CHRISTIANITY; IDEA OR CULTURE? PART ONE

The world,  over the centuries have been visited with different ideas and institutions. These ideas have influenced and shaped the way people think and live in relation with their environment. Some have made people better or even in some cases made people threats to their environment.

Religious radicalism is an offshoot of an idea from religious fanatics. This trend have become a source of worry and concern all over the world. Mind you I said religion! Religion is a concept, a thought line a mental belief and not the nature of man. A lot of questions have been asked, and are still in the minds of people about what Christianity is? Who Jesus Christ really was, and so on. We shall try to explain some truths about Christianity in simple language and style. So what is Christianity? The Word Christian is derived from the word Christ. Christ is a Greek word meaning; anointed one! Anointed Savior…Therefore the early followers of Christ Jesus were described by the nomenclature “Christians”, obviously because of their way of life; which was a replica of the life of Jesus Christ. Christianity therefore is the way of life of the Christ. It is the nativity of Christ…Acts 11:26 NIV:and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. When Jesus started teaching, His teachings were solely based on the kingdom of God or heaven. He came with the message of a kingdom, a people; unique culture, a different way of life. Not an idea or concepts… Idea or ideology is simply the line of thought of a person that is or can be transferred from one person to another. Ideas can be wrong, right, and can be improved, and so on. But culture which is the way of life of a people it’s more of the nature of the people can’t be changed! For instance; language, race, etc.,  are perfect examples of cultural make up of a people. Nobody chose to be fair skinned or back skinned. Time can never change the British from speaking the English language or change their skin colour. Every British who has lived within the confines of the culture will behave in the same manner and express the same values. There are ideas in cultural settings, but these are not the strength of the people. Because ideas do change… Jesus in the book of Mathew chapter six began to teach His disciples how to pray and at same time introduced to the kingdom of heaven or God. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of His Christ. The way of the Lord, the life of the Father (Zoe). Mat.6:9, KJV:After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10:Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Rev.11:15,KJV:And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. He also introduced the fatherhood of God to them that believed in Him; making it clear that the kingdom is not some kind of ideas that promises utopia that is a mirage. Christians are people who believe in the fatherhood of God through the Lord Jesus Christ, and also partake in the divine nature of God, because of the Scriptures which forms the basis of the culture of the kingdom of God. He came to give us a relationship and not religion. Religion is the concept or idea of man on how to reach God… yes, religion worked to an extent, but failed in establishing a family relationship with God. Jesus Christ did away with religion and gave humanity the privilege to meet God one on one. The Bible is not a big book full of great ideas, but rather the Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit of God to us. 2Tim3:16, KJV:All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: The kingdom of God was never spoken of in the Bible until Jesus introduced it to His disciples. It wasn’t an idea He was talking about, but a culture and life of a kingdom. Luke 8:1, KJV:And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, The life of Jesus Christ was not different from what he taught, He didn’t have a message and led another kind of life. He came to fulfill the kingdom of God on earth. A kingdom of health, prosperity, love, liberty etc. Acts 1:1, KJV:The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Christianity is not a practice, it is not an idea or an opinion, but a life of the grace of God. Just like the fish does not struggle in the water, it’s naturally adaptable to its environment, so are Christians in the new life in Christ. Like a new born whose food is the milk from his mother, so we should desire the sincere word of God. 1Pet.2: 2 KJV:As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: The only guarantee of growth in this kingdom is by the Word of God…the word of God leads, etc. PS. 119:105, KJV:The word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.