There were two prevailing opinions in the town hall meeting the night they voted to establish their historic museum. The idea was to house local artifacts and historical tidbits from the former frontier town, in the oldest structure in the rural town. Everyone agreed that the Elger homestead was the first in the area and that Roger Elger became one of the wealthiest men in the county when he discovered gold on his property. He built a large mansion, stables, a general store and, eventually, a small inn that still operates to this day.
The debate was over which of the buildings on the Elger estate was built first. Many assumed it was the large mansion which dominated the landscape and still took ones’ breath away. However, there were a few folks, whose families had been in the area for 200 years, who claimed that when Elger first settled on the property he built the stone barn, and his family lived in the back section of that structure until they struck it rich and built the grand mansion.
The Mayor, who was to serve as the museum’s first curator was of the opinion that the mansion came first. In an attempt to prove his point, he produced a snapshot of the Elger property that had been handed down through his family for generations. It was a closeup of the Elger family on the steps of the mansion and a date had been scribbled on the back, making it the earliest known photograph. While the town folk were discussing the matter a young man remembered another photograph he had seen in his family’s archives. He darted home, dashed back into the meeting, and slipped the photograph into the Mayor’s hands.
The Mayor was shocked. This was a photo of the stables taken from across the road. Behind the stables were a group of men raising the West wall of the great mansion. Mystery solved. Even the Mayor agreed that the stables were the oldest structure in town and deserved the honor of housing the offices of their historic museum. Sometimes a single piece of evidence – something that gives insight to what actually took place – can settle a long-time dispute.
For years churches have debated over what it means to be born again. Most believers agree that the Bible says one must believe and confess that Jesus is their Lord. Both Jesus and the disciples commanded baptism. And Peter said those who repented and were baptized would receive the Holy Spirit. But Christendom has often quibbled over just how to put all those truths together. Some have focused on one or two verses and made a case for their take.
Luckily, we have some snapshots. They are verbal descriptions of the first century church in action. They reveal how the disciples of Jesus interpreted what Jesus told them to do. You can look at those snapshots for yourself. They are found in Acts 2,8 10 and 19.
As I look at those snapshots, I notice three things: People repented of sins, they were baptized, by immersion, in Jesus Name. The disciples believed it was important that those who “believed,” also seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. One manifestation of the baptism of the HG was that they spoke with other tongues. Those are revealing snapshots that helped me settle on what the original Christians believed and practiced. I’ve seen similar scenes in the lives of thousands who have also looked at those snapshots and embraced the practical application of what Jesus taught.