We have to understand the profound change that occurred among those first followers of Jesus when Gentiles (non-Jews) became Christians. Jesus was a Jew. Mary was a Jew. The Apostles were Jews. Paul was a Jew. The obvious presumption was that the Jesus movement was a Jewish movement. St. Paul and others had to argue at what we now call the Council of Jerusalem (which took place about the year 50, twenty or so years after Jesus’ death) for what really mattered when one had faith in Jesus. This is a perennial issue for the Church. The European trappings (e.g., organ music and Gregorian chant) are not any more Christian than drums and dancing. Passing on the faith in new environments requires getting back to basics.
MAY222019
By Church Staff
