Neal Pollard
I would guess that the majority of those professing to be Christians would be greatly offended at the thought of rewriting the Bible in a way to change its meaning. Translation updates are always needed for those speaking living languages, as such languages are ever evolving. That is a different discipline from that practiced by the devil at the beginning, whose change to God’s Word nullified and contradicted what He said (Genesis 3:4). In fact, God condemns such changes as this (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3). Everywhere, God rebukes such changes (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19).
In light of all that, is it any better to change God’s Word in practice? Specifically, regarding assembling and fellowshipping together, are we trying to rewrite Acts? At least, as it concerns our individual part. Some seem to place a low value on coming together with other Christians week by week. The Pandemic policy adopted by many congregations, to accommodate a brief health crisis back in 2020, has created a subculture of often otherwise healthy people who continue to patronize grocery stores, restaurants, and other public places but not the assemblies. Others, those with newborns or small children, with ongoing extracurricular activities, homework and work deadlines, etc., find It easy and convenient to simply isolate themselves from their spiritual community.
Think of how different this is from Luke’s inspired record of the early church. Can you imagine him chronicling its sacred history this way?
- “And all those who had believed were alone…” (2:44).
- “…they were taking their meals alone with gladness and sincerity of heart” (2:46).
- “When (Peter and John) had been released, they went home by themselves” (4:23).
- “The place where they had not gathered together” (4:31).
- “They were not all with one accord in Solomon’s portico” (5:12).
- “And never a day, in the temple or from house to house, did they keep right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (5:42).
- How does Acts 6:1-7 go with every individual or home staying away?
Especially in the Jerusalem church, we see a pattern of behavior that created evangelism opportunities, strengthened and matured believers, aided endurance, bolstered hope in God’s promises, gave a powerful sense of distinct identity, and formed the heart and soul of Christians’ focus, purpose, and priorities. They truly appreciated what God gave them through Christ (2:38-41). They took seriously the change this was supposed to bring into their lives (2:47). They desperately wanted others to have what they had found (8:4). Central to all of this was not only a new, vibrant relationship with God. Intrinsically attached to that was an innate desire to be with His people, in good times (2:47; 4:32) and bad times (4:23; 5:11-16).
Perhaps there are exceptions, but for most of us desire to surround ourselves with God’s people is either growing or waning. Very rarely does it remain static. It is easy to lose sight of the valuable resource God has designed fellowship and assembling to be in not only building our own spiritual strength, but our doing the same for others (Hebrews 10:24-25). We live in a world that fosters a worldview with self at the center and others at the margins. We serve a Savior who fosters just the opposite view (Philippians 2:3-11).
We probably would not stand for a Bible that totally changes what God preserved. Neither should we allow ourselves to rewrite it through lives that live in a way that opposes what it commands and exemplifies. May we have the humility and honesty to let Scripture be a mirror to help us align our practice with its precepts (James 1:23-24).
