Meditations & Contemplations: How Normative Is The Early Church?

 Interaction with N. T. Wright: The New Testament & The People of God

p. 16 ... how(emphasis his) is the history of early Christianity to be (perceived) as relevant for the present day? .... many writers of this and some other centuries have seen the religious experience of the early Christians... as the normative element within Christianity. ... This has the apparent advantage that it enables one to conduct ...study of early Christian religion and theology, with the knowledge that when one has found them one is in touch with the real model of what Christianity is supposed to be like.

There does seem to be certain strain within Evangelical Christianity, throughout the ages, which attributes to the “primitive” church an almost Rousseau/Voltairesque expectation of purity. As these men saw the evils in the world to be the result of the accretions of so-called “civilization”, so Evangelicals often have some sort of sense that the problems in Christianity today are more the result of “Church” being imposed on Christianity than anything else. There is a general longing or wish to return to what is perceived to be an immediacy of Christian experience that is not present in our more distant, modern age.

I believe Wright is correct in criticizing this type of thinking.  He reminds us that any such thinking is necessarily selective in pointing to the Biblical record for choosing what things about the early church are to be normative.

...the process will clearly involve selection...according to a pre-arranged evaluative (emphasis his) scheme.... one is forced to import other criteria from outside, which will enable us to distinguish the ‘right’ sort of early religious experience from the ‘wrong’ sort. (P. 16-17)

I have to agree.  There is very little in the primitive Church in Corinth that we might want in our modern congregations.  Similarly the “foolish Galatians” don’t provide much in the way of example.  There was the perennial problem of “Judaizers” seeking to impose a Jewish identification on the church and there certainly must have been entire congregations which reflected those ideas in their central character.  Of the churches listed in Rev. 2-3 several were seriously in error.  The record we have of the early church then does not appear prima facie to provide a great deal of foundation for understanding their experience or character as “normative” for Christian emulation.

Perhaps what should guide us in thinking about how to think about the early church, is to seek to understand how the Bible presents the record of its history for our inspection.  As an overall perspective the Scriptures seems to treat it pretty much in the same category as it treated ancient Israel.  What we see in the NT is that Scriptures deals with the church in its fallen-ness in every age.  What we do not see in the early church any more than we see in Israel is a “normative” historical example or instantiation such that the church in all subsequent ages should attempt to conform to its model as closely as possible.

This reminds us that the church in every age exists under the rule of Christ AND under the judgment of Christ, simultaneously & without fail.  As Christ is guiding and governing His Church, so He is also dealing with un-glorified sinners divided up into the basic categories of sheep and goats.  In this situation, in every age, we see the church struggling to deal with the challenges of its culture and the moral issues of its day.  We see the normal tendency as Christ tarries to shift into worldly preoccupation and misplaced priorities.  We see the inroads of Satan being more or less resisted.  We see the continual necessity of “prophets” calling people back to their God in terms of holiness of conduct and purity of devotion.  In every age, early church included, the only “Norm” is that spiritual warfare is continuous and deadly and that the true reality is that there is very little difference between the church in our age and the early church, except for the presence of exceptional gifts of the Spirit.And if we finally humble ourselves before that reality, then what we will find is that in every age two things are necessary.

(1) The church must have a strong sense of identification & continuity with the church of previous ages.  We are the heirs of their struggle, their defeats and their victories.  We and they, together, are joint participants in the great ongoing project of actualizing the True Church of Christ which is victorious over all His and our enemies.  And in humility, we must undertake the work of synthesis and critique of our historical brothers and sisters, learning from their mistakes and appropriating the fruits of their struggles.  No age is to be idealized because the only ideal is eschatological not historical.  The only historical Norm is Jesus Himself and the only perfection which the Church had or ever will have, is that it is the instrument by which He Himself will usher in the Great Day of His Coming.

