Church History: The Holy Forty

My best friend, Sandy Shockley, turned me on to the stories of the Christian martyrs. She graciously accepted my invitation to submit some of their stories for this Church History series. This is the account of “The Holy Forty” of Sebaste.
The 40 Martyrs were Roman soldiers who were put to death in Sebaste, which is in Armenia today. The account of these martyrs is well-documented historically and inspired great faithfulness in the ancient Church.

Around the year 320, the emperor of the eastern Roman empire, Lucinius, issued a decree ordering every Christian to renounce their faith or face death. When this decree was announced to the Roman army, 40 soldiers of different nationalities—all part of a famous “Thundering Legion”—refused to comply with the order to sacrifice to Roman gods. They were brought to trial in Sebaste, and the governor there threatened them with disgrace if they continued, and promised promotions for any who renounced their faith. They all stood firm.

The governor then devised a plan to test their faith. They were to be placed upon a frozen lake, naked and exposed to the howling wind, until they either changed their minds or froze to death. The 40 did not wait to be stripped, but undressed themselves, and encouraged one another in the ordeal. A fire and warm baths were prepared at the edge of the lake, and they were told that they could come in from the ice and warm themselves if they turned away from Christianity.

For three days and nights, the group endured. One young soldier decided to leave the group for the warmth of the baths, but the shock to his system killed him. One of the guards, seeing this disgrace, was inspired by the resolve of the remaining 39. When he was off-duty, he fell asleep by the fire and had a dream in which angels descended upon the soldiers on the lake and crowned them. He counted only 39 crowns, and decided to join them. He put down his arms and cloak, proclaimed himself a Christian, and walked out to the group on the ice, bringing the number of martyrs back to 40.

By the morning of the fourth day, most were dead, and the remaining were killed. All the bodies were burned in a furnace, and their ashes thrown into a river. The Christian community recovered some of the charred remains. (Credit: University of Norte Dame Indiana)

(From me: Beloved, Christ may not call you to persecution and death for His Name, but He is calling you to uncompromising faithfulness.)

Church History: Martyrs (part 1)

Starting with Stephen (Acts 7-8:1), the history of the church tells of the men and women who were martyred for their testimony of Jesus Christ. Over the next few weeks, we will look at some of their stories. Scripture tells us that James was executed by King Herod Agrippa around A.D. 44 (Mark 6:14-29). Ten years later, the Apostle Philip was scourged, imprisoned, and crucified. Legend says that Matthew was killed in A.D. 60 by violent means. Jesus’ brother, James was martyred around A.D. 66. Peter’s brother, Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross; Peter was also crucified – but upside-down as he did not consider himself worthy to die in the same position as his Lord. Tradition says Mark was dragged to pieces in Alexandria and Paul was beheaded in A.D. 66.

Even today, in many parts of the eastern world, people are still being killed for their faith. We don’t have the same level of persecution in the U.S., but I have no doubt that it’s coming. If someone were to ever point a gun at my head and demand that I betray my Savior or die, I say I would choose death. But am I betraying Him in my daily life? Will I betray Him with profane words while wearing my “Jesus is Lord” T-shirt? Will I curse someone who cut me off despite the fish symbol on my bumper? Will I walk into church on Sunday morning after walking into an R-rated movie on Saturday night? I say that I will take a bullet for Jesus, but will I take the humble road in a dispute with my neighbor?

What good is my bold declaration of devotion to Jesus if I don’t prove my kinship in the smaller matters of daily life? I don’t think I will ever be confronted with death for the cause of Christ, but every day I must choose to die to myself in the grocery store, my workplace, my home, and on the road.

Harold Chadwick, who updated Foxe’s Book of Martyrs in 1997 wrote these words after pouring over story after story of dauntless and devoted Christians who gladly died for the Name and cause of Christ: “Could we with our soft and self-serving Christianity, follow their examples of such courage and love for Christ that we would suffer being tortured, mutilated, and burned alive rather than recant our faith in Him?”[1] What say ye, Beloved?

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[1] Harold J. Chadwick, Forward to The New Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Updated through the 21^st Century, (Alachua: Bridge-Logos, 2001), xiv.

