Chapter 22

The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was the beginning of the church. But this church was not the formal organization, structure or hierarchy that we see today. Instead it was a body of believers working together as one organism- Christ’ body directed by the Holy Spirit.
Drane points out that the idea of a priests or minister would have been unknown to the apostles. However, I don’t think it is too far of a stretch to think that the apostles may have appointed specific people, whom were sensitive and open to the Holy Spirit to serve the community in certain ways. I think this makes quite logical sense. In the most charismatic Christian groups today I imagine there would still be individuals in the group that are gifted in vision and organization. And it would be most beneficial for the community to have these individuals use their gifts in some sort of leadership way.
However, we have seen that humans being humans have taken these leadership positions and ran with them (sometimes in ways that don’t coincide with God’s ways). This results in people not only feeling privileged but also above the rest of the community. A cascade of organization and institutions supposedly follow thereafter. Drane notes one individual who would have supported such movements: Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch as we have letters written by him advising for church structure and bishop respect. By the middle of the second century church there was less emphasis on the Spirit’s power and more emphasis on doctrines and dogmas.
As the group of Jesus followers grew and as time went on I imagine that there was a realization that worshiping in the Jewish temple wouldn’t work forever and that they should develop their own way to worship and meet together. This may have resulted in more structure and form.
I found Drane’s analysis on the new church’s “Frustrated hope” very interesting. It would seem logical knowing what Jesus told his disciples, that people could be led to thinking that he will ‘return’ quite soon. This is particularly interesting because I know people today whom are convinced that we are approaching the end times and we will see Jesus return in the next 50 years or so. I think this is poppy-cock. Who are we to say or know or understand when God will send Jesus back down to Earth- even Jesus doesn’t know that! I know that there are signs that we can get from Revelation to estimate when this will happen but even then we are still relying on our interpretations...And people have been thinking for 2000 years that he will return! I say we should seek to live everyday like a day that Christ could return: livin’ a life to please God and to share his love with others.