Because Jesus Taught It: Christianity Through the Eyes of the Church Fathers

by Flame

With down-to-earth storytelling and the gritty lens of lived experience, FLAME challenges you to Who taught you your faith, and what got left behind?

What if everything you learned about Christianity left out the best parts? Raw, honest, and unafraid of hard questions, Grammy-nominated hip hop artist and theologian Marcus "FLAME" Gray invites you into his personal journey from the world of American evangelicalism to the heart of ancient Christianity--preserved and lived through confessional Lutheran thought. Cut through the noise of contemporary Christianity and church culture to the heart of what it means to be the baptized, to know Christ's real presence in communion, and to see the Gospel not just as ancient history, but as a living, breathing source of peace and power today.

A few things FLAME will help you

Why ignoring church history and focusing solely on "Jesus and the Bible" leaves you vulnerable to confusion and false teachings. What the early councils, creed, and the Office of the Bishop were really for in the church. Why the Sacramental Life (Baptism and Communion as God's work, not our own) gives deeper comfort and assurance than conversion stories, altar calls, or brutal self-inspection Who the original church fathers were and what they really taught.

Drawing on the real writings and lives of the church fathers--think Ignatius, Augustine, Luther, and more--FLAME brings centuries-old debates about justification, church authority, and the role of the Sacraments into today's living rooms. If you wrestle with church history, faith formation, or what it means to truly belong to the body of Christ in the 21st century, prepare for a powerful invitation--honest, messy, and full of hope--to find your roots in ancient Christianity.

208 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Christa Petzold]

I had the privilege of reading an early copy of this book. Here is my endorsement:

"In a seamless melding of memoir and theology, FLAME brings the reader along on his personal journey of patristic discovery. This study highlights the strengths of the Lutheran theological tradition, equipping those new to Lutheranism and lifelong Lutherans alike to identify the comfort, assurance, and beauty of our confession of faith when contrasted with errors common in American evangelicalism. Deeply relatable and moving, yet informative and researched, FLAME’s book on the early church fathers and the historic Christian view of the Sacraments is fresh, well-written, and difficult to put down."

[Benjamin Meyer]

Flame lays out the historical Christian faith with humor, honesty, quotes from church fathers and of course quotes from Scripture.

This would be outstanding for someone investing Lutheranism. It will also help lifelong Lutherans to better appreciate what they already have.

[Roydrick B]

As a recent convert to Lutheranism coming from a Non-Denominational background this was an heaven send for me the things I was wrestling with in my previous Church and reading through the scriptures over again I knew these elements weren’t just symbolic. Flame gives insight from the Church Fathers and real life experience growing up and going to seminary in a digestible way for the layman Christian. The Early Church has always taught on the sacraments the Gifts God has blessed us with because Jesus taught it.

[Chris Papillon]

“If any church is not teaching who Jesus is, then it is not doing a good job with its vocation to its community, to the world, or to the universal church. It has become simply a community center contributing needed and praiseworthy good in this broken world that we inhabit. It is not teaching Christian doctrine and therefore not functioning as the Christian Church.”

I first heard of Flame back in 2011 (in my wild and rebellious Christian Rap phase) from my non-Lutheran youth pastor at my “Lutheran” church, who was a big fan. About ten years later—and for lack of a better phrase—Flame “came out” as a Lutheran. For better or worse, it has forced me to listen to *some* Christian Rap again. Specifically Lutheran Rap. Such a twist. Lutherans are cool now!

This book was a real page turner for me! I’m usually one to slog through even the shortest of books, but I couldn’t put this one down.
It is a good introduction for the common person to the early church fathers, and it makes you want to read them more, which I’m sure is Flame’s intent.

I specifically enjoyed chapter 6 where he compares different denominational views on the Eucharist to what the early church fathers said about it. He explains communion and Christology in a very understandable way.
Again, a great book for an introduction to Lutheranism.

I dinged him a star for forcing me to read an entire chapter of rap lyrics. Works good in music, not in my head.

[Jakob Bruhl]

a helpful book combining scripture and writings of various theologians through history wrestling with important Christian topics. I found it readable and engaging and appreciated the author sharing his own struggle to understand / accept certain elements of faith.

[Bette Stanek]

FLAME is quickly becoming the author I recommend for anyone beginning to explore Christianity, and Lutheranism in particular. His journey from charismatic, reformed Baptist theology begins in his first book, Extra Nos. It continues in Because Jesus Taught It. His writing is captivating. In Because Jesus Taught It, FLAME offers a book that is part personal journey and part exploration of patristic writings. This book gives the reader the assurance, confidence, and beauty of the Lutheran confessions/theology. He contrasts Lutheranism with the errors found in modern American evangelicalism. FLAME leads the reader to a deeper understanding of the early church fathers and the Christian view of the Sacraments based upon Scripture and the teachings of the apostles. It is a treasure! I highly recommend it for your library. Order extra copies…you’ll want to share!

[Teri Reck]

This book is by an amazing young man, a Christian rap artist, Flame, and his faith sojourn as he has explored the Christian faith he celebrated as a young one and then compared to what he learned about Christianity as lived out by the early Church. A beautiful rendition of someone coming to love the sacramental Church--the beauty of the sacraments as works of God, and not just a representation of man's choice to be a Christian follower. Truly beautiful account of this young man's quest for greater understanding of the faith. A very worthy read.

[Michael Zimmerman]

Flame retells his exploration from growing up as a Baptist to becoming a staunch Calvinist, only to realize neither view provided assurance of salvation. He does an excellent job explaining how Lutheranism restores the teachings of the Early Church, using anecdotes from the Early Fathers themselves, some of whom were taught directly by John (the beloved disciple of Jesus) or lived less than a century after Jesus' death and resurrection. I, along with Flame, take great comfort in being a confessional Lutheran who upholds the Sacrament of the Alter and Baptism as Jesus taught it.

[Faith Wiechers]

Lutherans believe and teach what the early church fathers taught. The early church fathers learned from the disciples who learned from Jesus.
"The early church was so overwhelmingly aware of these realities that they did not think of the gathering of the church as simply a time to hear a relevant sermon or to get inspired to be a better person. They rightly understood that when Christians gathered, they came together to commune with Jesus Himself" (p. 187).

[Kathy Blankenship]

Excellent biblical and historical explanation of why the sacraments matter. It's not about us.

[Valerie]

Excellent book on Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Flame has a gift with words.

[Karen]

I always appreciate Flame and his passion and perspective.

[Danny Weinstock]

I pray all christians would be able to read this book. What does it mean practically in your life to take God at his word?

[Susan]

Another deep dive on Lutheran beliefs blended with elements of Flame's life and faith journey.