The failing of Christian Compassion

The Seven churches • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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The rise of Constantine.

From birth to adulthood, Constantine grew up in a time when the Christian church was being persecuted. Now, it is said that persecution of the Christian church was sporadic and in various localities.

Persecution of Christians

The example of such sporadic persecution during Constantine’s upbringing was during the reign of Diocletian who ordered the scriptures to be burned, Christian treasures to be seized and anyone that was to identify as a Christian to be executed if they did not sacrifice to the pagan gods.

From 302-311, Christians were persecuted in various places, Christians were given a choice, to sacrifice to these pagan gods or to face death. Many died for their faith, whereas many also succumbed to the temptation of sacrificing to these pagan idols. This allowed them to not face the penalty of death and were free to go.

Christian apologists

However, church leaders (bishops), became apologists and were writing incessantly to the Roman Senate, to Caesar and to other wealthy and individuals to halt the persecution of Christians and to come to reason. Interestingly enough, in some of the writings to these important figures some of these Christians apologists would mock the pagan gods that these individuals serve. Way to get these guys on your side.

However, Constantine never would have thought that he will one day reverse the negativity towards Christians and Christianity and eventually and supposedly become a Christian one day (at his death bed - but who are we to judge?).

When the church admires a heathen.

The Battle of Milvian Bridge, 312 AD was the turning point for Constantine where it is stated that he received a vision or a dream where he saw a heavenly sign of the first two letters of Christ in Greek: X (Chi) and P (Rho) - (XRISTOS)

It is supposedly said that he ordered that these two letters be placed on the shield of his soldiers and were ordered them to cross a river where he considered them to be baptised (though he wasn’t baptised himself). But, eventually he won the battle of Milvian and through these events he legalised Christianity.

Now, this may be great news for Christians for the entire Roman empire, no longer do they need to fear the persecution and the banishment they received from the public. They can now freely worship the One True God anywhere they want without abuse. Doesn’t that sound good?

But you have to remember, the church at this particular period in time isn’t unified. There was not General Conference or Church Union, sure bishops/elders and Christians could travel but I don’t believe unity was on the agenda. I think staying alive and sharing the gospel was their priority.

Persecution almost made these churches isolated from each other, and you have to remember that the Christian churches were spread out in the Roman empire. It went as far north to Britannia, east as far as Iran (and it is said as far as China), south as far as Arabian and further south to Ethiopia, and West as far as Spain. That’s how far the gospel reached and were churches were planted. This was in a time where snail mail definitely meant snail mail and the fastest vehicle that you had was horses. Yet the gospel was able to reach in a culture that was predominately polytheistic.

Yet, as soon as the good old Constantine became Christians, the church began to iron out the doctrinal errors of the church.

Constantine at this time wasn’t fully a Christian follower. Though he acknowledged what God had done for him at the battle. He still held onto his ideologies and beliefs of the old paganistic ways. This would play a role in the shaping of the churches doctrines later in future. But for the mean time it is tackling the heresy of Arianism.

The right direction.

Arianism for those that don’t know is the belief that Jesus was created by God and not co-eternal with God the Father (so basically non-trinitarian).

Most antitrinitarians believe that the catholic church came up with the idea of the Trinity, but that is incorrect and I explain why.

Arianism was spreading widely in Egypt and the surrounding areas, again you have to remember that Christian theology and the understanding of God is shaping with somewhat limited resources. Especially with the doctrine of the Trinity and other various doctrines.

However, this was a contentious issue as it dealt with the nature of Jesus and His divinity. This bickering made its way to Constantine and it got so many requests for him to intervene that he ordered the church to convene in a council.

Now what is interesting is that we’re seeing the state take part in matters relating to the church. This would be the first steps of many that would combine these two entities.

On the first council agenda were:

Arian theology.

The date of celebration of Easter.

Meletian schism.

Various matters of church discipline.

It was here that the Nicene Creed was created to counter the Arian heresy where it acknowledges Jesus as God, that He was not made, and existed before all ages.

It is also here that ecumenical power was given to the bishop of Rome and thus beginning the power surge in power that is to be remembered as the Roman Papacy.

Jezebel is back!

Remember how I said about Constantine’s beliefs and ideologies would play a role in church doctrines, well, Constantine wanted to ensure that the unity of the church but he also wanted to ensure that there will be no conflict with the other religious groups (namely the paganistic groups).

