Would the Apostles Recognize Us?

With “church” and “spirituality” taking so many different forms and emphases through denominations and movements, celebrities and influencers, a simplifying question helps distinguish true Christianity from the many false prophets who have gone out into the world. “Would the apostles recognize this?”

                If an apostle walked into this particular gathering of believers, would he call this “worship?” Would he ask, “Where did you come up with this ritual or tradition?” Or, “Yes, this is from the mouth of our Master, and you are continuing in the regula fidei, the rule of faith. If he heard this “sermon,” would he recognize it as God’s word? If an apostle watched this podcast, would he call it Christ’s gospel or sophisticated ravings? Divisive or edifying?

                If the apostles would not recognize our worship, doctrine, words, and practices, it is not genuine Christianity.  It might be a religious club that likes to discuss current events or play music, but if it is not built upon the apostolic foundation, it is not a true church. There are many good things in which Christians can legitimately participate – politics, business, the arts, education, government – that are not to be equated with Christian doctrine, universal moral duties for every believer, or essentials of our faith.              

                Why make such a to-do about the apostles? They are Christ’s living voices. “He who hears you, hears me” (Luke 10:16). “If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37). Note the apostolic rule and true church in the chain of command Jesus Christ our Lord established. He sent the apostles out into the world as his witnesses, as his living voices. Their preaching, teaching, and especially the Scriptures they wrote are our Lord’s commands – not pious suggestions, vague guardrails, or portals for new supposed revelations. They are our Lord’s commands.

                The apostles and prophets are the foundation upon which the church is laid (Eph. 2:20). Their names are written upon the foundations of the heavenly Jerusalem, the final order of the kingdom of God, of which we are now a part by faith (Rev. 21:14). For their names to be written there means that there is no entering into the narrow gate or walking the narrow path except via the apostolic faith.

                Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. So closely joined is He to them that we cannot have Him if we reject the apostles and the Scriptures they wrote by the Spirit of Christ (1 Cor. 2:13). The true church, worship that glorifies God, Christian living that pleases the Lord, and glorifying God in our bodies on the earth all require that we be built upon this one foundation. There is no other foundation (1 Cor. 3:11).

                And this explains the proliferation of cults, strange fire in worship that God has not commanded, doctrinally indifferent and compromised denominations and teachers. They are not built upon the apostolic foundation. Once that foundation is left, once man’s wisdom is followed, you arrive at something very different than anything the apostles would recognize.

                A closing anecdote will I hope clarify. For about three years in my youth, we attend what was then the largest church in Atlanta: First Baptist. This was downtown in that old cavernous building that grew over the years into an intriguing labyrinth of hallways, floors, buildings, some old, some new, elevators, parking lots. But with all that, most earnest Christians, and especially the apostles, would recognize the worship: prayer, singing, preaching.

                Real prayers, expository preaching, vibrant choral and congregational singing. Since Charles Stanley was an expository preacher, when he was faithful to the text, he was spot on. I have often thought to myself. Our worship here at CPC looks very much like what I experienced growing up there, among the conservative Methodists, Baptists, Primitive Baptists, and then the Presbyterians. Now I understand. When you take Jesus Christ seriously, his apostles seriously, and his Scriptures seriously, you are one with God’s people in all the ages. The apostles recognize you. More importantly, Jesus Christ does.