A few of you know that I'm busy writing a post-graduate thesis on the early church that, focusing on how they engaged the poverty-issues of their time. The research is entitled "Engaging today’s poverty through a critical integration of the Early Church Father’s beliefs and practices." For the last few years I've read a lot of the patristic writings. It has been an amazing journey. It has also messed with me ... stretched me ... humbled me ... and excited me.
I'm now at a stage where I'm about to do interviews with a few local churches in order to gauge how our teachings and practices differ from our early brothers and sisters. I continually hear people say that they wish we could be the Acts 2 church again. I've posted on that topic a few months ago. Let me just say that I think we could learn a lot from these early followers ... I tell you all this because I would like your help. If you would be interested to read some of the research then I would love to email it to you and hear some of your comments.
Over the next few weeks I'll post some quotes of our early fathers and I would love to hear some comments:
"Instead of tithes which the law commanded, the Lord said to divide everything we have with the poor ... Those who have received freedom set aside all their possessions for the Lord's purposes, giving joyfully and freely and not just the least valuable of their possessions."Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 4.13.3 & 4.18.2
I would love to hear your thoughts!
