No Constitution

The government of the newly formed United States of America was founded on a document that outlined and detailed what constituted its identity and its powers. The document is a descriptive “constitution,” or list of ingredients for its recipe.

The government of the early ekklesias of Christ did not have such a document. It had Spirit-led leaders who gathered to discuss things in the presence of the Holy One and listen for His advice and directions.

This government was the manifestation of the King’s domain – His Kingdom. In Acts 15, Luke recorded a letter written by that government to new believers in Jesus who had been Gentiles. One line of that letter is very telling regarding the perception the leaders had of their Leader’s influence on their leadership:

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:”

(Acts 15:28 New King James Version)