Today's churches, compared to those of two thousand years ago, have become more "advanced" and affluent. However, many people have observed that our churches are ailing and facing numerous issues.
Rev. Li Tao (pseudonym), who has extensively studied and contemplated the churches of the apostolic age, believeds that the early church was genuinely healthy and could offer insights into addressing the problems of today's churches.
Li declared that the early church had numerous distinctive qualities, with one crucial aspect being the widespread commitment among believers to live selflessly and pursue lives of self-sacrifice.
During the apostolic age, many individuals, upon believing in the Lord Jesus, sold their possessions and goods, which have been recorded several times in the Acts. Li explained, "It's not about advocating for every Christian to sell off everything they own and dedicate it to the church now. However, what we need to understand is that such practice was prevalent within the churches at that time."
People in that era, after following Jesus, were able to forsake everything, dedicating all they had. Pastor Li shared that there were at least three reasons for this willingness.
Firstly, he said that the selfless dedication of the early Christians stemmed from their initial commitment to follow.
When Jesus began his ministry, he personally called and chose twelve disciples, who abandoned everything to follow him. Besides them, the first group of believers baptized during Pentecost did similarly.
During the calling of disciples, Jesus said to those who wanted to follow him, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple."
The Lord's original disciples weren't the only ones who had to adhere to such strict rules. Even today, if we want to be true disciples of the Lord, we still need to have selfless hearts. "This doesn't mean we should go crazy and sell houses, cars, and everything we own. Rather, we must recognize that there's a choice between all we possess and the Lord Jesus. Are we willing to forsake everything for the Lord?" Li asked.
Li continued, "The disciples' willingness to forsake everything also stemmed from the wonderful example of the Lord's self-sacrifice for them."
At the first Pentecost following the Lord's crucifixion, three thousand people repented and believed in the Lord, followed by another group of five thousand. Many among them might have seen Jesus; some may have even rejected or attacked Him; perhaps even among those who, over fifty days earlier, had demanded Pilate release Barabbas instead of Jesus. Yet, fifty days later, they believed in the Lord. It was because they had witnessed firsthand Jesus Christ's voluntary sacrifice for all humanity, witnessing His bleeding and sacrifice on the cross.
Li gave two examples of voluntary dedication: Isaac Watts from England and John Sung from China.
Isaac Watts, known as the "Father of English Hymnody" in 17th-century England, penned many hymns still widely sung among Christians, with the most famous being "Joy to the World."
"Reading his poem 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,' we feel as though Isaac Watts has seen the cross of Jesus with his own eyes. Of course, we know Isaac Watts couldn't have seen Jesus's cross, but he indeed had a profound understanding of the love displayed by Jesus through the cross, hence creating such a deeply moving song," he said.
Dr. John Sung was one of the great figures in Chinese church history. When returning to China after completing his studies abroad, he threw his scholarly awards into the Pacific Ocean. He once said, "These things are of no use to me."
At the age of 27, after attending a gathering where the pastor talked about Jesus and His crucifixion, Sung saw in prayer the vivid image of Jesus’ passion and in extreme agony on the cross. The suffering of Jesus deeply pierced his heart, and from then on, he was willing to dedicate himself entirely to the Lord.
Li concluded, "Another crucial reason why believers in the early church were willing to sacrifice themselves was their hopeful anticipation of the kingdom of God."
In fact, not only the apostles and disciples of the early church but even the ancestors in faith held such a hopeful anticipation. The apostles also had great hopes for the kingdom of God. For instance, the Apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness." (2 Timothy 4: 7-8)
Li summarized, "We should not only understand Jesus well and emulate His example but also hold firm hope for the glorious kingdom of God. Only then can we experience Jesus in our own life; only then can we die to ourselves and live for Christ.
