Notes | July 4, 2021

Today's Message: Countercultural Christianity | Sean Patterson

The way Christianity invaded and changed Rome is exactly how it should invade and change us.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2 communities are countercultural.

Regular life was seen as an interruption. Together is not so much something they did. It was something they were.

“Their founder (speaking of Christ) taught them that they should be like brothers to one another and therefore they despised their own privacy and viewed their possessions as common property.” - Lucian Samosata

Community is foundation, it’s not a fixture

A lifestyle that seeks to add Jesus to your current M.O. is not one that proclaims his supremacy. It proclaims his conveniency.

“Looking at his disciples, he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.’” – Luke 6:20-26

​​“In the life of God’s people it will be seen first of all, a remarkable reversal of values. The people of God will prize what the world calls pitiable, and suspect what the world thinks desirable.” - Michael Wilcock

There’s a sweetness to your relationship with God that you never get to tap into  until you lose the world’s recognition.