Judaism and
Christianity are a continuum.
Judaism was codified
by Moses (1391 BC – 1272 BC with the 10 Commandments and Jewish Law. It held
that the Creator of the universe had chosen the Jews to make His presence
known. The Old Testament beginning with Genesis was written to chronicle events
since the creation. A Savior was promised to the Jews in Genesis by Noah and
continued with Moses, Micah and Isaiah.
Christianity was
codified by Jesus Christ (1 BC – 33 BC) as the Savior promised in Genesis by
Noah, Moses, Micah and Isaiah.
When Christianity was
in its infancy in 100 AD, Christians were different, because they were kind.
Pagans were drawn to this kindness because it was rare. When Martyrs died courageously for their faith,
their courage impressed the Pagans. When Christians were observed feeding
strangers they became a curiosity. This continued on to 300 AD and in that
time, the Christian population grew.
In October 312 AD,
Emperor Constantine was told in a dream to display the cross as his
banner for this battle of Milvian Bridge and he won. He defeated Eastern
Co-Emperor Maxentius and consolidated the empire. Constantine concluded that
Christ was Lord and declared Christianity as his new religion. In 325 AD
Constantine called the Council of Nicaea to codify Christian Doctrine in the
Nicaean Creed. The Catholic Church was the primary Christian Church from 325 AD
to 1517 AD. The Church was politicized and the Pope became a peer to the
“Royals” and also served as the King of Italy. Wealthy Italian families bribed
Popes and Cardinals to get their relatives into the College of Cardinals. Eventually Prince Bishops ruled city-states
and scandals were common.
In 1436, John Gutenberg invented the moveable
type printing press. This technology would have a profound impact on the
Church, general literacy and human history.
In October 1517, Augustinian Friar and
Theologian Martin Luther posted his “95 Thesis” on the door of Wittenberg
Castle Church castigating the Pope for selling “indulgences”.
The result was the
Protestant Reformation, a schism in Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther
and continued by Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin and other Protestant Reformers in 16th century Europe.
Presbyterianism was especially influenced by
the French theologian John Calvin
(1509-1564), who is credited with the development of Reformed theology,
and the work of John Knox,
a Scotsman and a Roman Catholic Priest, who studied with Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland. He
brought back Reformed teachings to Scotland.
Episcopal or Anglican Church was formed in 1534
when King Henry VIII declared himself the Head of the Church of England.
Puritanism 1564-1660) was a religious reform
movement that arose within the Church of England in the late sixteenth century.
The first General Baptist church, led by John Smyth,
was founded in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1608/09. Its members
were English refugees who had fled England
Quakers never intended to form a new
denomination. Their founder, George
Fox, was trying to take belief and believers back to the original and
pure form of Christianity. Fox was born in July 1624 in Leicestershire,
England, and died in 1691, by which time his movement had 50,000 followers.
The Methodist revival began with a group of
men, including John Wesley (1703–1791)
and his younger brother Charles (1707–1788),
as a movement within the Church of England in the 18th century.
The greatest contribution of Protestantism was
its emphasis on our personal relationship with God.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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