Skip to main content

The Empire Strikes Back



  For the start of Christianity, the church received a form of official protection by its association with Judaism. Roman officials were reluctant to get involved in matters of religion (Acts 18:15, 25:19)

 Yet, that wouldn’t be the case for too long. Under Emperor Nero, Christians would become the scapegoats for Romes’s problems. As Tertullian was quoted, “If the Tiber rises too high, or the Nile too low, the remedy is always feeding Christians to the lions.”

 It should not have come as a shock for the faithful, however. The apostles and writers on the New Testament had warned the faithful of the coming persecution. “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeals” and “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (1st Peter 4:12,2nd Timothy 3:12).

  However, these attacks wouldn't hinder the spread of the Gospel, they would actually impel it. In a few years, Christianity would go from the scourge of the Empire to its official religion.

 Today I think we oftentimes think of ourselves blessed to be without persecution. I understand that idea. However, it maybe is better for us to suffer for the cause of Christ. No government or order of man will outlast or defeat the Kingdom of Christ. We may be under attack but never defeated. Those trials can bring us closer to God and refine our faith. It might be just what we need.

  If the early church could find joy in trials so, should we.  

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Until Midnight

    In Acts 20, there is the tragicomic event surrounding a young man by the name of Eutychus. He did what a lot of folks before and after him did, he fell asleep during a sermon. Unfortunately, he was setting in in the third story window at the time. So instead of nodding off and hitting the pew in front of him, he fell to his death. The good news was the apostle Paul was delivering the sermon and had the ability to bring him back.       I don’t know, however, if we can judge Eutychus too harshly. The sermon had gone on till midnight. Paul wouldn’t finish it up till daybreak. That’s a long lesson. I know some folks that might want to jump out of a window if I had a lesson that long, yet these Christians wanted to be there to hear Paul.   Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pushing for all night sermons but I think we might need to adopt these folks' dedication. They knew that Paul was only in town for a limited time only and they were determined to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gift You Give Yourself

    I always hated buying gifts for my Mom. If I got her something like a new set of pans, it was like saying “Here’s something you can use to go make me something to eat”. A gift for her was seemingly a gift for me.   There are however gifts you give that benefit you more than the receiver. For example, forgiveness. When you give it, you are giving it to yourself as much as you are giving it to them. Jesus said that when we forgive others it means God is forgiving us our wrongs (Matthew 6:14-15).  I once read: “ Heaven is where everyone's forgiven. Hell is where nobody's forgiven.  So, when we forgive we pull heaven down into our lives.  When we withhold forgiveness, we pull hell up into our lives ” Give yourself something nice today, Forgive.
Post a Comment
Read more

Mysterious Ways

    William Cowper didn’t see any reason to live.   He decided that he’d jump off the bridge over the Thames. So, he called a cab to take him there.   But that night in 1763, a thick fog enveloped London. It was so thick the cab driver couldn’t find the bridge and couldn’t even find the way to take William home. In frustration, he ordered the driver to stop and get out to get his bearings. He walked up to the nearest house to read the number and it was William's house. Gone now were William’s thoughts of suicide and instead a new idea came into his head. So, he went in and wrote these words: God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.  You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.     I sometimes wish we could see all the ways God watches over us when need it. There are...
Post a Comment
Read more