Early Christians thought of themselves as a democratic group.

Saturday, 11/7/15

Paul was very chummy on the concluding page of his Letter to the Romans. He mentioned eleven different Christians with whom he was particularly friendly.

He also had a friendly way of speaking of the church at the home of Prisca and Aquila, and of the church at the home of Gaius. Of course, Paul didn’t use the English word “church.” He spoke of the ecclesia at the home of Prisca and Aquila, and of the ecclesia at the home of Gaius.

That word, ecclesia, originally meant “”to call out”. It designated all those in  democratic town who were called out to vote on what concerned them all. It is interesting that those friendly gatherings of Christians also thought of themselves as a democratic group.

In the Gospel Jesus told us to “make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth.” So that, “You will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” What he meant there was that if you  give to the needy, they in turn, will welcome you into heaven.