The New Testament church should be simple. Did you know that the early churches we see in the Scriptures were very simple. No free standing building. No steeple. No pews. No stained glass windows. No altar or pulpit. No seminary trained pastor. No name for the church. It was nothing like what you see in today's churches. Remember, the church is not a building. The church is saved people. Today's churches have become very complicated. Very complex. But, the churches in the Bible were very simple.
Most churches in the NT were so simple that they met in homes, such as you see in the picture below. Just believers meeting in a very simple way to worship the Lord. When we read the New Testament, we don't see the early Christians meeting in religious buildings or any kind of sanctuary. In the Bible, they always met in someones home.
Ac 2:1 ¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Ac 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Ac 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Ro 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
1Co 16:19 ¶ The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (church at Laodicea)
Phm 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: (church of Colossae)
Ro 16:23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. (church at Corinth, meeting in home of Gaius).
So, yes, the first churches were so simple that they met in homes. The idea of having a separate "church" building like a sanctuary did not come about until the fourth century, when Christianity was legalized and became the state religion of the Roman Empire and called the Roman Catholic Church. This is why most people today refer to the church as being the building, but in the Bible, God refers to the church as being the people. You will never find in the Scripture where it says, "going to church" like it is some place to go to. The church is always the saved people of God coming together to remember and worship the Lord Jesus Christ and doing so in His Name.
1) Why the Simplicity of the early church.
Because the things of Christ are simple. Yes, the early churches were simple. They were to picture the simplicity of Christ. Listen! Christ is not complicated. He does not work in complicated ways. His ways are simple.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
"The simplicity that is in Christ." Yes, simplicity is in Christ. But, the Devil is just the opposite. He tries to complicate things. Complicate the Gospel. Complicate the church. Complicate the Bible. The Devil tries to corrupt our minds from the simplicity that is in Christ, the Bible says.
So, what does simplicity mean? The dictionary says that simplicity means "a thing that is plain, natural, or easy to understand." Synonyms include: "simple, easy, straightforward, uncomplicated."
Did you know that in the Bible, things concerning Christ are simple. Salvation for example. Salvation is simple, so simple that most people miss it. They want to complicate it. They must add something to it. They say, "It is just too easy to believe or trust in Christ for salvation, there must be something that we have to do." No, there is nothing we can do, because Christ has done it all. Just believe, trust Christ and what He has done for you if you want to go to heaven. So Simple! Simple for us, but it was not simple for Him and what He had to go through for us. "But, we have to do our part." No, when you try to add to what He has done, then you mess it all up. It is not "Christ plus", but "Christ period." Very simple! Don't complicate it. Paul said in Galatains 2:21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God:" "Frustrate" or make it complicated. The Devil tries to "corrupt our minds from the simplicity in Christ."
So, the Gospel is simple. It's not hard to get saved. It's not complicated. It's simple. Well, the church is the same way. The church should be very simple too. Why? Because Christ is the Head of the church and things concerning Christ are simple. "The simplicity that is in Christ." Salvation is simple, the church is also simple. The Bible says that things concerning Christ are simple.
But, not so in the Old Testament. Nothing was simple in the OT. Everything was very complex and exact. Everything about the Temple or Tabernacle, the house of God was very complex, not simple. All the measurements of the boards, cords, hangings, the dimensions of the building, all had to be precise. All the procedures of the work of the priests and the sacrifices was certainly not simple, but very complex. Also, try reading all 613 aspects of the Mosaic Law and see how complicated it is.
So, why do we get to the New Testament and all of a sudden the Bible talks about the simplicity which is in Christ? The answer is because Christ fulfilled everything in the Old Testament. Yes, Sin had really complicated and messed things up. So, we see in the Old Testament a holy God dealing with sinful man and the damage that sin had caused. However, all these complex aspects of the Law and the Temple pointed to Christ and to His Death for us. Yes, Christ fulfilled everything. He took care of all of those complications that Sin had caused, and He untangled it for us. He did all the work for us. There is now nothing for us to do. He made everything simple for us. Not simple for Him. But, simple for us. Just believe and trust Christ.
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Wonderful! Christ took it all out of the way. All that was against us, He took out of the way. When He died on the cross, the very first thing that the Bible records that happened was that the veil of the temple where the high priest entered the holy of holies was rent in two.
