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Early Christians and Mutual Care

by Mario Vega

The New Testament is crystal clear that the early Christians lived in intimate community. Part of that community involved love, encouragement, acceptance, and esteem for one another. Here are some excerpts of the Bible: “. . . that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:12). “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10-11). “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:7).

It is important to notice in the above passages how many times “one another” is used. There are many more New Testament passages that insist on the idea that Christians should comfort, prefer, love, receive, and exhort “one another.” The Christian life is a joint and plural effort; starting from the ministers who exercised their ministry as a team, to the members that met in the houses to care for one another.

The idea of passive Christians who only bring their offerings to hire a pastor that dedicates himself to comfort, edify and exhort other Christians did not exist. The tasks of evangelism, discipleship and mentoring belonged to every believer. This explains the explosive growth and roots that the early church developed in its first two centuries of existence.

Cell ministry today awakens each part of the body of Christ to fulfill his or her role as priests of the living God who are sent out to reconcile people for Jesus. We must once again rescue those New Testament values because Jesus initially gave them to the early church.