As we have been talking about Worshipping Weekly for two Sundays, I have mentioned Justin Martyr (100-165 AD), an
early Christian apologist. He has a wonderful piece on early Christian worship
dated around 150 AD. This gives us a picture of how the early Christians
worshipped in the first century. The beauty of it is our worship is still very
similar! Isn’t it beautiful that worship in its truest form has not changed
much over the last 2000 years. Yes the music changes, of course, they didn’t
have an organ in 150AD or any type of music that we have in our worship service…But
the basic elements and form of worship hasn’t changed for 2000years! Even
reformed contemporary worship still holds to the basic format of worship from
2000 years ago. Need I say… God is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and
forever and ever AMEN!
Read how Justin Martyr described worship:
Weekly worship of the Christians:
And we afterwards continually remind each other
of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep
together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of
all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day
called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one
place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are
read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president
verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we
all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended,
bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers
prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent,
saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that
over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is
sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each
thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succors
the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are
in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers so journing among us, and
in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we
all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having
wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ
our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day
before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is
the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught
them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.
(from chapters 61-67 of Justin’s First Apology
150AD)
