The Way
While looking at Paul’s conversion in Acts with my Bible study I was reminded of something that I found interesting: the early church often went by the title The Way rather than Christian. Six time in Acts followers of Christ or that community was referred to as The Way. The term Christian is only used three times in the New Testament (and it has been suggested that originally it was pejorative term meant to mock or belittle those people who wanted to be like the crucified King of the Jews). So what does this mean? Well not much really, it was pretty quick that the Christian title took over, but I kinda like The Way, I think it has a nice sound to it.
Have you seen Peterson’s new book? “The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways the Jesus Is The Way” It’s the third in a series.
Ohhh, I didn’t know he had another new one out. I knew he was doing a series based on stuff that he taught up at Regent, didn’t know he was up to #3! I’ll have to check it out!
Yes, isn’t that interesting? I’d much rather be a follower of The Way than Christianity.
Oh shucks, did I say that out loud?
The concept of Christianity actually being a sect of Judaism is quite intriguing:
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=489&letter=C#1631
http://www.torahresource.com/English%20Articles/Last%20Fiscus%20Judaicus.pdf (pdf)
But this is your comment box, not a soapbox. I’m off! *tiptoes away*
Oh you darn Messianics!
Heh, one might actually go so far as to say that Christianity is the only correct sect of Judiasm (although my Jewish friends may not want to hear that).
yes, darn us Messies. We always stick our noses in other people’s theologies!
One might go even further and say that neither Christianity nor Judaism are correct. Because one disregards the Messiah while the other disregards where the Messiah came from. And they both disregard much of what he taught.
Nah, nobody will buy that! silly Julia…
Don’t you think that true Christianity does recognize where the Messiah came from? I suppose we might disagree about the role of Jewish traditions in modern Christianity. What do you think modern Christianity’s view of the Messiah’s origin is? Where do you think Christianity fails?
It seems the scholars such as N.T. Wright and E.P. Sanders have a pretty profound understanding of the Jewish context in which early Christianity resided and from which Jesus came from.
Would you say that you take issue what the lack of Jewish customs in modern Christianity?