Church Practices

EARLY CHURCH

MODERN CHURCH

Financial Contributions

Free will offerings collected for the needy only, no tithing (2 Cor.9:7).  Members met in private homes (Rom.16:5; I Cor.16:19; Col.4:15)

Tithing aggressively taught.  Non-tithers shamed.  Money provides pastor’s perks, building fund, landscaping, exciting programs, etc.

Pastoral support

Freewill giving, leadership sometimes worked on side (2 Cor.11:9; I Thes.2:9)

Leadership supported mainly through tithes, often live lavishly.

Church Authority

Elders taught and led by example, but all related to one another as brethren (Matt.23:8; I Pet.5:3).  Only ONE Lord (Eph.4:5).

Heirarchy of MANY lords run the institutional church, from senior pastor all the way down to the deacon.

Giving & Receiving

EQUALITY of well-being preached by Paul (2 Cor.8:13-15).  All to have the same care one for another (I Cor.12:25).

Poor parishioners support rich clergy.  Pastors drive fancy cars, take exciting holidays, and never stop begging for more.

Fellowship

DAILY they fellowshipped and broke bread from house to house.  Christians shared possessions and looked after everyone’s well-being. (Acts 2:42-47)

Churches divide into little cliques which some can’t fit into.  Lonely folks leave  church.  People say “hello” once a week and that’s it.  Occasional potluck meals, concerts, etc.

Church Ministry

EVERYONE had something to contribute to service (I Cor.14:26; Eph.4:16).  No mention of pulpits, pews, etc.  The word “congregation” appears only in Old Testament, except for a gathering of Jews in Acts 13:43.  Clergy-laity divide didn’t exist in early church.

“Pew saints” only pray, pay and obey. Ministry done mostly by pastor, visiting speakers and “song leaders”.  Congregation are mostly spectators. Even some Charismatic churches discourage spiritual gifts out of fear of offending visitors.

Evangelization

Repentance toward God and faith toward Christ taught (Acts 20:21).  Preaching done in demonstration of the Spirit and in power (I Cor.2:4-5). Real faith bore witness  of Christ (Rom.1:8)

Unconditional love of God preached, without mentioning “the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6:23). Free concerts for sinners. Positive messages only. Hell and God’s wrath against sin are taboo. Powerless sermons, keys to prosperity, self-help videos, slick marketing.