Difficult Circumstances for the First Churches

When we think about the early days of the Christian church, we often imagine a thriving, harmonious community, united in faith and purpose. While that’s true to some extent, it’s important to remember that the first churches faced incredibly challenging circumstances. In this blog post, we will explore the difficulties they encountered and how these challenges did not hinder the unstoppable advance of the gospel.

Violence and Martyrdom

The early Christians were no strangers to persecution and martyrdom. The martyrdom of Stephen, as recorded in Acts 7, marked the beginning of this pattern. James, the brother of John, was put to death by the sword (Acts 12:2). House-to-house arrests and even the martyrdom of Antipas (Revelation 2:13) were commonplace. Yet, despite these brutal realities, believers remained loyal to their faith.

Opposition from Authorities

Opposition from governmental and religious authorities was a constant threat. Early Christians faced public insults (Hebrews 10:33), were driven out of towns (Acts 17:10), imprisoned (Hebrews 10:34), and even stripped and beaten with whips and rods (2 Corinthians 11:25). The story of Paul and Silas being severely flogged and imprisoned in Acts 16:22–23 is just one example of this opposition.

Difficult Travel

The apostles and early missionaries traversed rugged terrain, faced dangerous seas, rivers, and bandits (2 Corinthians 11:26), and experienced shipwrecks (Acts 27). They even had to contend with snake bites (Acts 28) while on their journeys. These hardships were part and parcel of spreading the Gospel.

Economic Hardship

The early church in Jerusalem required benevolent support (Acts 15:25–27). Paul often went without food (2 Corinthians 11:27). Remarkably, the Macedonian churches, despite their extreme poverty, gave generously (2 Corinthians 8:2-4). Believers faced property confiscation, but their faith remained steadfast (Hebrews 10:34).

Church Disagreements

Disagreements were not uncommon within the early churches. For instance, Peter faced criticism from Jerusalem church members (Acts 11:2). There were sharp disputes and debates between Paul and Barnabas and Judean believers (Acts 15:1–2, 15:39). Paul even had to confront Peter directly (Galatians 2:11).

Spiritual Attack

Spiritual attacks came in various forms, including a demonized slave girl (Acts 16:16–18) and slander from “the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9). The early Christians were not unaware of Satan’s schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11), and they faced Satanic hindrances (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

False Teachers

False teachers, like Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17–18), the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6, 15), and “Jezebel” (Revelation 2:20–23), infiltrated the church. Paul warned of “false brothers” who sought to undermine the faith (Galatians 2:4).

Illness

Even illness was not uncommon among the early Christians. Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23), Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25–30), and even the Apostle Paul (Galatians 4:13) faced health challenges.

The Unstoppable Advance

Despite these seemingly insurmountable challenges, the gospel advanced relentlessly. The early Christians were resilient, faithful, and unwavering in their commitment to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Their experiences serve as a powerful reminder that ideal circumstances are not essential for the gospel’s advance.

In the final words of the Book of Acts, we find the Greek word akolutos, which means “without hindrance” or “freely.” The gospel continued to advance unhindered, regardless of the difficulties the early churches faced. As we reflect on their example, may we be encouraged to persevere in sharing the message of Christ in our own challenging circumstances, knowing that the gospel is truly unstoppable.

Blog adapted from November 5, 2023 message by Dr. John Stumbo