One of the laws he passed in 321 AD was the observance of Sunday as a day of rest, this was a civil law forbidding labour on that day. Of course, the Christians were pleased as it was to them a day the Lord has risen from the grave, to the pagans it was the day to worship the sun god. Eventually, one paganistic idea would eventually corrupt the church and slowly corrupting the image of Jesus and His character.

As more people became catholic, the influence of the pope would grow higher whereas the influence of Caesar will slowly dissipate eventually leading to the pope to be the head of state and religion.

Jezebel is back, and with vengeance. With paganism and Christianity on the rise certain thoughts filtered into the church and sadly un-biblical ideas would be used to cause fear amongst faithful Christians. What was meant to be a religion that showed freedom from sin was making people work for their freedom from sin. It created shackles to tie them down which are the similar shackles that tied down the Jews.

Christianity was meant to be a religion that shared the love of God exact it has done the exact opposite.

From 325 AD to around 1500 AD Christianity would be a religion that would control the masses, what was meant to unite the people to God would split the church from East and West.

You get the hint as to what is going on here in this period, when you give power to an individual, whether pope, clergy, priest or whatever religious position, you’re considered a substitute for Jesus and that you are seen to be given the power of religion and state, this power will go way over your head and you will become intoxicated in its power.

Time for reform!

It was time for reform! By the time Christianity entered the 12th Century, various individuals started to protest against the corruption of the catholic church.

Peter Waldo (12th Century), leader of the Waldensian movement. He and his people hid in the mountains of Italy and there read the Bible to learn of its biblical truths (rather the interpretations of the church).

John Wycliffe (14th Century), he was a catholic priest and a reformer, who translated the Bible into Middle English making it accessible for the commoners to understand the Word of God.

Jan Hus (15th Century), condemned the immorality of the priesthood, financial abuses, sexual immorality, and drunkenness of the priesthood. He called for the preaching and Bible reading in the common language and for all Christians to receive full communion. - Executed.

Martin Luther (16th Century), wrote his 95 theses condemning the teachings of the catholic church regarding sacraments and indulgences, purgatory, authority of the pope and having the Bible the central source of religious authority and salvation through faith and not deeds.

There are but some names amongst a number of Christian reformers that wanted to bring the church back to the Bible.

They saw how power corrupts, and only through personal devotion in reading the Word of God were they able to have a better understanding of God and His will for His people.

These reformers risked their lives in exposing the lies of the church and bringing people to the truth in God’s Word. They saw that the Bible should be their guide and that it is the Bible that should be it’s own interpreter and not man.

For 1200 years, from the Council of Nicene to the reformers, the church was on the right track until it subtly allowed foreign and paganistic concepts to infiltrate Christianity.

You’ve heard me say that they had an excuse as they had limited resource, but I was referring to the early church in the 4th Century. All that time they had the opportunity to look to the Scriptures but they would rather find ways to oppress the people rather than bring Jesus to them.

They also had the opportunity to use the another great tool ever to be given to humanity and that is prayer.

What we can learn.

My friends, there is a reward for those that hold fast to His Word and to faith.

Revelation 2:24–25 NLT

24 “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you 25 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.

My friends, we’re living in a deceptive world, we have politicians say they’re Christians maybe to buy our votes or favour to them, I don’t know who they are and I am not going to judge them, but I will judge them by their fruit.

As soon as you replace Jesus with something else, Christian Compassion fails and we become bitter towards one another. If we lower His standards then we allow the evil one to reign. We allow the failing of Christian Compassion.

You’ve all seen this? How many of you have met former Seventh-day Adventist Christians? What is their behaviour sometimes towards SDA? I remember reading a story about an ex-Adventist during the pioneering days of the SDA church, instead of going off and studying the Bible to learn about God (which I highly respect someone for doing that), they made it their mission to condemn the church and bring down its people through debates. Their Christian Compassion to their brethern no longer exists and replaced it with satan’s hate.

Do you understand what I mean? Once we allow Jezebel of her minions to enter into our hearts we put aside Jesus and start condemning others.

Revelation 2:26–29 NLT

26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. 27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 29 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Friends, the reward is spending eternity with Jesus, having that authority is a bonus in being faithful. The morning star is Jesus (Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”). That’s our reward and He should be first and the last in our lives.

It is only through His Word and through prayer that we can obtain that Morning Star.

Hebrews 4:12–13 (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Christ first.

Will you put Christ first always in your life? Will you uphold His Word? Will you hold tightly to what you have till He comes?

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