Week 35—Sunday Romans 12:6-8
THE MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH
We have many modern discussions on the nature of the church. But they are for the most part discussions, not demonstrations. They show a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds. The New Testament is different—it does not discuss the theoretical nature of the church—it gives us a demonstration of the church. We see it at Antioch. “And in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians” (Acts 11:26).
In those days they gave names according to characteristics. Simon was surnamed Peter, a rock; Joseph was called Barnabas, Son of consolation. So at Antioch a name was given which fitted the group—the characteristics of Christ were in this group, so they were called the Christ-ians. The group formed a Christian church—the words “Christian church” become flesh. We must examine its marks.
First, it was essentially a lay church. It was founded by laypersons, and laypersons constituted and carried on the church. That made it true to the essential nature of Christianity as a lay movement. “Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching of the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:19-21). This church was founded by a lay group, scattered under the persecution which arose over Stephen, a layman. That fixed the New Testament church as a lay church. Jesus and the disciples were laymen, no hands having been laid on them in ordination, and the Seven, the lay group, became the center of spiritual contagion. Paul, a layman, became the spearhead of this lay movement. The Christian movement continued a lay movement until the third century when it was changed into a clerical movement and the laymen pushed to the margin.
O Father God, your church is for your children, for all your children. Save us from dividing your family into clerical and lay. For we are all clerical and all lay. We are persons for whom Christ died. And we are one family, hence equal. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: If the Christian movement is a lay movement, then I will be at home there.