Fleeing heretics

Today I was reminded of a story I read some years back when studying early Church history. Irenaeus tells a story that he says was told to him by Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John. The story goes that John was in a Roman bathhouse (nothing strange or wrong with that, it was the custom of the day). While setting in the hot steam he realized that Ceinthus was sitting on the other side of the room. John jumped up and fled the immediately. When ask by Polycarp why he was running, he said he was afraid that God would bring the bathhouse down upon Ceinthus and he would be killed too.

Cerinthus was a heretic. As if often the case with false teachers, he was very popular with the people of his day. Also like most false teachers, he was quickly forgotten. Cerinthus taught that Jesus was not divine. He taught that Jesus was simply a man. He said that “the Christ” came upon Jesus at his baptism and then left him before the crucifixion. John was there for the whole ministry of Jesus. He know the resurrected Christ and he wanted nothing to do with this heretical teaching. Paul taught in Galatians 1:10 “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

There are so many issues that divide Christians today that are not worth the fight. However, for key doctrines (the Trinity, the divinity and humanity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, the authority of Scripture, God’s plan of salvation, you get the idea) we should not act as if they do not matter.

I get very annoyed with those that use the Gospel to further their own desires. I am appalled by those that take advantage of others or abuse others claiming authority from God. I get a little angry with those that sound good, but are leading people down the wrong path. I like John don’t want to even be in the same room with them, for God may bring the building down. Please don’t get me wrong, I am happy to talk with, learn from, and teach anyone that is willing. The problem is many are not concerned with how they make others feel or what others may believe, all they are concerned with is furthering their own agenda.

How do you define success in ministry? Too often we think if the numbers are growing or a building is being built then God is blessing said congregation. However many cults grow exponentially, but are from the devil. Always test what any teacher/preacher says by the word of God. False teachers are often only out to serve themselves; they are crafty and effective speakers; they create divisions in the church.

Romans 16: 17-18 says, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Often they become preoccupied with themselves. Pride is the root of their sin, as it is for most every sin we can conceive. More status, prestige, and publicity come to people who teach new or strange things than those who follow the truth laid out in Scripture. They often are guilty of singling out one point of doctrine, distorting it and then exaggerating it until it stands out from the others. In their zeal for their new idea, they make converts who are equally zealous. They try to force their view on everyone else. We must be suspicious of teachers in the church who encourage such devoted followings and who focus exclusively on one doctrine. We also must be very cautious of teachers that take a dictatorial leadership approach.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” (Matt. 7:21-23)

More Than Conquerors

God’s people have seen the rise and fall many empires. The mighty Egyptians ruled their part of the world for many years. God’s people saw the power of the Lord as his superiority was evident in the Exodus. The Assyrian Empire was feared the world over due to their cruel treatment of those they conquered. In 722 BC the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and took many captive. However, their reign was short lived and the Babylonians came to dominance as never seen before.

Daniel was taken to Babylon, Jerimiah wept for the people of God as the Temple was destroyed in 586 BC. Babylon was a magnificent city, the hanging gardens of Babylon are known as one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. The kingdom was described to be a golden kingdom in Daniel. However, it feel to the Medo-Persian Empire. At the height of influence the empire included approximately 45% of the world’s population. God’s people returned to their homeland and rebuilt the Temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel.

As foretold by God in the book of Daniel this kingdom (and the next two after it) fell. The Greeks rose to power under the leadership of Alexander the Great. Alexander swept through the Mediterranean and went all the way to India before he stopped his campaign of expansion. When he died his kingdom was divided into four parts. God’s people saw the cruel reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes during this period which led to the Maccabean revolt.

The Romans then came into power and brought with them a power perhaps never seen before. At its greatest extent, the Roman Empire reached as far north as the British Isles, into Europe as far as modern Germany, eastward throughout Asia Minor, and around the eastern Mediterranean rim south throughout North Africa.  The Romans conquered, built, and absorbed cultures as they went. When Paul wrote to the Roman believers in about A.D. 57, he said that Christians were “more than conquerors.” With the city of Rome around them I wonder how they took his words of encouragement?  As they gazed upon the palace of Nero did they have any idea what was coming?

