The New Testament Church

Thanks to the minor miracle of digitization, I have been listening to a series of 40-plus year old sermons my father preached to a congregation that had just moved into its own building, and in which there were at least a dozen recent converts to the faith. Also present were no small number of believers whose church experiences had been defined by the traditions of several different denominational backgrounds.

A disparate bunch indeed.

Identifying the Concept

What was it about this growing work that had attracted these folks? My father set out to explain what we were doing there.

The oft-bandied term “New Testament church” is a bit of a misnomer in that any attempt to recreate one today is likely to be more aspirational than stringently accurate. There is too much we don’t know about how those early Christians gathered, and we can fairly observe that none of the churches to which Paul wrote had perfected the practice of what he taught them. Still, we can make a few general observations about New Testament church practice that hold true.

So then, what is a New Testament church? Would you know one if you saw it? If so, what criteria would you use to identify such a gathering? My father opened his New Testament and came up with five features of NT Christianity that I believe are worth passing on.

1/ The ‘Traditions’

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” Paul taught the same things wherever he established a new local gathering of believers. Expressions such as “as in all the churches of the saints”, “we have no such practice” and “this is my rule in all the churches” help us identify these instructions about NT church order.

Headship, submission, qualifications for and plurality of leadership … these each got their own sermons, if I recall. There are other so-called traditions Paul taught consistently. A New Testament church would not reject or soft-pedal any of these.

2/ Recognition and Courteous Use of Spiritual Gift

“You are not lacking in any gift,” Paul wrote to the Corinthians. A New Testament church recognizes and cultivates the gifts of its members. It does not rely on trained professionals, paid clergy or arbitrary rules and structures to build up and strengthen the church, but on the ministry of the members of the body one to another in a fitting and orderly way.

3/ Generosity

From Acts 2 on, New Testament Christians displayed unusual generosity to their fellow believers. This spirit persisted in the Gentile churches, such that Paul could make comments like “They gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.”

Critics often accuse Christians of begging, with some legitimacy. First century believers begged for the privilege of sharing with those in need. That’s a very different approach, and the only one that comes out of the New Testament.

4/ A Missionary Mindset

Paul commends the Philippians for their desire to participate in the work he was doing elsewhere. “Even in Thessalonica,” he enthuses, “you sent me help for my needs once and again.” A New Testament church is characterized by a missionary mindset, doing whatever it can to aid those who are spreading the gospel and planting new churches.

5/ Waiting for the Son from Heaven

Paul commends not only the Thessalonians for their eagerness to witness the Lord’s return, but also says of the Corinthians, “You wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” John writes, “We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

That word “wait” implies both eagerness and patience. Paul uses the same term in Romans, Galatians, and Philippians as well, in regard to the coming of the Lord, but also with respect to the changes in both ourselves and creation that will result from his presence.

Whole groups of evangelical Christians today are focused on transforming the nations and institutions of the world. First century churches expected the Lord Jesus to do that personally, and eagerly awaited his return.

To the extent we are not “waiting for his Son from heaven”, we are not really entering into the spirit of the New Testament church.