Should the church change?
Introduction. It is suggested that we live in a world of change. The economy, medical science, and knowledge in general changes. Some believe the church must also change to stay in vogue. In fact, modern religion has so greatly changed that most religions today only remotely resemble the church you read about in the New Testament.
The work of the early church. The work of the church Jesus established can be clearly seen. The early church was and is "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3: 15). Early Christians, both individually and collectively, sought to promote and spread the gospel (Acts 8: 1-4; 13: 1-5). The church engaged in the work of edification (building up members, Eph. 4: 14-16). One purpose of preaching was to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort" the church (2 Tim. 4: 1-5). The church also took care of the members who needed the necessities of life (1 Cor. 16: 1, 2; 1 Tim 5: 3-16). The building of hospitals to minister to the physical needs of the world, maintaining entertainment centers to pacify people's need for play, and engaging in politics were totally foreign to the early church. In short, the work of the church was spiritual.
Change is forbidden. Areas involving doctrine and morality must not be altered. We must not add to or take away from the scriptures (Rev. 22: 18, 19). If we go beyond Christ's teaching, we do not have God (2 John 9-11). Paul wrote that even if an apostle or angel proclaimed a different gospel, they were to be accursed (Gal. 1: 6-9). As seen, the church and her work is clearly revealed in the New Testament. We should be endeavoring to restore and duplicate pristine Christianity rather than change it. God's plans, dealings, and arrangements are always perfect; hence, there is no need for updates and modernization (cf. 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17). Our desire should be to please God, not ourselves. No, the church should not change!
The work of the early church. The work of the church Jesus established can be clearly seen. The early church was and is "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3: 15). Early Christians, both individually and collectively, sought to promote and spread the gospel (Acts 8: 1-4; 13: 1-5). The church engaged in the work of edification (building up members, Eph. 4: 14-16). One purpose of preaching was to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort" the church (2 Tim. 4: 1-5). The church also took care of the members who needed the necessities of life (1 Cor. 16: 1, 2; 1 Tim 5: 3-16). The building of hospitals to minister to the physical needs of the world, maintaining entertainment centers to pacify people's need for play, and engaging in politics were totally foreign to the early church. In short, the work of the church was spiritual.
Change is forbidden. Areas involving doctrine and morality must not be altered. We must not add to or take away from the scriptures (Rev. 22: 18, 19). If we go beyond Christ's teaching, we do not have God (2 John 9-11). Paul wrote that even if an apostle or angel proclaimed a different gospel, they were to be accursed (Gal. 1: 6-9). As seen, the church and her work is clearly revealed in the New Testament. We should be endeavoring to restore and duplicate pristine Christianity rather than change it. God's plans, dealings, and arrangements are always perfect; hence, there is no need for updates and modernization (cf. 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17). Our desire should be to please God, not ourselves. No, the church should not change!