Dual-nature

And God said “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). Scientist and engineers spend a lot of time and money studying light and ways to manipulate it for our benefit. Today we discovered ways to transmit/receive light (LED, lasers) which we have used in a number of useful applications (optical data transmission, solar energy). We also know that light is the fastest speed we can measure, often referencing the speed of light or light-years (the distance light travels in one year). Some of the earliest study of light was to investigate how light diffracts (bends) around objects. One experiment (1803) is when passing light through two narrow slits there are intense beams and dark regions to show that light as an energy source acts like a wave.


Figure 1. Shooting a laser two narrow slits

Over a century later, physicists discovered that light also had discrete units of energy that could be measured through several different experiments. Even the early discoveries of light behaving as discrete units of energy did not get readily accepted due to the inability of ‘wave theory’ to explain it. Einstein finally, through calculation, was able to prove that light also behave as particles, often referred as photons.


Figure 2. Schematic on dual nature of light

Even though physicist cannot explain why light has this dual-nature (Re: uncertainty principle), there’s no denying the benefits we have received from it.

When looking at the Church, it’s a bit similar. There’s the dual-nature of the Church: as an institution and as gospel community. When most people think of church, we often refer to either a building or a group of believers which is the community centered on the gospel of Jesus. The Church as an institution is affirmed not only by the apostles whom are writing letters of instruction to the churches but also by Jesus himself as revealed in Revelation (1:12-13,16,20) when Jesus is holding the seven stars and referring to the churches as lampstands. What is the purpose of the church? What do we see in the Bible regarding on how our church is to function if it’s going to be a thriving community?

The most commonly reference section of the Bible regarding church model is Acts 2, particularly in the end:
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

One question to ask is: if we model our church to the early church described in Acts 2, then what did the early church have to model itself after? To answer that question we need to look in the earlier part of Acts 2:4 “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit”. We read in John 16:13-15 Jesus says, “when the Spirit of Truth will comes, he (Holy Spirit) will [not only] guide you into all truth… He (Holy Spirit) will glorify me (Jesus) for he (Holy Spirit) will take what is mine (Jesus) and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine (Jesus), therefore I said that he (Holy Spirit) will take what is mine (Jesus) and declare it to you.” So we can infer from scripture that the early church was inspired by the Holy Spirit to reflect the triune nature of God. So we should get our model of community by reflecting how God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit commune with each other as reflected by the early church.

Since this introduction was a bit long, we’re going to investigate how the Trinity functions and how those qualities should be manifested in our gospel community in the next blog and then look to the role of Church as an institution.