Four Disciplines

If the church was once dependent on the Holy Spirit for its life, it is surely true that today's church is dependent on meetings for its existence.   A look at any church schedule reveals a list of committee meetings longer than a tall man's arm.  Most of the committees seem to have little to do with the spiritual life of the church, but instead, give support to its life as an institution.   A year long moratorium on meetings in the church would surely cause it to slide and disappear in the abyss of chaos.

If it is hard to imagine the church without all these institution supporting meetings, then a look at Acts 2:42 reveals what the church started doing after the smoke and wind cleared out of the room filled with heavenly power.  "They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."  It is impossible for us to imagine the church of today only about these four things.  In the beginning it was impossible for the new believers to imagine being occupied with anything else.

The disciplines of Acts 2:42 speak about those things which give life to the church.  They point to disciplines which give support to the spiritual life of the church instead of the institutional life of the church.   Unfortunately, we are not likely to discover this truth through the reality of experience.  It would be a hard thing for those in power and those accustomed to the status quo to turn lose and allow such to happen.  It was hard for those in power during Jesus' day which is one of the reasons He ended up on the cross.  One can only wonder if it could possibly happen again.