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Lessons From Desert Man
The Small Church #5
The Basic Building Block of America
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The establishment of Plymouth Plantation, by the Pilgrims
in 1620, was the beginning of America's colonial period.
It set the standard for many of the colonies which
followed. Over the next 167 years, colonies were established
and the population of America grew to 4 million. The
spiritual fervor of the people would rise and fall,
but one thing would remain true: America's roots would
be found in Christianity.
In the earliest colonies, the first building erected
by the people was not a home, or the governor's office,
but a church. This action of building the church first,
established the centrality of church life among the
community of colonists. Often the church was built
right in the middle of the planned community, as a
further sign of its place in the social lives of the
people.
Upon establishing these colonies, the people would
make a covenant with one another. The covenants would
include agreements to support one another, live in
accord with scriptural commandments, and even to attend
church together regularly. In many colonies, Bible
lessons and prayer times would occur daily, and all
the community was expected to attend.
These early colonies were really nothing more than
churches - small churches. Their sense of Christian
commitment was the glue, which held the community
together. So it was, that the small church became
the foundational building block of early America.
Today, many Christians have lost the vision of true
church life, as understood by our Founding Fathers.
A sense of community in the life of the church, unswerving
loyalty to obey the Lord, covenantal agreements of
support between church members, and a commitment to
be there; these are the things which made the small
churches of America's colonies strong. They are also
the things which make church powerful today.
The small church was the basic building block of American
society, for hundreds of years. It was the basic building
block of early Christianity as well. Most of the churches
in the Book of Acts met in small groups in homes.
I believe that "smallness" is still the basic building
block of the church. Families are the foundation of
the Christian experience, with fathers as the priests
of the homes. Then fellowship groups are the next
building block, because they establish a place for
Christians to covenantally support one another, and
they allow for the solitary individuals to be "placed
in families." Finally, larger congregational gatherings
establish a direction for vision and sound doctrine.
But, it remains an unchangeable fact, that true Christianity
is lived out in small groups, where relationships
can be built.
This is where the small church can be on the "cutting
edge" of vital Christianity. As we practice those
things which come easy in our smallness: relationships,
accountability, and openness; we will be returning
the church, to the dreams of greatness and purity,
held by our Founding Fathers.
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