When it changed. Acts 11. When did Christianity actually become Christianity.

First let me emphasize that Christianity is founded, centered, established and whatever other binding words you care to add, by the death and resurrection of Christ. Period. This is not a discussion of that. But what made Christianity Christian instead of a branch of Judaism. That was Acts 11. The circumcision party, the majority of faithful early Christians, disapproved of Peter’s inclusion of gentiles. It shows that none of the early Christians considered anything about the death and resurrection of Christ to be different from their current faith in God. Yes, their lives were dramatically changed by Christ. But their religion was not. This leads to what I believe is the most important message in the Bible second only to the gospel story itself. “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who am I to hinder God?” Who indeed. Again and again throughout history we see the gospel bringing in, on their own terms, people whose practice and beliefs would be grounds for excluding them unless they adopt our beliefs and practice. I propose that remains true today. If we see God’s Spirit undeniably present in the life of someone practicing what we define as ‘sinful’ or ‘unacceptable in God’s sight’ who are we to hinder God?

d taylor said:

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The birth began when people believed Jesus was who He said He was. The promised Messiah/ The Christ/The Son of God and believing who Jesus is, they then believed in Jesus for Eternal Life. Which brought the person believing in Jesus, into The Church Jesus is building. Which is separate from the visible church on earth made up of believers and unbelievers.

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Thanks for your comment. I totally agree. As I said, the early Christians who disagreed with Peter were, indeed, 'persons believing in Jesus'. But clearly God was bringing in others 'who believed in Jesus into the Church'...in ways that didn't fit what the early Christians considered an essential mark of faith. Grappling with that difference is what set Christianity apart from other religions. A struggle that can be seen down through the ages. No different than today. (I understand what you mean by 'the Church Jesus is building'. I agree.)

Eventually we'll probably hare off into 'what is sin'. Which is a hopeless debate. It's been ongoing since the beginning of Christianity. It's the question Peter faced with God. The God who had covenanted with Abraham. The God who was now telling Peter that the one no-exceptions requirement for acceptance was no longer necessary. Most of the faithful believers in Christ at that time. Who had followed Jesus. Who had listened to Jesus. Who had absorbed all his challenging teachings. Remembered that he never once suggested doing away with God's necessary requirement for being in God's family. Nor ever suggested that others could get in some other way. So they were shocked at Peter accepting what for the majority of Christ's followers was not right in the sight of God. That's the way it's always been. That's the way it is now. The fruit of the Spirit is how we recognize the presence of the Spirit. (Mt 7:16, Mk4:20, Lk6:44, Jn15:8, Gal5:22, Col 1:10, Jas3:17) Not by some predefined dogma, no matter how much we quote and twist the Bible to get there. I think it has always been the case that "Additionally, an uncircumcised Gentile was not living in sin. A Gentile was not given this law. The Jews were." That's the sophistry that lets us keep our own shibboleths. Thanks for your comments.