“Church Reformed” by Tim Bayly

It’s difficult to scan social media or the daily newspaper and not see evidence of the church at war with itself. The war is largely over social and political issues – the same issues that are tearing the fabric of our civil society. Some days, I can’t tell whether people on Facebook are arguing theological or political issues.  

To me, this often-nasty argument begs a question. What is the church? And with all this wrangling over social and political issues, is the church any different than any other organization? Should it be?

Church Reformed by Tim Bayly answers that question by going back to the church’s roots – the church of the New Testament. In times of great stress, the church almost always looks back to the church described in the Book of Acts. It’s the original, the model for all that came after. It’s also the guide to understand how far the church can stray. 

Bayly begins by asking who the church is, and how do we enter it. AS its Greek name suggests, he writes, “ekklesia” means “the called-out ones” – the ones called out from the world. And the ones called out are baptized into the church.

Tim Bayly

What follows is an extended discussion of one verse in the second chapter of the Book of Acts: “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). Those four things – teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer – are what the church is about. Bayly writes clearly and succinctly about those four things and the significant threats to each, and those four chapters represent one of the best summaries of what the church is about that I’ve seen.

He follows that discussion y describing what he calls “systemic threats” to the church. “There are threats to the Church, though, that are systemic. They don’t latch onto our practice of the Lord’s Supper only, for instance, but wound the entire organism. No part of the Church’s life and ministry us safe from them; no part of the Church is beyond their corruption. He identifies these three threats as naivete, hypocrisy, and “gathering goats” (where the church focuses on “saving sinners” instead of what it’s commanded to do – make disciples). 

Bayly, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (Madison), received his M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1983. He has served churches in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian Church in America. Since 1996, he has been senior pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, Indiana.

Church Reformed is characterized by simplicity of language, so all can understand it, and Scripture-based evidence, hearkening back to New Testament roots. It’s also a refreshing look at what the church is and what it’s supposed to be and do.

To walk into a room

After Acts 2

To walk into a room

full of people

of another language

another culture

another world

and be told to speak

and be told to encourage

and to teach

with no forethought

with no preparation

with no understanding

to feel the beginnings of sweat

the beginnings of fear

the desire to flee

and then to stand in hope

to stand and to speak

this is called idiocy

this is called trust

this is called faith

Photograph by Circe Denyer via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.

Waiting

After Acts 2

Together in one place

waiting as told

waiting as instructed

waiting for the help

and leading promised

waiting because it is

what were called to do: wait

the fire comes

with wind and roaring

tongues of fire resting

atop our heads

our voices joined to the roaring

wind and fire speaking

in languages

we did not learn

we do not know

but heard and understood by all

standing before us each

in his own language

the wind roars through our hearts

the spirit arcs in fiery flames

consuming our hearts

Photograph by Linnaea Mallette via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.

The wind, the voices

The wind pushes them

from the room. They flow

into the street, the wind

behind them, slicing

the light, separating it

into component colors,

component voices.

The crowd hears the noise,

a cacophony of languages,

these followers speaking

tongues they do not know,

tongues they do not understand.

The voices sweep the streets,

replacing the air with noise

of thunder and fire. Houses

and shops are burnished gold,

becoming the echoes

of the voices. Even

the dust has colors.

Photograph by Sabine Sauermaul via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.

Pentecost

The corners of the ceiling

begin to vibrate, a low hum

building to noise, a buzzing

of a hundred hives in unison,

a wind of noise and sound,

the rushing and roar

of a severe violence

bursting upon them;

they cover their ears

as the fire burning

not consuming, dancing

upon their heads, touching

without burning,

a fiery furnace that doesn’t

consume or even singe,

but producing the fire

of the voices of nations.

Photograph by Julie Gentry via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.