Daily Devotions
Organized Religion
Reading for April 14th: 1 Kings 6-7
Weekly reading for April 12-18: Acts 1-5
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 2:42
"I don't like organized religion." This is a sentiment many share (and in some ways I agree), but not all organization is bad.
Early Christians were organized. They came together as churches (or assemblies) in order to learn (Acts 2:42), to pray (Acts 4:23-24), to share (Acts 4:32-37), and to remember Jesus' death (Acts 20:7). They did this in an organized way. The churches had elders (Acts 14:23) who were given the charge of watching over the flock (Acts 20:17, 28).
But there was not the sophisticated organization back then that we see today. There is no evidence of any kind of ecclesiastical hierarchy in the early church. Read the book of Acts from beginning to end. You just won't find it.
The churches were not subject to human creeds or confessions of faith. They submitted to the teaching of the apostles and prophets, not the rules of man (Ephesians 2:19-20). They were independent and autonomous. Their allegiance was not to some organization but to Christ (Colossians 1:18).
Is it possible to be organized today as churches were back then? Not only is it possible, this simple organization is the only kind of "organized" religion we should tolerate! Anything more than this glorifies us, not God.
"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God... that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 4:11
Lord, may You be glorified in Your church!
