Early Ekklesia Corruptions

Corruption Began at the Top

Corruption is always part of the world system in a world where Satan is a part. God's people must always be on the alter.

I find it most interesting that, as far back as the letters written by the Apostles, there were always admonitions to the early early Ekklesia (Church) corruptions among God's people. Paul, when writing to the believers in Philippi, addressed his letter as follows. "To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:" (1:1) Paul is not singling out leaders; he includes them after first addressing his letter to all the saints.

It is clear from Romans 12 that while believers are portioned each gift they are given, nevertheless all believers are called to grow up, mature, and take on the responsiblity of evangelizing the lost and discipling fellow believers. The singling out of those with special gifts only gives Satan more amunition with which to coerrupt the Ekkesias.

Early Ekklesia Corruptions Among Preachers

Some of the most confusing motives come into play as Paul wrote to his dear brothers in Philippi. "...most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment." (Philippians 1:14-17)

It boggles my mind that men dedicated to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who devote their lives to helping to build the kingdom of God's Son, will preach from envy and strife. Talk about a contradiction of Christianity, not to mention hypocrisy, a thing that Jesus, while on earth, hated more than anything. Neither is it any less incomprehensible to proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, talk about impure motives.

Early Church Corruptions Illuminated

If you take the time to read a single New Testament letter repeatedly, you will find that the writer begins with a corruption and then continues to refer to it by encouraging the opposite and positive behavior. In the case of Paul's letter to the Philippians, he pointed out those who preached with impure motives but then continued to bring such behavior to light as early as verse 27 in the same chapter, 27 "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, ...standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

Paul then begins chapter two by raising some if questions, as if there should be an if question at all for a proposition as guaranteed as being in Christ, which is Paul's point. "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in Spirit, intent on one purpose. 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

Early Church Corruptions Due to Unawareness of God

Then, in verses five to eleven of chapter 2, Paul thought it necessary bring to light Christ's attitude of humility, selfless sacrifice, and Divine exaltation. Why bring Christ's attributes to light? Because the behavior of other saints was something Paul did not want to have happen to his dear brethren at Phippi. The reason for the bad behavior was that believers had lost their awareness of God in all things. Satan never stops with one victory; he is never satisfied until all the brethren have been corrupted. Then, toward the end of the chapter, Paul raised their awareness of how bad things were in other parts of the Church. "For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus." (verses 20 & 21) All except for Timothy, that is pretty bad.

Early Church Corruptions Have Been Ongoing

Verse two of chapter three says, "Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision..." 3 "for we... put no confidence in the flesh." That "we" included Paul, and I am sure he was referring to the Philippian believers, wanting them to stay that way. Therefore, Judge not ever was never an idea used in the New Testament. In fact, Jesus explicitly taught in Matthew 18 that those who reveal themselves to be unbelievers by the fruit they bear and by their unwillingness to repent of sin are to be put out. I am afraid that at present, due to the magnificent building that can house significant numbers of "members," but in reality, there are substantial numbers of unbelievers who think themselves in the kingdom of God, but who are not.

Paul concludes chapter three after speaking of his conversion, the grace of God in his life, and his present awareness of Christ and the hope of his calling by saying the following. "For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;" (3:18-20). It would appear that there were many such false converts in Paul's day as well.

What would make us think there are not many such unbelievers walking among us today, two thousand years later, with all the corruptions Satan has foisted upon the Church since then?