Church History: The Secret of Success

Why bother to study Church history? For the same reason we study World History and American History and human history in general – to know where and whom we came from and to learn from their successes and failures. The early centuries of Christianity were exceedingly fruitful. We need to discover again their “secrets” to success.
The most obvious secret is their deep conviction that the gospel was true. That man was condemned and had no hope of rescuing themselves. That Jesus, the Son of God came from heaven to earth as a baby, grew to a man who lived a perfect sinless life and died, taking the sins of all mankind with Him to the grave. That He rose again, appeared to hundreds of people, and ascended to the right hand of God in heaven. Those who believe the gospel to the marrow of their bones will declare it. They can’t help it – it just bubbles forth like lava from a volcano.
Another insight we gain from church history is the practical expression of love among Christians. They took to heart Jesus’ command to “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). It was a different kind of love – a selfless, generous, genuine love that stood out in the world. Tertullian said that the pagans remarked, “See how these Christians love one another.” Christians who were filled with the love of Christ expressed that love in practical ways within the church and without.
And strangely, persecution watered the soil of many souls. Huge crowds gathered to watch Christians meet their death in the colosseums of Rome, drawn by the thrill of blood and gore. But the courage, faith, and Joyful disposition of the martyrs pierced their own hearts so that many of the onlookers came away as believers in Jesus Christ.
Now look at the witness of the church today. Are we still convinced that the gospel is true? Are we living out the command of Jesus to love one another? And what of persecution? Here in the U.S., it is largely a minor matter, but in other places in the world, it is life and death. In either case, how we respond to persecution can speak louder than anything we say. And we dare not leave out the presence of the Holy Spirit who is the power behind it all. Are you filled with the Spirit, Beloved? Then be bold, be loving, and be brave. The lost world is watching. Be a witness to someone today.

Church History: Fathers of the Faith

My desire in this church history study is to teach you how the Holy Spirit moved over human history to build Christ’s Body and introduce you to the people He used along the way.

When the church began its westward movement it took deep root in Rome and then slowly moved toward France. One of the most prolific ancient Fathers, Bishop Irenaeus, ministered in Lyons and left a wealth of Christian writings. Irenaeus was firmly orthodox. He lived in a time (the second century) when false interpretations of Jesus were rampant. Not only did he defend the biblical Jesus and fight for authentic Christianity, but Irenaeus was instrumental in establishing the canon of scripture we know as the New Testament.
Canonicity means the collection of sacred writings which were accepted by the church as authoritative and true. Irenaeus argued for specific requirements in determining which writings would be included in the Christian manifesto: agreement with direct apostolic teaching, prophetic revelation, and early creedal statements. He eschewed fantasy and mythology, relying instead on eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ works and the works of His followers in the first century.
Irenaeus was a “third-generation” Christian. He was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of John. He sat at the feet of the man who sat at the feet of the man who sat at the feet of the Lord Jesus. He endured fierce persecution in Lyons, taking the office of bishop after his predecessor’s death due to abuse. He was held in highest esteem by the churches of that era and lived up to his name as a peacemaker in an era of great doctrinal turmoil while still defending the orthodox Christian teaching against Gnostic heresies. Irenaeus argued that salvation had nothing to do with intellect or secret knowledge but was solely rooted in the work of Jesus.
By the end of the third century, the church had moved into Spain and Britain, then headed south into North Africa where Christianity was well-received and fruitful. North African churches were the first Latin-speaking churches in the world. Just west of Egypt was the town of Cyrene. The man who was drafted to carry Jesus’ cross was Simon of Cyrene (see Mark 15:21). It is almost certain that Simon became a believer and returned home to share the gospel. Simon’s son, Rufus was highlighted in Paul’s list of fellow Christians in Romans 16. By the end of the third century, the vast Roman empire was replete with gospel proclaimers.
What does that mean for you and me in the twenty-first-century church? Just that the seeds of the gospel were planted some two thousand years ago and they are still growing and still producing fruit for the Kingdom of God. When you and I tell the old, old story, Beloved, we are standing on the fields where Irenaeus and others went before.

Church History: Roots and Runners

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He visited His disciples and told them that they would be His witnesses “In Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). They took Him at His word and took His word far and wide. The tiny kingdom of Osrhoene in modern-day Syria became the first Christian kingdom after the birth of the church. The first-century church moved with the winds of the Holy Spirit during what has been termed, “The Age of Catholic Christianity.” This period on the timeline sits between A.D. 70 and A.D. 312 which includes the death of the apostles and the rise of the Christian emperors who would change the face of Christianity.
That is not a reference to Roman Catholicism but to the “catholic” or universal church, meaning a unified body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Despite its beginnings within the Jewish faith, Christianity was always intended to be multi-cultural. Jesus came as the Savior of the world, not just one nation. The Church was to be one Body, knit together from variegated threads but one cohesive, Spirit-filled entity. So what happened? In a word, politics – but that’s a lesson for later.
The spread of Christianity among the Gentiles began largely in the synagogues. Much like the Christians, Jews were also scattered across the Middle East and into parts of Europe. Wherever they went they connected in groups to continue worshiping the Lord God. Gentiles who wanted to participate could convert to Judaism through circumcision or they could remain on the fringes as “God-fearers” who studied the Scriptures and declared their devotion to the Lord. These were the most likely converts to Christianity because it allowed them full access to God through Jesus Christ without circumcision.
After Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70, Christianity moved north. The new “home base” for the faith was in Antioch in Syria. By the end of the first century half of the half-million people in Antioch were Christians. The next move was west, following the path that Paul had blazed decades before. Asian Minor (modern-day Turkey) became the next major site for Christianity. The church also took deep root in Rome, the heart of the empire. By A.D. 250 Rome was home to more than 30,000 Christians.
But there is more to come and more to learn. We’ll head to Africa in our next Church history visit.
Source: Bruce Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, 3rd ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008)

