OUR MEETING PLACE

In the first century Christians truly were a diverse group. Normally when this comes up it is viewed in terms of Jews and Gentiles but both groups had subgroups. There are some lessons we can learn from these early Christians.

Jews were divided into Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes. Every sect had different beliefs and clashed often with Jesus and His teachings.

The Pharisees were strict legalists and stressed obedience to the law and oral traditions. They valued the Law of Moses along with the writings of the prophets which is consistent with 2 Timothy 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Jesus taught this same thing when He gave the “Great Commission” to the apostles as recorded in Luke 24:44. Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. Jesus, however, took exception to their teaching the oral traditions as equal with the law of God. Notably, the apostle Paul was a Pharisee.

Sadducees only accepted the first 5 books of the Old Testament, and they were more politically minded rather than spiritually minded. They also denied the resurrection which meant that they were more attuned to the “here-and-now”. They were high priests and nobles with many being wealthy, influential and powerful.

Zealots were insurrectionists, wanting to overthrow Roman rule and reestablish physical Israel to its previous glory. Their purpose was aimed at a world Jewish theocracy, and they actively resisted the Romans until AD 70. Simon the zealot was one of the apostles.

Essenes were an all-male group that pledged themselves to chastity and shunned wealth, more isolation minded and were happy to live in the mountains or deserts. John the Baptist may have been an Essene.

Then there were the Hellenist Jews which we read of in Acts 6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. These Jews had adopted Greek culture and spoke Greek. It was not always easy for them to center on Christ and His Gospel.

The Gentile Christians were also diverse with many different types of idolatrous practices. Cities such as Corinth were involved in idolatry and immorality and could engage temple prostitutes in sexual practices which they considered “worship.” The Athenians practiced a different type of idolatry which they thought was intellectual in scope. However, Paul pointed out their intellectualism was really ignorance masquerading as knowledge. Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22-23).

Some Gentiles who were not Roman were considered barbarians. These non-Romans were looked on as uncouth, lacking proper speaking ability and education.

Lest we put everybody in those camps there were people like Cornelius, the apostles, disciples and others who were religious, God-fearing people, who heard, studied and obeyed the Gospel.

My point is the same as what Paul wrote in his letter to the mixed group of Christians in Galatia For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus(Galatians 3:27-28). Paul was not teaching a “unity in diversity in teaching and belief”, but rather a unity in Christ among a diverse group of people.

In our country we see the same thing when looking at the Restoration Movement. This was a time when people from various denominations left behind their creed books, denominational names and organizations, and doctrines and turned to truth. Men and women at different locations and different backgrounds decided to have no creed but the Bible. This demanded one church which was the church that Christ established, where the name of Christ is worn, and salvation is the same message that was preached on the Day of Pentecost. These people came from diverse cultures and backgrounds and changing demanded true faith, strong courage and commitment.

One account stands out to me as evidence of how Christians put aside their cultural differences while holding onto the doctrine of Christ. The Civil War divided brethren and thus, congregations. James A Garfield was a member of the Lord’s church as he was baptized for the remission of his sins as taught in Acts 2.38. He was also a Union General in charge of the 42nd Division of the Ohio Volunteers, an invading army as far as the southern states were concerned. When the 42nd Division was encamped at Bibb Springs in Alabama in 1863 the church of Christ at Mooresville, Alabama asked him to preach on Sunday. They set aside their strong differences in order to hear the gospel preached. In 1881, General Garfield took office as the 20thPresident of the United States. Sadly, he was assassinated later that year. Sadly, also during his lifetime there was a division in the church over the missionary society. Some were known as Disciples of Christ and some as the Christian Church. Garfield was more closely aligned with the Disciples of Christ.

What is the point of this article? It is that unity in Christ is obtainable as long as we center on Christ and not the doctrines of man. As we draw close to another divisive and very emotional political election to determine the direction of our country, we must keep at the forefront of our mind that our King is Jesus, the Christ and we are to act in ways that glorify Him. As Christians, children of God, we must follow His law first and foremost.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have strong Biblically based views on moral issues, but I also have strong Biblically based views on trying to be a peacemaker. However, being a peacemaker never includes compromising the word of God. My hopes and prayers are that my brethren will be likeminded in upholding righteousness and denying ungodliness at all times.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Dennis Tucker