The early church is more than just the first group of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ; it's also a great source of learning and wisdom for our everyday life as Christians.
The early church brings to us many lessons that will help us live powerful Christian lives. Some of these lessons are very obvious, but some of them we seem to neglect or just pass by because of their perceived unimportance.
Here are some often ignored events or details in the early church, and what we can learn from them.
1) Some believers died at Peter's rebuke
Many, particularly unbelievers, perceive Christianity as a "feel good" religion where people talk positive and avoid confrontations. That is so wrong.
Acts 5:1-11 tells us of an account where two people, a couple, died after the apostle Peter rebuked them. Verses 3 through 5 tells us:
"But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things."
Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, agreed to sell their property and give the proceeds to the church. While that might have seemed noble, the problem here is that they both agreed to lie about the proceeds, committing sin in order to "keep up" and receive appreciation from the church.
This account teaches us never to lie to God. We must never ever lie to God, who sees all things.
2) Paul wasn't accepted at first
Many of us know the apostle Paul as an amazing man of God who planted churches wherever he went, but not as many of us know that before he became the father to many churches, he wasn't accepted at the early church's HQ in Jerusalem. Someone had to intervene in order for the church to accept him.
Acts 9:26-28 gives us the details:
"And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out."
This short account teaches many things to us, foremost of which is that we should all be a "Barnabas" to others, bridging the gap between the church and outsiders.
3) A bitter separation
Acts 15 tells us of a bitter separation between two friends who served the Lord together. Paul and Barnabas, two men who became partners in the work of ministry, separated after a sharp contention.
Earlier, we read that Barnabas was the one who encouraged the church to accept Paul. In Acts 13:2, we read that God Himself chose to call them to ministry together. In Acts 15:36-41, however, we read that they parted ways. Verses 37 to 40 tells us,
"Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God."
This short account teaches several things to us as well. One key lesson is to that convictions are necessary; we can never walk together with those who aren't going towards the direction we are walking to. Amos 3:3 tells us,
"Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"