(2) The church must have a strong sense of identification & continuity with the church of future ages.  We have an obligation of task.  We must self-consciously undertake to formulate and articulate the present challenges of the church in terms of its historical continuity so that we may properly pass on that understanding to those yet to be born. We must not leave to them only raw data from which they are to synthesize and seek to understand our age and how we, for better or worse dealt with it.  It is our task to place our time and our challenges in historical perspective, not only so that we ourselves may be obedient in the manner which our context demands, but so that we may provide a solid foundation on which future generations may deal with the context they face.  We are torch-holders and torch-protectors of the flame we have received from others.  It is up to us to address the impurities in that flame, both those resulting from previous ages (task of historical critique) and those which we have inflicted upon it (present critique).  Our goal is to glorify Christ in our obedience, but also to pass on as pure a flame as we, in our own fallenness are able.

We must not assign a too romantic aura to any stage of the church’s journey through time.  We must honor and respect and love those who have gone before even as we must honor and respect and love those with whom we walk now and those who will follow us. But the burden of historical perspective, while a true honor and privilege, is one with great challenges and opportunities. 

Comments

[Jeremy Pierce]

At the same time, don't you think the principles the apostles applied in their setting should also apply as we think through how our own congregations should be structured and led? It may well be that many of the same considerations still apply, and the ones that don't have some prior principle behind them that will apply.

[Arch Van Devender]

Certainly can't disagree with that too much as you have stated it. I could not be a Presbyterian if I did not think that the Apostolic practice of leadership by elders was of normative importance.

I am more concerned about a mistaken idea that somehow the 1rst century church was more "pure" than our present churches and that there is an unwarranted nostalgia for some simpler, purer Christianity unencumbered by the mounds of "tradition" (read doctrine) that has accumulated over the years.

Is this what your comment was directed toward?

[gay]

I had happened. Jerry had one lined up beside

[jqypig]

naked people

[omilamargeret]

I'm sure the best for you name brand diaper bags at my estore fashion designer handbags to get new coupon

[oxypejc]

best for you authentic designer handbags for less discount designer luggage online shopping authentic replica and get big save

[immumnigo]

きゅうい きょくちょく げきつい しゃくよう アーメン じきじき いきうつし たんまり サラバンド めまぜ きんぱ どもり ちちのひ てりふり がくない こくぶんがく きおも しゃっかん てほん ちかみち ささつ ていたく ぬいかた ぶたい アクチビズム どかん しょざいない ふくいんしょ しんらい ダーク ホース とどけさき ふみん おきはなし ちけむり エコノミック マン てんい チョッキ あそびはんぶん タップ ダンス めしあげる さけさかな うらめしい アブセンス ゆうき しらとり ばらづみ にじゅう とんじ かわひも ぶじゅつ しによく ドリンク きよう もうしゅう シームレス やくする ひろさ すみつき えんりょ くんれん くほん まげき のべじんいん すんずん やき テンポ りっぽうこん ベースランニング ペンキ たどうし しじゅうしょう けいが とせい さりながら どうしん ピック アップ チーム ろうじょ ぶんかかいかん とぼす ゆでる rayban wayfarer rb2140 せたけ まっせつ ねつじょう オリンピック そでなし のます てあわせ いいよる かいだい ないほう せいくらべ はぎとる ちゃくよう ひこうそにん にゅうだん しゃくしな きあいまけ じぎゃく モンキー とくべつ じつぎ べっとり きょじつ おの サバーブ こま ジン スチーム アイロン ございます センチリットル しゅうだん じゅにん はなばたけ しらしら グッド フォーチュン おうだ かんたい じこしょうかい ふれだいこ ろうれい こっぴどい そらだのみ せきさん にえかえる チャーチスト いっしんふらん てのうら こころぐるしい テーブルクロス たいがしょうせつ ほじる のみぐせ ごじゅうのとう ワット アワー でさかり かきあらわす しじゅうくにち ゆきすぎ エアメール しょういん キー ホルダー スピリット とりおさえる ディプロマシー あずかる きざし なにも ないこう バズ セッション すりそこなう アルジェリア ノックダウン あおり エディション めいもく ファイナル ロスト ラブ はしご ルック ふしゅ

[louis vuitton sale]

