It's a funny thing about churches. A lot of people think that Catholicism was the first Christian church, and then King Henry VIII came along and started his own religion so that he could legally get a divorce from his wife. In America, we tend to think of two kinds of Christianity, Catholicism and Protestantism, with lots of different churches under the banner of Protestantism. These include Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran and Methodist, and many, many more churches with varying interpretations of the gospels. The fundamental Christian church goes back to the days right after the ascension of Christ.
The Catholics got their start in the 2 AD, while the Christian fundamentalists gathered for the first time about six weeks after the Resurrection. Back then, it consisted mostly of Jews, Gentiles and a handful of others. The Apostle Luke wrote the Book of Acts somewhere around 80 AD to document the beginnings of Christianity and the spread of the gospels to the Roman Empire.
Luke defines the precise moment that Christianity was born, at the first Feast of Pentecost that took place following the Resurrection. Pentecost is a Jewish holiday in remembrance of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. On this occasion, Jesus' followers felt a mighty, rushing wind that filled the building. This wind was the Holy Spirit.
Everyone in that room was baptized in the Holy Spirit. The same thing happens today when someone gets baptized in water. The purpose of baptism is to publicly demonstrate that a person has renounced sin and made a conscious decision to follow the path or righteousness. This is essential to get into heaven, it's not enough just to believe. Remember, demons believe.
Many people go through life believing that the Holy Ghost referred to the form of Jesus after the Resurrection and before the Ascension. In truth, the Holy Spirit is a helper that God sent to mankind to protect and guide his followers until Jesus comes back to claim them. This is one of the big differences between fundamentalist and other Christians.
This is a mistaken view. In the Book of John (Chapter 14, verses 15 to 18). Here, Jesus says that the Father will send down a helper, who will abide with us forever. That inexplicable, overwhelming sadness that you feel when you visit a church and you have not been baptized, that is the Holy Spirit, gently reminding you that you are a sinner and not right with God.
The electric buzz in the atmosphere when hoards of worshippers are on their feet, wildly praising their Creator with the same fervor as fans at a gig or supporting their favorite sports team, that, too, is the Holy Spirit. When your pastor places his hand on you and the power that passes through him to you is so massive that you drop to the floor, that is the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did not abandon his children when he ascended into heaven. God delivered on his promise, as he always does. He sent us a helper to guide, love and protect those who love him and obey his principles. Whenever two or more people are gathered in the name of the Lord, he is there.
The Catholics got their start in the 2 AD, while the Christian fundamentalists gathered for the first time about six weeks after the Resurrection. Back then, it consisted mostly of Jews, Gentiles and a handful of others. The Apostle Luke wrote the Book of Acts somewhere around 80 AD to document the beginnings of Christianity and the spread of the gospels to the Roman Empire.
Luke defines the precise moment that Christianity was born, at the first Feast of Pentecost that took place following the Resurrection. Pentecost is a Jewish holiday in remembrance of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. On this occasion, Jesus' followers felt a mighty, rushing wind that filled the building. This wind was the Holy Spirit.
Everyone in that room was baptized in the Holy Spirit. The same thing happens today when someone gets baptized in water. The purpose of baptism is to publicly demonstrate that a person has renounced sin and made a conscious decision to follow the path or righteousness. This is essential to get into heaven, it's not enough just to believe. Remember, demons believe.
Many people go through life believing that the Holy Ghost referred to the form of Jesus after the Resurrection and before the Ascension. In truth, the Holy Spirit is a helper that God sent to mankind to protect and guide his followers until Jesus comes back to claim them. This is one of the big differences between fundamentalist and other Christians.
This is a mistaken view. In the Book of John (Chapter 14, verses 15 to 18). Here, Jesus says that the Father will send down a helper, who will abide with us forever. That inexplicable, overwhelming sadness that you feel when you visit a church and you have not been baptized, that is the Holy Spirit, gently reminding you that you are a sinner and not right with God.
The electric buzz in the atmosphere when hoards of worshippers are on their feet, wildly praising their Creator with the same fervor as fans at a gig or supporting their favorite sports team, that, too, is the Holy Spirit. When your pastor places his hand on you and the power that passes through him to you is so massive that you drop to the floor, that is the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did not abandon his children when he ascended into heaven. God delivered on his promise, as he always does. He sent us a helper to guide, love and protect those who love him and obey his principles. Whenever two or more people are gathered in the name of the Lord, he is there.
