Why I AM Apostolic, But Not Really...

Introduction & The Meaning of the Word Apostolic

Throughout my life, I have attempted to make sense of my faith and the legitimate reason for why I should be called an “apostolic.” This search and endeavor to associate myself with the tradition I was so fortunate to be born into has led me down a path I never expected to travel. Furthermore, I am not sure I am prepared to continue this path, as I am still on it and it’s direction tends to scare me concerning what I might discover next.

Years ago, I sought to confirm everything I believe about my faith. I discovered there was much I could confirm, but there was much I could not confirm as a fundamental principle for how my life should be lived in accordance to the plain reading of Scripture. If one were to endeavor in this activity, I am sure their experiences would be the same as I have experienced. Very little of that which is practiced in the modern world can be supported by an apostolic approach to Scripture. Since we are using the word “apostolic”, I should define what it means. First, I will give the general understanding of the word. Then, I will give the appropriate and true meaning of the word. Lastly, I will prove why it is important that we approach the Scriptures with an apostolic methodology.

Generally speaking, the word apostolic has been used to describe a denomination that came out of the Pentecostal movement of the 19th century. Accordingly, apostolic churches are inevitably associated with the charisma of the Pentecostal church and are commonly associated with the experience Pentecostalism is known for. Therefore, certain experiences such as speaking in tongues, laying on of hands, prophecy, and, quite frankly, mere excitement are all associated with the Apostolic and Pentecostal church.

However, the word apostolic, as it relates to the church, should be used to refer to what Stephen Presley calls the faith and ministry of the church as built upon the apostolic testimony—that testimony coming from the ones commissioned by Christ to preach the gospel. As Stephens (LST, Lexham Survey of Theology) shared, these men had the following things in common:

They conversed with Jesus

Witnessed the events of his earthly ministry

Were instructed concerning the things of the kingdom

Stephens’ meaning of the word “apostolic” aligns with what I have heard in my traditional church. As a child, I was told we are apostolic, because we “stand on the teachings of the apostles.” And this is something I still stand on. I believe this is the most honorable way to approach Scripture and one’s life as a believer. However, we must understand why this is the most honorable and reliable way to approach Scripture.

My view of why this approach is valuable may be associated with what many call primitivism. Primitivism is what some call “impulse to restore the primitive or original order of things as revealed in Scripture, free from the accretions of church history and tradition.” (Reid, D. G., Linder, R. D., Shelley, B. L., & Stout, H. S. (1990). In Dictionary of Christianity in America. InterVarsity Press.) This definition implies things within church history and tradition have diverted from the example given by the first or original followers of Christ. Yet, I must add that it is not simply the diversion of those things from the original followers. Rather, it is the diversion from the original believers as to make discipleship completely unlike what they understood discipleship to be in their time. This diversion is not complimentary. It is destructive, vile, and offensive. So then, primitivism is the attempt to keep Christianity pure from those things that will destroy and corrupt the original principles given by Jesus Christ and His holy messengers. Other may refer to this as Puritanism.

Do you notice the variety of names associated with this task of keeping Christianity pure? Nearly every denomination has at the heart of its purpose for existence a restorationist motive. Yet, we all see Christianity and Christ uniquely different so that our idea of “original” or primitive Christianity differs.

Though our idea of Christian primitivism differs, I think it is helpful for us all to agree that each Christian should strive to follow Christ in the same way Jesus’s first followers followed Him. That is, we are not making things up as we move from generation to generation. Rather, there is so likeness to the way the first followers lived and the way we live today. The challenge becomes defining just how they lived and what does primitivism look like in today’s world.

I have found that most attempts to return to primitive Christianity are often incomplete. That is, they refer to one portion of the things practiced by the original Christians. Furthermore, I have also found that their choice of the things practiced by the primitive Christians are often exploited due to a lack of understanding of why they may have participated in a certain practice. The context of the practice means just as much as the practice itself.

Since the context of the ancient audience is so unique, our interpretation of Scripture must intend to define the principle of Scripture. Furthermore, Scripture gives us a clear method for how Scripture is to be interpreted. Paul wrote,

1 Corinthians 10:11 CSB

11 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

However, the point of this talk is not provide an explanation on biblical interpretation. Rather, the purpose is to demonstrate what it means to be called apostolic or “primitive.” That is, how do we live this primitivist life without exploiting Scripture.

