This study was first taught on September 9, 2018

Topic: Church Life (1): Rituals or Relationship

(use the audio to study)

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Background
In our last discussion on “The Book of the Acts of the Apostles”, we concluded on the last of the 4 ‘P’s. The 4 ‘P’s are People, Place, Power, and Purpose, and they are the elements or parameters which make a gathered group of people, the church of the living God, and not a cult, club, or circus!

In discussion the last of the 4 ‘P’s—purpose—we noted that the saints in a locality are empowered by the Holy Spirit and sanctified so that they can fulfill God’s purpose for mankind—the essence of the gospel! Thus, we noted that if the people gathered in a locality are not engaging in God’s primary purpose of proclaiming the gospel to all men, making disciples of those who have received the gospel and have repented, making known to the uninformed the knowledge of God and the desire of God for the salvation of all men, and, demonstrating the love of God to each other and indeed to the whole world, than that gathering cannot be the church of the living God.

We saw that those were the instructions of the Lord as variously recorded in the Gospel—Go ye into all the world and preach that sin has been remitted and that there is salvation for all of mankind; teach them all that He has commanded, thus making them disciples—;show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into light, etc. We also noted that in engaging in these activities, the goal of the many-sided wisdom of God is manifested unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places. May God help us to manifest His purpose through the Church, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 2:40-47
Our scripture text show actions the hearers of the gospel took after hearing the message about the Lord Jesus at the mouth of Peter—3,000 of them accepted God’s call to repentance; the rest rejected Him! Now, the 3,000 that accepted the message of the Lord, and thus, the Lord Himself, were all baptized, and then they continued in the apostles’ teachings and fellowship, in breaking bread from house to house, in prayer, and, in the working of signs and wonders by the apostles. The text goes on to tell us that they were united in purpose, possession, and love. Also, they kept right on praising God, and the church grew as God added those who were being saved daily! Thus, a new life/community began—the Church!
When we look at the Early Church, we see some of the things that remain till this day as a practice and others that have long been jettisoned! What we want to discuss today will reveal why some of those practices were, and why those that were retained do not have the kind of impact they ought to have had.

A brief definition of terms: a ritual is a set of religious activities or actions or rites which are performed in fulfillment of some religious purpose; and, relationship is the interaction between individuals (as well as of God) in a very personal way, rather than in a corporate sense.
Matthew 15:1-9; 2 Corinthians 3:14-18; John 4:19-24; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Joshua 24:14-23; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; Romans 6:1-18; Matthew 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:19-20a; James 1:21-25; Daniel 1:3-4; Ephesians 4:17—5:1ff.

Conclusion
Rituals are a set of religious activities or actions or rites that adherents engage/participate in during religious events/meetings—liturgy, order of service, baptism, doctrine, Holy Communion, prayer, giving, etc. Rituals are usually traditions that are handed down, but because people are more interested in the tradition than in the reason for it (the ‘why’) they just do it anyway, with no life! Relationship on the other hand, is that personal interaction between an individual and God, and is specific, dynamic, and spiritual, resulting in the manifestation of the life of Christ (of the Spirit) in and through the individual (Acts 4:13).

It is thus possible to engage in several religious activities like church attendance, water baptism, singing in the choir, even prayers, and giving; and yet be performing a ritual—a tradition—without any meaning or life! Hence, after such rituals we go right on committing sin! What God is particular about, which must be the essence of our relationship with Him is that we are spiritual—“energized” by the indwelling Holy Spirit. For this to happen, the individual must be truly saved and sanctified, and must trust Christ absolutely (Hebrews 11:6—without faith you cannot please God). What people try to do is engage in rituals as the basis for pleasing God, rather than build relationship with God, seeking to know Him and how to relate with Him, which is what He desires! The individual must also submit and yield to the workings, guidance, and direction of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16)—which is how the life of Christ/Spirit is formed!

Thus, baptism cannot just be the ritual that we do just ‘to fulfill righteousness’; we must experience it as a translation from the kingdom of Satan and darkness unto the kingdom of the Son of God and light. We must understand that we are now children of God and must learn His ways! Our lifestyle must clearly be different, distinct, and distinguishable from the world—this takes time, but we must be consistent and persist, and eventually, like with the metamorphosis of a butterfly, we emerge as bearers of the life of God through the Lord Jesus Christ!

For this reason, the doctrine of the apostles is crucial, so also is fellowship with the brethren. Holy Communion as well as sharing meals and possessions from house to house knit us closer to one another, and to God Himself. Prayer is not just a matter of asking for our own needs (rituals) but must be seen as primarily a means of having conversation with God and getting to know His mind and Will, etc. (relationship)!

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