The Need For Restoration
In Jeremiah 6:16, the great prophet of God prophesied, "Thus
says the Lord: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the
good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they
said, 'We will not walk in it.'"
Now more than ever, there is a need to restore the "old paths" of Christianity
where the "good way" is. A quick look at today's religious world reveals
complete mayhem. It is difficult to find two churches in one city that teach the
same thing. It is even more difficult to find a church that is like the church
described in the first century. When these circumstances exist, something has
gone terribly wrong.
Is this sectarian religious world, with all its different names, creeds,
doctrines, teachings, ministries, and ideas what the Lord prayed for in John 17?
I think not! Are those proclaiming Christianity today fulfilling what Paul spoke
of in Ephesians 4:3 where he wrote, "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace?" Definitely not! We must ask ourselves, "Is Christ
divided?" just as Paul asked the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:13). Obviously, our
answer must be, "Of course not!" Yet, judging from the appearance of today's
"Christian" world, you cannot tell. Why? Simply stated, everyone has gone his
own way, and turned crooked the straight paths of the Lord!
The Plight Of First Century Christianity
In the majority of "Christendom," first century Christianity has been abandoned
today! Sure, the core of the Gospel-the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
Christ-remains in tact. It is the plan of salvation, the apostle's doctrine, the
pattern of the first century church, among other things, that have suffered
perversion. Unfortunately, many souls have honestly and sincerely been deceived
by such perversions.
Through time, many different people have taught various notions of Christianity.
Some teachers have tried to make the word of God too simple. Some have made it
too difficult. Some felt that our worship to God required innovation and
modernization, thus they changed it. Some obviously believed the organization of
the first century church was not good enough, so they tried to make it better.
Some believed that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was irrelevant to today's modern
society, so they adjusted it to make it "relevant." The turns, twists, and forks
in what is supposed to be the "straight and narrow path" to salvation are too
many to mention and were definitely not put there by God. Some happened long ago
and carried through to today. The rest are added day by day. Overall,
"Christianity" has changed without God's permission. God's perfect Way has been
deemed imperfect. That is why we must repent and seek to restore first century
Christianity today!
How Do We Restore First Century Christianity
Today?
First, we must find the pure seed. The Bible has
likened the Word of God unto a seed-an incorruptible seed (1 Pet. 1:23). This
seed must be planted in the hearts of men. If the soil is right, it will grow
and bear fruit. If the soil is poor, it will not bear fruit (consider the
parable of the sower in Matt. 13:24ff). We know that a seed will bear fruit
after its' own kind. The pure seed of God's word will produce true Christians
and nothing else. What happens when the seed is perverted, warped, manipulated,
and changed? The result is what we have today: hundreds of different flavors of
Christianity. We have division, sectarianism and denominationalism! This is why
we must get back into our Bibles and imitate the first century church in
doctrine, worship, organization, labors, and purity (1 Thess. 2:14). We must
find the pure seed and begin planting it. Only then, will we reap pure
Christianity!
Second, we must learn to "rightly divide the word of
truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). This must be a diligent effort. So many today,
depend upon the "clergy" to do the studying and interpreting for them. This is a
dangerous practice to say the least. The Lord commanded "we work out our own
salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). Knowing we all will give answer
for ourselves on the Day of Judgment, we cannot leave our salvation in the hands
of someone else. We must learn to study God's word for ourselves, test the
spirits, and prove all things (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:21). When we
do this, "we are workers that need not be ashamed." But when we trust another to
do our studying for us, we could likely be the "blind following the blind" (Luke
6:39). That is why we must all learn as individuals to study our Bibles for
ourselves and rightly divide the word of truth.
Third, we must seek Bible authority (a book, chapter and
verse) for all that we say and do. The apostle wrote in Colossians 3:17,
"and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord...." We can
know by faith, which comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17), that if the
Lord Jesus commanded us to do it, we must do it. God gave Him all authority
(Matt. 28:18). We can also know by faith, that if the apostles did something or
commanded us to do something, we can and must do it. The Lord gave the apostles
authority (Matt. 16:19; 2 Cor. 10:8). Thus, we have our means of establishing
authority for what we do. If we have a direct command, an approved apostolic
example or we can necessarily infer that it was a practice of the first century
Christians, we can know by faith it is acceptable for us to do. To do anything
else is to act without the Lord's authority and thereby sin. It is really that
simple! We must seek God's approval for all that we say and do (Col. 3:17).
Fourth, we must reestablish the pattern for the church set
forth in the New Testament. The Bible says, in 2 Timothy 1:13, "Hold fast
the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which
are in Christ Jesus." The work, worship, and organization of some churches has
become secular and carnal in nature. Instead of saving souls, churches are
feeding bellies. Instead of coming together to worship God, churches come
together for entertainment and socialization. Instead of autonomous local
congregations overseen by a plurality of qualified elders, churches have become
institutionalized conglomerates led by one man oftentimes not qualified to be an
elder or many men holding titles and positions nowhere designated in scripture.
We must get back to the arrangement the Lord has designated for a local church,
and accept no substitutes.
Finally, we must stand fast in the truth and never ever
compromise it. It is written in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, "Therefore,
brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by
word or our epistle." God's word offers no compromise because compromise is the
door to apostasy. Compromise of truth involves giving into something other than
truth, and inevitably departing from God's word. This is why "Christianity" is
in the mess that it is in today. Men have not only opened the door for
compromise, they let it swing freely both ways. Sadly, all we have left to show
for it is division and more division. Instead of restoration, people call for
"unity in diversity" and "ecumenism," neither of which are pleasing to God. This
is why we must stand firm in the truth and never compromise it.
In Conclusion...
Let us all demand the truth of God's word, the whole truth of God's word, and
accept nothing but the truth of God's word. If the church you are part of does
not resemble the church you can read of in the pages of the New Testament in
every way, shape and form-demand restoration! If they "will not walk in the old
paths" that Jeremiah wrote of in Jeremiah 6:16, then find a group who will.
There is indeed a great need to restore first century Christianity today. This
is the plea of the church of Christ that meets on Hillcrest Drive. We hope you
will make it your plea too!
By Jonathan Perz
From Expository Files 9.8; August 2002
