Jesus of Nazareth, who is believed by many to be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, was the impetus behind the Christian movement, which consists of a message of freedom and hope for the rejected, poor and oppressed persons in society. The prophet Isaiah in the book of Isaiah chapter 9:6 declared that a child would be born and that the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called, Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

After approximately three years of itinerant ministry in and around Jerusalem, Jesus was crucified because He was considered to be a political threat. A Roman governor by the name of Pontius Pilate ordered His crucifixion around the year 30 CE.

The Bible points out that after Jesus' death and subsequent resurrection, He appeared to His original disciples. Jesus' appearances after being raised from the dead was what the original disciples proclaimed as; the vindication of both the person and message of Jesus. Thus the movement began, and was “accompanied by signs and wonders of the Spirit of God”.

Jews and non-Jews embraced Jesus as Lord and Savior. Theological textbooks point out that the non-Jews helped to expand “the meaning of the risen Christ beyond the definition given by His original followers in Israel”.

Thousands of pilgrims from distant lands were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit of God fell on those assembled, enabling them to hear the message of Christ being spoken in his or her own language. Those hearing the message of Jesus preached took it back with them along the trade routes to their respective cities and beyond, and communities were than organized in Jesus' name. His original disciples also traveled on the trade routes leaving Jerusalem mainly because of persecution.

The messengers of Christ went to the synagogues where Jews gathered in order to preach the gospel message. They were not well received and therefore began meeting in homes. This rings true to me today as I sit in church congregations where it seems as though the anti-Christ spirit is stronger than ever inside the “church” building. It blessed me to read that it was not unusual for two or three people to be gathered in the homes of women regularly for the breaking of bread, the singing of hymns, reading of scripture, teaching, preaching and prophesying.

It was at Antioch that the name “Christian” was first used. Those that gathered in homes in Antioch were connected to one another and to Jerusalem, as it was expressed by their financial support. Jerusalem was acknowledged as the place where the movement began, and was also the place were they believed Jesus would one day return.

Questions arose regarding the status of Gentiles in the movement. Paul, who was a persecutor of Christians that had an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, became one of the leading Apostles in the movement. Paul along with Barnabas who was another apostle, went to back to Jerusalem in order to obtain clarification on the Gentile converts with regard to having to follow the laws and rituals of the Torah.

They came back from the council meeting, which took place in 48 CE, and reported that the Gentiles were not required to undergo circumcision. “Non-Jews were only enjoined to abstain from eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols or had been improperly slaughtered, and from engaging in fornication”. This edict can be found in the book of Acts chapter 15:29.

When I think today about the various denominational rituals and laws, it is grieving to the spirit in light of this text. Verse 28 of the same chapter of Acts states, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:”

How did we get so far from where we started? How did a message of love, liberation, freedom and hope turn into what is sometimes seen or experienced as abuse, oppression, and anything but, loving and inclusive? It is apparent in hind sight, that the root of “the pure Christian movement” consisting of love and freedom in Christ, had now been overshadowed by a desire for power and money. Many that had been empowered in the name of Jesus were becoming passive under the weight of imposed regulations. Passivity resulted in the introduction of idol worship and the worship of man, causing a lack of overall strong faith and belief in the Good News of their liberator Jesus.

In the very beginning of the Christian movement most people were unable to read the word of God, what excuse do Christ followers today have to be bound by mans religious doctrines, laws, etc.? 1st John chapter 2 :1 -20 reads, “Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, by which we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things...”

Verses 25 and 26 go on to say, “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Part of the attraction to the movement of Christ was precisely its ability to generate hope and change while living in the midst of tension.” Many, many people lost their lives for believing in and proclaiming Jesus' message. Galatians 3:28 states “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This was a message of unity that completely lined up with what was taking place with the first Christians who had all things in common, so that there was no lack. Love in action, the ideal, was being demonstrated among them.

Initially, Christ followers were not asked to adhere to a bunch of rules and regulations in order to be in relationship with Christ and others. Jesus was a person whom the powerful of the world rejected, but whom God had glorified.

It seems that the root of the oppression within the pure Christian movement began under the leadership of Ignatius, bishop of Antioch. He came on the scene at the beginning of the second century with a monarchical Episcopal conception of the church rather than an egalitarian and charismatic form of leadership, which was the norm in the house church communities.

Theological text states that Ignatius and others, insisted that it was love that ultimately held the church together, even though they were setting up the church to model after the power of kingship. This is where we begin to worship and idolize man, which is against what Jesus stood for.

The treasury of Rome's churches were stronger than that of other cities, due to the number of its members who were employed in the imperial bureaucracy. As such the bishop of Rome began “playing an important symbolic role in the region”. The roots of which still exist in that of the “Catholic Church”. Other denominations have also modeled the Episcopal rule of Christ followers to which none have exceeded the Catholic Church in finances, power and influence.

Thank God for the word of Jesus, and the understanding that we can go straight to Him for what we need in order to live out our faith and belief in Him. We don't have to belong to any one group, or denomination, although as the Spirit of God leads, We can be of service anywhere. We don't have to buy our way to Him, or except what others say is the way to worship and please Him.

The book of John tells us that; when He the Spirit of Truth shall come, He shall lead and guide us into all truth. Jesus came to set the captives free and in Him, we can be free indeed. Free to share the love of Christ and be a blessing to our fellow human beings.