There are several aspects in human life that never leave any person indifferent. Everyone has a particular point of view concerning these areas of human life and society, though they may be contrary and opposite, every person forms his own attitude towards this sphere and adheres to this opining during his life. Faith, religion, and attitude to church are among the most important matters in the life of a person, they shape a person’s view of life, influence his/her behavior in different situations in life that demand active response. Since human society has been constantly developing and moving forward, the values of people have been constantly changing depending on the appearance of new inventions and changing economic situation in the world. On the whole, a human being is rather a fickle creature, this may be easily observed in the changing attitude towards church, especially if we choose to compare the primitive church as it is presented in the Acts and the church of nowadays. The choice of the attitude towards church should be a strictly individual matter; however, we believe that the church should cultivate the feeling of generosity in a person.
There is no denying the fact that the primitive church of the time of apostles can be characterized by the generous attitude of people. The text of the Acts can vividly prove it by such ideas as the following: “And all that believed were together, and had all things common” (King James Version Acts 2:44).
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common (Acts 4:32).
This attitude towards the church of that time may be explained by the power of the Word of God among people and the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Acts illustrate the miracles that were worked by the apostles (Acts 2:8). The situation described in the acts really proves that the believers were really united and the church was the organization that made people closer, sincere, and more generous. The primitive church was the place where people became united because it started to be their soul and heart, it made people not only closer to one another, it almost turned them into relatives that became related with the power of the Holy Spirit. As Jerusalem has always been the place of pilgrimage for the faithful, it was natural to provide shelter and food for those who were on their way to a sacred place.
As for the church of nowadays, I believe that it cannot be characterized by such generosity as in the time of the primitive church. The reason for that is that people have become more cynical, we always beware of strangers because of menacing dangers that come with them. We lock our doors, we are scared of walking in the dark, this is all because we are not driven by the Word of God anymore. It would be absolutely absurd to abandon everything, to sell all your property and share profit with people around you. The absurdity of the situation is the worst thing because it shows that humanity is mercenary nowadays. The church can be the place that can change us for the better, make us more humane and tolerant if we try to treat it as the people of the time of the primitive church.
Drawing a conclusion, it should be stated that the Holy Bible is the eternal source of wisdom that is always topical. If it suggests the description of society where people had “one heart and one soul” it should not be left without attention (Acts 4:32). In a democratic society, everyone is free to choose one’s own way but I believe that the church can be the place where people are united.
References
The holy Bible: Containing the old and new testaments. (1879).