HAHA 07 - 4th & 5th Century - Leading Thinkers and Councils

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G’day and welcome to Partakers and to our series, HAHA – Heroes and Heretics Abound. Together we will look at the story of the church from its origins to the Age of Reasoning in the 18th century. Last time we looked at the change for Christianity under Constantine – the church changed from being persecuted to being, as some would, compromised with its new found freedom.

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During this time as well, Christian thinking was being developed and clarified. There were several Councils called over the next 100 years which served that purpose. But let us look firstly at some of the leading Christian thinkers of the time, who helped formulate what we believe as 21st century Christians.

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Leading Christian thinkers of the 4th & 5th Centuries

Athanasius 296-373. Deacon of the church in Alexandria, opposed Arius in the Council of Nicea. Became Bishop of Alexandria in 328. Athanasius was exiled 5 times because of his opposition to Arianism! Athanasius was the champion of orthodox Christian thinking!

Hilary of Poitiers 295-368. Bishop of the Church at Poitiers, France. He was the main defender of orthodoxy in the Western Church who opposed Arianism.

Ambrose of Milan 339-397. Ambrose became Bishop of Milan in 374 at the age of 34, and was in that role for 23 years. He was the Governor of Milan, the capital of the Empire, before being chosen as bishop by popular vote or choice. He was unbaptized, untrained, and resisted the peoples choice initially. Ambrose was noted for his courage and unbending character, completed the overthrow of Arianism in the Western church.

Aurelius Augustine 354-430. Augustine was born of a pagan father and a Christian mother in Africa. He was converted to Christianity at the age of 32 and became Bishop of Hippo in 393. He is certainly one of the greatest theologians and thinkers in the history of the church. Most of mainstream Christianity today draws upon his teachings and thoughts. He was the first to clearly explain and express the doctrine of God’s grace - that salvation was a gift of God and could not be earned. He taught that there was no salvation outside of the church. However he did promote a belief in purgatory and the use of relics, which much of the evangelical church today would consider in contrast to Christian teaching.

John Chrysostom 347-407. He was known as ‘John the Golden Mouth’, because he was a great orator, teacher and preacher. He was the Bishop of Antioch & Constantinople in the Eastern Church.

Jerome 340-420, was born in Italy, which was part of the Western Church. Jerome translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Latin (the popular language of the day) and the Latin Vulgate which was accepted by the Roman Catholic Church as its official Latin translation for centuries. Jerome lived in Bethlehem as a hermit for 35 years, and strongly promoted the monastic lifestyle as spiritually superior.

Leo I (Leo the Great) 390-461. Bishop of Rome 440-461 was born in Tuscany, Italy. He made a major advance in acceptance of the Bishop of Rome as the universal Bishop, arguing as he did from Matthew 16:18. He was referred to as the Pope by many Bishops at the Council of Chalcedon (451), and this was largely accepted in the Western Church. This was strongly supported by the Roman Emperor, who made it an offence against the State to resist the Bishop of Rome, or Pope.

As we can see by these people, Christian doctrine and thinking is continually developing. However some incorrect thinking was also invading the church. For example Arianism and the heretical thoughts of Arius were rife! Therefore over the next 100 years, various Church councils were called, not only to combat Arianism but also other heresies – some very subtle ones!

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Councils of the 4th & 5th Centuries

The Council of Nicea 324 AD, called by Constantine to resolve the Arian heresy. Arius, an elder from Alexandria taught that Jesus Christ was merely a created being and denied his deity. Athanasius, a deacon in the Alexandria church, opposed Arius and supported Christ’s deity. The debate raged over whether Jesus Christ should be described as ‘the same essence as the Father’ (homousious), or ‘like essence as the Father’ (homoiousios). Eventually it was accepted that Jesus Christ was ‘the same essence as the Father ‘. The Nicene creed contains the final statement about Jesus Christ’s deity.

Council of Constantinople 381 AD, was called to discuss Apollonarianism and Sebellianism. Apollonarianism was a theory proposed by Apollinaris the Younger, Bishop of Laodicea. This theory was that Jesus had a human body and a human sensitive soul but didn’t possess a human rational mind but rather a divine mind. There was the theory of Modalism or Unitarianism which proposed that the Heavenly Father, the Resurrected Son and the Holy Spirit were different modes one God, rather than three distinct persons within the Godhead. Sebellianism differed slightly from this in that Sabellius, its proposer, acknowledged that Jesus was fully God. At the Council of Constantinople, these teachings were condemned as unbiblical and therefore were heresies. The Holy Spirit was affirmed to be a person, equal with the Father and the Son.

