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Christianity State Religion Church History: the early church & middle ages christianity becomes the state religion Fourth-century Christianity: From persecuted sect to official religion of the Roman Empire. any Christians have become increasingly distressed by our nation’s secular turn. Schools no longer teach Christian values; Christian symbols (like crèches and crosses) are being removed from M government buildings and property; the popular media promotes a new paganism and often mocks Christian belief. Some Christians sigh, “I wish we lived in a Christian society.” Christians in the early church got this wish. They watched their Roman society move from persecuting Christians to making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. The Christian society that resulted was a mixed blessing. In this study, we’ll look at what happened in the fourth century. And we’ll examine our own society to see whether we really want our nation to become officially Christian. Scripture: Psalm 72; Isaiah 2:2–5; Romans 13:1–7; Revelation 18; 21:1–4 Based on: The CHRISTIAN HISTORY issue “The 100 Most Important Events in Church History,” including the article “The ‘Edict of Milan’” ©2011 Christianity Today International | ChristianBibleStudies.com 43 Christian History: the early church & middle ages Christianity Becomes the State Religion Part 1 IDENTIFY THE CURRENT ISSUE Note to leader: Provide each person with the articles included at the end of this study. Ask everyone to read “Christianity: From Persecuted to Favored” before you begin. Emperor Diocletian began the last great persecution of Christians in 303. People were so shocked by the treatment of Christians that Galerius, one of Diocletian’s successors, issued an edict of toleration, ruling that Christians were no longer to be persecuted. Emperor Constantine was converted in 312 while on military maneuvers. In a dream, he saw a cross in the sky and the words, “In this sign conquer.” When he was victorious the next day, he believed his success was proof of the power of Christ and the Christian religion. Constantine favored Christianity openly: • He allowed Christian ministers to enjoy the same exemption from taxes as the pagan priests. • He abolished executions by crucifixion. • He called a halt to the battles of gladiators as a punishment for crimes. • He made Sunday a public holiday. • He built magnificent church buildings. Church historian Eusebius believed the emperor was the ideal Christian ruler whose conversion inaugurated a new age of salvation. The new opportunity to preach publicly and unmolested surely meant that God had a new and greater mission for the church. In the 380s and 390s, Emperor Theodosius enacted laws to make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Because of the state’s official blessing, the church exploded in growth. By the late 300s, Christians were no longer a persecuted minority but made up a full half of the population in major cities. Church buildings, once simple structures, became magnificent basilicas richly adorned with marble, lamps, tapestries and beautiful mosaics; worship services added incense, processions, and other liturgical enhancements—all in an effort to give glory to God. At the same time, many who now came to church were politically ambitious, religiously disinterested, and still half-devoted to paganism. Emperors ruled Christian bishops as civil servants and demanded unconditional obedience to official pronouncements, even when they interfered with purely church matters. Christians started emphasizing less the simple ©2011 Christianity Today International | ChristianBibleStudies.com 44 Christian History: the early church & middle ages Christianity Becomes the State Religion gospel that appealed to the poor and outcasts and more the divine blessings of power and wealth. Discussion Starters: [Q] Should the church seek to create a Christian society and culture? If so, how Christian should society be? [Q] In what ways is the United States today a Christian society? [Q] In what ways is it not? Part 2 DISCOVER THE ETERNAL PRINCIPLES Teaching Point One: A “Christian culture” can be a mixed blessing. The advantages of Christianity as the “state religion” were many—influence, money, new converts—but there was a price to pay. Prior to Constantine’s conversion, the church consisted of convinced believers. Now many teachings of the earliest church began to be transformed. For example, the earliest church tended to emphasize that the gospel was good news to the poor and despised of this world; riches were a curse. With the conversion of the empire, riches and power came to be seen as a sign of God’s blessing, especially as exemplified in the Christian emperor. The church had, from the beginning, tried to convince the Roman Empire to respect its beliefs; it had prayed that more and more people would come into the church’s fold. By 400, its prayer had been answered, but it was a mixed blessing. Under