A Concert and a TED Talk

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Act 2:42 NIV)

Recently, I had heard of a Roman Catholic who had visited a Protestant Church and was asked to comment on the experience. He replied, “I thought it was more like attending a concert followed by a TED talk than a worship experience.” Wow! Is that your church experience?

Luke describes New Testament worship in Act 2:42. Christians had an overall devotion to four elements: the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Christians were devoted to hearing what the apostles had to say to fellow believers. Undoubtedly there would be comments and exposition on what God had to say through His apostles, then there would be “fellowship” or a sharing of things in common (koinōnia). We know that they would often eat together (1 Corinthians 11:20-23) and share what they had in abundance (money, clothing Acts 4:33-35, Hebrews 13:16, Titus 3:14) with those who lacked. They would also break bread. I believe this is a reference to partaking of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist, also called the Lord’s Supper. Perhaps this would be sometime during their meal together. Finally, they would have prayers. This could be a time where the gifts of the Spirit, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, following a discussion of the Love Feast and Lord’s Table in 1 Corinthians 11, might be practiced. This might also refer to songs and hymns and spiritual songs sung as prayers to God (Ephesians 5:19). I believe this is a description of what happens when two or more gather in Jesus’ name. Jesus is really present! (Matthew 18:20, Zephaniah 3:17)

In around 150 AD, Justin Martyr described a Christian gathering that shows how this tradition continued: “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.¹”

It is clear from both Luke and Justin that the ancient Christian experience was quite interactive and participatory. We can learn from these descriptions and discover that the early Christian worship experience was far more exciting than the usual Protestant church experience. Each Sunday was a rawdy (in a good way!) memorable experience, more interesting than any TV program, Youtube scrolling or concert with a TED talk.

Pray: "Thank you Heavenly Father, for the comprehensive picture of early church worship. Amen"

Notes

¹Justin Martyr, First Apology, Chapter 67