Council of Ephesus 431 AD, was called to discuss Nestorianism, at which it was condemned as a heresy. Nestorius protested, stating that Mary was the mother of the humanity of Jesus Christ, but not of His deity. Nestorian Christians engaged in a great missionary endeavour reaching across Asia to China in the Middle Ages. The council condemned and deposed Nestorius. Eutyches, Nestorius’ opponent, was deposed 20 years later with being a heretic, teaching Jesus Christ had only a divine nature and was not fully human.

Council of Chalcedon 451 AD 500 bishops met and affirmed that Jesus Christ had 2 natures, both divine and human, unchangeably united in one person. Condemned Eutyches who believed Jesus Christ had only the 1 divine nature.

The heretical thoughts of Arianism, Nestorianism, Apollonarianism, Unitarianism, Modalism and Sebellianism are still in some religious thoughts today – particularly in the cults such as Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses.

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Thanks for reading listening! Next time in our series HAHA, we look at how the church continue to expand and develop in the 4th and 5th centuries – discovering Eastern and Western Christianity and the advent of monasticism! Come back to Partakers, where every day there is something new to encourage your walk as a Christian in the 21st century.

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Partakers Friday Prayers!

24th May 2013

We pray today for all those grieving and mourning the loss of loved ones. We pray this in light of recent events involving untimely deaths

• Oklahoma due to a tornado,
• an innocent young man, Drummer Lee Rigby, brutally killed in Woolwich, London,
• an innocent elderly man, Mohammed Saleem, killed in Birmingham
• needless deaths in Bangladesh in the collapse of a factory,
• deaths in Pakistan, Syria and other places where conflict is rife.

We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray together! Today we are praying for all those grieving, regardless of the reason. Come! Let us pray for those in mourning…There is also space in the video for you to say your own prayers…

Father God,

be the strength for all those

who are grieving and mourning

the loss of loved ones.

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Father God,

we pray that those in despair

will be helped and

where there is darkness

there will be light.

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Father God,

embrace those needing comfort

with the Holy Spirit

and may He impart upon them

a peace that surpasses all understanding

Amen

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23rd May 2013

G’day and welcome to Pauline’s Thursday Ponderings!

Ephesians 6: 10 – 17 - Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground. So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Also take salvation as your helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies.

Christians are to put on the armour of God for we are in a spiritual battle at all times. Let’s look briefly at each piece!

• It talks about the belt or girdle of truth or sincerity. If we are not sincere in our faith we may fall.
• The breast plate of righteousness is talking about the righteousness we claim from Christ dying for our sins. It is important to keep short accounts with God, when we sin we need to say sorry fast and turn from our sin otherwise we cannot rely on Christ’s righteousness as our breast plate. Any sin drives a wedge between us and God and leaves Satan a space to get a foothold in our lives.
• On our feet should be the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Are you renowned as a peace maker? Does peace follow you? Do you forgive easily and let go of wrongs?
• The shield of faith is essential, satan continually attacks our faith and our thought life. We need to stand strong in our faith,resist the devil and he will flee.
• The helmet of salvation covers our mind and protects it. Rest in Gods salvation, we did not earn it He gave it to us freely because He loves us.
• The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is a brilliant way of standing up to the devil. Quote scripture at Him, He will run so fast. That is what Christ did when He was led to the dessert for 40 days and nights to be tempted. Of course to quote scripture you have to know it so if you don’t know lots make sure its a goal to learn some handy ones such as: He who is in you, is greater than he who is in the world! Nothing can separate us from the love of God and there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus! Isn’t that the best news for the Christian?

Come back tomorrow for more on Partakers! Why not leave me a comment below to let me know your thoughts! Thank you!

(You can find a more about the Spiritual Armour on this site by clicking here: http://davegroberts.podbean.com/2010/09/07/add-spiritual-armour/

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WOW Word - Your Cross

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Today Alfie talks about the WOW Word - Your Cross!

