How did Christianity develop into what it is today?

Q. How did Christianity develop into what it is today?

A. That is not an easy question to answer because it involves so many things and hundreds of years, but I will give a quick overview. Over a year ago, a series of articles was published about what is called "replacement theology" so you might want to contact the paper for back articles on this. In the first century, people who believed that Yeshua was the Messiah were all Jewish.

Judaism already carried the message of Messiah and redemption and many were looking for it. All of the writers of the New Testament were active members in synagogues and their worship and expectations were all Jewish. Gentiles were also believing and they were called "sebemenoi" or devout ones". Another name for them was "phoubemenoi" or G-dfearers. These are all scriptural names and it was how they were known. These gentiles had left paganism and began to follow the Torah and commandments. The New Testament writers all advised the Gentile believers to keep the commandments. There was no hint of the doctrine that is taught today that one did not have to keep the commandments. That is a man -made doctrine. They kept the Sabbath and biblical festivals, ate kosher and followed the Torah on how to live. Numerous problems were encountered between the Jewish people and the gentiles in these synagogues.

Maintream Judaism had developed well-defined barriers between the groups but G-d used Rav Shaul (Rabbi Paul) to correct this situation among the believers. His writings layed down G-ds principles in these matters. The book of Romans deals with these very issues on how the Gentile believers were to act towards the unbelieving Jews in the Roman congregation. Faith in Yeshua was widespread in the Roman Empire among the Jewish people and even more Gentiles were coming into the faith. These greater numbers of Gentiles gave them the upper hand in the synagogues and in decision making. This was not the case in the land of Israel, but events in the nest 100 years would change everything. In the same year that Paul died, the Jewish nation started a revolt against Rome that ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Believers were scattered and fled following Yeshuas instructions. Attitudes toward the Jewish people and their faith changed and to support anything considered "Jewish" was seen as treason against Rome. Because of the greater number of Gentiles in the congregations, they began to make a difference in what was taught and believed, and an anti-Jewishness developed and became popular. Jews were still becoming believers in spite of all this. In 116 CE and again in 135CE two more wars were faught with Rome. That was three wars in 70 years. Many Romans lost their lives, or the lives of loved ones as a result. Throughout the empire anti-Jewishness was seen as patriotic. Anything connected to Israel, the Torah or what anyone perceived to be Jewish was discarded and undermined and the Gentiles turned away from the faith once delivered.

The writings of the "Church fathers" reflected this attitude of moving away from the Torah to a "new" religion based on Greek and Roman thought. Christians were now the "New Israel". By the 4th century, things had really changed. Constantine became Caesar and he supposedly joined the Christians. In 325 CE, he called the Council of Nicea where he gathered Gentile bishops from all over the Empire to finally "define" the faith. Not one Jewish leader was invited. Laws were passed forbidding Jewish believers from observing the commandments, keeping Sabbath, circumcision, keeping biblical festivals or to teach the Torah to their children. This also went for any Gentile who wanted to follow the L-rd. Jews had to cease from practicing their faith (which is the faith of the Bible even today) and to become, for all intents and purposes, Gentiles.

That is still what churches do to people today. Pagan festivals like Christmas and Easter replaced the biblical festivals of G-d. Not only were the Jewish believers gone, but so were the "sebemenoi/phoubemenoi" or Gentile devout ones/G-dfearers. The faith now was a totally different religion. Greek names and concepts and religion became known as Christianity and the faith had now been "gentlized" and that is what is seen today. This is not my opinion but historical fact. Do some research on these things and you will see the same thing. There are many good web sites on the Internet that will help you. Our ministry has volumes of documentation on this and in our services and studies these issues are discussed. Feel free to contact us at our new E-mail address if you ever have any questions: otmin@sbcglobal.net. Now, go and study.