"From the Fish to the Cross" by Gerd Skibbe

Would a Christian of the first Centuries be more familiar with the mainstream Christian beliefs or with "Mormonism"?

Mormonism, perhaps the most tolerant Religion worldwide, to many cult experts still appears to be a Mix of American ideologies in any case not of European origin.

Dr. Rüdiger Hauth wellknown spokesman of Mormon criticism writes:

"Mormonism is a distinct syncretic American new Religion!.. a transfer to Mormonism would acquire a totally different direction of beliefs, a turning away from established biblical tradition and all ecumenical Christian Society. Mormonism represents a complete foreign world."

 

As we live in a time were information is the elixir of Life and Democracy and inasmuch as we all claim to be Christians  and Democrats endowed  with the ability to reason, I take the liberty to closely examine Dr. Hauths statements and feel obliged to present my  findings - especially as his views so freely given appear in diverse publications

And thus I freely ask: would a Believer of the first 3 Centuries placed in todays world of Christianity feel  at ease if he were placed,let us say at an evangelical  Church congress, if he were left to examine all the proceedings of such a day. Would he find all that is familiar to him, or would he find a totally different, strange and alien world?

If this person would go inside a Church, a Cathedral or a Dome - would he feel at home? Or would the dimension and the coldness therein alarm him?

 

We know, that all these enormous buildings are the expression of Constantine's gigantism and pride. That they have nothing at all to do with our early Christian brothers .

 

We also know that in Rome prior to the year 320 there were no Christian chapels or basilicas. This has been proven by excavations.

 

Before the Days of Emperor Constantine there were no Altars in Churches! our visitor would be most surprised to see one in his place of worship.

 

K.-P. Hertsch a German scientist wrote:

 

"In einer christlichen Kirche kann es eigentlich keinen Altar geben, sondern nur einen Abendmahlstisch." Theologisches Lexikon, Unionverlag Berlin, 1977. S. 13

 

..."in Christian Churches were no Altars, only a Sacrament table"

 

 

07. November 2005 „Spiegel“ reports:  

„Archäologen haben unter einem israelischen Gefängnis die vielleicht älteste
christliche Kirche der Welt ausgegraben. Der Fundort ist Megiddo, ...(man
fand) altgriechische Inschriften, geometrische Verzierungen, den Namen von
Jesus Christus und ein kreisförmiges Symbol mit Fischen, das Symbol der
Urchristen... Die Ausgrabungen deuteten darauf hin, dass anstelle eines in
anderen Kirchen üblichen Altars im Zentrum der Fundstelle nur ein einfacher
Tisch stand. Leah di Segni, eine Expertin von der Hebrew University in
Jerusalem, sagte, die Verwendung des Begriffs „Tisch“ anstelle von „Altar“ in
einer der Inschriften könnte dramatische Auswirkungen auf die Studien
frühchristlicher Rituale haben. Bislang sei man davon ausgegangen, dass Jesus
Christus das Abendmahl an einem Altar gefeiert habe.“

 

(Archaeologist's have excavated what they belief to be the oldest Christian Church in  Megiddo, Israel, beneath the ruins of an Israeli prison. They found writings of the old Greek language, geometric Artwork, the name of Jesus Christ and a circle of fishes the symbol of early Christianity. This excavation substantiates that instead of an altar like we find them in 20 centuries Churches, they found only a table in the centre of the room.
Leah di Segri expert of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem explained: the idea of the definition "Table" instead of an altar could perhaps have dramatic results in regards to the studies of early rituals. The excepted  belief is that Jesus Christ administered the Sacrament on an altar? Well! Did he?")

 

 Most surprised our brother would ask: Christians get payed for serving in the church? In the year 220 the roman bishop Hippolytus laments the fact, that the members of the Theodotian Branch (Ward, Congregation) payed their bishop  monthly wages. This he stated to be an outrages new idea.

In utter astonishment our visitor would gasp to see the clerical and ecclesial attire of the pastors. The Leaders of his era would wear the same clothing as the remainder of the congregation. 
Modern research tells us, that ecclesial robes only found their way into the church at the council to Narbonne in the year of 589.    

In horror our visitor of the 3rd century would view all the crosses.
Christians of the 1rst.to the 4th.centuries knew no crosses.
To carry the burden of the cross of Christ implied  to live ones life in a lamblike manner in a world of wolfs.

In the year 2010 the bishops seat in Regensburg, Germany, affirmed in the Internet:

„Als allgemein verbreitetes und verwendetes Symbol der Christen lässt sich das Kreuzzeichen erst in der Zeit der Völkerwanderung nach 375 n. Chr. nachweisen.“ www. regensburg. de/bor page 003359.asp

"The symbol of the cross among early Christians can only be found beyond the year 375 at the times of the great migration of the people."

Among Christians the  cross was seen as an instruments of Martyrdom and death. To the roman legions as symbols of victory an their banners and flags. There they had existed a hundred years before Emperor Constantine.