Partakers Christian Podcasts

Church History Part 9

Church History Part 9

Monastic Leaders

Last time we looked at the rise of Monasticism and the decline of the Roman Empire! Today we will look at some of the early leaders of the Monastic movement. ~

Early leaders in the Monastic movement.

Anthony 251-356. Born into a Christian family, and at the age of 18, he adopted the solitary ascetic life in the deserts of Egypt for 20 years. Many others followed his example. Anthony experienced extreme temptations of a demonic nature and often was unable to escape lustful thoughts. ~

Pachomius 292-346. Developed corporate monasticism, gathering ascetics into a community and imposing a code of discipline. These communities were self-supporting with crafts and growing food. Within the community, all personal wealth from individuals was placed into a common fund. These monastic communities were known for teaching basic literacy, reading & writing as well as Scripture memorisation. ~

Basil the Great 330-379. Bishop of Caesarea (Cappadocia). He is quite possibly the most important figure in Eastern monasticism. He developed a monasticism which was more outward looking in its perspective! His monastic communities provided medical treatment, relief for the poor and common agriculture. So important is Basil, that this is still the order within today’s Greek Orthodox Church. ~

Athanasius. We looked at this man of God in a previous study. While Athanasius was in exile in Egypt, he met with Anthony & was impressed by the monastic lifestyle which Anthony strongly promoted. ~

Martin of Tours 316-397. Martin was the main figure in early Western Monasticism. He was the Bishop of Tours, France in 372, even though he would have preferred to be devoted to the solitary monastic life. Martin established a monastery at Tours as a centre for missionary endeavour & evangelisation. ~

Benedict of Nursia 480-547. Living in Italy, Benedict provided the definitive rule of Western monasticism based on prayer, work & a high moral character. These monasteries contributed greatly to maintain spiritual welfare during the Middle Ages, in spite of their drawbacks. The Benedictine communities were extremely popular and hundreds of monasteries were established. ~

Gregory the Great 540-604. Gregory is one of the most influential men in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born into a wealthy Roman family, but he sold all his possessions, built 7 monasteries & adopted the monastic lifestyle. Gregory loved the Scriptures and was deeply devotional. He was elected as Pope in 590, and became the most powerful political & religious figure in Italy. He greatly increased the wealth & prestige of the Roman Catholic Church. In 596, he sent a missionary party to evangelise England. He called himself "servant of servants", "vicar of Christ on earth" and the successor of Peter. ~

Meanwhile, the church was spreading rapidly & the organisation within the church followed the Roman Empire governmental system. Every city was entitled to one bishop, and each province entitled to have one archbishop. Within the bishop's diocese, the hierarchy of offices was virtually the same as that of the Roman civil administration. The Church became very wealthy, particularly because it had strong State support. The Bishop of Rome, the Pope, became extremely wealthy by the end of the 5th century. The bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, Antioch and Carthage became the most important. ~ That’s it for this time! Next time we look at the church arriving in Britain! Thanks for listening!

Tap or click here to save this as an audio mp3 file

Psalm On Demand - Psalms 136 to 138

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this Psalm as a MP3 file

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good;

for his loving kindness endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods;

for his loving kindness endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

4 To him who alone does great wonders;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

5 To him who by understanding made the heavens;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

6 To him who spread out the earth above the waters;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

7 To him who made the great lights;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

8 The sun to rule by day;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

9 The moon and stars to rule by night;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

10 To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

11 And brought out Israel from among them;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

13 To him who divided the Red Sea apart;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

14 And made Israel to pass through its midst;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

16 To him who led his people through the wilderness;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

17 To him who struck great kings;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

18 And killed mighty kings;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

19 Sihon king of the Amorites;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

20 Og king of Bashan;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

21 And gave their land as an inheritance;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

22 Even a heritage to Israel his servant;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

23 Who remembered us in our low estate;

for his loving kindness endures forever;

24 And has delivered us from our adversaries;

for his loving kindness endures forever:

25 Who gives food to every creature;

for his loving kindness endures forever.

