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What Challenges Do Early Churches Face

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Introduction
As the Body of Christ, the challenges we struggle with today are not different from those of the early churches as described in the New Testament. As we focus our attention on the information and facts before us, we notice very similar struggles. We tend to assume that our struggles in 2015 are unique in terms of our walk with Christ, but in reality it is not. The notes supplied on the Survey of the New Testament confirm that the challenges and hardships have not really changed. Dates and times have changed, but people seem to be exactly the same in terms of pride, unrighteousness, unbelieving, sinning, revenge and worldly pleasures.

So, what struggles and challenges did the early churches face?
The writers of the New Testament …show more content…

The ever promise of “enlightenment” and “higher knowledge” through profound and deeper understanding appealed to the members of the church. He urges the church to rather ask God for wisdom and to diligently and regularly practice the teachings of Jesus. Dallas Willard writes “There is an immense difference between training to do something and trying to do something” (Willard 47)
The second chapter of James speaks of differentiation between the classes (something that happened here in South Africa up to 1994 during the Apartheid era). Churches were chasing after and enticing wealthy members rather than the poor. The churches were reminded that all are brothers (and sisters) in the Christian faith. James also corrects misunderstandings regarding works, which have to accompany faith, as a sign of healthy Christian living and beliefs. He does not contradict the teachings of Paul, but rather teaches that your faith and works should be a way of life for …show more content…

Gone are the days of surreptitious slights against Christians; now it is open season on faith. Blatant, in-your-face anti-Christian discrimination is the new norm. Christians(sic) students now face their applications being rejected because they let it slip out that they are a person of faith, receiving failing grades for daring to allow their religious beliefs to outweigh the omniscience of the educational elites, or being outright expelled for having the audacity to live in accordance with their faith.” (www.endtimeheadlines.org. 16 July

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