CUq louis vuitton outlet usa Kcs louis vuitton outlet KWv louis vuitton store Dfx louis vuitton usa GRp louis vuitton handbags LTt michael kors outlet purses Cb1 louis vuitton outlet store online Ofh michael kors purses outlet JZp louis vuitton sale DWx christian louboutin outlet store Kf8 louis vuitton outlet store Mb6 christian louboutin outlet Lci christian louboutin outlets CPx cheap christian louboutin outlet Gcz michael kors outlet online Og9 michael kors outlet Nft cheap louis vuitton handbags Gg7 cheap louis vuitton bags FPq louis vuitton bags KY8 michael kors purse JYi michael kors handbags outlet Bbw louboutin outlet GYo michael kors outlet store JQw louis vuitton online outlet Obt louis vuitton purses HVr michael kors factory outlet CP5 louis vuitton outlet stores Ech michael kors purses CZu louis vuitton store

[michael kors outlet online]

Oes louis vuitton outlet usa Ee3 louis vuitton outlet Fe1 louis vuitton store He9 louis vuitton usa JQq louis vuitton handbags BRq michael kors outlet purses Odv louis vuitton outlet store online AQ8 michael kors purses outlet Fgo louis vuitton sale Mcu christian louboutin outlet store ISo louis vuitton outlet store GY9 christian louboutin outlet Oc6 christian louboutin outlets Jc9 cheap christian louboutin outlet Ic7 michael kors outlet online LW3 michael kors outlet Mb2 cheap louis vuitton handbags HQu cheap louis vuitton bags LSl louis vuitton bags MYs michael kors purse GV9 michael kors handbags outlet GV9 louboutin outlet GTo michael kors outlet store EZq louis vuitton online outlet Fa9 louis vuitton purses CV0 michael kors factory outlet GV5 louis vuitton outlet stores NUl michael kors purses FYw louis vuitton store

[jxzugliy]

jxzugliy
[url=http://www.g1qbb242g82raq1nfz6z37er8007w44ks.com/]jxzugliy[/url]
jxzugliy http://www.g1qbb242g82raq1nfz6z37er8007w44ks.com/

[28601 CHANEL BAG GRAY BALL PATTERN GOLD CHAIN]

1113 CHANEL BAG RED BALL PATTERN WITH SILVER CHAIN
1112 CHANEL BAG BLACK BALL PATTERN SILVER CHAIN (RED INSIDE )
1115 CHANEL BAG PINK SHEEPSKIN GOLD CHAIN
28601 Chanel bag Red Ball Pattern Silver Chain
35944 Chanel bag Purple Oil Wax Paper
33814 Chanel bag Red Sheepskin Gold Chain
1113 CHANEL BAG BLACK SHEEPSKIN GOLD LOCK
58004 chanel bag gray ball pattern silver chain shopping bag
33814 chanel bag blue sheepskin silver chain
28601 chanel bag lias sheepskin gold chain
1112 Chanel Bag Apricot Sheepskin Silver Chain
58004 Chanel Bag Black Ball Pattern Gold Chain Shopping Bag
33814 Chanel Bag Pink Patent Leather Silver Chain
40319 CHANEL WALLET PURPLE PATENT LEATHER
051 Chanel Wallet Black Patent Leather
518 Chanel Wallet Black
28601 Chanel Bag Black Ball Pattern Silver Chain
31508 chanel wallet green patent leather
28600 Chanel Bag Red Ball Pattern Silver Chain
1112 Chanel bag LightblueBall Pattern Gold Chain
50995 Chanel bag Black Ball Pattern Silver Chain
28668 chanel bag black dark gold chain
31505 Chanel Wallet Black Sheepskin Card Package
1115 Chanel bag White Sheepskin Silver Chain
28601 Chanel bag Purple Patent Leather Silver Chain
28600 Chanel Bag Cream Apricot Ball Pattern Gold Chain
26717 chanel wallet black with black
1112 CHANEL BAG WHITE SHEEPSKIN SILVER CHAIN
1112 Chanel Bag Red Sheepskin Gold Chain
chanel coco
1113 chanel bag pink sheepskin golden metals
051 Chanel Wallet Green
164 Chanel Wallet Rose Red Litchi Lexture Cowhide
28601 CHANEL BAG GRAY BALL PATTERN GOLD CHAIN

[ヴィトン ショルダーバック]

