“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” Acts 8:1b
God’s miraculous intervention on behalf of the Jewish nation while they were captive in Egypt (recorded in Exodus) catapulted them out of slavery and towards the land He promised them. It was during this journey, God instructed Moses to make a sanctuary for His presence. The tabernacle was constructed as God commanded and the people of Israel worshiped Him according to His prescribed dictates, as recorded in Exodus 25 – 30. These events began the custom of a meeting place for the congregation of worshipers.
When Jerusalem was established as God’s holy city, King David longed to construct a permanent structure but God gave that privilege to David’s son and successor, Solomon (2 Samuel 7). The construction of this permanent Temple, and subsequent synagogues, perpetuates a place for worshiping God. This continues through the life of Christ until after the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 1. Since followers of Christ no longer adhered to the Levitical law ascribed for worshiping God because of the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus – the New Doctrine – Luke, the writer of Acts, records the Christians’ form of worshipping God did not center around the temple (although the Apostles still taught and proclaimed “the good news that Jesus is the Christ” – Acts 5:42) but was conducted in homes. Believers “were in one heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had” (Acts 4:32a).
On and following the day of Pentecost, many people believed in Jesus as the Christ. However, persecution began against these new converts. Pharisees and other Jewish leaders sought to dispel this heresy, proclaiming these followers of Jesus were speaking against the holy place (temple) and against the law. It is in this hostile environment that a zealous young Christ-follower, Stephen, “a man full of God’s grace and power” (Acts 6:8) is seized by members of the Synagogue of Freedom. These Jewish rulers secretly persecute some men until they claimed Stephen was speaking blasphemy against Moses and God. They stirred up the people, elders and teachers of the law, and subsequently stoned Stephen to death. This event perpetuates great persecution against the followers of Christ in Jerusalem and they are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. This event, in essence, forces the Christians into areas of the then known world where the Gospel of Jesus had not been spoken thus accomplishing the commission Jesus gave (Matthew 28:19 – “go into all the world”).
The Apostolic Church
How then, was the early Christian community structured to flourish in the hostile environment of persecution? Charles Handy presents an organizational theory that is representative of the structure of the early Christian community – the Federal Organization. Distinguishably different from a decentralized organization (“the center delegates certain tasks or duties to the outlying bits, while maintaining overall control” (p. 118)), this organizational type is represented by the center being low in profile while the initiative, drive, and energy comes from the parts (Handy, 1990).
The early church was scattered following the death of Stephen but continued meeting in houses and grew in numbers. To provide guidance to these ‘churches,’ letters of instruction and encouragement were written and sent to these outlying regions, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Galatia, Rome, etc. However, the Apostles the Church Counsel remained Jerusalem. Although not a governing body, the Counsel at Jerusalem brought doctrinal stability and interpretation during disagreements. An example of this is recorded in Acts 15.
It was during this period that the first missionary journeys began. Paul, a former persecutor of Christians, was transformed into the most prolific writer of New Testament letters following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. His five missionary trips, recorded in Acts, and his letters (epistles) provided the support new believers needed to continue their faith journey.
The structure of the church did not change during the first three centuries following the life of Christ. In spite of severe opposition from the Roman Empire, Christianity spread to the remote reaches of the Empire, into Africa, Persia, mainland Europe, and into Britain by the end of the second century. Even with the conversion of Constantine (A.D. 288-337), Christianity remained a minority religion and the majority of Christ-followers continued to meet in homes (Pfeiffer, 1979).
The Contemporary Church
How can our contemporary church utilize the principles used by the early church? Today’s church structure does not look like that of the Apostolic Church. There was no clergy-laity distinction in the early church although different members served different functions. We now have levels of hierarchal bureaucracy with clear clergy-laity distinctives and hierarchy within the clergy. With no overt persecution in most countries, this structure has remained intact for centuries. However, when the Church experiences severe persecution, resulting in the disbanding of meeting places and martyrdom of believers, this organizational structure is rendered impotent, if not fully destroyed. During such intense persecution, an apostolic church structure continues to flourish.
This phenomenon is evident in China. During recent interviews with the former U.S. Director of Asian Outreach, Dr. James Swanson, he revealed the (underground) Church in China has grown significantly under communism. It had been feared all Christians had been killed during the first years of communist rule. However, it has been reported that in this land of over 1.3 billion people, there are multiple millions of Christians meeting in homes throughout China. The church organizational structure that grew under persecution in the apostolic age is flourishing today under intense persecution in China. It is apparent the Church of Jesus Christ will prevail under any situation as long as Christ-followers are intentional with their faith journey.
George Barna makes an interesting observation about a new revolution he sees within the Christian community in America.
“There is a new breed of Christ-follower in America today. These are people who are more interested in being the Church than in going to church. They are more eager to produce fruit for the kingdom of God than to become comfortable in the Christian subculture. They are focused on the seven spiritual passions that facilitate their growth as genuine people of God and citizens of the kingdom. These people are Revolutionaries” (The Barna Group, 2007).
Barna posits these Revolutionaries are more inclined to meet in homes instead of the organized church. Their spiritual practices are those Paul highlights in his letter to the church in Rome; constant prayer and worship, personal faith available for whatever the Spirit of God requires, firm and focused perspective on live to produce spiritual fruit, an assured appropriately righteous and upbeat attitude, a character of humility and empathy, the intense desire to honor and serve others, and a transformed mind that is evidenced by a clean and productive life (Barna, 2005). Although he attributes these characteristics specifically to Revolutionaries, they are exemplified in many individuals who attend and participate in the ‘traditionally structured’ church organization and are fervent in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Concluding Thoughts
The early church faced intense persecution and was forced to adapt a Federal style organizational structure for survival. As such, believers met secretly in homes, catacombs, and other nondescript places. As persecution decreased and Christianity became a prominent religion, the organizational structure evolved to meet the needs of the members and to facilitate the mission.
The organizational structure of the church is the same throughout the world. The structure varies depending on the culture and traditions of its members. The term simply refers to how the church is set up, how it is organized. Should it have committees or boards? Should it be affiliated with a denomination or independent? Who chooses the teaching/preaching elders, ruling elders, the deacons?
The structure is significantly different under severe persecution, as seen in the apostolic church and church in China. Scripture does not dictate the organizational structure of the church but gives it its mission (Matthew 28:19), responsibilities and functions of those within the church (Galatians and Ephesians), and principles for life throughout scripture. It is incumbent upon us not to denigrate various organizational structures but 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” (Ephesians 4:1a-3).
Bibliography
Barna, George 2007; Introduction to George Barna’s book Revolution, The Barna Group. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Resource&ResourceID=196. Accessed October 6, 2007.
Barna, George Revolution. Wheaton; Tyndale House Publications, Inc., 2005.
Handy, Charles The Age of Unreason. Boston; Harvard Business School Press, 1990.
Lang, John Peter Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical – Acts. Grand Rapids; Zondervan Publishing House, no date.
Malina, Bruce J. The New Testament World: Revised Edition – Insights from Cultural Anthropology. Louisville; Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993.
Pfeiffer, Charles F. Baker’s Bible Atlas. Grand Rapids; Baker Book House Company, 1979.
Reicke, Bo The New Testament Era: The World of the Bible from 500 B.V. to A.D. 100. Philadelphia; Fortress Press, 1964.
Robbins, Vernon K. Exploring the Texture of Texts: A guide to Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation. Harrisburg; Trinity Press International, 1996.
Spence, H. D. M. and Exell, Joseph S. The Pulpit Commentary – Acts and Romans. Grand Rapids; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, no date.