Christian Direction and Identity

[timothyu]

In the decades and centuries following the earliest post-Resurrection days of Christianity, the Greek language and philosophies, the Roman law and institutional concepts, Mediterranean art and previous deities, and so on, all influenced the formulation of the Christian religion.

Yet the original 'church', the Way, was not a religion but a way of life built upon the principles of putting the will of the Father ahead of our own and loving all as self... living an almost communal lifestyle. Had it been allowed to grow, what would the world be like today? Which direction more emulates the Kingdom of God?

 

[HTacianas]

In the decades and centuries following the earliest post-Resurrection days of Christianity, the Greek language and philosophies, the Roman law and institutional concepts, Mediterranean art and previous deities, and so on, all influenced the formulation of the Christian religion.

Yet the original 'church', the Way, was not a religion but a way of life built upon the principles of putting the will of the Father ahead of our own and loving all as self... living an almost communal lifestyle. Had it been allowed to grow, what would the world be like today? Which direction more emulates the Kingdom of God?

It has never stopped growing.

 

[timothyu]

It has never stopped growing.

But was that or the Way the intended direction?

 

[HTacianas]

But was that or the Way the intended direction?

It has always grown in the intended direction. Jesus told his apostles:

Mat 28:19 - “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

That began with the apostles and continues through their successors today.

 

[timothyu]

That began with the apostles and continues through their successors today.

But it went in two different directions, one influenced by the teachings of Jesus, the other heavily influenced by the existing world rather than the Kingdom.

 

[HTacianas]

But it went in two different directions, one influenced by the teachings of Jesus, the other heavily influenced by the existing world rather than the Kingdom.

It only went in one direction. If we want to say some other direction it would be the directions individuals have gone off in on their own.

 

[timothyu]

It only went in one direction.

Yes, the direction influenced by the world.

 

[HTacianas]

Yes, the direction influenced by the world.

Why don't you explain to us what that is.

 

[Josheb]

In the decades and centuries following the earliest post-Resurrection days of Christianity, the Greek language and philosophies, the Roman law and institutional concepts, Mediterranean art and previous deities, and so on, all influenced the formulation of the Christian religion.

Yet the original 'church', the Way, was not a religion but a way of life built upon the principles of putting the will of the Father ahead of our own and loving all as self... living an almost communal lifestyle. Had it been allowed to grow, what would the world be like today? Which direction more emulates the Kingdom of God?

Where did you get the idea The Way was not a religion?
Where did you get the idea The Way was a way of life and not a religion?
Where did you get the idea The Way entailed "living an almost communal lifestyle"?
And what, specifically" is meant by "almost communal lifestyle"?

Source(s) for these claims, please.

The Way was originally a Jewish sect. That is how both adherents and the outsiders construed them. We find the first mention of "The Way" in Acts 9 at the beginning of Saul's intent to persecute converts to Christ. It was in Antioch that the converts to Christ became known as "Christians," or "little Christs." We further understand from Acts and the epistolary that it was the apostles practice to go to the synagogues first when they arrived in a new lace and began to spread the good news. These people were not asked to sell everything and live together as were those in Jerusalem. The reason those in Jerusalem were selling and pooling their property is because they understood it was soon going to become worthless with the judgment pending upon Jerusalem. God had commanded them to leave Jerusalem! Acts 4 and 5 was a temporary condition and it was not the standard by which all other Christian communities in other cities were measured.

 

[HARK!]

I recently stumbled onto this series concerning "The Way" at Qumran. He goes into quite a bit of depth.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Yet the original 'church', the Way, was not a religion

*sigh*

Seriously. Stop. Christianity is a religion. It was a religion at its founding. It remains a religion now. It has never been anything other than a religion. The only way to argue that Christianity isn't a religion is to radically change the definition of the word "religion". And obviously, Protestants are willing to redefine a word, Lord knows this wouldn't be the first time. But the fact remains that Christianity is a religion and it satisfies the dictionary definition of a religion.

 

[JackRT]

To me, reading both the Bible and history, Jesus was not about starting a new religion but about reforming second temple Judaism.

 

[Ahermit]

Yes, the direction influenced by the world.

The old human nature, which most only know about, will always look for an easier softer way. All sorts of compromises present themselves along this easier way.

We as humans hold the power to make choices, hence, self-will. The thing is, most of our choices asks ourselves to choose between what is easy and what is the right thing to do?

 

[Ahermit]

Also, most humans will go to any length to avoid total responsibility for ALL their own thoughts and actions.
Imagine if they did. There would be nobody, ever again, to blame (but ourselves).

 

[timothyu]

Why don't you explain to us what that is.

I did in the opening statement. The will of man, unlike the Way following the will of God.

 

[timothyu]

Where did you get the idea The Way was not a religion?
Where did you get the idea The Way was a way of life and not a religion?
Where did you get the idea The Way entailed "living an almost communal lifestyle"?
And what, specifically" is meant by "almost communal lifestyle"?

As I said, they simply followed the will of the Father which is to love all as self. It was a way of life.

 

[timothyu]

Seriously. Stop. Christianity is a religion. It was a religion at its founding.

The people of the Way already had a religion not that that is relevant. But the whole concept behind Jesus' teachings was to love all as self and live accordingly. It was the way of the Kingdom. Too bad it didn't stick. But of course the self serving ways of man would never allow it to and that is why those of the Kingdom walk the narrow path.

 

[timothyu]

To me, reading both the Bible and history, Jesus was not about starting a new religion but about reforming second temple Judaism.

And introducing and reaffirming the ways of the Kingdom, not of man.

 

[Tone]

what would the world be like today? Which direction more emulates the Kingdom of God?

Your answers please.

 

[Ricky M]

Had it been allowed to grow, what would the world be like today?

We're going to get to find out here shortly

Come Lord Jesus!