Worship in the Early Church by Ralph P. Martin

Author:Ralph P. Martin [Martin, Ralph P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Institutions & Organizations, Religious Studies, Religion, Religion & Spirituality, Theology, Churches & Church Leadership, Christian Church, Religious Studies & Reference, Church History, Church Institutions & Organizations, Christian Books & Bibles
ISBN: 9780802816139
Google: eMxEGuxAouoC
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Published: 1974-10-15T07:18:59+00:00

New Testament Teaching Concerning Money

With the background of the Corinthians passage behind us, we may go on to inspect more closely the New Testament’s teaching on money, if we are rightly to appreciate the meaning of Christian giving in the setting of worship. Three observations may be made.

(i) The Importance of Money

For all its emphasis on the spirituality and transcendence of God’s relationship with man, and man’s response to God in the offering of himself (Romans 12:1, 2), the New Testament never allows us to forget that we live in this ‘present world’ (2 Timothy 4:10; 1 Corinthians 7:31) and in the rough-and-tumble of life. The Gospel does not miraculously transport us to some spiritual Shangri-la where all is bliss and ease and unsullied pleasure. Our calling as Christians is to be discharged in the world of the market-place, the business-house and the farm—to use the terms which belong primarily to the commercial ethos of the first century. (In twentieth century terms we should read instead such vocations as are conducted in the Departmental store, the Bank and on the shop-floor of the factory.) These places of work are frequently mentioned in the Gospels; and some, more exotic occupations are referred to in the Letters (e.g., the coppersmith, the lawyer, the city treasurer; 2 Timothy 4:14; Titus 3:13; Romans 16:23). We are left in no doubt that New Testament Christians were not encouraged to withdraw from the world to a life of secluded contemplation; rather their high calling in Christ is set in the midst of a busy, struggling, striving, competitive world, the counterpart of which we can see today in the office, shipyard and workshop.* There are positive injunctions against sloth and unconcern with social issues (2 Thessalonians 3:10–13) and, at least by inference, it is hinted that man has to work in order to keep alive (2 Timothy 2:6). Certainly, no premium is set on laziness and irresponsibility in the interest of a supposed, but spurious, ‘spirituality’ (Matthew 25:14–30; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

In New Testament teaching, money is recognized as a means of exchange and livelihood; and every possible stress is placed on the need of diligence and conscientiousness in the Christian’s daily work. These exhortations are found in sections of the epistles which are labelled by scholars ‘Household Codes’, which supply converts with rules and regulations for everyday living (see Ephesians 6:5 ff.; Colossians 3:22–24; Titus 2:1–10; 1 Peter 2:13 ff.).† As many of the newly-converted would doubtless be members of the slave-class, it was much to the point that Apostolic instruction should offer some guidance to them for their responsibility and relationships to their masters.

But there is a deeper reason for this call to honest employ and best effort. We worship God in the path of our daily tasks; and the offering to Him of all good craftsmanship and dedicated skill, with the best output of mind and hand, is as much a part of our Christian ‘cult’ as the hymn-singing and devotion of our Church services.

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