26 Oh give thanks to the God of heaven;

for his loving kindness endures forever.

 

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down.

Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2 On the willows in the midst of it,

We hung up our harps.

3 For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs.

Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy:

"Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

4 How can we sing Yahweh's song in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,

Let my right hand forget its skill.

6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,

If I don't remember you;

If I don't prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom,

The day of Jerusalem; Who said,

"Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!"

8 Daughter of Babylon,

doomed to destruction,

He will be happy who rewards you,

As you have served us.

9 Happy shall he be,

Who takes and dashes your

little ones against the rock.

Psalm 138

A psalm of David.

¹ I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;

I will sing your praises before the gods.

² I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.

I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;

for your promises are backed

by all the honor of your name.

~~~~~~~~~~

³ As soon as I pray, you answer me;

you encourage me by giving me strength.

⁴ Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord,

for all of them will hear your words.

~~~~~~~~~~

⁵ Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways,

for the glory of the Lord is very great.

⁶ Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,

but he keeps his distance from the proud.

~~~~~~~~~~

⁷ Though I am surrounded by troubles,

you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.

You reach out your hand,

and the power of your right hand saves me.

⁸ The Lord will work out his plans for my life-

for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

Don't abandon me, for you made me.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this Psalm as a MP3 file

Church History Part 8

Church History Part 08

Fall of Rome & Rise of Monasticism

Last time we looked at some of the critical thinkers including both heroes and heretics! We also looked very briefly the councils as the church formulated its thinking in regards to what the Gospel is and for true doctrine in a bid to counteract the indefatigable rise of heretical teaching such as Gnosticism and Arianism. 

All Emperors of the Roman Empire following the death of Constantine were nominally Christian. In the last half of the 4th Century, the northern borders of the Roman Empire were under intense pressure from invading forces - Vandals, Huns & Goths. Eventually the great city of Rome, the centre of the Roman Empire, was plundered in 410 & 455, before finally falling in 476. 

Some of the major reasons for this to occur include:

• Strong pressures from Northern tribes.
• Within the Roman Government there was a great love and passion for luxury & corruption was rife.
• There was weak leadership, as the Christians tended to avoid public life.
• The West was less wealthy than the East. While the Empire declined, the Bishop of Rome grew more powerful, and Rome became the spiritual centre of the Western Church.

~ While all this was going on, there was a new movement within Christianity. We call this the Monastic Movement. The word monk, derives from the Latin word “monachoi” which means ”people who live alone”)

~ Reasons for rise of monasticism

• In the 4th century, there was major increase in pagan influence in the Church. Many people tried a solitary life as a means of achieving a purer devotion to God without outside pressure.
• Both Eastern & Greek thinking stressed that the physical was evil and that was to be suppressed. Inevitably this flowed into Christian thinking.

~ Benefits

• Many monasteries were centres for missionary training & care for the community, by helping with medicine, agriculture & education.
• Many people did indeed achieve a genuine devotion to God, a dedication to prayer and Bible study – all of which were strongly encouraged.
• Another benefit was that it encouraged a disciplined spiritual lifestyle.

~ However as well as significant benefits as we have seen, it also brought with it severe disadvantages. ~

Disadvantages

• It meant in many cases, Christians withdrawing totally from society, and retreating from their local community, instead of ministering to and being of encouragement to their community or society.
• There arose a kind of spiritual elitism. Many joined the monasteries because it became the thing to do, "the in thing" and was seen as fashionabler. “Look how good I am by withdrawing from you to dedicate my life to prayer and worship.”
• There was a tendency to wealth & degeneration after the original founders of monasteries died.
• Many equated spirituality with physical discipline. For example, Scripture promotes marriage & the physical side of life as being given by God. It is to be enjoyed rather than nullified and suppressed.

Tap or click here to save this as an audio mp3 file

Prayers for the Global Persecuted Church

 

Partakers Prayers

Persecuted  Church Worldwide

 

According to Open Doors UK, over 360 million Christians—1 in 7 believers—face severe persecution worldwide. In the past year alone, 5,621 Christians were killed for their faith, 2,110 churches attacked, and 140,000 displaced. Yet, countless believers continue to worship in secret, holding firm to their faith in Jesus despite immense risk. We stand in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters, honouring their courage and remembering those who have lost their lives. Wednesday 20th November is Red Wednesday - a day to give voice to the plight of groups and individuals who are victimised for their faith in Jesus.⁠ ⁠

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!

 

Prayers for the Global Persecuted Church