First, I must say, we should do all that Scripture provides for us as an example within the reason it provides the example. Doing everything in Scripture will end in fatality. However, if we approach Scripture to understand why they did a thing, we may discover that all that has been done is not meant to be replicated or duplicated.

Because we understand why Israel crossed the Red Sea, we are not motivated to cross the Red Sea as they did. However, there is a principle that teaches us to trust the God who supernaturally intervene in the natural system that governs the world. This method of reading Scripture is common, else there would be several Christians waiting to cross the Red Sea today. Yet, this is not the case. So, the question is why are we selecting certain passages in the New Testament to replicate or duplicate? Shouldn’t we simply seek the principle of that which is written?

Furthermore, why have we selected certain portions to replicate and duplicate? For instance, why have modern Pentecostals sought to replicate the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-13 and not the post Day of Pentecost behavior of the early church found in Acts 2:42-47? The major problem with most of the doctrines that arise out of the Pentecostal movement is its inconsistent method of biblical interpretation. Accordingly, nothing can be deemed reliable because one’s approach to Scripture is unreliable on the basis of inconsistency.

So, now I must proceed to define just what I mean by primitive Christianity and how it might be used to forward the modern world into a more biblical means of existing as Jesus’s church.

Primitive Christianity as the Answer to the Modern Dilemma

If you have not already noticed, many, particularly the younger generations, are begging for a purer form of Christianity. They are looking for authenticity in our churches, pulpits, and communities. Many have responded to this desire with the improper response, which has led many to only further invalidate the church.

We have responded to the desire for authenticity with more superficial antidotes, which run the audience we are targeting away rather than drawing them in. It is a terrible myth that those seeking God would rather have churches with fancy bands, music, smoke, light shows, and mere entertainment. Those who wish to congregate at churches with those sort of things get exactly what they want—mere entertainment. Those who gather at such churches where such enticements are emphasized over any other are only attending under the guise that they want Christ. Yet, the truth is they want entertainment while using the name of Christ. However, those who wish to see a more pure form of Christianity are still on the search for more.

In fact, there are those who are attending the entertaining churches who are desperate for more. They are craving an authentic relationship with God and community. Furthermore, there are those within the traditional church who are craving more authentic relationships, and have resorted to going to the entertaining church to quench that thirst that can only be filled by Christ and the community He builds.

Those who wish to see Christ and His community in His fullness are looking for what I call Primitive Christianity. And yet their search is still on, because there are very few forms of Christianity that exist as we will describe.

Primitive Christianity exists on the following values:

Teaching

Fellowship

Miracles, signs, and wonders

Commonism (not Communism)

Worship

Shared meals

All of these values and characteristics are found in Acts 2:42-47. Why should we gather our idea of Christianity from these verses? It is because these verses serve as the description of how the church operated after its official launch on the Day of Pentecost. Accordingly, nearly every example of the church in Scripture is found operating within one of these values. Now, I shall deal with each one of these values individually.

Truth

When I use the word “teaching” I am referring to the system of learning that the apostles were known for sharing. That is, the apostles had a singular (not multiple) message that they published around the world. More so than a message, we might identify this entire system as a teaching. That is, they built communities and people around this single teaching that was known as being possessed by the apostles and no one else.

Therefore, the church we find in Scripture had a learning culture. These individuals took very seriously the things they must do to follow Jesus Christ. Why did the apostles do this? Why were they so persistent about teaching and spreading a system of learning?

Well, Jesus gave them strict commands to teach. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said,

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Notice, there’s a purpose for the teaching. The teaching is not simply to create communities that will mimic the apostles. Rather, the purpose of the apostles’ teaching ministry is to disciple other individuals into following the teachings received from Jesus Christ. In short, the teaching that one receives in the church is intended to educate them on how to be like Jesus.

However, we have discovered a serious tragedy. Most individuals no nothing about Jesus—who He was, what He was like, how He responded, and what would have been His reaction to common problems. Therefore, individuals are unable follow the One they hardly know. Our entire reason for having the letters of the New Testament is due to learning culture that existed, and the apostles insistence to answer very practical questions with deep theological truth.

If we read throughout the Book of Acts, we find clear examples for how the community existed as a teaching community. Acts 5:28, 13:12, 17:19, if read in their entire context, demonstrate how the church followed a system of teaching delivered by the apostles. Our challenge is reading, understanding, and living by those teachings in a way that is practical and true to the principle given to us in Scripture.