Challenges: Part 1

It is possibly the most familiar opening lines of any form of literature in the world, and it's found in Charles Dickens' seminal novel on the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities.

In the first paragraph of Book one Chapter one, First Recalled to Life...The Period, he writes:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

If there was one paragraph that we could say was relevant to basically every generation that the world has ever known; this one from Dickens certainly deserves consideration.

The words, "in short, the period was so far like the present period." -- we'd be hard pressed to find any better.

With the insight given in this passage, we should be able to conclude that the present is not that much different than what our forefathers experienced: Darkness and light, good and evil were just as prevalent then as they are now.
With that thought in mind, we could pose the question, can we find answers to today's complex scenarios facing us by examining our past?

I think rather than adopting the stance of revising history, we may be better served by heeding Mr. Santayana's advice.

Solomon has already given us some direction as well in Proverbs 22:28, when he told us;

"Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set."

In examining and laying the groundwork for a study attempting to shed light on some of the major challenges to the Church going forward; we should never overlook the power in the wisdom of the early church fathers, and the landmarks that have been set.

In closing Part 1 of this series, I think it would be safe to conclude with the premise that one of the major challenges we face is the proclivity of many to dismiss the past as being a sufficient teacher. Many have gone down the path of thinking that we need some type of new direction or some new revelation.

Where that mode of thinking is in contrast with scripture, is that neither the mission nor the message has changed since Jesus told us in Mark 16:15.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

In Part 2, we will begin examining a few things that the early Church encountered that are similar to the issues and challenges facing us today; and some insight as to how those that have gone before met and dealt with them.

"To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."  

My dear friend, if you have never received Christ as your Saviour, would you do so today? Pray this from your heart. 

Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe you were buried and rose the third day. I ask you now to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and save me. Amen