A Study on the Early Jerusalem Church : Is the Early Jerusalem Church the Ideal Model for the Church?

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Since Christian missions began in Korea from 1884, the Korean Church has experienced an unprecedented growth in the world. However, the Korean Church in the early 21st century has been criticized severely from both inside and outside of the church for its serious secularization. The Korean church seems to need an ideal church model that can help comparing a church to it and see the positive or negative aspects of the church. Many people, especially church leaders, in fact, believe the Jerusalem church, often referred as the early Christian community in Jerusalem, can play this role as a standard. In other words, not only does the Jerusalem church after Pentecost show its historical aspects, but furthermore, it also presents itself as the original feature of the church, i.e., the ideal church model. This article discusses whether the Jerusalem church is suitable to be called the ideal model, by examining contemporary circumstances. The Jerusalem church, in conclusion, is the first church established on earth, and at the same time, it is the foundation of all other churches. Thus, in the pursuit of the Jerusalem church as the ideal model, the effort to restore it or emulate its features may not be something totally wrong. However, there are things that should be adapted in a well-adjusted form under the consideration of the difference in time and changes in situation. In other words, there had to be some temporary phenomena and principles that were the products of the unique circumstances of the Jerusalem church. Neither can these be the absolute ideal or criterion for the church because they do not bring harmony with other teachings of the Bible. Insisting on the unconditional restoration of the Jerusalem church without considering these issues at all has no biblical foundation and thus can bring the church into chaos.