A cult?

I started thinking the other day what would today's Church think of the early Church. I came up with it quickly and couldn't quit chuckling about it all day. In all seriousness, I believe the early Church would be labeled a cult. You know, the things we all worry about our friends and family possibly being fooled by.

I actually had a small discussion about this with a fellow member of my church. I wonder what our families would think if we sold all we owned. If we lived with the rest of the Church, and came together at least once a day to worship, would we look a little insane? Would our churches think we had lost it if we stopped having someone preach and instead asked the people to share what God has laid on their hearts? We would go into a gathering without a plan, singing whatever songs expressed our thoughts. The Church would care less about the materialism with which it's plagued in our country and care more about each other's maturity, our neighbors needs, and loving our enemies. We would join in communion every day, and employ other traditions and symbolism while striving to keep these practices pure and not rote.

My church right now is involved in remodeling extensively. I feel as though this money could better be used to meet people's needs. I understand the prostitutes gift of love consisting of pouring out perfume on our savior's feet instead of selling to feed the poor, but I really don't see how updating our church to seem like the dry, businesslike place which resembles corporations, is going to glorify God.

That is the Church's ultimate purpose: To glorify God. If the Church isn't producing mature christians who reflect God's glory then it's worthless, except to our enemy. I believe Satan loves the churches of America because we encourage mediocrity of spirituality. We've become content to let the pastor do any connecting with God we might think is necessary. Yes, our pastor should guide us, but they shouldn't be the only one crossing the river.

In glorifying God, a true relationship with God must be nurtured and the first step is prayer. Prayer had dissappeared from America's churches. This is how we must return to our first love. God must once again take first place in our lives.

True worship should be played out in our lives. We automatically worship whatever is first in our lives and only by placing God there do we truly worship him. Feel good songs, chants, and raucous praise do nothing for God if they aren't backed by love for him, and if love is the motivating factor these acts are transformed miraculously to a gift to God, as are all of our actions no matter how mundane.

I'm going off on a tangent now so I'll save this for another day. NeWayz, the question was, would the early church model seem like a cult to our devolved way of doing church?