- Translated Abigail Wu
今天的教会和两千年前的教会相比，变得更加的“先进”和富裕。但很多人发现，我们的教会生病了，有很多问题。
一位对使徒时代教会或者说初代教会有很多思考和研究的李涛牧师（笔名）认为那时的教会是真正健康的教会，并且对解决现今时代教会的问题有很多启发。
李认为，使徒代时代的教会有着众多的特质。其中一个非常重要的一点那就是信众们普遍都有着舍己奉献的生命，追求过一个舍己奉献的生活。
在使徒时代，很多人相信了主耶稣以后，他们就把他们的田产、家业等等全部都卖掉了，使徒行传的多处经文都记录了基督徒这样的行动。李解释说，“不是说现在要呼吁大家把自己一切的产业都卖掉然后奉献给教会。可是我们要知道的是，在使徒时代的教会里面，这样的做法是非常普遍的。”
那个时代的人们信了主以后，能够抛弃一切，奉献一切，李涛牧师认为至少有以下三个方面的原因。
李涛牧师说：初代教会信徒的舍己奉献的生命源于最起初的跟随。
耶稣开始传道的时候，亲自呼召和拣选了十二名门徒。他们撇下他们的一切所有跟从了耶稣。第一批被主拣选的十二使徒是这样，在五旬节第一批蒙恩的信徒也是这样。
在呼召门徒的时候，主耶稣对那些想要成为门徒的人说，人到我这里来，若不爱我胜过爱自己的父母、妻子、儿女、弟兄、姐妹和自己的性命，就不能作我的门徒。
不仅是当时主所呼召和拣选的门徒要遵循如此苛刻的条件，今天的我们如果想要真正成为主的门徒的话，依然要有一颗全然舍己奉献的心。“这样说并不是让我们像疯子一般卖房子、卖车子、卖掉我们一切的产业，而是我们必须要认识到，在我们所拥有的这一切和主耶稣之间，要有所选择。我们是否能为了主能撇弃一切所有？”李问。
李说：门徒们能够如此甘愿舍弃一切，也是由于主的舍己为门徒们作了美好的榜样。
在主钉十字架之后迎来的第一个五旬节的时候，第一批门徒三千人悔改信主了，之后的第二批又有五千人悔改归主。很可能当中有很多人见过耶稣，甚至有人弃绝过耶稣、攻击过耶稣，也可能有在五十多天之前在彼拉多面前弃绝耶稣、求彼拉多释放巴拉多的人。但是五十天之后，他们信主了。因为他们曾经亲眼目睹了主耶稣基督为了全人类甘心舍己的行动，看见了主耶稣在十字架上所有的流血和牺牲。
李涛牧师举了2个甘心奉献的榜样：英国的以撒华滋和中国的宋尚节。
17世纪英国的以撒华滋被称为“英国圣诗之父”，他的许多圣诗至今仍被基督徒广泛传唱，最出名的一首圣诗应当是《普世欢腾》。
“当我们去读他的《我每静念那十字架》这首诗歌的时候，我们仿佛能够感觉到好像以撒华滋亲眼看见过主耶稣的十字架一样。当然，我们知道以撒华滋不可能看见过耶稣的十字架，但是他确实对主耶稣通过十字架所彰显出来的爱的世界有深刻的体会，所以才能够创作出来如此感人至深的诗歌。”
宋尚节博士是中国教会历史上的伟人之一。当年他在留学完毕乘船返回中国的时候，他将箱子里留学时候所获得的金钥匙（大学的荣誉标志物）和荣誉奖章都抛入到了深不见底的太平洋里。他曾经说：“（这些东西）对我一点用处也没有。”
因为在他27岁的时候参加了一次聚会，讲道人讲的内容正是耶稣并祂钉十字架。回家以后他在祷告当中就看到了主耶稣钉在十字架上面鲜血淋漓、极度痛苦的样子。主耶稣受难的样子深深的刺痛了他的心。他从此愿意把自己完全奉献给主。
李涛牧师说：初代教会的信徒们他们之所以甘愿舍己，还有一个重要原因，那就是他们有对于神国的美好盼望。
事实上，不仅仅是初代教会的使徒和门徒们，就连犹太人他们信心的列祖们心中也存着这样的美好盼望。使徒们对神国也有着很大的盼望。比如使徒保罗就说过，那美好的仗他已经打过了，当跑的路他也已经跑完了，所信的道他也已经守住了。从此以后，有公义的冠冕为他而存留。
李总结说，“我们也是如此，不但应当很好的认识耶稣，效法主的榜样，而且还应当对美好的神国存着坚定的盼望。如此，我们才能够让主耶稣的生命成为我们的生命；如此，我们才能够死去我们、活出基督。”
回到使徒时代的健康教会|拥有一个舍己奉献的生命和生活
Today's churches, compared to those of two thousand years ago, have become more "advanced" and affluent. However, many people have observed that our churches are ailing and facing numerous issues.