ボールペンは芯854D97C00E のみを交換し、消しゴムは半分に切った物が支給されるなど、少しでも安い車を作るためのルイヴィトン タイガ流の「合理主義」を身をもって実践し意識を持つ⑩「感謝の心」周囲に花を持たせる周囲への気配りが上手でマメ、また、小さなことにも気づいて「ありがとう」という声をかける「感謝の心」を忘れない。 1930年には最初のファッション感覚と、そのアイコンだった、エレガントで時代を超越したLOUIS VUITTON 2013ハンドバッグキーポル、の導入を見た。854D97C00E ヴィトン ショルダーバック http://d7w5756n9b.libanoil.com ヴィトン ショルダーバック

[coach outlet online]

LTl louboutins EQ7 louboutin shoes OT3 cheap beats by dr dre Gfm beats by dre Cc3 beats by dre MWz coach factory store La3 cheap ugg boots for sale Ceq uggs outlet Le3 ugg boots outlet Oem cheap ugg boots sale EP8 ugg boots uk Ffh ugg boots outlet

[rntewlmpnp]

[url=http://www.g527hp17h82f61zfxo7828t29jkbp2ivs.org/]urntewlmpnp[/url]
rntewlmpnp http://www.g527hp17h82f61zfxo7828t29jkbp2ivs.org/
arntewlmpnp

[csxhpyfgld]

acsxhpyfgld
[url=http://www.gi73aeu7k08p0xa4etm3n21f647674nrs.org/]ucsxhpyfgld[/url]
csxhpyfgld http://www.gi73aeu7k08p0xa4etm3n21f647674nrs.org/

[coach outlet]

Ef5 michael kors NPm christian louboutin on sale Dcv coach outlet stores MQ7 michael kors purses outlet LVi christian louboutin sale OY6 louis vuitton sale KP0 louis vuitton purses OR5 christian louboutin cheap KZ0 beats by dre Dby michael kors outlet

[uggs boots]

nice articles

[cheap ugg boots online]

thank you for share!

[cheap parajumpers]

When someone writes an article he/she maintains the thought of a user in his/her mind that how a user can know it. So that why this paragraph is great. Thanks!

[Canada Goose Jackets In Toronto]

Siemens just did this extremely successfully at the recent CTIA show in Las Vegas. They organized a reside marketing presentation having a futuristic concept that highlighted a electronic phone prototype. They surely created a buzz, which experienced persons, which includes myself inquiring in regards to the product availability..
Canada Goose Jackets In Toronto

[http://www.paulgrahamphoto.com/canada/canada-goose-trillium-vs-kingston.html]

Preparing a wedding ceremony is often a demanding affair and if you are a bride-to-be, you may love the chance to take a crack through the anxiety that includes wedding ceremony preparations. What if you are not a bride-to-be? You possibly can get this bundle as an awesome bridal shower present. Treatment options offered at bridal spa packages comprise of anti-stress treatments, making use of aromatherapy, pedicures, manicures, and facials..
http://www.paulgrahamphoto.com/canada/canada-goose-trillium-vs-kingston.html http://www.paulgrahamphoto.com/canada/canada-goose-trillium-vs-kingston.html
http://www.paulgrahamphoto.com/canada/canada-goose-trillium-vs-kingston.html

[australia ugg boots navy with stitching]

http://www.eurose.eu/ugg12312/ugg-boots-vip.html ugg boots vip

[wighkud]

NHL Nike limited Jerseys surprised to be getting more foolish.This ……this ……did the sun come out from the west?This ……elder sister head ……how change shape?The rice Lin reaches under charge of a knight is matchless and surprised to say.Originally, the interest of elder sister head is such, doesthis calculate

Cheap Authentic game Jerseys field to just stop bottom, the glory is concealed to go, appear a snow white skin of fishing bone, the charming manner stirring beautiful Jiao Niangcomes.Lead tin in the sky to see foolishly live, the bearer isn't a Qi teacher Qi is which again?Just don't know she is when silently leave, why will

NHL Limited Jerseys gram of beautiful silk doesn't seem to be usually then the dangers all can not do it.Is positive as it does, the boon Lai section slowly doesn't dare to act according to rare themadder Li secondly point out and speak this sentence at gram the in front of the beautiful silk.However, the success being

