The Disreputable Bede on Nostr: There's a tremendous disconnect between early Christians and (most) Christians in the ...
There's a tremendous disconnect between early Christians and (most) Christians in the United States today.
Before Constantine, the Christians in the Roman empire saw lots of things in their society that were wrong. Slaves captured in war, temple prostitution (no doubt victimizing poor young boys and girls), unwanted babies left to die of exposure, gladiatorial games, etc.
But despite the injustice and dissolution that they saw around them, they had no thought of affecting change through laws or political means. All they asked for on the political front was religious tolerance. Following the teaching of Paul and Peter, they sought to give honor and obedience where due, and if they were punished it was to be for the sake of Christ and not "as a meddler."
This doesn't mean that they didn't affect change! They certainly did. Early Christians established hospitals and orphanages, and while the New Testament doesn't ask slave owners to free their slaves, it did teach that there was no difference between male and female, slave or free, in the kingdom of God. Notably, in Pliny's letter to the Emperor Trajan, he writes, "I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses." Notice that two female slaves are leaders in the local church!
Contrast this with the mindset of most U.S. Christians! Because we enjoy political representation in government, suddenly that seems to be the answer to every ailment in society! Suddenly, we need the 10 Commandments in schools and to legislate morality. But that concept would have be completely foreign to the early church, not to mention many Christians today who live in China, India, or the Middle East.
The apologies of Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, and Tertullian are available online. They're worth reading and contemplating as we consider how we can relate to society in the most effective way. I do think that Christianity can change society for the better, but it's through subversive love, service, and humility—and the miraculous change that the Holy Spirit can affect in people's hearts. I wish we knew more about St. Patrick's ministry in Ireland. Within a few generations, he changed a completely pagan, warlike culture armed only with the gospel.
Before Constantine, the Christians in the Roman empire saw lots of things in their society that were wrong. Slaves captured in war, temple prostitution (no doubt victimizing poor young boys and girls), unwanted babies left to die of exposure, gladiatorial games, etc.
But despite the injustice and dissolution that they saw around them, they had no thought of affecting change through laws or political means. All they asked for on the political front was religious tolerance. Following the teaching of Paul and Peter, they sought to give honor and obedience where due, and if they were punished it was to be for the sake of Christ and not "as a meddler."
This doesn't mean that they didn't affect change! They certainly did. Early Christians established hospitals and orphanages, and while the New Testament doesn't ask slave owners to free their slaves, it did teach that there was no difference between male and female, slave or free, in the kingdom of God. Notably, in Pliny's letter to the Emperor Trajan, he writes, "I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses." Notice that two female slaves are leaders in the local church!
Contrast this with the mindset of most U.S. Christians! Because we enjoy political representation in government, suddenly that seems to be the answer to every ailment in society! Suddenly, we need the 10 Commandments in schools and to legislate morality. But that concept would have be completely foreign to the early church, not to mention many Christians today who live in China, India, or the Middle East.
The apologies of Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, and Tertullian are available online. They're worth reading and contemplating as we consider how we can relate to society in the most effective way. I do think that Christianity can change society for the better, but it's through subversive love, service, and humility—and the miraculous change that the Holy Spirit can affect in people's hearts. I wish we knew more about St. Patrick's ministry in Ireland. Within a few generations, he changed a completely pagan, warlike culture armed only with the gospel.