Courting Constantine
An estimated 20,000 Christians were martyred under the rule of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Before him, thousands more died with the approval of Emperors Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimus Severus and Valerian. The blood-letting finally diminished when Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, legalizing Christianity in the Roman Empire. The good news? Christians had a "friend in the White House" and persecution came to a virtual end.
The bad news? The Christian faith has always thrived and grown under persecution and stalled when persecution ended. Secondly, Christianity became Christendom - a religion of the state rather than the faith of a changed heart. Christendom is a culturally western substitute for a relationship with the living God. We cozied up to Constantine and distanced ourselves from Christ.
For the last two decades in America Christians cozied up to Constantine again. Many Christians openly locked arms with Republicans and created what has come to be known as the "Religious Right". Christianity has paid a heavy price. In the minds of many, Christian and Republican were virutally synonymous. Crossing the line of faith felt too much like having to become a Republican and some understandably couldn't take that step. I remember an author who is a Christian lamenting this alliance between Christians and Republicans. I offered a hearty amen to his lament. Recently however, I noted his very public affiliation with the DNC. What's the difference? So many who thought the marriage of Christianity and politics was a bad idea over the last 20 years are not so idealistic as we approach Nov. 4.
I know, I'm meddling. I do worry, though. I worry about the fallout when Christians trumpet their candidate for president or congress or their political affiliation. I worry that we obscure the greater message. What about the left-leaning person who tunes you out when you wear your red state loudly. What about the Republican who can't hear you over your zealous endorsement of Obama. We can rationalize it away and say that we have a right to be engaged in politics and the listener shouldn't be so thin skinned, but I worry. More than the next four years, all of eternity hangs in the balance. I'm simply pushing for caution.
I believe we do harm to the Great Commission when we cozy up to Constatine, whether Constantine is Democrat or Republican. Our hope is not in McCain or Obama. Our hope, and the hope of the world, is in the Living God. Will we continue to put unnecessary political barriers in the way of those who thirst for living water? I pray that our political zeal, whether left or right, will not undermine our highest calling. There is too much at stake to keep courting Constatine.
The bad news? The Christian faith has always thrived and grown under persecution and stalled when persecution ended. Secondly, Christianity became Christendom - a religion of the state rather than the faith of a changed heart. Christendom is a culturally western substitute for a relationship with the living God. We cozied up to Constantine and distanced ourselves from Christ.
For the last two decades in America Christians cozied up to Constantine again. Many Christians openly locked arms with Republicans and created what has come to be known as the "Religious Right". Christianity has paid a heavy price. In the minds of many, Christian and Republican were virutally synonymous. Crossing the line of faith felt too much like having to become a Republican and some understandably couldn't take that step. I remember an author who is a Christian lamenting this alliance between Christians and Republicans. I offered a hearty amen to his lament. Recently however, I noted his very public affiliation with the DNC. What's the difference? So many who thought the marriage of Christianity and politics was a bad idea over the last 20 years are not so idealistic as we approach Nov. 4.
I know, I'm meddling. I do worry, though. I worry about the fallout when Christians trumpet their candidate for president or congress or their political affiliation. I worry that we obscure the greater message. What about the left-leaning person who tunes you out when you wear your red state loudly. What about the Republican who can't hear you over your zealous endorsement of Obama. We can rationalize it away and say that we have a right to be engaged in politics and the listener shouldn't be so thin skinned, but I worry. More than the next four years, all of eternity hangs in the balance. I'm simply pushing for caution.
I believe we do harm to the Great Commission when we cozy up to Constatine, whether Constantine is Democrat or Republican. Our hope is not in McCain or Obama. Our hope, and the hope of the world, is in the Living God. Will we continue to put unnecessary political barriers in the way of those who thirst for living water? I pray that our political zeal, whether left or right, will not undermine our highest calling. There is too much at stake to keep courting Constatine.
posted by DSlagle at 2:20 PM
1 Comments:
Amen. Often times I wonder about the separation of church and state, too. Some christians have approached me saying that God has been taken out of schools, prayer needs to be reinstituted during morning announcments, e.g., but that idea never seemed to me to be the solution. I think it's human nature to resent authority, and tying Christianity to a very imperfect system (of our education) doesn't seem wise. Of course I want people to hear about God, but the message is relayed best by a real person, not by the government, in any form.
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