First Followers
A Partial List of Differences Between the Early New Testament Church and Today’s Christianity
May 3, 2007
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Consider some of the things the early church did not practice:
| 1. |
It did not observe Christmas, Lent, or Easter |
| 2. |
It did not meet on the first day of the week, Sunday |
| 3. |
It did not profess the Trinity |
| 4. |
It did not participate in Holy Communion |
| 5. |
It did not baptize infants |
| 6. |
It did not advocate celibacy |
| 7. |
It did not venerate saints |
| 8. |
It did not think it was going to heaven |
| 9. |
It did not have elaborate rituals |
| 10. |
It did not build cathedrals |
| 11. |
It did not take up political causes |
12.
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It did not fight government |
| 13. |
It did not withdraw from the world
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| 14. |
It did not know itself as “Christian” |
Consider some of the beliefs the early church did practice:
1.
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It observed annual holydays specified in the Hebrew Scriptures
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| 2. |
It met on the seventh day of the week, Saturday |
3.
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It believed that the Holy Spirit is the power of God, not a person |
| 4. |
It commemorated Jesus’ death annually with bread and wine |
| 5. |
It baptized adults by complete immersion in water |
| 6. |
Its ministry married |
7.
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Its saints were ordinary living people whom God had placed in His church
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| 8. |
It believed the dead were dead and awaiting resurrection |
| 9. |
It had simple ceremonies |
| 10. |
It met in homes, halls and open places |
| 11. |
It was politically neutral |
| 12. |
It obeyed government authorities |
| 13. |
It practiced social responsibility |
| 14. |
It followed “the Way” defined by the law of God |
Back to First Followers of Jesus: Doctrinal Distinctives
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