Mt 27:50 ¶ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;
Notice, it was at the very moment that Christ died on the cross, that God divided the veil it two. Why does the Bible tell us this? Because God wants us to know that at the very moment that Christ died, everything that which was of the Old Testament "ordinances that were against us" was now "taken out of the way." It's over. Done! Now, there is no need for priests, sacrifices, the temple, religious ceremonies, feasts, rituals, and so on. All that complicated stuff was over. Christ took care of it all. So, everything for us is now simple. But, again, please understand that it was not simple for Him. What Christ went through was very difficult and painful to make salvation simple for us. So, yes, salvation is simple for us. The church should be the same way. Simple, not complicated.
Men do the same today. The New Testament clearly tells us how a church should function, but men say no, we will do it our way. This is why most churches today instead of following the New Testament, they will go back to the Old Testament to get their practice for the church. Thus, today, instead of priests, they have professionally trained pastors. Instead of animal sacrifices, they have altar calls and tithing. Instead of a Temple or tabernacle, today they have ornate, religious buildings, calling them "sanctuaries". Some even have "tabernacle" or "temple" in their church name. And, most all of these modern day churches push the Law or aspects of the Law onto their people.
Churches today are not simple. They are not only influenced by Judaism, but also paganism brought in by the Roman Catholic Church. If their practice is not something directly from the Old Testament, then it's something out of the dark ages that was never reformed during the Reformation from the Roman Catholic Church. These include their rituals, church traditions, church membership, infant baptism, use of religious symbols and images, apostolic succession, and many others.
So, this is why churches today are so complicated and complex. I would not look at them and say that they are very simple meetings. No, they are complex organizations with full time salaried workers. Many of them even incorporate, becoming an entity of the State, just like any other business. What a shame! The Lord can't be impressed by all this. "lest by any means..... your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
In contrast, the early churches in the Bible were simple. They didn't have their own religious buildings with pews, pulpits, stained glass windows, and altars. They had no sectarian name on a church sign out front and they didn't have seminary trained pastors. The early churches in the Bible met in homes and were led by older Christian men raised up among them called (elders or overseers). All this is proven by the New Testament Scriptures and early church history backs it up. They were very simple!
Paul was very concerned about the little churches of his day. His concern was that "as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Now, when a church begins to get more and more organized, trying to be bigger and better, have larger buildings, more programs, more ministries, and trying to reach bigger numbers, it is not being simple, but more complex. This all sounds good to us, but what about the "simplicity that is in Christ?"
Men are always looking for bigger and better ways of doing things for God. However, when men begin to look for better programs, then God begins to look for better men, men who will trust Him and follow His Word. God is not interested just in quantity, but also quality. I just don't see that God is interested in religious factories and assembly lines to mass produce Christianity. He did it in simple ways in the early churches and it worked pretty well.
Furthermore, God's glory is at stake. God should receive all the glory for what is being done here on earth, especially in the local churches. He will not share His glory or the glory of His Son with men. Thus, this is why God has chosen to work in simple ways, ways that will glorify Him, not man. That brings us to the second reason why churches should be simple. Because of God's glory.
2) Second reason why the church should be simple. So, that men cannot glory, but that Christ will get all the glory.
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
It's clear that God has chosen simple things, things that are viewed by men as "foolish things", "weak things", "base things", "things which are despised", and "things which are not." All meaning simple things. Why????? So that "no flesh should glory in his presence."
Having said that, do you think God would approve of "mega churches?" Are mega churches simple? Are they "weak?" Are they "base?" Or, what about all the other denominational churches today? No matter what size they are, there's always the tendency and a desire to become more organized, become bigger, and more successful. Men think that bigger is better, but God says, no, that smaller is better. The weaker, the better. Why? God works through weak things. God works through simple things.
All early churches met in homes as the Scriptures clearly show. They were very simple. They were small, insignificant, base, foolish, and weak, but the Bible says God uses these kinds of things. Why? So, men cannot glory in the presence of God. That's what the Bible says.
The greatest reason that God is not into these denominational type churches is that He said in His Word that He uses simple things, base things, foolish things, and weak things, and that is not what these traditional organized churches are.
I am inclined to believe that any true spiritual growth and work for the Lord will be done by those who come together in a simple way, focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. A simple group that is organic, not an organization. The local church should be simple. It should not be a religious organization or religious business. But, unfortunately, that is what we see today. All we see are religious institutions, businesses, and organizations. So, you will learn a great deal when you understand that the church is an organism, not an organization.
