The news: A new piece in Christianity Today challenges the popular image of early Christians as a tiny, persecuted underground movement that barely survived until Constantine. The article argues that early church growth was far more dynamic, public, and socially embedded than the "huddled in catacombs" narrative suggests.
Why it matters for church leaders: Indian pastors often operate with a similar "survival mindset" — keeping a low profile, assuming smallness is faithful. This research is a reminder that the early church was not defined by hiding but by visible, engaged community presence. That's a posture worth examining for your own congregation.
The takeaway: Ask yourself honestly — is your church shaped more by a fear of visibility, or by a confident, community-rooted witness?
Source: Christianity Today
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