Church History: The End of the Apostolic Age

Much of the book of Acts focused on the missionary journeys of Peter and Paul who ministered the gospel throughout Asia Minor and parts of Europe. But that is not the only place where the Spirit of the Lord was at work. The first congregation of followers of Jesus was in Jerusalem, the home of the “Mother Church.” The church here was growing as well, to the consternation of the Jewish hierarchy, Jesus’ brother, James, led the Jerusalem church, keeping the strict Jewish orthodoxy as closely as possible while declaring the good news of grace. He would be martyred in A.D. 62, leaving the church bereft without their leader.
Bigger troubles were brewing for all the Jews in Jerusalem. Tensions between the Jews and the Romans who ruled them simmered to a boiling point. In A.D. 66, the Jews revolted against their oppression. A bloody battle ensued for four years until Emperor Vespasian’s forces, under the leadership of Titus, broke through the walls of the city in A.D. 70. They went for the heart of the Jews, looting and burning the Temple and carrying the surviving treasures to Rome.
The Christians in Jerusalem fled the city, an act that was considered treason by the Jews. As a result, Christians were barred from the Jewish synagogues in every city. This, combined with the gentile movement in the church caused the Jews and Christians to be completely severed. It was the darkest time for God’s people in Jerusalem – all of them. Yet Jesus had prophesied this very event before His death. When His disciples were glorifying the temple, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (Matt 24:2).
By this time most of the original apostles were dead. A.D. 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem is considered the end of the apostolic age. A new age and a new generation of Christians would carry on what Jesus’ first followers started. The church would experience a spiritual explosion, fueled by the dynamis (power) of the Holy Spirit. This, too, was prophesied by the Lord: “You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The church was on the move.

Church History: Suffering Saint Paul

“The Apostle Paul. 1600 – 1699” Unknown

Will you bear with me for one more day of Paul in the study of church history? No one else since the death of Jesus has influenced the church more than he. And he suffered tremendously for his efforts. He endured attack after attack – on his ministry, his message, and his physical body. His most vehement enemies were his former friends, the Jewish elite. They refuted his testimony of the power of the gospel and the identity of Jesus as God. They hated him because he had turned to the Way and was its most vocal proponent. For his faith and his submission to the call of Christ, he was judged in the streets and in the synagogue.
He was shackled, imprisoned, whipped, beaten, stoned, and more than once left for dead. But he would not give in nor give up. Each time the Jews thought they had him, he came back from the brink, more impassioned than ever to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Despite all he endured, his life’s motto was: “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). Paul kept getting up because God was not finished with him and he regarded himself as a “drink offering” unto the Lord (2:17).
As we journey through the history of the Christian church, we will encounter many more martyrs. We will give them the attention and respect they are due for their sacrifice. They are so important to the growth of the Christian church that it is said that “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.1” Martyrdom did not end with the early Christians. It has continued in every generation and happens today. Many have lost their heart to Jesus Christ and their head to persecution.
Ancient tradition holds that Paul was beheaded by sword on June 29, 67 A.D. under the rule of the blood-thirsty Nero. Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Rom 8:35). No – for the sword only brought him face-to-face with that love.
Persecution is coming for the church – hard and deadly persecution. Will you die for your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Perhaps the better question is, Beloved, will you live for Him until that day?

1. This quote is loosely attributed to both Tertullian and Augustine of Hippo

Church History: No Islands in the Body of Christ

My Granddaughter Joy at “Honey School” photo by Wanda Battles Williams at Rehobeth Baptist Church, Rehobeth Alabama.