Constantine and Theodosius, Rome officially became a Christian empire. What in your view was the greatest good for the church that came out of that? [Q] The worst thing for the church? On balance, do you think this was a good turn of events for the church? Why or why not? Read Psalm 72, which speaks of the king as if he were God’s representative or agent on earth. This is how the Christian emperors thought of themselves. Should national rulers think of themselves in this way? Why or why not? Read Revelation 18. Those who read this chapter when it was written assumed it was referring to the Roman Empire (which they called “Babylon”) as a great evil that deserved to be destroyed. Paul, in Romans 13:1–7, teaches that the officials of the Roman Empire ©2011 Christianity Today International | ChristianBibleStudies.com 45 Christian History: the early church & middle ages Christianity Becomes the State Religion are the agents of God to whom Christians must submit. What is behind these different attitudes toward government? [Q] What do these contrasting passages teach about our attitude toward our society? Christianity has been the dominant, if unofficial, religion of our country since its founding. In what ways has the church benefited from this? In what ways has it harmed the church? We live in a society that in theory is tolerant of all religions and favors none—more or less the stance of Rome between Galerius and Constantine. What are the advantages and disadvantages this holds for the church? Optional Activity: Purpose: To consider the ramifications of “Christian rule.” Activity: Stage this mock debate with your group: The year is 2022. The country is in deep turmoil. Police don’t enforce the few laws Congress can agree to pass, reasoning, “Who are we to insist on morals?” Religions and cults proliferate because everyone has found his or her own truth. Pluralism and relativism run rampant; confusion reigns in government and society. No one can achieve a consensus on anything. In response, a number of Christians run for Congress and are elected— because they seem to stand for something—and they now constitute a two- thirds majority in both houses. Their first order of business is to begin debating whether to give more favor to Christianity. But they don’t know exactly how far to go. They seek advice from three groups of Christians, each of which takes a different view. Divide into three groups and assign each group one of the following positions to defend. Hold a debate. Traditionalists: Keep church and state separate. Give preference to no faith and tolerate all faiths and beliefs equally. Moderates: Make Christianity the official religion; use government power to exalt Christian beliefs and to evangelize all citizens, but tolerate all other faiths and beliefs. Proselytizers: Make Christianity the official religion; use government power to exalt Christian beliefs, to convert all citizens, and to suppress dangerous groups (e.g., cultic or racist or militaristic organizations). Conclude with discussion: What were the best points from each group? What have we learned? ©2011 Christianity Today International | ChristianBibleStudies.com 46 Christian History: the early church & middle ages Christianity Becomes the State Religion Teaching Point Two: Christ’s return is the only hope we have for a perfect society. Can we ever hope to have a Christian society on earth? Should we? Read these two Bible passages that speak about the perfect society we will know when Christ comes again: Isaiah 2:2–5 and Revelation 21:1–4. [Q] Many Christians say they want to live in a Christian society. What do you think they mean by that? [Q] What kind of society can we expect when Christ returns? Write a description based on the passages above. [Q] Can we create that kind of society on earth? Why or why not? [Q] What responsibility do we have as Christians in a pluralistic society? What do we do while we wait for Christ’s return? Part 3 APPLY YOUR FINDINGS “Be careful what you wish for.” Christianity becoming the “state religion” stopped the persecution, but it also contributed to a shallower, more corrupt church. [Q] Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? If so, what was the issue? Action Point: How will you act as a kingdom citizen in our pluralistic society this week? Revelation 22:20 says: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” When is the last time you prayed for Christ’s return? Practice the prayer of the apostle John this week. — Study adapted by Kyle White ©2011 Christianity Today International | ChristianBibleStudies.com 47 Christian History: the early church & middle ages Christianity: From Persecuted to Favored CHRISTIANITY: FROM PERSECUTED TO FavoRED Christianity becomes a state religion in the 4th century. We don’t know exactly why, but Diocletian, two years before the end of his highly effective reign (284–305), suddenly ordered the most vicious of all persecutions of the Christians.
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