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Luke 9:23-26 Jesus speaking “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

What is the response of a Christian to be to these words of Jesus? As followers of Jesus Christ we are commanded to count the cost of following Him. That is how we carry our own cross for the sake of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to be number one in the life of all those who choose to follow him! Jesus wants supremacy over everything in our lives, including family, friends, and possessions! Alas, that’s a cost too high for some! Play the video to see Alphy talking about a man who couldn’t give up something to follow Jesus and the consequences he faced because of that!

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Psalm 117

Praise God, everybody!

Applaud God, all people!

His love has taken over our lives;

God’s faithful ways are eternal.

Alleluiah!

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Think Spot

20th May 2013

I wonder what you think meekness is. Isn’t meekness, merely weakness? That’s what we are told often enough by people outside the church! Yet meekness is not weakness! Meekness is giving up our personal rights to God alone!

A meek person is one who claims no personal rights of their own, and who is willing to yield all possessions and personal rights to God. A meek person sees these things as being loaned by God for His work and glory. Being meek in all situations takes a strong character, for example Moses (Numbers 12:1-3).

Giving up your rights and all you own to God alone, is talked about often in the Bible. Some of the results of giving up your rights to God can be found in: - Psalm 22:26; Psalm 25:9; Psalm 37:8-11; Psalm 149:4 Isaiah 29:19; Matthew 11:28-30.

As followers of Jesus you and I need to give up our own rights and possessions to Him because:

• You and I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)#
• We are instructed to be meek by Jesus (Luke 9:23)
• It follows the example. of the New Testament church (Acts 5:32)

When we insist on our own personal rights and those rights are violated, the main consequences are anger and anxiety. They occur when we try to control or change something God never intended us to change or control. When we react and resist, we deny God His right to do what; He wants to do. When we get angry and when we worry, these are signs that there are rights God wants us to yield to Him.

How do you yield rights and possessions over to God?

Firstly, identify them! Check where in your life anger and or anxiety exist. Then ask the Holy Spirit to work on your heart, prayerfully considering each area, yielding all to Jesus. When you do that, God becomes responsible for those areas.

Secondly, expect God to test His rights. Having handed them to God, He may allow situations to occur which will deny you these rights, to see if that right was really given to Him. It may be necessary to once again yield that right to Jesus. As you respond to each test, meekness develops.

Go into this week, knowing that God is at work in you! you are to be His servants and you are not your own! you were bought at a price by God! Through the meekness of Jesus Christ’ work on the cross.

Father I pray that as we give our personal rights to you, that you give us strength to overcome with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us as your children. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ! Amen!

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“‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:28-29 (New International Version)

Come

by Sue Goodall

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‘’Come,'’ He said.

‘’I love you,'’ He said.

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As I felt myself steadily led

To the place at His feet where -

In my head;

In my heart;

In my soul;

I knew so well.

This was the place I should always have been.

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‘’Come,'’ He said.

‘’I love you,'’ He said.

‘’I come,'’ I said

‘’I love you,'’ I said.

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HAHA 06

All Change Under Constantine!

G’day and welcome to Partakers and to our series, HAHA – Heroes and Heretics Abound. Together we will look at the story of the church from its origins to the Age of Reasoning in the 18th century. Last time we looked briefly at two main enemies from within the church: systemic disorganization and chaos within leadership and structure of churches and false and heretical teaching which was creeping in surreptitiously.

We move on today to a landmark period in the life of the church. Remember that one of the main persecutors of the Church was the Roman Empire. Now we come to the Emperor Constantine. This period is described by Diarmaid MacCulloch as “crucial for the Christian Church” (A History of Christianity).

Constantine was pronounced as Emperor by the Army in 306AD following the death of his father, Constantius 1. Under the rule of Diocletian, the Empire had been reorganized into a team of 4 emperors under his leadership. However civil war soon re-commenced. During this time at the battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, Constantine overthrew his rival, Maxentius, and became the Emperor of the Western Empire. He had been a worshipper of the ‘Unconquered Sun’, but before this battle he saw a vision of the cross of Christ and had a dream commanding his soldiers to fight under the name of Jesus Christ. He made his soldiers shields with a monogram of Christ, the first 2 letters of Christ’s name in Greek.

