Happy Birthday!

Almost 2000 years ago, the church--God's New Covenant people--was born on Pentecost in Jerusalem. Luke records its beginning as a group of some 3000 Jewish believers in Jesus, and shows its progression from that to a multi-ethnic gathering of Jews and Gentiles (he outlines this in Acts 1:8).

When scholars write about Acts, they raise the question "Is what Luke records narrative or normative?" That is, are there parts of Acts that just records what the early church did but we don't have to [part of the account, or narrative]? Are there other parts that we have to do [commands, or what is normative for the church to always practice]?

The answer is, of course, both! Acts 2 (which records the beginning of the church) contains both. Some of the events of the day are non-repeatable (pouring out of the Spirit, speaking in the temple, and apostles being the proclaimers, for example).

Some things recorded are to be practiced. Speaking about Jesus is a given. Using evidence to prove who he is is necessary. The response to the message is to be the same too.

I realize that much of the church world doesn't emphasize repentance and immersion as we do. Yet we need to realize that Peter--the one given the keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19)--gave the terms of pardon to his hearers under the inspiration of the Spirit (Acts 2:4) and by the authority of Jesus (Acts 2:38). Neither repentance nor baptism are works--they are both responses to the message (the "and" between them links them together as of equal importance). Being immersed showed that they accepted the message (Acts 2:41).

All acknowledge that the church began on Pentecost as a group of people who believed in Jesus as Messiah, yet so few follow through on the God-given terms of pardon. If the church belongs to Christ, and he himself told the need for both repentance (Luke 24:27) and immersion (Matthew 28:19), we are not at liberty neither to add to nor subtract from them.

Only those who have been born can celebrate birthdays. The church is comprised of those who have been born again (from above, by water and the Spirit according to John 3:3, 5), so happy birthday, church family!