Strange Religion

I have just finished reading a book called Strange Religion by Nijay Gupta. This book provides a description of Christianity in the first couple of centuries.

Nijay explains that the first Christians seemed weird to the people of Roman society. The behaviour of Christians was totally different from any religion that the Romans knew. This is why the gospel was so appealing and the church grew so fast. It was radically different and better than any other religion of the time.

When I look at the church today, the opposite seems to be the case.

• Christian music seems very like secular music, with similar genres, and only the message being different.

• Christian worship seems to be secular rock concerts with groups of people and similar musical instruments on the stage.

• Christian schools are very similar to secular schools, with a slight difference in curriculum.

• Christian seminaries function in a way that is very similar to other tertiary education institutions.

• Christian political parties function in a way that is similar to other political parties.

• Christian buildings don’t look much different from secular buildings.

I cannot help wondering if the gospel would be more effective, if Christian society were totally different, as in the first century.