As the Romans conquered different cultures they embraced the worship of many gods. Their philosophy was the more the better. Worship who you want, how you want, as long as it does not disturb the peace, cause any problems for the government, or insult the wrong people (sound fairly modern doesn’t it). Thus the gods of Zeus, Diana, Isis, Dionysus, Mithras, Cybele, and many others were common. Sincce the days of Julius Caesar, Judaism had been allowed to exist in the Roman Empire. It was seen as a minority sect which seemed not to cause harm. The coexistence of Roman rule and Jewish rule in Jerusalem as evidenced in the Gospels and Acts is telling of this fact.

After Pentecost Jewish Christians went all through the Roman empire spreading the news of Jesus. This new movement took off in Rome. At the end of Romans 16 Paul mentions by name many believers in Rome. For the first thirty years of Christianity it was looked upon as just another sect of Judaism. There were Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, and several other groups. Thus when Christianity rose up as a primarily Jewish religion the Romans took little notice.

However, as Christianity grew, tension between Jews and Christians increased. It became more evident that Christianity was not a sect of Judaism, but something new. The Roman historian Tacitus recorded a conflict among the Jews in Rome regarding one “Chrestus,” probably a reference to Christ. In A. D. 49 Emperor Claudius expelled all Jewish people from Rome in an attempt to make peace. When he died Nero came to power and he allowed the Jews to return to Rome.

Then in A.D. 64, approximately seven years after the writing of Romans, things became very difficult for Christians in Rome. On July 19, a fire swept through Rome, raging for seven days, destroying ten of the fourteen wards in the city. It was popular opinion that Emperor Nero was responsible, using it as a form of urban renewal, he burned down the slums to build a new palace for himself. Nero used his propaganda machine to blame Christians for the fire and thus take the blame off of him.

For the next four years, until Nero’s death in A.D. 68, Christians were persecuted. Stories are told of Nero impaling Christians on poles and used as torches for his parties. Many were thrown to ravenous dogs in the arenas and used as entertainment in the gladiator arenas. It was most likely during this time that Paul was beheaded and Peter was crucified upside down.

Thus when Paul says to the believers in Rome (and to us today) that we are more than conquerors it is hard to understand in the short run. However as we look around the world today it is evident that God is still in control and his people are victorious. The Roman Empire is no longer in existence, but Christianity is larger than ever. In Romans 8:35 Paul asks, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” The answer is a strong, nothing and no one can separate us from the Love of Christ. Nero may use tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and the sword, but he will not win the battle. Nero had no power over the church of Jesus Christ. No doubt the Church turned out to be more than conquerors.

When the believers in Rome first heard the words from Paul they may not have understood the persecution that was coming. However, these words no doubt brought comfort to them when the persecution did come. These words have brought comfort to Christians of all ages that have faced persecution. Persecution has been seen throughout the history of Christianity from Nero, to Domitian (Emperor when John wrote Revelation), to Marcus Aurelius in the Second Century, to the Twentieth Century when millions of Christians died at the hands of communists in places like Russia and China among many other places. Persecution is severe today in places like North Korea, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.

While world empires will rise and fall, we can be sure of two things: nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, and his Church will not only survive, but thrive until his return. As we read the words of Paul we can take comfort that Christianity is growing in places like China, the former Soviet Union and many other places of former and current persecution. While we do not know what tomorrow holds we know that the love of God will never leave us or forsake us regardless of what Satan may throw at us. May we live as a people who have not bowed down to any political, social, or economic system, but rather a people that are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The martyrdom of Polycap

The aged bishop, Polycarp, disciple of the apostle John and bishop of Smyrna, honored the Roman authorities under whom he lived—until they asked for more honor than he gave to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The following is a paraphrased version of the Christian historian Eusebius’s (History of the Church, IV, 15) account of Polycarp’s final hours:

“Are you Polycarp?” the Roman proconsul asked.

“Yes.”

“Swear to Rome, and I will set you free. Execrate Christ!”

“For eighty-six years,” replied Polycarp, “I have been his servant, and he has never done me wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?”

“I have wild beasts,” said the proconsul. “I shall throw you to them if you don’t change your attitude.”

“Call them,” replied the saint. “We cannot change our attitude if it means a change from better to worse.”

“If you make light of the beasts,” retorted the governor, “I’ll have you destroyed by fire, unless you change your attitude.”

Polycarp answered: “The fire you threaten burns for a time and is soon extinguished. There is a fire you know nothing about—the fire of the judgment to come and of eternal punishment, the fire reserved for the ungodly. But why do you hesitate? Do what you want.”

The proconsul was amazed, and sent the crier to stand in the middle of the arena and announce three times: “Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian.” The crowd roared in unison that Polycarp must be burned alive.