Rev. Li Tao (pseudonym), who has extensively studied and contemplated the churches of the apostolic age, believeds that the early church was genuinely healthy and could offer insights into addressing the problems of today's churches.
Li declared that the early church had numerous distinctive qualities, with one crucial aspect being the widespread commitment among believers to live selflessly and pursue lives of self-sacrifice.
During the apostolic age, many individuals, upon believing in the Lord Jesus, sold their possessions and goods, which have been recorded several times in the Acts. Li explained, "It's not about advocating for every Christian to sell off everything they own and dedicate it to the church now. However, what we need to understand is that such practice was prevalent within the churches at that time."
People in that era, after following Jesus, were able to forsake everything, dedicating all they had. Pastor Li shared that there were at least three reasons for this willingness.
Firstly, he said that the selfless dedication of the early Christians stemmed from their initial commitment to follow.
When Jesus began his ministry, he personally called and chose twelve disciples, who abandoned everything to follow him. Besides them, the first group of believers baptized during Pentecost did similarly.
During the calling of disciples, Jesus said to those who wanted to follow him, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple."
The Lord's original disciples weren't the only ones who had to adhere to such strict rules. Even today, if we want to be true disciples of the Lord, we still need to have selfless hearts. "This doesn't mean we should go crazy and sell houses, cars, and everything we own. Rather, we must recognize that there's a choice between all we possess and the Lord Jesus. Are we willing to forsake everything for the Lord?" Li asked.
Li continued, "The disciples' willingness to forsake everything also stemmed from the wonderful example of the Lord's self-sacrifice for them."
At the first Pentecost following the Lord's crucifixion, three thousand people repented and believed in the Lord, followed by another group of five thousand. Many among them might have seen Jesus; some may have even rejected or attacked Him; perhaps even among those who, over fifty days earlier, had demanded Pilate release Barabbas instead of Jesus. Yet, fifty days later, they believed in the Lord. It was because they had witnessed firsthand Jesus Christ's voluntary sacrifice for all humanity, witnessing His bleeding and sacrifice on the cross.
Li gave two examples of voluntary dedication: Isaac Watts from England and John Sung from China.
Isaac Watts, known as the "Father of English Hymnody" in 17th-century England, penned many hymns still widely sung among Christians, with the most famous being "Joy to the World."
"Reading his poem 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,' we feel as though Isaac Watts has seen the cross of Jesus with his own eyes. Of course, we know Isaac Watts couldn't have seen Jesus's cross, but he indeed had a profound understanding of the love displayed by Jesus through the cross, hence creating such a deeply moving song," he said.
Dr. John Sung was one of the great figures in Chinese church history. When returning to China after completing his studies abroad, he threw his scholarly awards into the Pacific Ocean. He once said, "These things are of no use to me."
At the age of 27, after attending a gathering where the pastor talked about Jesus and His crucifixion, Sung saw in prayer the vivid image of Jesus’ passion and in extreme agony on the cross. The suffering of Jesus deeply pierced his heart, and from then on, he was willing to dedicate himself entirely to the Lord.
Li concluded, "Another crucial reason why believers in the early church were willing to sacrifice themselves was their hopeful anticipation of the kingdom of God."
In fact, not only the apostles and disciples of the early church but even the ancestors in faith held such a hopeful anticipation. The apostles also had great hopes for the kingdom of God. For instance, the Apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness." (2 Timothy 4: 7-8)
Li summarized, "We should not only understand Jesus well and emulate His example but also hold firm hope for the glorious kingdom of God. Only then can we experience Jesus in our own life; only then can we die to ourselves and live for Christ.
- Translated Abigail Wu
Back to the Early Church: Having a Self-Sacrifical Life