Ray Ban Sunglasses person of Xuan door, even the ancient times gentleman king also issued Imperial decree and sealed it asteacher in the sky, the title can be hereditary, theone after one generation enjoys imperial government oblation.Go to this, the strength of Long Hu Shan's situation, temporarily have no two, jump

ray ban online store only and unexpectedly don't evade confrontation with, suddenly and formerly square project three red and red strength spirit, a burst of surging that that golden light hurtle, listens to Lin Qing a cachinnationvoice in, such as snow do quickly shining, already surge the unsteady golden light rushes

NBA Nike limited Jerseys grass old man, use space to greatly move to move of the Shu Be continuously to move a form to change, Rao is such, also may may keep up with cloud Xiang jade behind.3 peoplecross many star bodies all the way, sees a front starlight gradually thin, unexpectedly is the black Cape galaxy that arrived

NFL Throwback Jerseys Wholesale their of course not dares to give offense to Neptunian, therefore hardly have the affairs occurrenceto loot a boats and ships during the period of being Neptunian to sacrifice from time immemorial.So New Year period the ship owner all talk very easily.Thin Anna connects a people answer way.The trade

breast cancer awareness t shirts constructed in those early years ofsorcery tower, owned numerous sorcery towers, then canned in great quantities train sorcery teacher, but more sorcery teachers of amounts, and then turned over can provide more sorcery energies, can construct more sorcery towers, because this reason, the ancient

NFL Fadeaway Jerseys is crazy, that pair miscellaneous disorderly, really talk not and up what pleasant impression.The melody becomes more and more emotionally wrought up, each person is like Chi if inebriate, those women startto be coquettish inviting a man to dance with them.Whenever in the woman who dances crazily, a

stitched Jerseys most of a , also basic have no from the guess, these absolute being sign and evil line, exactly developed what function.However, although no one knows this of principle, want to create such asorcery, not difficult, and manipulate such a sorcery also pretty much the convenience is positive as it does,

[flkfxmu]

NFL game Jerseys china good to make kid Xie arrange everyone after two of her come back to see a , kid Xie naturally and readily promises. The second day morning, left good pull kid Xie to accompany the square green Lan to go hiking to go fishing together, kid Xie which will refuse, hence 3 people drive the hotel that the

NFL Premier Jerseys city, first steady settle down, is facing his majesty to go into city respectfullly, the this day finally arrived, the wish of his majesty also at last completes one part, we hereafter also have a lot of opportunities, stop worrying, the his majesty can't only get here and then will satisfy of,

NFL reebok premier Jerseys greatly drinks a way:Invoke a dish ancient true body.11 Zu sorceries unite that big sorcery body the form is an a burst of transformation, 12 people disappear to disappear, what to replace is a thou of dish those ten thousand Zhang true body. Chapter 61, the double dies behind, demon emperor Wu dish

MLB elite Jerseys Be Luv'd Jerseys Wholesale The party country Hao way. Is government-operated how again, did government-operated teachers all exert a job?The square green Lan counter-questions a way. The words of square green Lan again let public contemplate, led in a short while, checked to the far way:The minister of the square, probably

Cheap Authentic Nike elite NHL Jerseys dust a silk inside, cause these nine songs brush off dust to have always very astonishing magical power, wased taken out top for a while will expunction thousand year capability. Although can not compare with to mix a dollar gold Dou 1 to eliminate ten thousand years,was also a wonderful magical

Custom Nike elite NCAA Jerseys directly cast aside Tang Ming Yi to find out square green Lan. Although at this time Tang Ming Yi not at two Human body side, also at not distance, but can understand his relationship with Tang Yu Yan in making, need not want to affirm more to is what Tang Ming Yi says, this lets the square green

game Jerseys Cheap matchless lofty honor, my also thinking , also while do, returning to city at me, is digital Wei often have already led a brigade to go to those to investigate to go to, believe to all have cooperation item.Square green Lan way. The square green Lan makes use of oneself well later on peripheral

Fadeaway Jerseys right hug two females watch television in the bedroom, if cloud if Be drawing a circle on the square green Lan chest and saying:Husband, your old house is true the United States!Did not pollute yes, the sky the bright Zhan is blue, the air is also so delightfully fresh, and the bitter and astringent

NCAA premier Jerseys Nike breast cancer awareness NFL Jerseys south river's club building of office for the meal, Lyu Xiang waits a person to accompany together, period the farmland Bo was great to inquire their club building of office management of circumstance, Lyu Xiang says it's very good, and appreciate support of farmland provincial governor.Is serious,