Paul – persecutor-turned-proclaimer – caused quite a stir. The Jews were perplexed by him – and angry with – him. He “baffled the Jews in Damascus” with his message, “proving that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:22). They plotted to kill Paul, but his friends helped him escape by way of a basket. The Christians in Jerusalem did not trust him and refused to welcome him into their fellowship. He was an island unto himself. Nobody wanted to associate with him. Until a trusted member of the Jerusalem congregation, Barnabas – whose name meant “Encourager,” came to his side and his defense. The brothers in Jerusalem gladly received him and once again rescued him from the threat of death.
Paul and Barnabas would log many miles together as missionary-sojourners. When they parted ways – not so amicably (Acts 15:36-41) – Paul took Silas as his ministry partner. All along the way, Paul gathered people to join him in his work. Timothy, Lydia, Priscilla and Aquila, and Titus were his closest companions. His ministry team also included Erastus (Acts 19:22), Gaius and Aristarchus from Macedonia (Acts 19:29), Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia (Acts 20:1–5). John Mark brought a great deal of anguish – and companionship to Paul’s life. A runaway slave was also a ministry partner with Paul – after he submitted to his master’s authority and approval (Philemon). Paul recognized many others who were an important part of his work in his letters.
What is the application of all of this? Paul started out as an island, but he didn’t stay that way. He needed Christian friends and companions and mentors and mentees and fellow servants of the Lord to grow in his faith and into his ministry. So do you and I. Even Jesus, the very Son of God, didn’t try to go it alone. When Christian leaders try to stand apart from others they almost always implode. Wisdom says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). You and I cannot hone ourselves. We need people who can spot the dull places and help us reach our best selves.
I cannot imagine who I would be without godly friends and mentors, teachers, preachers, encouragers, challengers, and a few busy-bodies who told me what I didn’t want to hear. I also cannot imagine my life without those I have taught and mentored through the years. Beloved, you need godly people. And somebody needs you. Find your place in the chain of fellow believers.

Church History: Who was Paul?

“Paul in Prison” by Rembrandt

He was an “Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteous, faultless” (Phil 3:5-6). He was both a Jew and a Roman citizen, born in Tarsus of Cilicia (Acts 22:3). He was trained in the Law and the ways of Judaism under the tutelage of Rabbi Gamaliel I, a leading Jewish teacher of his day (Acts 22:3). Paul excelled as a Jewish rabbinical student. He said, “I advanced in Judaism beyond my contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors” (Gal 1:14).
So zealous was Saul for the ways and laws of Judaism, he made it his personal mission to persecute followers of the new sect called “The Way” which he perceived as a serious threat to the traditional Jewish religion. He often traveled “from one synagogue to another to have them punished and force them to blaspheme” the name of Jesus. And he “cast my vote” for death for many of these upstart Christians (Acts 26:9-11). Including . . .
His conversion occurred on the road to Damascus, but I want to suggest that the seeds were sown before that fateful trip. An equally zealous follower of Christ named Stephen proclaimed Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and was stoned to death for his bold declaration, but an interesting side note is found in Stephen’s story: “Meanwhile, [the ones throwing stones] laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul . . . who was there, giving approval to his death” (Acts 7:58; 8:1). Saul heard Stephen’s testimony, and more importantly, witnessed the glory of God on his face as the Lord Jesus received his Spirit (Acts 7:55, 59).
On the way to Damascus on one of his “missions” he encountered Jesus, the very one whose followers he was persecuting. His transformation was immediate and radical and the Christians were initially suspicious of his “conversion.” But Paul proved that Christ can completely turn a life around. He became the church’s most prolific and vehement missionary and he suffered much for the name of Christ and the gospel.
Perhaps the most important thing Paul said was simply: “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. Beloved, are you walking in Jesus’ footsteps so that someone might follow you to Him?

Church History: Why The Past Matters

I wish I had taken the time to get to know my parent’s pasts – their youth, their childhood, passions, interests, crucial points in their lives, and their relationships. I wish I had had the opportunity to interview my grandparents to know them better. But we didn’t live nearby (we were a military family) and I was caught up in my own life. We should want to know the lives of those we love. We should want to know our own history. Maybe that is why I am so passionate about the history of the Christian Church. I love the church, I have been in church since the cradle roll. I want to know the church’s story because the church has shaped my life.
We start today to study Christian History – the part that begins where Acts ends. The part that most Christians don’t know. But this is rich stuff and it has shaped the church you are part of today. It shaped this nation and the world for many years, although those years and lessons are a distant memory. The church has changed dramatically since Paul made his way to Rome – some changes were good, some not so much, but every change still echoes through the ages.
Why am I so taken with this stuff? Because – watch your toes – the current generations are ignorant of the history of their faith, and it shows. We are repeating the same mistakes our fathers and mothers made and we are falling prey to the same deceptions – albeit dressed in more modern fashions – that caused so much division and heartache in the past. Many of our current issues in the Christian faith have their roots in the past. But most of all, we know little to nothing about the heroes of our past. We have forgotten how these men and women stood firm against persecution and fought – and died – “for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 1:3). Their examples should inspire and encourage us in these days when the church is being targeted. We need their resolve for the battle ahead.
There is a reason that Scripture tells us to “remember” – because forgetfulness is costly. We will study people and places and decisions and doctrine. We will feel the whips of persecution and the sting of tyranny. But we will also celebrate the overwhelming response of men and women who found faith in Christ worth living – and dying – for. Join me every Monday for this walk through history.