Constantine went on to restore property to the church in his domain which had been confiscated by previous Roman emperors. Then in 313AD Constantine and his ally, Licinius, made a proclamation whereby those identified as Christians would be treated equally with those who were not Christians. This proclamation also declared a new policy of toleration for all religions throughout all the Roman Empire. FF Bruce writes in The Spreading Flame “This led to Christians once banished to return from exile. Their property was restored; their demolished church edifices rebuilt. The last round between Christianity and Roman paganism had been the most desperate of all; but it ended with the acknowledgement that Christianity had won.”

Constantine, according to Shelley in his book “Church History in Plain Language“, also made many changes in his private life. This including raising his family as a Christian family. He was baptized by Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia. After his Baptist, he refused to wear the imperial purple again and chose to wear his baptismal robes. He died shortly after in 337AD but not before establishing Constantinople as a new capital of the Roman world.

A quick look at the historical writing of Eusebius sees Constantine epitomised as an superlative Christian leader and almost envisages a new age of salvation! Here are some of the ways Eusebius describes Constantine from his writings.

• “Constantine, the mightiest victor, adorned with every virtue of piety…”
• “For Constantine, like an all-gracious emperor, giving him evidences of true favour…”
• “God was the friend, protector, and guardian of Constantine, and bringing the plots which had been formed in secrecy and darkness to the light, he foiled them.”
• Constantine was “the protector of the virtuous, mingling hatred for evil with love for good, went forth with his son Crispus, a most beneficent prince, and extended a saving right hand to all that were perishing.”

Constantine brought both significant advantages and disadvantages for Christianity. These include: Advantages for Christianity.

• Religious tolerance and freedom
• Restoration of church property - a major church building program by the Emperor e.g. St. Peters Basilica in Rome.
• Christianity became the favoured religion in the Empire, since Constantine was at the very least nominally Christian. In 312 AD he declared Sunday a holiday.

Disadvantages for Christianity.

• Christianity became nominal, and it was fashionable to be called a Christian.
• Many pagan ideas were intermingled with Christianity - incense, images, candles, vestments, veneration of saints & martyrs, and Mary idolised like a goddess.
• The emperor exercised his authority in the church as head of the Roman religion, Pontifus Maximus. This set an unfortunate precedent for involvement of government in Christianity which we will see later causes great trouble for the church and Christianity.

While Constantine did not enforce others to join Christianity, that didn’t last long. After Constantine’s death, belief in Christianity was made a matter of imperial command under the regime of the emperor Theodosius. He had new church buildings designed in order to stress the new hierarchy of Jesus Christ and the Roman emperor. There were also heavy penalties enforced upon those who were not Christians and from other religions. Theodosius enforced the thinking that the there was a close connection between the will of God, his own will and a connection with the Roman empire.

How does the church itself react to all this? How was the thinking and theology of the church growing and/or adapting? Well for the answer to that, you will have to wait until next Saturday for the next in our series HAHA! Thanks for listening! Come back to Partakers, where every day there is something new to encourage your walk as a Christian in the 21st century.

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Partakers Friday Prayers!

17th May 2013

We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray together!

A prayer of Bonaventure

Lord Jesus,

as God’s Spirit came

down and rested upon you, may

the same Spirit rest upon and be within us.

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O Yahweh,

Grant us the gift of

understanding, by which your

precepts may enlighten our minds.

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O Jehovah,

Grant us counsel,

by which we may follow in your

footsteps on the path of righteousness.

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O Great God,

grant us courage,

by which we may ward off

the Enemy’s attacks.

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O Sovereign God,

grant us knowledge.

by which we can distinguish

good from evil.

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O Merciful God,

grant us piety,

bywhich we may acquire

compassionate hearts.

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O Holy God,

grant us fear, by which

we may draw back from evil

and submit to what is good.

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O ineffable God

made known through Jesus,

grant us wisdom,

that we may taste fully the

life-giving sweetness of your love.

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For we ask this O God our Father,

In the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us

Through the Son who died and rose again!

Amen.

Based on a Prayer of Bonaventure 1221 –1274

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16th May 2013

No Separation from God!

Sometimes, when I’m going through a very hard time, I get concerned that if it came to the point in England where we were persecuted for our faith that I might not be strong enough and might deny my faith. I am not afraid of dying but I definitely am afraid of being tortured. At other times I have been close to not believing in a God of love. However I should not worry Gods word is clear on both subjects. John 10:28 says “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” How reassuring is that?

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That means that nothing I do or say can separate me from the love of God. I find that so comforting and so should you. God loves you and He has no intention of letting you go.

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