Paul was concerned that their "minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." This word "simple" also means "single mindedness." Focusing on Christ. Paul was concerned their minds would be corrupted from being single minded, or focusing on Christ. Not that they would forget Christ, but that they would also have their minds on other things as well. Seems to me that the more simple you are, the more single minded that your are, the more you can focus on Christ. The more complex and complicated a church is, the less it can focus on Christ. He gets lost in the shuffle. Programs, ministries, and performances become as important as He is. Some get more attention that He does. This was the problem with the church at Ephesus in Revelations, chapter 2. They had gotten so involved with activities, that Christ was no longer preeminent or the main focus with them. They had left their first love, Christ.
3. Meeting Only in Jesus Name
Because the Bible teaches that a church should be simple, we as a church have decided to continue meeting in our home. We had plans of moving into town and renting a store front or something. However, as a few weeks went by, each one of the believers here said they liked how we were meeting in a simple way and preferred we continue meeting in the home because it was so simple. We felt that renting a space could lead to becoming more like a traditional church and we did not want to go down that path again.
In trying to be simple and following the New Testament pattern for a church, we also decided not to take a name for the gathering of the church meeting in our home. This may seem radical. What church today doesn't have a name? Do you know of any? Either a name for the congregation or for the building they meet in. Most all churches today have names for their churches, but the Bible doesn't say anything about churches having their own names. The churches in the New Testament didn't have their own names. Why? Because they only met in Jesus name!
Let me ask you two questions. Please try to answer them.
1) Do you know of any church in the Bible that had their own name?
2) Do you know of any church today that doesn't have their own name?
So, why did the churches in the Bible not have their own names? Because they met in Jesus' Name.
Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
To the Corinthian church, Paul wrote: 1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together,.......
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he just addressed them as "the church of God which is at Corinth", always just a descriptive phrase. Never a name, because they didn't have one. They were a simple group of Christians that met in the home of Gaius. (Romans 16:23 "Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you."
"Unto the church of the Thessalonians", and so on. They didn't have secular names as churches do today. They were just a simple group of Christians meeting in a home in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Name alone.
"Well, I admit that the early churches didn't have their own names, that they only met in Jesus Name alone, but there is no Scripture that says you can't add a name for your church."
Well, in the first place, it is not "your" church. It is His church. The Bible is very clear on that. You will never find in the Bible where it's "your" church or "my" church or "our" church. It is always "His" church referring to Christ. Remember, it does belong to Him.
Secondly, when the Lord Jesus says that we are to gather together unto "His Name" then to me that means you are not to add any other name to it. Not His Name plus another name.
Again, let's use salvation for an example.
1. Salvation: we are saved in Jesus Name alone. We are not to add anything else to His Name. It is not His name plus another name. No! In Jesus Name alone are we saved.
Likewise, how we meet as a church is just as true.
2. The Church: we are also to gather in Jesus Name alone. We are not to add anything else to His Name. It is not His Name plus another name, a name we make up for the church. No! In Jesus Name alone.
Now, can it be any more simple than that?
"Well, that is being legalistic in my opinion."
Please look at the Scripture again, and quit adding to it.
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together,.......
Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
It is important that we do as the Bible says and meet in Jesus Name and His Name alone. I am not being legalistic by adding "His Name alone." The Bible only says in His Name. Should we add to what the Bible says when it gives conditions to how we are saved and how we are to gather together? And, the Bible only gives one condition that we are to trust or to meet in: in His Name. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe, this could be the reason that the Lord Jesus is not in many churches today. They don't meet in His name alone. They also have their own name, whatever the name of the church or denomination is. Yes, they meet in Jesus Name, but also their name too. Their name plus His name. Now, this is not "simple" or "single mindedness concerning Jesus Christ. It is also not Scriptural to add to His Name.
"Well, I just don't think it is that big of a deal." Well, if that is true, then why not drop your man-made name and only meet in His Name alone. Of course, you will not do that, proving that it is a bigger deal than you think.
So, why do churches today insist on having their own name? Jesus Name plus their name? Could be to get glory for themselves which God condemns, as I have already shown in 1Cor. 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. It could be that they want to make a reputation for themselves. Not for Jesus Name, but for their name also. I have heard churches in the past say that they want to make a name for their church, to put their church on the map, that everyone will know of their church. Well, this is nothing new.
Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name,
Many of these modern day church businesses want to build, build, build. Why? They want to make a name for themselves. To be well known. Make a reputation for themselves. "Let us make us a name." This would all be hard to do if they would only meet in Jesus' name alone. But, no, they use the name of Jesus to promote their own name. What a shameful thing to do.
I have not written this to be critical of denominational churches, but in defense of simple churches and home churches and clear up many misunderstandings about them. Neither am I being legalistic saying that all believers should meet in homes for church. I am not saying that! I am only pointing out what I believe to be great advantages for a church to meet in a home. I am also trying to defend meeting in such a way, that it is not something cultish or foreign to Scripture. Meeting in a home can be cultish, but meeting in a traditional church building can be cultish also.
