A Presentation of the Different Varieties of Christian Experiences Then and Now - Essay Example

CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM A Presentation of The Different Varieties of Christian Experiences Then and Now One of the possible ways to read the story ofthe development of Christian experience is that these turn an increasingly attentive eye to what goes on in the world. Prove. Through the years, the persecution of Christians took different phases of violence and oppression from non-believing authorities of the world. Certainly, this is the particular reason why it has been noted that Christianity indeed has a huge part in partaking in the history of humans as well as to how the human civilization improved and developed towards the state that it is in right now. It is believed then that the Christian development has caused man to thrive in faith even during those years of persecution. One of the most oppressive years made in disagreement with the Christian faith is that of the events that happened during the Diocletian rule. Some authorities hold the view that Galerius, rather than Diocletian, was the instigator of the persecution. "It is not without a deep moral significance," claims ProfessorWilliam Bright in The Age of the Fathers, "that the supreme effort of the pagan world-power to trample out the life of the Kingdom that is not of this world should bear the name of Diocletian, rather than of its true originator Galerius." Yet, even within the tetrarchy, Diocletian retained supreme control, as writer Stephen Williams asserts: "There is no doubt that Diocletian had control of every major policy in the Empire until 304, and has the major responsibility for the persecution until that date." Diocletian fell sick and eventually relinquished control in 305C.E. For some six years thereafter, the continuing persecution reflected Galerius' bitter hatred of all things Christian. These horrific events early in the fourth century confirm what had been predicted by the apostles Paul and Peter, as well as other inspired writers. The foretold "man of lawlessness,"the ruling clergy class of professed Christians, was already entrenched, as Diocletian's edicts, particularly the second, testify. (2Thessalonians 2:3,4; Acts 20:29,30; 2Peter 2:12) By the fourth century, apostate practices were already commonplace. Not a few professed Christians were members of the Roman army. Were there no Christians back then who were faithful to "the pattern of healthful words" received from the apostles Eusebius names some of the victims of the persecution, even graphically describing their torture, suffering, and eventual martyrdom. Whether all these martyrs died in integrity to the revealed truth available at that time, we cannot presently know. No doubt some had taken to heart Jesus' warnings to avoid sectarianism, immorality, and compromise of any sort. Evidently, some faithful ones who survived remained hidden from historic view. Indeed, so successful were the measures to stifle public Christian worship that a Spanish monument of the period hails Diocletian for having 'abolished the superstition of Christ.' Nevertheless, efforts to seize and destroy copies of the Scriptures, a key aspect of Diocletian's attack on Christianity, failed to wipe out God's Word completely. Unsuccessful in completely obliterating Christianity, Satan the Devil, the ruler of the world, continued his crafty acts through Emperor Constantine, who ruled from 306 to 337C.E. Pagan Constantine did not fight the Christians. Rather, he found it expedient to fuse pagan and Christian beliefs into a new State religion. Ever since then, the mixing of beliefs has caused many of the Christians to actually find the effect of the situation to have directly created measures of failure on their midst making their beliefs seem a bit blurry for the next generation that came after them. Nevertheless, there were those who remained in the faith ho knew that they needed to stick to what they know is right rather than accepting what is being taught of them to be right. This in itself is already a sense of persecution that is largely brought about by the division of the church. Hence, the once who prevailed to remain in whatever they now was originally right, unmixed with the pagan belief still thrive to keep the faith in tact and continuously unblemished by the mistaken beliefs that are otherwise forced into them to be believed. Hence, a strong sense of holding on to the truth is required of these individuals. To endure persecution the Christian must place full confidence in God. God will strengthen him and make him happy in the outcome. (2Tim. 4:17) He should never neglect to pray to God in his own behalf and in the behalf of his Christian brothers who also may be enduring trials. When praying he should not blame God for the persecution, simply because God does not persecute any innocent one. Satan and his wicked organization are the ones who persecute. However, God has allowed persecution to establish before all creation Christian loyalty to his universal sovereignty. By enduring persecution the Christian in this way upholds God's name and Word. The Christian will not seek persecution, or martyrdom, or want to provoke the ungodly to violence. They are admonished to be "cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves." (Matt. 10:16) On one occasion Jesus avoided a mob. It may be necessary on occasion for the Christian minister when threatened to move to a kindlier location.-John 10:31-39.The Christian should always remember that he does not endure persecution in his own strength and that God will not let him be tempted beyond what he can bear, that God will make the way out in order for him to be able to endure it. (2Cor. 4:9, 10; 1Cor. 10:13) For some, faithfulness until death may be the way out, but God will give them the needed strength even to endure so severe a trial. By making God his stronghold, the Christian will find strength in his hour of need. The resurrection hope, the promise of eternal life are faith strengthening. They were for Jesus and they will be for all who trust in God: "For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:2) Keep God's promises ever before you that you might do the same.-Nah. 1:7; Prov. 18:10. The trials of persecution last but a little season and cannot be compared to the reward that God promises. Paul said: "I reckon that the sufferings of the present season do not amount to anything in comparison with the glory that is going to be revealed in us." For the tribulation "works out for us a glory that is of more and more surpassing weight and is everlasting." (Rom. 8:18; 2Cor. 4:17) Endure all trials, therefore, you whose privilege it is to suffer for righteousness' sake, for great indeed is your reward! "Happy is the man that keeps on enduring trial, because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life, which God promised to those who continue loving him." (Jas. 1:12; Rev. 2:10) May that be the happy reward of the Christians who choose to continuously endure with persecution up until the present. 