Could You Feel At Home In The Early Church?

“No racism…”

Not so sure about that. Maybe they didn’t read Acts 6 where the Greek widows were being neglected in the daily food distribution.

“Diverse races and cultures of people were bound together by agape love?”

Not really sure about this either. Did they neglect to read 1 Cor. 11:19-22?

I would like to ask the purpose of your comment on this post? Did you contact the author of the article, and afford him a personal and professional opportunity to address your concern, or was it just red meat for the pack of snapping wolves.

I have watched SI for several years and it is very obvious that many wish to hide behind false identities, and cast stones based on their own personal biases and bitterness. My name is Jim Benner and I live in Newark Valley NY. The SI site does a good job of keeping people updated on what is in the news, and many of the articles are for self-promotion, but it is most vexing to see that the highest volume of comments are generated by attacks on schools, “other” groups, or brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ask yourself if this is Christ like in behavior. Do you have the right to stand in the public square and condemn a brother for anything other than heresy? When are we going to stop focusing on differences of opinions and focus on the unsaved? If a person is truly saved and doing the work of God, then we must cheer them on, and not seek to show the world our own hearts. We are called to see the world saved, not to nitpick based our own vision of the world.

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

[James Benner]

I would like to ask the purpose of your comment on this post? Did you contact the author of the article, and afford him a personal and professional opportunity to address your concern, or was it just red meat for the pack of snapping wolves.

  • Did I contact the author .. etc.: Answer: No, why would I be required to do this? I might note that you did not “contact [me]….the author of [my post]…, and afford [me] a personal and professional opportunity to address your concern”. And I am OK with that!
  • Purpose: Answer: Well I wasn’t being snarky if that’s what you mean. I think there is a danger with the Book of Acts is to take the descriptive narratives make them prescriptive for the church.
  • Who are the snapping wolves?

[James Benner]

I have watched SI for several years and it is very obvious that many wish to hide behind false identities, and cast stones based on their own personal biases and bitterness. My name is Jim Benner and I live in Newark Valley NY. The SI site does a good job of keeping people updated on what is in the news, and many of the articles are for self-promotion, but it is most vexing to see that the highest volume of comments are generated by attacks on schools, “other” groups, or brothers and sisters in Christ.

  • On: ” that many wish to hide behind false identities”. Well this certainly is not me. See the signature line associated with this post. You will find my full name, my location, where I worship and serve, pictures, and more. Frankly by following my signature link I provide more information about myself than you do of yourself. And I am OK with that.
  • Re: ” cast stones based on their own personal biases and bitterness”. Wasn’t sure this was directed to me but if it is please be more specific. Do I have personal biases? Yes … and you probably do as well.

[James Benner]

Ask yourself if this is Christ like in behavior. Do you have the right to stand in the public square and condemn a brother for anything other than heresy? When are we going to stop focusing on differences of opinions and focus on the unsaved? If a person is truly saved and doing the work of God, then we must cheer them on, and not seek to show the world our own hearts. We are called to see the world saved, not to nitpick based our own vision of the world.

  • How was my comment not ” Christ like in behavior”?
  • I don’t believe I “condemn[ed] a brother”
  • Re ” If a person is truly saved and doing the work of God, then we must cheer them on …”. Does that mean I have to go all agog on every Christian’s blog post?

James Benner,

Welcome to SI (at least as a poster and not as a silent observer). Out of curiosity, do you agree with the perspective offered by the author that the NT church was markedly different from the church today, and that those differences would be hard to overcome for many modern Christians? Were things in the early church really as rosy as he suggests?

Paul