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Many religious customs within the Christian churches are based on counsel of the “early post- apostolic writers” like Ignatius, Marcion, and Tertullian. The fact is that these men have shaped Christianity into what it is today. The most common theme from these founders of the Gentile church is that they severely opposed Jewish culture and law, as do most Christian pastors today. Most church founders appear to have been utterly unable to distinguish between Rabbinical Tradition and Torah observance as taught by Christ Jesus and the Apostles.
For starters, first I will present Ignatius of Antioch 35-107 AD.
He was considered an “auditor” and “disciple” of John, although he never met John personally nor studied under him. Ignatius pioneered the Greek-based Christian religion. He was very instrumental in the assimilation of paganism into early Christianity, and packaged Christianity for a Greco-Roman Hellenic culture. He saw Jewish followers of Christ Jesus as nothing but legalists and Judaizers. He despised the observance of the Sabbath in favor of the Ishtar sunrise “Lord's day” Sun Day. He promoted the “infallibility of the church” and the “universal church.” If there ever was a hierarchy loving “Christian” politician with a Hellenistic autocratic mindset, it was Ignatius who taught that deacons, presbyters and bishops were a separate category of people infused with Jesus-like authority to be lords over the people. He also taught that (quote) “without the bishop's supervision, no baptisms or love feasts are permitted” and he believed Mary to be the eternal virgin mother of God.
There's much more in letters recorded by these founders that I will post later, if people are interested in their religious heritage.
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” James 1:23-24
For starters, first I will present Ignatius of Antioch 35-107 AD.
He was considered an “auditor” and “disciple” of John, although he never met John personally nor studied under him. Ignatius pioneered the Greek-based Christian religion. He was very instrumental in the assimilation of paganism into early Christianity, and packaged Christianity for a Greco-Roman Hellenic culture. He saw Jewish followers of Christ Jesus as nothing but legalists and Judaizers. He despised the observance of the Sabbath in favor of the Ishtar sunrise “Lord's day” Sun Day. He promoted the “infallibility of the church” and the “universal church.” If there ever was a hierarchy loving “Christian” politician with a Hellenistic autocratic mindset, it was Ignatius who taught that deacons, presbyters and bishops were a separate category of people infused with Jesus-like authority to be lords over the people. He also taught that (quote) “without the bishop's supervision, no baptisms or love feasts are permitted” and he believed Mary to be the eternal virgin mother of God.
There's much more in letters recorded by these founders that I will post later, if people are interested in their religious heritage.
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” James 1:23-24
In addition, the presupposition that Sunday was a day when pagans worshipped the sun is not tenable. They worshipped the sun every day, and there is good reason to doubt whether they observed a seven week cycle with Sunday being a day of worship to the sun. My understanding is that they had a different weekly cycle than we do.
Regarding Colossians 2:16-17 I have described the situation involving those verses here:
http://christianchat.com/bible-disc...ebrews-10-1-2-judging-non-sabbathkeepers.html
Comparing Colossians 2:16-17 with Hebrews 10:1-2 makes it clear that they are placed in the same category of applicability to a new Covenant Christian as animal sacrifices.
Christianity is distinctly different than Judaism, and I believe the early church intentionally made a break from Judaism to make sure they did stay distinct. We worship Jesus Christ, not the Old Covenant and its ceremonial and ritualistic laws.
Having been a Sabbathkeeper for over a decade, I realize that the arguments of Sabbatarianism are convincing at a shallow level but not when critically examined. Basically it is one big conspiracy theory involving a false view of history.
Again, i would also point to the excellent works of the Sundaygoers I attend fellowship with. They do more to alleviate the suffering of the world than the Sabbathkeepers I fellowshipped with, and their focus is on Jesus Christ and salvation through Him, not keeping ceremonial and ritualistic aspects of the Old Covenant.
http://christianchat.com/bible-disc...-old-covenant-observance-causes-division.html