2. One of the possible ways to read the story of the development of the various forms of Christian development is that these witness to evolving views of Christ and the meaning of his life and mission. Explain. EVERYONE who has read the Bible is familiar with the many accounts of the persecution of servants of God because of their faithfulness in his service. This persecution has taken the form of verbal abuse, imprisonment, beating and even death. Outstanding examples of faithfulness in the face of persecution are Job, Daniel when in the den of lions, Paul who "five times received forty strokes less one," and, above all, Christ Jesus who surrendered his very life to persecutors. The eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews gives this description of the sufferings of faithful servants of God in pre-Christian times: "They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn asunder, they died by slaughter with the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, while they were in want, in tribulation, under ill-treatment ... They wandered about in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth." Even as we read this graphic account we are moved to ask: Why Yes, why should a faithful servant of God have to suffer such ill-treatment Could God not protect him And do Christians of today have to expect such persecution If so, how can they faithfully endure it and come out victorious For the origin of this persecution and the reason for it we must go right back to the beginning of the Bible and find it in the first three chapters of Genesis. Here we read of the creation of the earth and the forming of it for human habitation. Finally, we get the account of the creation of the first man, Adam, and then his wife, Eve. In kindness, God gave them instructions for living and keeping in harmony with their Creator. They were given great freedom to move around in their paradise home and eat of the fruit and vegetation they found there. Adding to their joy was the loving dominion they were given over the animal creation in the garden, and the marvelous prospect of raising a family in these happy conditions. (Gen. 1:28-30) Righteously, God gave them the requirement of obedience to him, and this meant abstaining from eating the fruit of a certain tree in the garden. Of course, this was not a hardship, since there were many other trees from which they could eat to satisfaction. (Gen. 2:17) God did not hide from them the fact that disobedience to this simple requirement would mean loss of their lives. Throughout the Scriptures we read of many different kinds of persecution used by the adversary against God's faithful servants, all of which are still used by him today. One of the milder forms of persecution is verbal abuse. The purpose of this is not only to cause the servant of God to shrink back but to poison the minds of others so that they will not listen to the preaching of the good news. Of course, no one likes to have vile language hurled at him or lies told about him. But Jesus said that this was no cause for alarm but, rather, the contrary. "Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake." And just why should we be happy under such unpleasant treatment "Rejoice and leap for joy, since your reward is great in the heavens; for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you."-Matt. 5:11, 12. 6 A subtler form of persecution and one that is often very hard to bear is opposition from relatives. Sometimes newly converted Christians find that relatives whom they love dearly and who have always been very close to them now begin to oppose and persecute them, because of their new way of life. The faithful man Job had this to bear at the height of his suffering. After his losing almost everything he had, his wife turned against him, saying: "Are you yet holding fast your integrity Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9; 19:17) But Job, although in great pain and, no doubt, cut to the quick by this unkind onslaught from one who should have comforted him, held fast his integrity to God. And so must we under similar trials, hard though it may be. Jesus said it would happen this way: "For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man's enemies will be persons of his own household."-Matt. 10:35, 36. The ultimate weapon of persecutors is death. In the early days of the young Christian congregation the brothers were strengthened by the magnificent example of Stephen, stoned to death by a fanatical mob of Jewish religious leaders. Later, the apostle James was put to death by the sword at the hands of Herod Agrippa I. (Acts 7:57-60; 12:1, 2) The finest example of faithfulness to death under persecution is the Lord Jesus Christ. Concerning him Paul says: "For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:2) It takes courage to remain steadfast in the face of certain death. It was courage that enabled Jonathan Stark to face death by hanging with complete composure, in the fall of 1944 in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany. As the hangman, a hardened criminal, hesitated, and as the camp commander forgot to shout his orders, Jonathan spoke up: "Why are you hesitating Take your stand for God and for Gideon." What is it that enables Christians to look violent death in the face without a tremor It is their sure hope in God's promise to resurrect them even as he resurrected Jesus Christ. "Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10) "Do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."-Matt. 10:28. Yes, as noted through these experiences, christens must expect persecution. It is a sign that they are indeed following the Christ and leading a life as he has. The mission that he has to spread the ministry of God is then considered as one of the major identifications of true Christians today. References: APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO FRANCE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPARITIONS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AT LOURDES (SEPTEMBER 12 - 15, 2008). MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WORLD OF CULTURE. ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI. Collge des Bernardins, Paris. Friday, 12 September 2008. Frend, W. "Persecution: Christian Experience"Encyclopedia of Religion.Ed.Lindsay Jones.Vol.10.2nd ed.Detroit:Macmillan Reference USA,2005.7057-7062.15vols.Gale Virtual Reference Library.Gale.UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.12 Sep. 2008 Pelikan, Jaroslav. "Christianity: An Overview"Encyclopedia of Religion.Ed.Lindsay Jones.Vol.3.2nd ed.Detroit:Macmillan Reference USA,2005.1660-1672.15vols.Gale Virtual Reference Library.Gale.UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.12 Sep. 2008 LloydG.Patterson. Fathers of the Church. Read More