I remember as a brand new Christian at Penn State, reading through the book of Acts and being struck by something that troubled me deeply. I went to a fellow believer and asked: “Tim, whatever happened to the church?” When he realized I was talking about the early church in Acts, he chuckled with understanding. He knew exactly what I was talking about.
That was 44 years ago. Since then, I’ve witnessed too much Christianity that is simply powerless—bearing little resemblance to the supernatural, life-transforming Christianity we see in Acts.
The Day Everything Changed
On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were transformed. Acts 2:1-4 tells us:
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The result? Peter—no longer the fearful disciple who denied Jesus—preached with Holy Spirit power. Acts 2:41 tells us:
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”
One man preaching, 3,000 souls saved. This was God—the Holy Spirit on the move—and the result was supernatural.
The Life of the Real Church
But what happened after that glorious day reveals the essence of true church life. Acts 2:42-47 shows us:
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Notice the elements: apostolic teaching, genuine fellowship (koinonia), breaking bread together, prayers, and manywonders and signs. They lived life together, sharing with one another, eating “with gladness and simplicity of heart.” The result? “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
The Heart’s Longing
This supernatural church life is what our hearts long for. The Bible speaks to this “together kind of life” in many “one another” verses:
- Romans 12:10 (NKJV): “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”
- Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV): “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV): “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
- Hebrews 3:13 (NKJV): “But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 10:25 captures this longing:
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
The Question Remains
So I return to that question from 44 years ago: “Whatever happened to the church?” The church, for the most part, is very far from this biblical model. Yet this is God’s ideal—what He intends His church to be.
The tragedy isn’t that we lack better programs or methods. The tragedy is that we’ve moved away from the simplicity and power of life in the Holy Spirit, from the centrality of Christ, from the supernatural community that flows from hearts transformed by grace.
Here’s the hope: God hasn’t changed. His Spirit is still the same. His Word is still powerful. Wherever believers gather hungry for Him rather than religious performance, this kind of church life can and will emerge.
The question isn’t really “Whatever happened to the church?” The question is: “Will we return to what the church is meant to be?”