When the wood was laid around his feet, Polycarp prayed:
O Father of thy beloved and blessed Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we have come to know thee, the God of angels and powers and all creation, and of the whole family of the righteous who live in thy presence; I bless thee for counting me worthy of this day and hour, that in the number of the martyrs I may partake of Christ’s cup, to the resurrection of eternal life of both soul and body in the imperishability that is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Upon his “Amen,” the pyre was lighted and Polycarp gave up his life in submission to the governing authority—after submitting himself to his chief Governing Authority.

On this day we consider what Christ has done for us, let us give thanks that there are those that went before us in tremendous faith. Let us consider how strong our faith is as well.

Learning To Pray From The Example Of Christ

   

     When we come upon someone praying we encounter a mystery that we cannot penetrate without them allowing us into their thoughts. So when we come upon Jesus praying we are excited that we get to hear what was on his mind. On the night that he was betrayed Jesus shared a meal with is disciples and instituted the Lord’s Supper.
      He then began to teach them in a very deep and intimate matter as we read in John 13-17. As they walked to the Garden of Gethsemane he continued to teach them and perhaps he prayed to the Father as well. When they reached the garden he left most of them at the gate to pray. He took Peter, James, and John in the garden with him as he prayed. He asked them to stand watch and pray. Three times we see Jesus took these three alone for a purpose. First, when he raised Jarius’ daughter (and showed he had power over death). Second, on the Mount of Transfiguration (and showed them how he would be glorified through his death). And last, here where he surrendered to death. While Jesus prayed they slept.  
       The first Adam was placed in a garden, Eden, and was allowed to walk with and talk with God. Adam sinned against God and was cast out of the garden. Revelation 21-22 tells of another garden in which there will be no sin and we will have perfect communion with God fully restored. Between these two gardens stands the Garden of Gethsemane. In this garden the second Adam, Jesus, accepted the cup of suffering and God’s wrath to bring about the redemption and reconciliation of God’s people.
      From the prayer we have recorded by John we can get great insight into the mind of Christ and we can learn how to pray. We get to see what was on Jesus’ mind leading up to the cross and we get endeavor to comprehend the agony of what lay before him. We are exposed to the living embodiment of the intimate relationship Jesus had with his Father. In a real sense this prayer brings together everything the gospel story is all about.
      Tomorrow night, Wednesday, April 16, we will come together at 7 PM for corporate prayer guided by this prayer of Jesus. We will examine what this marvelous text means and pray in the example of Christ. There will be visual aids, guided discussion, and prayer. I promise we will be concise and you will not be put on the spot to pray out loud if you are not comfortable doing so. Please plan to join us.

If God Is For Me I Have Nothing To Fear

John Chrysostom, lived in the 4th century, earned the nickname “golden-mouth” because of his eloquent sermons against the lavish excesses of his day. While the masses loved him, he was not as popular with the Roman authorities.  When he was brought before the Roman emperor he was threatened with banishment if he remained a Christian. Chrysostom’s reply to the emperor reflects the insight of one who understands what true freedom in life is:

“You can’t banish me for this world is my father’s house.”
“But I will slay you,” said the emperor.
“No, you cannot,” said the noble champion of the faith, “for my life is hid with Christ in God.”
“I will take away your treasures.”
“No, but you cannot not for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.”
“But I will drive you away from man and you will have no friend left.”
“No, but you cannot, for I have a friend in heaven from whom but you cannot separate me. I defy you; for there is nothing that you can do to hurt me.” (Hughes, 171)
Chrysostom understood what Paul wanted the believers in Rome to understand—that once we are liberated from the condemnation of sin and death, we are truly free. When we move from the fear of death to faith in the resurrection it changes everything.

If God is for me, then I have nothing to fear
I need not fear death,
For my Savior’s Resurrection has set me free.
I need not fear men,
For my Savior’s protection has set me free.
I need not fear slander,
For my Savior’s advocacy has set me free.
I need not fear Judgment,
For my Savior’s blood has set me free.
I need not fear the future,
For my Savior’s promises have set me free.
I need not fear famine,
For my Savior’s provisions have set me free.
I need not fear rejection,
For my Savior’s acceptance has set me free.
I need not fear loneliness,
For my Savior’s presence has set me free.
I need not fear evil,
For my Savior’s righteousness has set me free.
Surely if God is for me, then I have nothing to fear.