Sovereign God, we worship you and acknowledge that you know all of those who suffer in your name because they follow you. We remember those who are imprisoned for their faith and ask that they would join with the Apostle Paul to see that even though they remain captive, their chains have furthered the gospel, not frustrated it. May they inspire and embolden their fellow believers to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
Amen

God of all comfort, for those who are tortured both in body and mind, give them the grace to endure and to see their suffering as part of following in Christ’s footsteps. Merciful God, for those asked to pay the ultimate price; who are martyred because of their love for you, may they truly know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
Amen

Father God, for those who are widowed and orphaned may they know the comfort that comes from your promised presence even when they walk through the valley. May they be strengthened by your Spirit, enabling them to rejoice with the psalmist as they proclaim that the LORD will not abandon them in death.
Amen

Heavenly Father, we ask that you would make us ever mindful of our brothers and sisters around the world who need us to stand with them as they suffer in your name. Teach us what it means to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony; we pray that we would not love our lives so much as to shrink from death.

We ask these things O Father, through the name of Your Son, Jesus

and in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
Amen

Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file~

Church History Part 7

Church History Part 7

4th & 5th Century - Leading Thinkers and Councils

~ 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.

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.

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!

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.

Tap or click here to save this as an audio mp3 file

~

Bible Reading - Psalms 120 to 125

Psalm 120 to Psalm 125

Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection!

 

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 120

1 I call on the LORD in my distress,
and he answers me.
2 Save me, LORD,
from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.
3 What will he do to you,
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom bush.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip –
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you –
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm –
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and for evermore.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 122

1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’
2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up –
the tribes of the LORD –
to praise the name of the LORD
according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.’
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 123

1 I lift up my eyes to you,
to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us,
for we have endured no end of contempt.
4 We have endured no end
of ridicule from the arrogant,
of contempt from the proud.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 124

1 If the LORD had not been on our side –
let Israel say –
2 if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 125

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures for ever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people
both now and for evermore.
3 The sceptre of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
4 LORD, do good to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
the LORD will banish with the evildoers.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Church History Part 6

Part 6

All Change Under Constantine!

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 the next Podcast!

Tap or lick here to save this as an audio mp3 file

Bible Reading - Psalm 11 to 15

Psalm 11 to Psalm 15

Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection and meditated upon and prayed!

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 11

For the director of music. Of David.

1 In the Lord I take refuge.
How then can you say to me: ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?’

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulphur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.

7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.

Psalm 12

For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful any more;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbour;
they flatter with their lips but harbour deception in their hearts.

3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue –
4 those who say,
‘By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?’

5 ‘Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,’ says the Lord.
‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.

7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us for ever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honoured by the human race.

Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

Psalm 14

For the director of music. Of David.

1 The fool says in his heart,
‘There is no God.’
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.

4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on the Lord.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 The one whose way of life is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbour,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honours those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
 

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Church History Part 5

Part 5

Lets Get Organized and Remain One!

Last time we looked at the expansion of the early church in spite of the endemic persecution by the Roman empire. They were the ‘enemy from outside the church’. But there was also another enemy lurking, two main enemies from within the church! Our first enemy was the systemic disorganization and chaos within leadership and structure of churches. If there is no organization then chaos would rule supreme. That was partly why during this time the Apostle Paul helped form the leadership and organizational structure of the church. We see from his writings that 1st century Church government consisted of a 2 fold order of leadership. ~

