A Horizontal Gospel
Observing the merger of culture and religious beliefs and traditions throughout history is a great point of interest for me. The addition of secular traditions and even the traditions of other religions into church practice and belief is the source of a great deal of division of the body of Christ throughout time. It is also the source of much apostasy. The most obvious culprit of this unlawful adoption that springs to my mind is the Catholic Church. Throughout history, it is easy to see where the Roman Catholics adopted aspects of Roman and Druid pagan religions, co-opting art, highjacking festivals, and codifying aspects of nearly every culture the Empire contacted in order to persuade members of those cultures to convert and submit to Catholic rule. This very clearly led to a perverted gospel, a corrupt theocracy, and a religion of worldly aspirations. This concept of “teaching as doctrine the traditions of men” is heavily condemned in Scripture. It is easy to look back into hi...