Right Use of Power in the Church—Part X—What Can We Learn from the Early Church?

The pattern of the very early church was described in Acts 2 as “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).

Here we see commitments to gathering and learning and sharing and generosity. We see Spirit-empowered gifts at work and genuine risk-taking to ensure needs are met. We see gladness and praise of God, and joy. Growth becomes another hallmark of God’s people gathered in these ways.

Perfect? Not by a long shot. The letters of Paul, Peter, John, James, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews detail missteps, needs for correction, a call to correct theology, and emphasis on healthy practices for life and faith. Issues addressed include disunity, factions, faith and works, inclusion, idolatry, morality, competition, immaturity, false teaching, troublemakers, and the role and health of the church and its leaders.

Although there are various writers and issues addressed in these letters, the overarching theme is always to honest and respectful conversation, mutual submission, good leadership, unity, generous inclusion, accountability, and a posture of learning and growth. We are called to the same today—ultimately “to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:7-10). Always in love.

Some examples of the call to unity in the Body of Christ:

(Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:1-6).

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:11-16).

(Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity) Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4:1-3).

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:12-17).

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised (Galatians 2:9).

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3).

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited (Romans 12:16).

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50—Jesus speaking).

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).

Reflect:

· How can you be “completely humble and gentle”, “patient”, “bearing with one another in love”?

· What is a recent example in your life when you made “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” with someone in your church community?

· If the ultimate goal of church leadership is “to equip” God’s people “for works of service” “so that the body of Christ may be built up” and we “reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge” of Jesus and “become mature”, how are you as a leader equipping others? How are your leaders equipping you?

· What is a recent example when you spoke “the truth in love”—with the goal of exhorting someone to grow toward maturity in Christ?

· How deeply do you believe that the church (“the whole body”) is made up of people who each (all, everyone) have important “work” to do as we grow and strengthen as a unit—in love?

· What might it look like for all at your church to “be of the same mind in the Lord.” What might it look like to help others get to unity, harmony, and shalom?

· Take a moment to bask in the truth that you are “chosen” by God, “holy and dearly loved.

· How might that truth help you “clothe” yourself with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience”?

· Is there something that you need to forgive, following the example of Christ, in love? How might forgiveness lead to unity?

· What does it mean to “let the peace of Christ rule in your heart”?

· What does it look like to “be at peace with each other”?

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been Catalyst for Equipping at her church since 1999. Contact her about growing your self- and other-awareness and life/ministry coaching.