• Elders - Presbyteros (Presbyter) - Elder - Jewish background referring to the character & spiritual maturity of the leaders. Episcopos - Bishop - Greek background referring to the role of the elders as overseers or shepherds. These 2 words are used interchangeably in the N.T. (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7; Phil. 1:1). There were a number of bishops or elders in the early Church.
• Deacons - Diakanos (servant/minster) (1 Timothy 3:12-13)

The second century Church government followed a 3 tier order of leadership which consisted of one bishop presiding over a group of elders & deacons. This was mainly towards the end of the 2nd century.

Reasons for the development of the episcopate

• Chairman of the elders.
• Church organisation similar to Roman government.
• Local Church representatives.
• One bishop could trace his authority back to the apostles.

Relationships between the Churches. For the first 3 centuries the local Churches were largely autonomous linked in fellowship without a formal structure. Bishops occasionally met for discussion on doctrinal matters.

Apostolic succession began in the early 2nd century to prevent division and false doctrine entering the Church. Each bishop could trace his teaching back to apostolic origins. Later on, it was said that special powers were said to be passed on to the bishop at his ordination. Despite the formulation of Apostolic succession however, within all this disorganization and chaos, several false and heretical teaching were becoming a threat.

Here are the 5 main heresies of the time which was creeping into the theology and practise of the church.

a. Gnosticism – This was the big one! Gnosis simply means knowledge. The gnostics stressed the intellectual side of Christianity and believed the earth was surrounded by 30 spheres each with its own god. The 'god' god, was on the outer sphere, was totally unknowable, self-existent, infinitely remote and the 'bad' creator was on the inner sphere. The ‘gods’ in each sphere grew more evil as they approached the earth. They taught that the Old Testament ‘god’ was evil and they suggested Jesus Christ came to liberate the divine spark in each one of us. Since they believed that the physical (as in the body) was evil, they lived an austere and ascetic lifestyle. They believed that this knowledge was only available to the spiritually elite. There were 3 levels of Gnostics:

• Pneumatic/Spiritual - Divine or superior people
• Psychic - Those who cannot get beyond faith - prophet/good Jews.
• Hylic - Majority of the human race. Hopeless bondage to satan and their own lusts and desires.

b. Docetism’s philosophy & theology taught that the physical world, the body, was inherently evil. Therefore Jesus Christ could not have taken on real human form because of this concept or philosophy. As a result, Jesus Christ was therefore an allusion or phantom. However, Genesis 1 teaches us that physical creation is 'very good.' This teaching also denies Jesus full humanity. ~

c. Montanism - Stressed the inspirational side of Christianity. In response to formality in the Church, they strongly promoted the more 'exciting' gifts of the spirit especially prophesy, tongues and religious excitement. Montanus their leader claimed to be the mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit. They were probably more fanatical than heretical, but were quickly excommunicated. Montanus was in Phrygia, in Asia Minor, in 172 AD and they also taught against celibacy. ~

d. Marcion - In the 2nd century Marcion taught that the Old Testament was the product of an evil god and eliminated the Old Testament and New Testament references with a Judaistic influence. This encouraged early Christians to examine the Scriptures and find out what really was the Word of God.

e. Notation Schism - Some Christians denied the Lord under severe persecution of Decius (251 AD), but later repented.

The Church split over whether to accept these Christians back into fellowship or not. This division lasted until the 6th century. ~ In one form or another, these heresies are still prevalent today, even within the church, and particularly within all the cults such as Jehovah Witnesses and Mormonism. That is one reason we should be looking at church history so that we don’t make similar mistakes, in both our theology and practise! How will the young church continue to go forward? Well for the answer to that, you will have to wait until the podcast tomorrow!

Click or tap here to save this as an audio mp3 file

Bible Reading - Psalm 111 to 118

Psalm 111 to Psalm 118

Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection!

 

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 111

1 Praise the LORD.
I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant for ever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant for ever –
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 112

1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures for ever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 113

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 114

1 When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled,
the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 115

1 Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
‘Where is their God?’
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 116

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
‘LORD, save me!’
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 117

1 Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love towards us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever.
Praise the LORD.

Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures for ever.
2 Let Israel say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

You can now purchase our book commenting on the Psalms! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site!

Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!