.

Jesus had already warned His disciples not to allow hierarchy in His church (Matthew 23:1–12). Notice this passage, where Jesus speaks to two groups: the crowds and His disciples (verse 1). To the crowds, Jesus firmly told them not to ‘rebel’ against the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (the Jewish religious leaders). The crowds were to obey and do everything they taught, because they sat on “Moses’ seat”. This means that within Judaism (Old Testament), which was only a symbol, prophecy, and shadow, the existence of “Moses’ seat” (the authority of Jewish religious leaders) was indeed established. Kings, priests, judges, and Jewish leaders had “Moses’ seat,” meaning authority to govern the nation of Israel. But when the reality came (CHRIST), there should no longer be any “Moses’ seat.”

Now notice Jesus’ words in verse 8: “But you…”—this refers to His disciples. Jesus clearly said that they should not be called leaders, rabbis, or fathers. Why? Because YOU HAVE ONLY ONE LEADER, THE MESSIAH, AND YOU ARE ALL BROTHERS. What does ‘brothers’ mean here? This is not referring to ethnicity, nationality, or even merely fellow believers. The context is about “Moses’ seat” (authority). So when Jesus says ‘you are all brothers’, it means that in His church there must be no “Moses’ seat.” THERE MUST BE NO HIERARCHY IN CHURCH LEADERSHIP. All members of the church must relate as brothers, and all are directly led by the Messiah. This is the church Jesus builds when He says, ‘I will build My church’. This is the early church described in the Book of Acts.

Now consider the Christian world today. Hasn’t hierarchy been widely implemented, even taught in theological schools as “church leadership”? Why? Because the church has fallen into three false teachings: the teaching of Jezebel (the usurpation of Jesus’ authority by leaders influenced by “ravenous wolves”), the teaching of the Nicolaitans (teaching that believers must submit to leaders), and the teaching of Balaam (justifying commerce within the church).

Do we realize the difference between denominational leadership and body leadership (the church)? Denominational leadership resembles business leadership (corporations). Why? Because denominational leaders exalt themselves and act as MANAGERS, not as BROTHERS as Jesus taught. That is why studying denominational leadership is essentially the same as studying management science as taught in business, politics, and social systems.

Church leaders have been influenced by “ravenous wolves” and have exalted themselves, acting as managers who control the movement of the church—or more precisely, their respective denominations. Just as managers plan, organize, motivate, and establish control systems, so do denominational leaders in the Christian world.

But Jesus clearly warned in verse 12: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” This is not about exalting oneself through appearance, education, or wealth, but in the context of “Moses’ seat”—that is, exalting oneself by acting as a manager rather than as a brother. These “managers” in the Christian world will be humbled when Jesus returns (commonly called the Second Coming) as the righteous Judge to judge His church.

However, His chosen people continue to serve as “ligaments and joints,” acting as true servants, not seizing “Moses’ seat,” and faithfully equipping the church.

After understanding the meaning of Jesus’ words, “I will build My church,” the question then becomes: how did the early church worship as the Body of Christ?

Let us consider Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4. The Samaritan woman still had a concept of worship tied to a specific place or geographical location, along with its rules. But Jesus emphasized that the time had come when people must worship in spirit and truth.

Worshiping in spirit and truth is an inward matter. A person may worship here or there… in this way or that… without being bound to a particular method or rule—as long as it is an expression of their inner relationship with God. Some enjoy worshiping in a café, others at home. Some prefer joyful songs, others quiet songs… and so on. As long as it is a genuine inward expression, all of it is valid. In essence, worship is a personal matter. We must not force others to worship according to our methods or rules. Forcing people to worship in a certain building on Sunday to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, claiming it as a New Testament rule, is unfounded. In fact, there is no command in the New Testament requiring worship in a specific building on Sunday for that purpose.

If worship is personal, then why does Hebrews 10:25 say not to neglect meeting together, as if worship were about gatherings? Some leaders even add that such gatherings must be in a building on Sunday, with a pastor, a denomination, offerings, and so on.

Let us first examine the term ‘meeting’ in Greek. The Greek word used in Hebrews 10:25 is EPISUNAGOGE. ‘Epi’ means ‘above’. and ‘sunagoge’ means gathering. Thus, ‘episunagoge’ refers to a gathering “above”—not merely a physical meeting, but a meeting in a higher realm, the spiritual realm. Christian gathering is a meeting in a higher dimension. That is why Paul said to the Corinthians and Colossians that even though he was not physically present, he was present in spirit (1 Corinthians 5:3; Colossians 2:5).

This is where our concept of worship must undergo a radical transformation. If thousands of Christians gather in a building with a pastor, music, and offerings, we should not immediately assume they are fulfilling Hebrews 10:25. If most of them are not living in the spiritual realm, then they are not fulfilling it. On the other hand, if two or three gather ‘in His name’, meaning in the spirit, then they are truly fulfilling Hebrews 10:25—even if there is no pastor, no tithing, no firstfruits offering, or other formal rules.

If a gathering takes place in a home, led by a father within a family, it is often easier for that meeting to fulfill Hebrews 10:25 than one in a building with hundreds or thousands of people. Why? Because fellowship (koinonia), which was the main characteristic of the early church (Acts 2:42), is more easily realized in a home than in a large building.

It is time for us to make our homes places of fellowship (koinonia), places where ‘episunagoge’—gathering in the spiritual dimension—takes place. It is time for our homes to become places of worship in spirit and truth, just like the early church.

Amen.