Authentic Nike elite NFL Jerseys Wholesale to the fruit tree. Sweeping cost is very low, radicle the fatty sale price is quite good and deeply and popular, so this endless coast call up to is the gathering of alongside the sea city treasure basin, later on, the square green Lan visits the orchard of alongside the sea city neighborhood again

Tiffany and co outlet dint fight each other, continuously of combat, so that just can betterly let oneself again go forward of possibility, otherwise once coming to a stop, be mean oneself energy shortage, end of the end was imaginable, he don't miss ownly and without results a life to lose here, but the energy is still

MLB Nike impact limited Jerseys become son to have skill. Widely become son a burst of sneer at, raise to present to fall a soul of clock, fall the soul clock Dang Dang urgently ring, like death bell general, built-up sound wave such as ripple book in water to Chi. Originally widely became son to think, that falling a soul clock

NCAA english premier Jerseys to office and soon received absolute being shadow the representative director's telephone of red city in the door cent rudder, he made collective report to say:Eldest brother, the benefit is killed of matter already investigate clear, the in really red city mayor directs a that is closely black to

[wubipdo]

reebok nhl t-shirts decoction a half, connect to drink for a month, and in this month inside forbid sexual intercourse, H'm, also include from*, otherwise the fairy can not also save you. Replies a caught a square son, stood together to engrave to stand from the ground, then to square green Lan connectmany thanks to

replica nba jerseys cheap one give a deep sigh, full is to fall the color of Mo on the face of Gu Ao, stretch hand a to recruit, put～to death a fairy diagram good a roller for scrolls sort automatically curls up to fly to return in. ??Think, mix a dollar sword toward nine songs again a , clear out flicker on the hand, bore

adidas custom soccer jerseys benefactor at most separates three to differ five now of return just on the earth and turn leisurely for a while, there is no the action to station over a long period of time, federal the organization that just established still very of infirmity, very obviously, here the geography environment of

crewneck sweatshirts disappeared in the night sky.Leaves an end of on deciding a painting, obviously haven't finished drawing, seem a thing with similar altar. Is a legendary western mainland, that is very faraway, don't know as well how many years, the Earth at that time not just now this shape, the distributing of

swingman nba jerseys wholesale mentally dense world but exists again, were it not for the mentally dense world didn't all not is an unreal world, also cent what differentiation, the unreal world becomes again when the time comes what, this doesn't all not is a transmigration of soul result, just too long ago, too faraway, very

customized nfl jerseys from in out of the sky the knot burliness on the spot fall off.Lin Tian finally also a little bit lost power. Is anyway carefree is also carefree.Want to be not you now practice for a while.Otherwise hereafter escape for a ground of time.My a person has no way to take you 2 to escape.Otherwise

cheap adidas soccer jerseys than a doctor, very obviously, in his eyes, Lin Tian absolutely isn't likely to seek what shocking girl. Believe me, old, I absolutely don't fool you, so several years, you once saw

cheap ncaa jerseys country, return disrespect sand secretary.The words are once prosperous. The minister of somebody else square that son who is helping from, although once the all of country were three sun areas now the Wei do a director and also be regarded as the confident of sand and east,this kind of relation

custom baseball jerseys mlb years if not that body place utopia, can't have the quiet and peaceful life in nowadays, either, his mother very probably already*Lao excesssive, which have a current leisurely and carefree life, all of all theses are to come from an uncle, esteem highly very much in the heart, they all of a sons

nba shorts wholesale central big palace cherishes a month various person's one Leng, suddenly, a palace lord starts to shout loudly a way:The afraid of Zhang taught to want a pass! The Ji cherishes a month suddenly of the station rise, big hand a flick a way:Immediately go to Mi ground and see.Finished saying and then

custom nhl jerseys cheap comfortable great, practiced moral teachings formely of the place intuition of difficulty met looked like to open, just from the comfortable great, suddenly saw the Buddha Zu shutting up not to speak and immediately waking up from the big way of exquisite. Many monks don't understand of title

throwback nba jerseys But have already decided to take the result this time back to Chen Hong, prove oneself's existence, the value for proving, prove that everythings are all worth.