The Way it Started Recently
Two couples and two single people sat in his living room, as he desperately tried to inspire a conversation to fill up the uncomfortable silience.
"So, how do you like Florida compared to California?" he asked one of the young ladies sitting on the couch.
"Oh, it's going to take some getting used to, but I like it alright."
"Cool."
Silence.
"Well...I guess we should get started. I put a little Bible study together that I thought we could explore together." He got up off his hard kitchen chair and walked around passing out a piece of paper to each person.
In his mind, he just knew this was never going to work. There are too many expectations; not just from everyone else, but from himself as well. He didn't know what this was going to look like when it was all said and done, but he knew he couldn't go back to "church as we know it". Reading the writers of the ancient church had inspired him. When he read chapters 65-67 of Justin Martyr's first apology, and saw the simplicity of an early church service, he was stirred. When he picked up the Didache, and read it through, a light went on in his head.
He sat down after he passed out the papers. He didn't know what this would end up looking like, but he knew it didn't have to be the same old thing....it could be the old new thing.
The Didache continued:
Chapter 5 “The Way of Death”
In contrast, the way of death looks like this: it has a long laundry list of things that destroy. Its evil and cursed nature is right up front. On this path there is murder, adultery, lusts of all kinds, sexual promiscuity, theft, false religious loyalties, dark magic and demonic powers, robbery, slanderous lies, fake religious masks, deceptions, evil conspiracies, pride, perverted behavior, self will, greed, pig-headedness, greed, foul talking, selfish jealousy, and over confident boasting!
If someone is good, or lives for the good, those on the way of death will hate and hurt him. The Truth is hated as well, but lies hold a special place in their heart. They can’t even conceive of living this life with the world to come in view. They don’t hold to anything good or approve of right choices. They wouldn’t roll out of bed for something good, but they’d work night and day for evil purposes. A patient, gentle mindset is like a distant idea, far from view.
If it’s worthless, they love it all the more. They’re only interested in how they can profit from any given thing. They turn a blind eye to the poor, and wouldn’t lift a finger to help someone in need and burdened down. Because they don’t believe they’re made in God’s image, they freely murder babies and actively seek to spoil anything that reflects the good of God. They walk away without a care from those who are hungry or hurting, and instead lift up to celebrity status those who are well off, and who have risen to power by walking on the backs of the poor. They are altogether outside of God’s plan.
May you, my dear children, be rescued from that sort of pathway.
Chapter 6 “False Teachers and Lifestyle Issues”
Pay close attention to what you’re being taught. Make sure you’re being pointed toward God’s good path, and not some cheap substitute. If you could live out all this goodness without falling short, well, you’d be a perfect person. But, since those kinds of people have never been found, live this out to the best of your ability. And concerning dietary issues, if it’s a possibility, do your best to stay away from unclean food, that is, food that people associate with false worship practices. People are led astray by that dead stuff.
"So, how do you like Florida compared to California?" he asked one of the young ladies sitting on the couch.
"Oh, it's going to take some getting used to, but I like it alright."
"Cool."
Silence.
"Well...I guess we should get started. I put a little Bible study together that I thought we could explore together." He got up off his hard kitchen chair and walked around passing out a piece of paper to each person.
In his mind, he just knew this was never going to work. There are too many expectations; not just from everyone else, but from himself as well. He didn't know what this was going to look like when it was all said and done, but he knew he couldn't go back to "church as we know it". Reading the writers of the ancient church had inspired him. When he read chapters 65-67 of Justin Martyr's first apology, and saw the simplicity of an early church service, he was stirred. When he picked up the Didache, and read it through, a light went on in his head.
He sat down after he passed out the papers. He didn't know what this would end up looking like, but he knew it didn't have to be the same old thing....it could be the old new thing.
The Didache continued:
Chapter 5 “The Way of Death”
In contrast, the way of death looks like this: it has a long laundry list of things that destroy. Its evil and cursed nature is right up front. On this path there is murder, adultery, lusts of all kinds, sexual promiscuity, theft, false religious loyalties, dark magic and demonic powers, robbery, slanderous lies, fake religious masks, deceptions, evil conspiracies, pride, perverted behavior, self will, greed, pig-headedness, greed, foul talking, selfish jealousy, and over confident boasting!
If someone is good, or lives for the good, those on the way of death will hate and hurt him. The Truth is hated as well, but lies hold a special place in their heart. They can’t even conceive of living this life with the world to come in view. They don’t hold to anything good or approve of right choices. They wouldn’t roll out of bed for something good, but they’d work night and day for evil purposes. A patient, gentle mindset is like a distant idea, far from view.
If it’s worthless, they love it all the more. They’re only interested in how they can profit from any given thing. They turn a blind eye to the poor, and wouldn’t lift a finger to help someone in need and burdened down. Because they don’t believe they’re made in God’s image, they freely murder babies and actively seek to spoil anything that reflects the good of God. They walk away without a care from those who are hungry or hurting, and instead lift up to celebrity status those who are well off, and who have risen to power by walking on the backs of the poor. They are altogether outside of God’s plan.
May you, my dear children, be rescued from that sort of pathway.
Chapter 6 “False Teachers and Lifestyle Issues”
Pay close attention to what you’re being taught. Make sure you’re being pointed toward God’s good path, and not some cheap substitute. If you could live out all this goodness without falling short, well, you’d be a perfect person. But, since those kinds of people have never been found, live this out to the best of your ability. And concerning dietary issues, if it’s a possibility, do your best to stay away from unclean food, that is, food that people associate with false worship practices. People are led astray by that dead stuff.
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