Since the beginning of our time outside the Garden, mankind has lived to serve itself and it's own purposes, this clearly seen throughout history and even in the Bible itself. Nothing, as the Bible also shows, goes without being corrupted by mankind, right down to the Pharisees of the time that Jesus admonished.
It would be pretty presumptuous of any Christian to say the same could not happen within Christianity itself. The corruption of the Gospel of the Kingdom happening within decades of the time of Jesus. What survived to become a state sanctioned religion which we follow the roots of today, was the 'winner' of all the different churches that existed until the Romans and the Roman Empire itself decided which would best serve their purpose. They demanded an amalgamation to that end.
The very people closest to the Master (who were Jewish to boot) did not win this contest. After all, how could anything but a Roman influence at the hands of Roman citizens be acceptable within the Roman Empire. A Jewish citizen held no such power. The same would apply today between empires and satellite nations of a different faith and people.
Seems to me those following Jesus, need to be aware of the influence from within mankind has even upon Christianity. It is up to each to sort the chaff from the grain within the religion rather than blindly defending what it is they have been taught to defend. Teachings that go beyond the teachings of Jesus alone. Governments of the church are no different than governments of man when it comes to using God for their own purposes.
Which would be more effective. Destroying those who sought truth (as they did to the original followers of Jesus) or that becoming impractical, alter the truth so none may find it. This is what the Gentile religion did, but perhaps they forgot that scripture still held the truth no matter how much altered tradition and traditional interpretation of scripture they forced down people's throats. The newly blinded then went on to lead the blind, but the truth is still there that condemns their rejection of the Kingdom and God's governance for an alignment with church and state to seek power through it's own governance.
It didn't end for Rome or the Pharisees or those of the world who refuse to give into God's will, with the crucifixion. It kept right on happening. Only the discerning can see past the con.
© ...timothyu
It would be pretty presumptuous of any Christian to say the same could not happen within Christianity itself. The corruption of the Gospel of the Kingdom happening within decades of the time of Jesus. What survived to become a state sanctioned religion which we follow the roots of today, was the 'winner' of all the different churches that existed until the Romans and the Roman Empire itself decided which would best serve their purpose. They demanded an amalgamation to that end.
The very people closest to the Master (who were Jewish to boot) did not win this contest. After all, how could anything but a Roman influence at the hands of Roman citizens be acceptable within the Roman Empire. A Jewish citizen held no such power. The same would apply today between empires and satellite nations of a different faith and people.
Seems to me those following Jesus, need to be aware of the influence from within mankind has even upon Christianity. It is up to each to sort the chaff from the grain within the religion rather than blindly defending what it is they have been taught to defend. Teachings that go beyond the teachings of Jesus alone. Governments of the church are no different than governments of man when it comes to using God for their own purposes.
Which would be more effective. Destroying those who sought truth (as they did to the original followers of Jesus) or that becoming impractical, alter the truth so none may find it. This is what the Gentile religion did, but perhaps they forgot that scripture still held the truth no matter how much altered tradition and traditional interpretation of scripture they forced down people's throats. The newly blinded then went on to lead the blind, but the truth is still there that condemns their rejection of the Kingdom and God's governance for an alignment with church and state to seek power through it's own governance.
It didn't end for Rome or the Pharisees or those of the world who refuse to give into God's will, with the crucifixion. It kept right on happening. Only the discerning can see past the con.
© ...timothyu
