The Original Christianity

What we Americans call Christianity today, the apostle Paul would not recognize. 

I love to go the "Original Coney Island" and pig out on chili pies (all the way) and a couple of those awesome hot dogs in soft chili and cheese filled buns. But, I have no clue if the hot dogs are anything like what they were 100 years ago when they began selling them in Michigan- not New York! By the way, the name has nothing to do with the physical place- Coney Island. 

How's that for introduction? 

Christianity is NOTHING like what it was in 325CE, let alone what it was in the first century. St. Augustine, founder of Christian theology, wrote, "That which is known as the Christian religion existed among the ancients, and never did not exist; from the very beginning of the human race until the time when Christ came in the flesh, at which time the true religion, which already existed, began to be called Christianity". 

Say what? 

When has God not been- not existed? As I've loved to say, "God is most DEFINED in Jesus, but not CONFINED to him". But after the first hundred years after the crucifixion, Christianity began to be transformed, changed, altered, and redefined to fit the Roman empire, and Constantine of course. What eventually became called Christianity around 300-350CE was greatly different than the Christianity that Paul wrote. 

With a discerning eye one can see how even Paul's theological understanding changed over the decade in which his letters and epistles were written. 

For one who wants to take the time, with an honesty and integrity, look at what the original church fathers wrote, one will see a great departure from what was then believed and embraced and that which is called Christianity today. Of paramount importance was how the Bible was written and meant to be interpreted. The Bible was written in a metaphorical-mystical-allegorical format, but today interpreted by many in an historical-literal approach. 

It simply doesn't work. But, LOVE always works!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/the-original-christianity-2843611.html

As a spiritual-futurist, I have a BA degree majoring in history. One cannot know the future without knowing the past which holds clues to what is on the horizon. The world is in such a rapid expansion of knowledge that we are close to entering a tipping point that will forever change earth as we know it.