04.005. The Simplicity that is in Christ
The Simplicity that is in Christ
I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ-- 2 Corinthians 11:3. The primal reference here is to corruptions that crept in by the influence of pagan customs, ceremonies and traditions, disturbing primitive order and decorum. But the principle is too important to be limited to such narrow application. The contrast is between Christian simplicity and Satanic subtlety. The whole history of the Church reveals his wiles in corrupting the simple faith, life, and worship of the early Church assembly. In a single year radical changes took place, as may be seen by contrasting I Timothy and Titus with II Timothy, II Peter and Jude.
We need continually to go back to the beginning and inquire as to the primitive simplicity both of doctrine and practice. We have only to look at present standards, and then at apostolic teaching and church conduct, to see that there have been very serious and alarming departures from the then prevalent ideas and ideals. In fact, some marked features of primitive church life have, in a measure, if not altogether, disappeared. Of these the following deserve a very prominent consideration:
The Holy Spirit’s Conscious Presence and Presidency in the Church. Nothing was more characteristic of the Early Church. The Spirit of God had, then, in a sense, His Incarnation: Pentecost being His Birthday, and the Church His Body. How real this fact was appears from three conspicuous instances (Acts 5:9
The Prominence of Prayer, definite and united supplication and intercession, and its prevailing power. Pentecost was the result and reward of ten days’ continuous waiting on God. Afterward the very place was shaken where the disciples were assembled, and Peter’s release from prison and Herod’s sudden judgment were undoubted interpositions in answer to prayer.
The Equality of Believers. All were together and had all things in common. When scattered abroad, all preached Jesus. The privileges were in common, and so were their obligations. They shared their goods that none among them should lack, and shared the work of evangelization that none of the destitute around them should be without the Gospel.
Separation from the World. Never since, has the line of demarcation been so clearly drawn. They were chosen out of the world and sent back into it, not to be of it, but to bear witness to it. The undisputed imminence of the Second Advent gave emphasis to this separation and made them unworldly.