Comments on: Paul and the spread of the Christian movement http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/01/04/paul-and-the-spread-of-the-christian-movement.html Steve Addison's blog about movements for the renewal and expansion of the church. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:53:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Justin Long http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/01/04/paul-and-the-spread-of-the-christian-movement.html#comment-15300 Justin Long Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:20:56 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/12/21/paul-and-the-spread-of-the-christian-movement.html#comment-15300 Hi Steve, IMHO this is largely because two streams developed during the Exile: those who sought a pure Judaism (largely those who returned to Jerusalem) and those who remained abroad and were more open to cultural interaction, taking their Jewish faith with them. Those who remained abroad (and to some extent some of those who came home) became more Hellenized because they were more open to other cultures and didn't reject them. More orthodox Jews (Pharisees, Saducees, Zealots et al) rejected cultural interaction and sought purity. When it came to spreading their faith, the Hellenized Jews did this more through daily life interactions and didn't demand that new converts be circumcised: it was enough for them to love the One God, worship him, obey his laws, etc. (More in line with the "ger" honored guest/foreigner in the OT--who could participate in the Temple etc.) The orthodox Pharisee-types, on the other hand, insisted that it was the Law itself that saved (this was where this legalism entered) and thus insisted on ritual purity particularly circumcision. There were fewer people interested in this "full conversion" because to the Greeks circumcision was a horrible mutilation. The orthodox Pharisees had fewer interactions with other cultures and Christians coming form this background likewise had less desire to interact with others. Hellenized Greeks, on the other hand, simply moved over natural lines of relationship - their friends, etc. - and made converts. After the destruction of the Temple and the final dispersal of the Jews this became a nil point. All of this comes to the point you made. It could be that we would be better off focusing on mobilizing people who are open to other cultures... wherever they are found. Could be this is why Africa/Asia are mobilizing more missionaries... Cordially, Justin Long Hi Steve,
IMHO this is largely because two streams developed during the Exile: those who sought a pure Judaism (largely those who returned to Jerusalem) and those who remained abroad and were more open to cultural interaction, taking their Jewish faith with them. Those who remained abroad (and to some extent some of those who came home) became more Hellenized because they were more open to other cultures and didn’t reject them. More orthodox Jews (Pharisees, Saducees, Zealots et al) rejected cultural interaction and sought purity. When it came to spreading their faith, the Hellenized Jews did this more through daily life interactions and didn’t demand that new converts be circumcised: it was enough for them to love the One God, worship him, obey his laws, etc. (More in line with the “ger” honored guest/foreigner in the OT—who could participate in the Temple etc.) The orthodox Pharisee-types, on the other hand, insisted that it was the Law itself that saved (this was where this legalism entered) and thus insisted on ritual purity particularly circumcision. There were fewer people interested in this “full conversion” because to the Greeks circumcision was a horrible mutilation. The orthodox Pharisees had fewer interactions with other cultures and Christians coming form this background likewise had less desire to interact with others. Hellenized Greeks, on the other hand, simply moved over natural lines of relationship – their friends, etc. – and made converts. After the destruction of the Temple and the final dispersal of the Jews this became a nil point.

All of this comes to the point you made. It could be that we would be better off focusing on mobilizing people who are open to other cultures… wherever they are found. Could be this is why Africa/Asia are mobilizing more missionaries…

Cordially,
Justin Long

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