A New Way of Life: The Challenge of Cultural Witness in the Early Jesus Movement

This article portrays innovative and distinct features of the Christ groups first decades with underlying premise that lived reality early Christian communities has potential to inspire present-day churches in Europe when they face challenge cultural witness. People were drawn because different from surrounding culture. Christianity would not have survived if it did offer a counter-cultural ethical stance; new social imaginary; alternative membership options; flexible organizational structure; holistic worldview; creative, communication style—in one phrase: way life.