No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34

Before the birth of the church at Pentecost [Acts 2] believers in God had limited access to him. They had to go to a special place (the temple) and they had to have help from special people (priests), who were the “go-betweens” for them and God.

But that changed when God clothed himself in human flesh as Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came to save us from the sin that separated us from a Holy God.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:21-22

After Jesus’ death and resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the church was born. At that time “church” didn’t even look like “religion” – it was more of a movement and a lifestyle – a lifestyle that went against the culture of that day.

Instead of buildings they would worship God in their own, ordinary homes.

Greet also the church that meets at their house. Romans 16:5

They claimed that they themselves where now the temple of God.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Instead of go-between priests they viewed every believer as a fellow priest.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession 1Peter 2:9a

They carried out priestly duties – like confessing their sins to one another and praying for each others healing.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Rather than religious ceremonies they frequently would worship and feast at each others houses, and they no longer had to sacrifice animals – they were now a living sacrifice.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

There was no racial, political, economic or gender prejudices – even slaves and masters worshiped together.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Have we created man-made traditions that separate us from an opportunity to “know the Lord” for ourselves?

The church isn’t a building!

Jesus intended the church to be a spiritual community – a family of believers, who know, love and care for each other and where all participate. Is that what it looks like today?

Shouldn’t the Bible be the basis of our traditions?

Would you like to gather in a setting more like the New Testament church? What are you thoughts?