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Tom Wadsworth - The Early Church Didn't have Worship Services

Why the Early Church Didn't Have Worship Services

 Origen, ca 230 AD.  "We object to building altars, statues, and temples because we have learned from Jesus Christ the true way of serving God."

Wadsworth's thesis is that modern Christianity has changed from the original practices of the Early Church.  We have adopted the communion sacrament as a "sacrifice", that takes place on an Altar, officiated by the pastor, who is now a Priest.  And all of this happens within a dedicated church building that is the modern equivalent of a Temple, with its sanctuary.  Rather than edifying our fellow believers in Early Church Assemblies, we now gather in these temples to participate in a "worship service."

He says that Christianity, through its history, has in effect re-created the temple practices of historic Judaism.

Irenaeus:  We make an offering to God of the bread and the cup of blessing.  And then when we have perfected the offering, we invoke the Holy Spirit tht the receivers of these antitypes may obtain remission of sins and life eternal.

So the Lord's Supper becomes an offering that we make to God and in return, we receive forgiveness of sins.  This seems like an uncareful understanding of Communion.

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