Perfectly fine to meet in a building that is not a home. I am not saying it is wrong, because the Scripture doesn't say it is wrong. The Scripture didn't say you had to meet in homes even though that is what they all did in the first century as far as we know. But, the point I am trying to make is that it is much more difficult to be simple and maintain God's simple order when meeting in a free standing building. The temptation, especially today, will always be there to be like other churches. Their influence will be so great to overcome. First a building, then a name for the group, then a checking account, and on and on it goes, becoming more complicated and more organized. The temptation will be so great because of the weakness of the flesh, that we will be influenced by the traditional church system. This will lead to progressiveness in taking on order and behavior that we don't find in the Bible, but only in religious churches today. However, home churches are by nature, simple and intimate, thus trying to follow God's order and behavior will be much easier to do.
I have heard all the negatives about home churches, and I admit I really was concerned at first also. I, like most people have felt in the past when hearing of a home church that they would be "loosie goosie," "warm and fuzzy," like an AA meeting, just a "sharing" and discussion group, and not showing any commitment to having a church for the Lord. However, because we meet in the home doesn't mean just anything goes, that we can just do whatever we want to. No, there is still Biblical behavior and order that should be practiced in the church, whether if it meets in a traditional building or in someone's house.
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
1Ti 3:14 ¶ These things write I unto thee, ............ that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Yes, because we meet in homes does not mean the church can do anything it wants. Remember, it's His church, not ours. Many home churches have given house churches a bad reputation because its just what feels good, anything goes. But, if it's the Lord's church meeting in your home, then there is an order and a behavior in the Scriptures for church that must be obeyed. Or, it's just your church meeting in your home. God expects church order to be followed whenever and where ever a group of Christians come together in His Son's Name. In Jesus Name means by His authority, which is by His Word.
What we see today with traditional, denominational churches is so foreign to Scripture. Even the seven churches in the book of Revelation were not like traditional churches today. In the past when I thought about the seven churches of Revelation, I thought each of them as being a free standing building that the people went to for church. Why? Because of my frame of reference, seeing everything through my denominational spectacles, I was thinking that those seven different churches were like churches today, some being good and some being bad.
But, no, we have no evidence that any of those seven churches that John wrote to were like churches today in the way they met. Even the worst of those seven churches, Laodicea, was a simple church, and it was one of Christ's churches. But, it was a simple church. The Bible indicates the Laodicean church was a house church.
Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
This seems to indicate that the "brethren in Laodicea" met in the house of Nymphas. Again, church history is very clear that free standing church buildings did not come on the scene until around 300 A.D. as Catholicism spread and civic laws were changed to accommodate them.
Having said all this, I wonder what Jesus would think about all these traditional churches today that seem to be religious businesses, religious clubs, having their own names, and so forth. If Christ went into the Temple and chased out all those money changers and called them "a den of thieves", what would He think about today's big business type churches where thousands of dollars flow?
If it is okay and even better to have churches like businesses today, then why is Christianity in so much trouble in the U.S.? Why is this country becoming so secular? Look at all the traditional temple type cathedrals and churches in Europe and notice how that Christianity has failed there. They are mostly secular countries today, and Islam is on the rise in these countries, tearing down church buildings and replacing them with mosques. There possibly could be a Christian movement or revival in Europe, that we are not aware of, but if there is, then it will be simple and inconspicuous, such as house churches. Yes, they are unheard of, but God knows they are there. This is true in China where churches there have to be underground. But, God knows each and everyone of them. Simple groups meeting in homes and worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ.
Likewise in the U.S., thousands of discouraged people each year are leaving traditional churches and seeking other ways to worship God, many of them meeting in simple house churches. People are tired of the big programs and entertainment in the business like system that has overtaken today's sectarian churches with all the pleas for money to keep the system going.
Dedicated Christians are not getting what they truly are looking for in the churches today that claim that you can find the Lord at their church. Their spiritual needs are not being met. This could be why traditional churches are rapidly decreasing in numbers and home churches are on the rise. Many Christians have a yearning for something more serious, more intimate, and more Scriptural.
Joh 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem (the temple) is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Yes, "the hour is coming" and now is, when true worshipers will not need a religious system or religious building (temple) to worship in, because God is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth, even if it is a group of Christians simply meeting in a home, as the early Christians did.
Written by J.B. Sparks
jb5sparks@aol.com
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