A History Lesson (the first of many!)

I recently finished a book by Robert L. Wilken entitled The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. It details the rise of the Christian Church from 100-400 C.E., from the perspective of the Romans who critiqued them. Not only was it just a good read for a history buff like myself, but it also was a very important reminder that we Christians should always be sensitive to how we are being perceived by the culture around us.

Interestingly though not surprisingly, I found many parallels between the situation of the early church and that of American Christians in the 21st Century: Christians being persecuted for their beliefs; intellectuals outside (and even inside) the church asserting that Jesus was not the very incarnation of God but merely a wise man or moral teacher; relativists proclaiming that Jesus is just one of many gods from which one may choose; and government officials trying to remove any trace of Christian truth and morals from the public systems of education.

It is very encouraging to know that 21st Century Christians are not the first to deal with a culture that seems hostile to our message. Indeed, the bitter sense of persecution is probably just what the Church needs right now. Christian Churches have been so concerned with "Power" for so long - whether at the national, denominational, or local level - that we sometimes forget about humility and service. We forget that it is not our calling to force our agenda onto the world, but merely be a loving witness to God's agenda of transforming human beings by the power of the Cross.

As human institutions go, the Roman Empire did very well...existing for well over a millenium, and several of its monuments still exist in Europe as testimonies to its greatness. Yet it fell. All human institutions are destined to one day crumble to the ground. Sooner or later, such will be the lot of the United States of America, the mainline denominations, even my own local church in Bakerstown. This should fill us with despair, but in my case, it doesn't.

Because while human institutions rise and fall, the Gospel of God's redemption has been steadfast and faithful from Noah and Abraham up to the present day. It has redeemed--and will continue to redeem--the only thing on this earth that is destined to live forever: the human soul. As C. S. Lewis reminds us in "The Weight of Glory," next to the sacrament of Communion, our neighbors are the holiest objects presented to our senses. If the Church of Jesus Christ wants to be involved in something that is truly eternal, it needs to be less concerned with maintaining its institutional polity and greatness, and more concerned with its original job description: Love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.