Introduction
The history of the early Church is found in the Bible Book of Acts written by the Apostle Luke, who accompanied the Apostle Paul when they were shipwrecked in Malta. The Book of Acts covers the birth, growth and spread of the Church via the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We often hear preaching from Christian circles and quarters (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox) of the need of the Church extending its place of worship and adding more conversions of true believers to their house of prayer.
It would be also interesting and enlightening to see the reasons how and why the early Church grew in numbers and in the believers' strength of faith.
From the very day of its establishment, the Lord's Church erupted like a blast of dynamite (dunamis in Greek) in the first century world of the Roman Empire. This power is seen in Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4; Acts 5:14; Acts 8:1,4).
The Church was such a dynamic, spiritually militant force that it was referred to as those who had "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6).
In, Acts 17:6 (New International Version), Christians were considered as trouble-makers and a threat to the status quo of authorities.
"But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: 'These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here'."
Studying the reasons why the early Christian Church grew can help us realise how we can adopt and adapt the strategies of those early days.
Indeed, the past is a lesson for the present. The rapid growth of the early Christian Church is a source of fascination.
How did Christianity become a dominant force?
No matter how much persecution, trials and tribulations were made to eradicate and discredit Christianity, this tiny and obscure messianic movement from the edge of the Roman Empire managed to dislodge classical paganism and become the dominant faith of Western civilization in the face of persecution. It was the classical case of the harsher the persecution, the Christians kept on converting in large numbers.
In the face of all these events, the Roman Emperor Constantine could not stop Christianity's growth and through divine intervention, he accepted Christianity. This meant an end to persecution of the Church, but Christians had a long wait as this took place in 313 AD by the Romans with the Edict of Milan in AD 313. The Edict of Milan established religious tolerance of all religions.
Main reasons of growth
Among various reason, there are three main reasons which are cited for Christianity's growth. The following are some answers as to why during the first century the Church grew.
Firstly, let us remember who the true builder is... Jesus said, "I will build my Church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18).
Social networks
It would be a mistake to think that conversions took place solely through signs, wonders and miracles (which were very common and important) but conversions happened also through other means such as social networks; through a structure of direct and intimate inter-personal relations and attachments.
Everyday friendships and the personal interactions of average believers and non-believers are what makes the greatest difference - nowadays and in the past.
The recent pandemic, coupled with the spread of social media platforms, have robbed humanity of direct personal contact. Moreover, human contact and human touch have been tainted with laws that prevent people from expressing human emotion. Abuse of children by way of paedophilia have left a mark on human relationships.
The early Church displayed no such inhibitions and had favour with all people as expressed in this Scripture verse: Acts 2:47: Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
A theology of love
Jesus Christ, the foundation rock of Christianity explained that the Most Important commandment is a theology of love. This implies not only Favour with all people but Caring for the sick, widows and orphans.
Mathew 22:37-40 (New Living Translation)
Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) A second is equally important: Love your neighbour as yourself. (40) The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
This theology of love towards one's neighbour was evident in the early Christian Church.
People need a dynamic and mobile church that is not only a place where you hear the Word only (which is very important) but also where people are converted and feel spiritually, physically and emotionally cared for, prayed for and upon, cleansed and healed. The Church is indeed a static and mobile hospital.
Ø Plagues, fires, natural disasters and devastation from riots or war were occurrences in the cities which the early Christians called home.
Ø What distinguished Christians was their response to these all-too-frequent calamities.
Ø Instead of fleeing to the countryside to escape the most recent plague, they stayed to care for their own - and for others.
Ø Even without any knowledge of medical science, the simple act of providing food, water and shelter to sick people vastly improved survival rates in times of widespread disease.
Ø It also sent a powerful message of solidarity to those pagans who happened to receive a helping hand. The results, over time, were shifting social networks and regular conversions to this community of faith so dedicated to service.
Stance against adultery, abortion and infanticide
The ancient Roman world was not kind to women and children.
Ø Married men could sleep with other women (especially slaves and prostitutes) and the unwanted offspring of these unions were usually aborted or simply left to die from exposure after birth.
Ø Christians spoke out against all of these practices at the risk of being killed, exhorting the followers of Jesus to remain faithful in marriage and to care for the most vulnerable members of society: little babies.
Ø Some Christians would even rescue abandoned babies, raising them as their own. All these beliefs and actions led to higher birth and adoption rates.
Early abortion
Interestingly, abortion techniques were developed as early as 1550BC, in Egypt. Abortion was an accepted practice in ancient Greece and Rome. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322BC) wrote that "when couples have children in excess, let abortion be procured before sense and life have begun". This is an example of the flawed philosophies (wisdom) of men which the Apostle Paul spoke about in Colossians 2:8.
In the latter days of the Roman Empire, abortion was not considered homicide, but a crime against a husband who would be deprived of a potential child.
Conclusion
The actions described above
Ø engaging one's neighbour,
Ø caring for the sick, and
Ø rescuing little babies
reflect certain Christian theological principles. The most important one is the insistence that God loves the world. He has created and that He desires those who love Him to also love their fellow man.