Stuck in Time: Christianity’s Ancient Roots and Modern Misconceptions

Christianity, as we know it today, is a global religion with billions of followers, countless denominations, and rich traditions stretching over two millennia. Yet, there is a compelling argument that many believers today are living in a kind of time warp, stuck in an ancient mindset—one that was deeply relevant to the era of the Apostles but is being applied in a completely different world. Understanding the roots of this "stuckness" requires a deep dive into history, theology, and how Christianity evolved from its earliest days under Roman rule.

The Conflict Between Rome and Early Christians

In the first century AD, when Christianity was born, the Roman Empire was a dominant force. Roman emperors often claimed divinity, demanded loyalty, and even worship from their subjects. They called themselves "sons of God," a title meant to establish their authority not only politically but spiritually. For early Christians, this presented a massive conflict—allegiance to God meant refusing to worship Caesar. The clash between the Roman state and the early Christians was not merely political; it was deeply spiritual.

This refusal to submit to the Empire’s demands for worship resulted in persecution, and many early Christians saw themselves as participants in a cosmic battle. They believed that the true Lord was not the emperor but Christ himself, who had walked the Earth as God incarnate. To them, their faith was about resisting the pressure to conform to an earthly power and remaining loyal to the divine.

The Destruction of the Temple: A Pivotal Moment

In 70 AD, a major event shook the spiritual and religious landscape—the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. This marked the end of the temple-centered Hebrew faith, which had been the foundation of religious life for centuries. For both Hebrews (who were under the law of God) and the rest of the nations (who had not been under the law of God up to that point), this event was monumental, as it was the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy of His 2nd coming and a sign that a new spiritual order was beginning.

This moment, however, also marked a shift. After the spiritual church of Christ (aka the bride) was taken up to God (I will speak about this in more depth in future articles) a counterfeit Christianity began to separate more distinctly from a counterfeit (aka religion) Judaism and take on a new form—one that would eventually evolve into what we now call the institutional (catholic) Church. The true Christianity which was the movement of the time when Christ walked the earth (not after) that had once been focused on resisting worldly and spiritual powers had now been highjacked and plagiarised by carnal people who then made a religion out of God and his salvation.  

The Rise of the "Worldly Church"

As this counterfeit church grew, it became more organized and structured, eventually gaining the favour of emperors and becoming part of the fabric of the Roman Empire itself. Over time, this worldly church morphed into an institution, far removed from the true church, God and his salvation. This worldly church began to shape this counterfeit Christian experience into something institutional, hierarchical, and distant from its original spiritual roots.

With this shift came a reinterpretation of who the "elect" were. In the early days, the elect referred to those chosen by God, who had not "bowed their knees to Baal" and who stood firm in their faith against the spiritual powers of the heavenly places. But as the institutional church grew, many believers were taught that they themselves were the continuation of this elect group, even though the historical and spiritual context had dramatically changed.

The Modern Misconception: Playing Christianity

Here lies the issue: many modern Christians are essentially playing out the roles of early believers without understanding the historical context. They read the Bible, see themselves in the stories, and believe they are the "elect" in the same way the true Christians were. This is not just a harmless misunderstanding—it can lead to a kind of spiritual stagnation and bondage.

In many ways, Christianity has become a form of "playing church," where believers mimic the actions and beliefs of the true Church without grasping the deeper, more profound challenges those Christians faced. The followers of Christ were engaged in a life-and-death struggle with the Roman Empire, resisting the demand to worship false gods and staying faithful to the one true God whose law they were under. 

Breaking Free from the Time Warp

The challenge for modern believers is to break free from this ancient mindset and recognize that the world today is vastly different from the world of the Apostles. The faith that was in opposition to the Roman Empire is not the same faith today, and clinging to that ancient model may hinder spiritual growth. In a nutshell, Christians were called Christians because they witnessed the Christ and put their faith in him (and were therefore promised salvation). Today, the Christ no longer walks among us, so our faith is not in Christ  but in God (who was hidden in the Christ at the time, but this too needs to be looked at in a separate article).

To move forward, "Christians" need to recognize that they are not living in 70 AD, fighting the Roman Empire, or waiting for the destruction of the Temple. The spiritual landscape has changed, and so too must the understanding of faith. Instead of copying the past, believers should focus on what it means to live authentically in the present—grounding their faith in God and today’s realities rather than in a doctrine and the struggles of a world long gone.

Conclusion

Christianity’s rich history is full of profound spiritual struggles, conflicts, and triumphs. But to truly live as followers of Christ, modern believers must be willing to step out of the ancient narrative and confront the world they inhabit today. Faith should be alive and dynamic, not a copy of a bygone era. By recognizing the historical context of early Christianity, believers can free themselves from the past and embrace a faith in the living God who is just waiting for us to turn around from our bible worship towards him, hear his living word and live!