Christian vs. Christianity (PART 1 of a 2 Part Series)
Christian vs. Christianity (PART 1 of a 2 Part Series) by Al Penner
Before we start, prepare to be shocked. As hard as it is for most to believe, a lot of what you have been taught about religion and the Bible is completely wrong. Now let’s not get confused about that last statement. The Bible is 100% correct, however, religious founders have shaped past historical events in an effort to establish their own movement, thus destroying the true doctrine and teachings of Christ (Daniel 7:25). This is propaganda at its finest. It is sort of like how the United States promoted their Thanksgiving festival. What we mostly hear about this day is that Thanksgiving was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year; a time which we celebrate the pilgrims 
migrating to this country and cultivating the land. It is a time to spend with family and love ones as most people in the U.S. enjoy a 2 day holiday right before the weekend. However, unless you do your research, you will never be taught in school that in fact, many of the pilgrims were dying from disease and starvation in this new land and that it was the Indians (who were already here) who helped them to survive; teaching them how to live off of the land. Once the pilgrims were able to survive and then prosper, they no longer needed the Indians thus the slaughter began.
When it comes to religion, we will see much of the same propaganda. But just like many that have accepted and continue to celebrate Thanksgiving due to the years of force feeding us with gross and negligent information, many people will ignore the evidence that is provided regarding the truth behind Christians vs. Christianity.
Are you a Christian? In fact, if you ask someone what does that mean, most will say that they are a follower of Christ or better yet, they are just saying that they acknowledge God as the Father and Christ as the son. There are others that will say that they are not a Christian, although they are believers of Christ. Why do we get conflicting answers from both parties that believe in him? Once we get a clearer understanding of each viewpoint, it will start to make more sense why there are two different positions.
CHRISTIANS IN THE BIBLE
Were there Christians in the Bible? Of course there were, but maybe to your surprise, the first people that were considered Christians were………THE JEWS! That’s right, the disciples, who were Jews, while in Antioch were called Christians first. Not because they were a part of a religion which today is known as Christianity, but because they followed Christ and his instructions. Today however, people associate “Being a Christian” with “Christianity. This is why so many today will proclaim that they believe in Christ but they are not a Christian. They are aware that there was no such thing as a Christian religion aka Christianity at the time when Christ walked the earth. It’s because men today have associated that word with a religion that was created in Rome (we will discuss this in Part 2). Many Jews believed in Christ and followed his teachings:
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:26
How many people are surprised? What preacher has ever taught that? Most of what you’ve been taught about Jews today is that they don’t believe in Christ or the New Testament, but this Bible verse should quiet down some of the strongest critics. Not all Jews were against Christ.
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31
CHRISTIANITY IN THE BIBLE?
For a long time, the world has been consistent on who was the founder of Christianity. For many years, it was said that Christ was the founder in the New Testament of Christianity. Today, there is a debate on rather it was Christ or the Apostle Paul that actually formed Christianity (Google it and check for yourself). Before we take a glimpse at actual historical evidence (Part 2), let’s analyze the Bible for various context clues that will show that Christianity was not a Biblical teaching.
The Children of Israel was consistently in a fallen state. This is not to say that they were all unrighteous, because there were many that remained faithful and obedient until their death. However, there were the religious leaders among them that continued to make the word of God of none effect by adding their traditions to it (Mark 7:13). Before the arrival of Christ, John the Baptist was setting the stage for his return. John’s mission WAS NOT to prepare a new way of worship or to prepare the way for a new religion. John’s mission was to restore the Church to its original state, so that Christ could come and fulfill his mission.
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. Matthew 17:11
The formation of a new religion was NEVER in the Bible for the people of God. Establishing what today is called Christianity would have made both Christ and Paul a heretic. Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs. The Father gave Moses an established doctrine (laws, statutes, and judgements), and he said in his word that he changes not (Mal.3:6). In the Old Testament, the prophet Moses said the following regarding changes made to the word of God:
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Deut 4:2
It is a sin to add a new religion or teaching to what has already been established and one thing that we know for sure is that God did not establish Christianity! He established a Holy People (Deut.28:9). In fact, Revelation the 22nd chapter reiterates this same Bible verse but goes on to say “
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
Christ was consistent in his message. He did not come to add to the Bible (Matthew 5:17, John 6:38), he only came to fulfill what Moses said he would do. So at what point did Christ or the Apostle Paul establish Christianity? It is apparent, that those that were responsible with establishing the religion have duped the world into believing that a Christian (the way the Bible defines it) and Christianity (newly formed religion in the late 2nd century) are the same.
Here is what we should look at logically. If Christ or the Apostle Paul established Christianity, we should see the practices of Christianity in the Bible. Where is Easter Sunday, Ash Wednesday or Palm Sunday in the Bible? What about Christmas (which originated in the Pagan culture). Christ kept the Jewish Feast days including the Seventh Day Sabbath (Luke 4:16; Luke 7:7-14; Luke 22:1,8). So did Apostle Paul who was in fact, the Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 17:2; Acts 27:9; Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8), Paul was so adamant about the preservation of the original teachings that he said “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.”
Because of years of traditions and a paradigm that has shaped the world we live in, the enemy is on pace to fulfill his mission
of deceiving the entire world (Revelation 12:9). People should not take it personal when exposed to Biblical truth that is presented through critical thinking, correct interpretation of the Bible, and the Holy Spirit. There are many “Christians” today that are waking up to Biblical truth and sound doctrine and will soon enter into his fold (John 10:16), that has been created for them before the foundations of the earth (Ephesians 1:4) It is time to wake up and come out of Babylon.
(Coming in November: Part 2)
