7 lessons modern Christians can learn from the early church

In my perspective, tradition is often overlooked, but practice is what truly matters. In an era where faith is questioned, it’s crucial to understand Christian life by how it’s lived, not just by tradition.

More important than practice are the lessons it offers. Tradition holds value when it leads to actions that enhance your spiritual journey and positively impact your community.

In the following discourse, I’ve presented 7 lessons that modern Christians can glean from the early church.

1) Embrace humility

Reflect on the early church right now. It thrived in an era of persecution. Faith was demonstrated by actions, not just words.

Believers gathered in secret, risking their lives for their faith. Humility was not just a virtue, but a survival tactic.

If you’re going to be a modern Christian, it’s essential to comprehend that you’re not superior. You’re serving in faith.

It’s crucial to let go of the illusion of superiority that comes from believing your faith makes you better. It doesn’t. Your actions do, and they are most impactful when they are driven by humility, when you serve instinctively.

If you can stop relying on your self-righteousness and start creating conditions in your life to live humbly, the teachings of Christ will become apparent from what happens in your life. You won’t need to flaunt your faith.

You will be able to give up on the urge to control how others perceive your faith.

2) Embrace doubt

This revelation unfolded to me during a deep study of the early Christian apostles.

The advice commonly given to Christians is to “have unwavering faith” or “trust in God’s plan”. While this is frequently preached in modern churches, it’s not the full dimension of faith.

Instead, true faith sometimes involves wrestling with doubt. It comes from scrutinizing your beliefs.

As the apostle Thomas demonstrated, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

When you try to “believe unconditionally” all the time, you give too much power to blind faith. You disregard your innate curiosity.

Now, I give room for doubt. Sometimes I have questions that challenge my faith. Other times I wrestle with understanding God’s plan.

I don’t dismiss these doubts anymore. Instead, they serve as a catalyst for a deeper, more personal understanding of my faith.

3) Live in community

Consider the early church right now. It thrived in shared spaces, in homes and public gatherings. Faith was communal, not solitary. Believers shared meals, prayers, and resources, embodying the command to love others as oneself.

If you’re going to be a modern Christian, it’s key to understand that your faith isn’t just about you. It’s about your interaction with others.

It’s essential to let go of the illusion of isolation that comes from believing your faith journey is a solitary one. It isn’t. Your actions do, and they are most impactful when they happen in collaboration with others. When you act collectively.

If you can stop relying solely on your personal devotion and start creating a community in your life to live out your faith, the teachings of Christ will become apparent from what happens in your life.

You won’t need to walk this path alone.

You will be able to give up on controlling your faith journey.

4) Love is paramount

I began this discourse by drawing attention to actions and their consequences.

The truth is, actions and their outcomes also dictate how we express love.

In our current society, it’s easy to get caught up in religious rituals, debates over doctrine, or the pursuit of personal piety.

We can become so occupied with these aspects that we lose sight of the core commandment of Christianity—to love God, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Our intentions might be good. We aim to deepen our relationship with God, to understand His word more accurately.

But when we get so engrossed in these pursuits, we can fall into the trap of thinking our spiritual growth is more important than the lives of people around us.

We can neglect our relationships. We may become judgmental and intolerant of others.

If we were to judge ourselves based on our intentions, we wouldn’t question this behavior.

Instead, because we focus on our actions, it enables us to reflect on how we express love and change how we interact. It teaches us to slow down and appreciate the people in our life.

How you express love is what matters most, not the intentions that drive your behavior.

5) Persevere through trials

This lesson was a profound realization for me.

I remember a time in my life when everything seemed to be falling apart. My job was stressful, my relationships were strained, and my faith was wavering. I questioned why God was letting me go through such hardships.

Then, I delved into the story of the early church. It amazed me how the apostles and early believers faced intense persecution, prison, and even death for their faith.

Yet, they remained committed and their faith only strengthened.

In the midst of their trials, they found hope and joy. They persevered because they had faith that God was with them, and that their suffering had a purpose.

This resonated with me deeply. I realized that my struggles were not punishments, but opportunities for growth and deepening of my faith. Much like the early Christians, I could find hope and joy in the midst of trials.

Since then, I faced my challenges differently. Instead of asking “why me?”, I started believing in “try me”.

I began to understand that perseverance in times of trial is not just about enduring hardships but finding purpose and hope within them.

6) Sacrifice is a form of love

The early Christians held a deep reverence for the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ. They saw his crucifixion as the ultimate act of love, his willingness to lay down his life for the salvation of humanity.

Here’s the key point:

This teaching urges us to reflect on our capacity to give, to understand what we can relinquish for the sake of others, and to honor the act of sacrifice as a profound expression of love.

For those feeling selfish or detached, embodying sacrifice can provide a sense of connection. It’s a reminder that we are part of a larger community, bound by the shared experience of giving and receiving.

Embracing sacrifice encourages us to see our journey as part of a larger narrative of love and can provide a sense of purpose and belonging.

7) Embrace imperfection

Reflecting on the early church, it’s notable that it was far from perfect. Disputes over doctrine occurred, moral failings were evident, and yet, these early Christians were the foundation of what we know as Christianity today.

Here’s the pivotal point:

This history invites us to acknowledge our own imperfections and those of our faith community. It’s not about striving for an unattainable ideal, but about engaging authentically with our faith and each other, warts and all.

For those feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be ‘perfect’ Christians, this lesson offers relief. It’s a reminder that our faith journey isn’t about perfection, but about grace, forgiveness, and growth.

Understanding and embracing imperfection allows us to experience a more authentic faith journey, one that acknowledges our humanity while striving for spiritual growth.

Final thoughts: It could be transformative

The complexities of individual faith often tie deeply to historical roots, particularly the relationship between modern Christians and the early church. This period serves as a spiritual guide, influencing various aspects of Christian life.

For many, lessons from the early church enhance their spiritual growth, bringing enlightenment and fulfillment.

Whether through prayer, studying scripture, serving the community, or facing doubts, these lessons enrich their experience.

It’s about living an authentic, compassionate faith connected to its roots, embracing grace, growth, and a deeper sense of purpose rather than striving for perfection.