[zeek]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

Several comments.

1. I think the first step in this "man made" Christianity in response to a lack of faith (my understanding of your term "cognitive dissonance" and it includes both misunderstanding of the word of God as well as lack of faith in following the Lord) is referred to Rev 2 when the Lord tells the church in Ephesus that "they have left their first love". I understand this expression to refer to the church becoming institutionalized with rules and doctrines that are not aligned with the Lord's speaking in the gospels. So I would disagree with the 1st Post, it wasn't a matter of the Lord not returning during the lifetime of the Apostles but rather the setting up of an organization that veered from the Lord's word in the Gospels.

2. The reason this "man made construct" would "overtake" the church is simply because it is an easier, broad road that leads to destruction. Easier to build with shoddy materials than with gold, and precious stones. I would argue that the church is God's masterpiece which He plans on unveiling at the Lord's second coming (fulfilling the whole marriage symbolism). So it is not so much "Christianity overtaking" but rather it is simply "fool's gold". A poor imitation of the real thing.

3. The assertion that Jesus promised to return in the lifetime of the apostles is not supported by scripture. First, no verse is of its own interpretation, so no doctrine of this promise should hang on a single verse. Second, the Lord said very clearly that "no one knew the day nor the hour" and this interpretation seems to fly in the face of that. Third, the gospel of John indicates that Jesus told Peter by what death he would die, indicating that Peter would not be alive at the time of the Lord's second coming. Therefore, even if there were some who did form Christianity because, as you say, the Lord had not come yet, that "prediction" was based on a poor human interpretation / opinion.

On points 1 and 2 I would say that the fact that Jesus tarried for multiple generations necessitated a more permanent organization and tradition than was envisioned by Paul. To point three my response is that if Jesus did not teach that he would return in that generation then it seems that Paul misunderstood him because he expected that some would be " alive and remain " when Jesus returned as he stated in First Thessalonians 4:17. He told the Corinthians that they were those upon whom the end of the age had arrived( I Cor 10:11) and that they would not all "sleep" meaning die. (I Cor 15:51)