What if some of the first Christians and Americans who call themselves Christians met?

[47of74]

Yeah, I know this is from 2015, but this article is even more relevant now.

If you could meet one of the first Christians would you like them?

I’m convinced that many American Christians would not. In the course of 2000 years, Christianity- while maintaining the basic tenets, has morphed and shifted from the way it was originally designed and lived out. Since we tend to live in a culture that is rather self-centered, we have a tendency to assume we “have it right” while completely overlooking the fact that our version of Christianity might appear quite foreign– even hopelessly corrupted– if viewed through the eyes of one of the first Christians.

If those entrenched in American Christianity could transport back in time to experience Christianity as it originally was, they’d be uncomfortable at best, and at worst, would probably have declined the invitation to join Christianity at all.

Christianity has a history– and it’s an important one. Those who were closest to Christ himself speak to us from history, if we will listen. While the scriptures haven’t changed in 2000 years, Christianity itself certainly has fallen prey to the powers of culture to distort and twist. Christianity in America is no different– it has become distorted to the point that those who first founded Christianity and walked with Jesus, would hardly recognize it.

Pacifists who shared wealth equally among the community, didn't like the big showy crap, and weren't stand for the flag kneel for the cross types? Yeah Donnie and most reich wing "Christians" would hate these people.

[ladym55]

1. Jesus would not be welcome in most US "Christian" churches

He would be too brown ... and his ideas just would NOT be the thing.

[virgogal]

2. Can you give me an example. I am not a churchgoer but I have good friends who are,

both Catholics and Protestants.

What Christian churches would not welcome Jesus today?

[ladym55]

4. I have an idea for you

Ask your church-going friends how they feel about having a homeless person sitting in the pew next to them Sunday morning? How they feel about people who look different, dress differently, or have a different skin color?

If they are okay with poor people, immigrants, people of color, members of the LGBTQI community, and other folks on the margins, then they are in a church that would welcome Jesus. If any of these groups make them a tat queasy, then they probably would be uncomfortable with Jesus.

[ChazII]

8. My church passes your test.

We have a free clothing/house hold goods bank that is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We have sack lunches for the homeless that they can get on those days as well. Each Wednesday there is a community dinner free of charge to anyone who wishes to attend and most of the time many homeless attend.

[ladym55]

10. That's awesome

I love hearing this.

[virgogal]

9. Considering they both grew up poor,as I did,poverty would not bother them,

they ARE friends with me and I have a daughter in a mixed race marriage--- that never bothered them,we belong to a woman's club and the past president has a gay son,who she adores---and that doesn't bother any of us---and as far as immigration goes we were all born in the 1930s---many of us had parents who were immigrants.

People shouldn't be stereotyped,even old Christian ladies.

[ladym55]

11. I'm glad to hear that

I live in an area filled with mega-churches that follow the "prosperity gospel." Their members worry about the persecution of American Christians (there's a war on Christmas, don't you know), focus on the evils of abortion (but don't give a hoot that our area has a really high infant mortality rate), believe that marriage is between one man and one woman only, and think that creationism should be taught in science class. Churches that would welcome Christ around here are smaller and struggling for members.

And their members aren't old ladies .... hmmm.

[virgogal]

12. Never underestimate old ladies---we are not as we seem.

I went to a local ,small,neighborhood movie theater recently to see "American Animals"

When we were leaving I remarked to the manager that I loved the movie and that it was great hearing the Leonard Cohen music at the end.

He said to me," You are familiar with Leonard Cohen? Wow!"

I doubt very much that he would have said that to a 30 year old male.

[DURHAM D]

5. The problem with Jesus is that he was an immigrant. nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. Competitive Bible Thumping!

[braddy]

6. They would both share their faith in Christ, what makes them both Christians and not

non-Christians, or anti-Christians.

[standingtall]

7. There were people who had distorted views of Christianity even in the 1st century

Last edited Wed Jul 4, 2018, 07:52 PM - Edit history (8)

so what we our experiencing now is nothing new. Number 3 in that article is just totally false. Jesus himself warned of hell many times. So did Peter 2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; The word being translated as hell is Tarturas which would be the deepest pit of Hades. Tartuas,Sheol and Gehenna are all words hell is translated from and they all mean pretty much the same thing.

The article mentioned the book of Acts as if it were some kind of proof against the existence of hell yet the book of Acts mentioned hell twice Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31. I know it may sound good to say hell was not a 1 century teaching, but it is all over the New Testament which is exactly where we should look to find an account of 1st century Christians. Those who claim hell is not an historic teaching of Christianity the burden of proof is on them, because the evidence does not seem to be on their side.