Christ, during His personal ministry, announced that He would build His church or ecclesia and that the gates of Hell or Hades would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). That the Lord established His church in the first century is a historical fact. The primary historical evidence for the church and its mission is found in the New Testament.
Modern man's effort to go back to the church we can read about in the New Testament is reflected in the Reformation movement of the 16th century as well as the Campbell-Stone Restoration movement of the 19th century in America. Those that accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17) still turn to the pages of Scripture for God's instructions in regard to our beliefs, morals, and practice. This applies to both the individual believer and the church.
The primary mission of the early church was (and is) to preach the gospel and teach the principles of Christianity. This is reflected in the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus commanded, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
The early Christians were diligent in carrying out their mission. After the persecution that arose after the martyrdom of Stephen, it is recorded of the church at Jerusalem, "they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles (Acts 8:1)." Furthermore, the historical record states, "they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word (Acts 8:4)."
In contrast to the first century, too many churches in the twenty first century are in the entertainment business, rather than in the business of teaching the Gospel as God's message to modern (and post-modern - for that matter) man. Christ did NOT die on the cross to entertain anyone. Furthermore, Jesus did not come to take man out of the slums, but rather to take the slums out of man. The message today is "come as you are" rather than "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38)."
Dale I. Royal,
Elk City, OK
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
"And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles."
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
