Topics

Life in the Early Church

Topic 3.1 – Causes of Conflicts among People

Reasons for Conflict:

Life in the Early Church had the following characteristics:

Learning the Teachings of Christ: New converts were eager to learn from the Apostles.
Warm Fellowship: They spent time together in unity, without arguments or strife.
Breaking of Bread: They remembered the death of Jesus by breaking bread together regularly, often in their homes.
Prayer: Prayer was important. The early Church prayed for those suffering persecution and asked God for boldness to preach and perform miracles in Jesus' name. (Acts 4:23-30, 2:43-47, 4:32-37)
Holy Reverence for God: They had deep respect for God, especially after seeing miracles performed through the Apostles. (Acts 2:43, 4:33)
Generosity: They shared their possessions, making sure no one lacked basic needs. Property was sold, and the money was distributed by the Apostles based on individual needs. (Acts 4:32-37)
Worship and Praise: They regularly worshiped in the Temple, giving thanks for God's mighty works. (Acts 2:47)
Hospitality and Evangelism: Their fellowship extended beyond the Church to the community. Others were encouraged to join and believe in Jesus as the Messiah. (Acts 2:46-47)

Corruption within the Church (Acts 5:1-11; 8:9-24)

Ananias and Sapphira: They sold property but lied about how much they gave to the Church, pretending to give all the proceeds while keeping some for themselves. Their sin was hypocrisy, lying to both people and God. God judged them quickly.
Simon the Sorcerer: Simon tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit so that he could perform miracles like Peter. This act of seeking power through Satan's influence was rebuked by Peter, who challenged Simon to repent.

A Problem of Administration (Acts 6:1-7)

As the number of disciples grew, some Greek-speaking Jewish believers felt their widows were being neglected in the distribution of supplies like food and clothing.
The Apostles wisely chose seven men, full of the Holy Spirit, to manage the situation, ensuring that everyone was treated fairly.
Among those chosen were Stephen and Philip, both Greek-speaking Jews. This solution allowed the Church to grow further.

Barnabas and Paul (Acts 9:22-30; 15:36-41)

Acceptance of Paul: After his conversion, many in the Church were hesitant to accept Paul because of his past persecution of Christians. The problem was solved when Barnabas explained that Paul's conversion was genuine.
Personal Disputes: An argument arose between Barnabas and Paul over whether to take John Mark on their second missionary journey. This disagreement was resolved when Paul chose Silas and Barnabas chose John Mark, each continuing their missions separately. This led to the spread of the Gospel to a wider area, and later John Mark became a close companion of Paul.

Inclusion of Gentiles (Acts 15:1-21, 24-29; 21:25)

Some Jewish Christians criticized Peter for eating with Gentiles, who were considered "unclean" by Jewish law. This led to a dispute over whether Gentiles should be circumcised.
The issue was settled when Peter shared his vision, showing that God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles as well, making them equal with Jews in the faith. (Acts 11:1-48)
The Council of Jerusalem (49 AD) was convened to discuss whether Gentiles should follow the Mosaic Law. The decision was made that Gentiles did not have to become fully Jewish to be Christians, but should avoid certain practices that were offensive to Jews (such as eating meat sacrificed to idols).

Zambian Tradition:

Discussions are held to find a lasting solution to conflicts.
A neutral person (go-between) may be used to reach an agreement between conflicting parties.
Those involved in conflict must speak honestly and share their perspectives to help mediators find a solution.
If a person is found guilty, they may apologize or pay damages to restore peace.
In cases of death, divination might be used, and revenge could be sought.

Christianity:

Christianity teaches resolving conflicts through:
- Honest discussions and communication.
- Committing the problem to God in prayer.
- Using relevant Scriptures to guide decisions.
- Offering brotherly, godly counsel to resolve conflicts with love and respect.

The Role of Women in the Early Church:

Leadership: Women like Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2), Priscilla (Acts 18:18-26), and Junia (Romans 16:7) played important roles in the early Church as leaders, deaconesses, and teachers.
Supporters: Women were often among the first to follow Jesus and were instrumental in supporting his ministry, including providing financial resources.
Evangelists: Many women were key in spreading the gospel, such as the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42), who led many in her town to Jesus.
Disciples: Women were also active disciples, participating in prayer meetings and supporting the Apostles as they spread the message of Christ.

Early Spread of Christianity:

The Apostles' Mission: After Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the apostles began their mission to spread the gospel, traveling far and wide to establish new Christian communities.
Persecution and Expansion: The early Christians faced persecution from both Jewish authorities and Roman rulers. However, this persecution also led to the spread of Christianity, as believers scattered across different regions, taking the message of Christ with them.
Paul’s Missionary Journeys: The Apostle Paul played a significant role in spreading Christianity through his extensive missionary journeys across the Roman Empire. His letters to early Christian communities (epistles) helped establish Christian doctrine.
Christianity in Roman Society: Christianity slowly began to gain followers in Roman society, despite initial resistance. The Christian message of hope, salvation, and equality under God attracted many people, including slaves, women, and the poor.

The Development of Church Structure:

Church Leadership: Initially, leadership in the Church was provided by the Apostles and elders. Over time, as the Church grew, the leadership structure became more formalized, with bishops, deacons, and priests taking on specific roles.
Church Organization: As Christianity spread to different regions, the Church began to organize congregations into dioceses and provinces. This helped with the administration of the growing number of believers.
Creeds and Councils: To preserve the integrity of the Christian faith, early Church leaders developed creeds (statements of belief) and held councils to address doctrinal issues, such as the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) which affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity.
Church Authority: Over time, the Church established its authority, both in spiritual matters and in relation to the Roman Empire. The Pope in Rome became the central figure of Christian authority in the West.