Vintage Christianity

I have a favorite brand and style of jeans. Every time I wear one set of them out I go buy another of the exact type. With holes in both knees, I decided it was time to once again shell out $35 and prepare to break-in a new pair. I went to five department stores in three different cities all to no avail. I could find the brand, but I couldn't locate my favorite style.

Desperate, I searched online. Finally, Google led me to my coveted jeans! Only these couldn't be my jeans. $176? No way! Then I saw the detail that explained everything: "VINTAGE". This earth-shattering word was then followed by a bold sales pitch, "Buy these hard-to-find discontinued Levi jeans while supplies last!!!"

Vintage? Webster defines this extremely pricey adjective as, "the highest quality of a past time." I knew I had good taste! And while I really want a new pair of my favorite jeans I am not inclined to spend over $175 for them. But, realizing the meaning of the word vintage has put me on chase for another kind of vintage item. No, not a fine wine. (Having no background in wine consumption I wouldn't know the good from the bad.) I am in search of something fair more expensive--Vintage Christianity.

I read the Book of Acts and am left to wonder where is that Church at? Where are the men and women who will forsake all at the cost of their own pride to walk in the Spirit of Christ?

Most churches today specialize in quantity not quality. We have mulitple services and locations but we are far from the standard set before us in the Church of Acts.

"The highest quality of a past time..." Never has the Church been more potent than in the hour in which the New Testament was being lived. However, I refuse to believe it is the will of heaven for the Church of 2009 to be powerlessly weak and anemic. As the Apostle Paul so clearly defined, "Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

May we embark together on a journey to return to the discarded values of the past and advance within the earth a Church that lives up to its heritage.

May we become the fulfillment of Vintage Christianity. But, remember it will not come cheap... And money can not buy it. This type of Christianity is purchased first by Christ's blood and secondly by the sacrifice of pride-killing holy lifestyles as we take up our own cross and follow Jesus' example.

I challenge you to dive into the Book of Acts as we travel through the pages of this incredible testimonial during the month of June at Higher Praise...