AllHoursChurch

What Is Worth Dying For?

Believe it or not, there is an old Christian belief that Santa Claus punched a man named Arius on the nose. We think of the jolly old Saint Nicholas as a kind man who loves children, but there actually seems to be some valid basis for the belief that Arius was indeed accosted by a certain Nicholas, the bishop of Myra, at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. This was not the first incidence of violence between Christians who believed as Arius did and those who did not but matters escalated when the Emperor Constantine exherted his authority.

One fact many are unaware of is that Constantine was actually baptized by an Arian bishop, Eusebius of Nicomedia, and that he may not have rigged the Nicene council, as many suppose. What's more, some of the emperors after Constantine favored the Arian side, which denied the pre-eternal Sonship and divinity of Jesus.

It is one of many sad facts of Christian history. Many of the persecutions of Christians that took place after the Council of Nicea were not by those preferring the old Roman gods but by Roman Emperors who were Christian followers of Arius. Similarly, those who followed the Nicene creed were quick to usurp Arian church properties sometimes with violence. There was violence stemming from both sides.

It gets worse. In fact, the incidence of Christian doctrine-based violence goes back even farther to the rejection of a man named Marcion in the second century. Ironically, that controversy was over the fact that Marcion found the God of the Old Testament to be violent, intolerant and vengeful, while the God of the New Testament was loving and peaceful. He did not want to accept the Old Testament into the Scriptures, believing that the God of Jesus Christ could not possibly be the same God, but was presenting a new more inspired divinity. We may reject Marcion's view as failing to appreciate the Old Testament as inspired prophecy and a beginning of revelation but should glean from this that the first century Christianity that he knew and observed was not one of violence, but one of mercy and love and reconciliation. Wouldn't it be nice if we could be restored to a type of Christianity that was known for peace and a God of peace? Wouldn't it be wonderful if Christians could be known by their love, as Jesus said we would be?

It is ironic that on account of his awareness of this, Marcion was actually divisive - separating the New Testament from the Old and becoming the cause of one of the first Christian controversies. In the name of peace, division was the result. How can this be? Discerning Christians will admit that the reason for this great irony is that the devil is still the prince of this world and that Christians are not exempt from his influence. Far from it, we are the first and foremost targets as the flock of satan's arch-nemesis, Jesus. He operates like a wolf in sheep's clothing seeking whom he may devour, with the appetite and violence of a ferocious lion.

The sheep know the Good Shepherd's voice though, and it is gentle. The Lord implores us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, and being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Jesus said that up until His time the kingdom suffered violence but we know that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. We must fight a fight of faith against all principalities and every high power of the air that is not sent from heaven by the Lord. We may well correct one another in love, but we must constantly be reminded that truth without kindness is cruelty.

Jesus suffered from the violence of this world and it was for us that He gave Himself up. People have died for causes through the centuries and perhaps there is justification. Even the crusades can be seen as defensive moves against aggressors but the Lord made it clear that whoever would live by the sword will die by it. This is to say that the way of fighting in this world is worldly. He says, "the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." We mourn the loss of our loved ones who have died in battle and we remember them and count their causes worthy. We are sometimes forced to make very difficult decisions about risking our lives and paying the ultimate price for freedom or other higher purposes.

Indeed, every decision in life is a choice of how to use what remains of our time here. The Lord Himself commands us to "redeem the time." He says be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, "making the most of your time, because the days are evil." So don't be foolish, but "understand what the will of the Lord is." 

Everyone dies. Not everyone redeems the time. At this time our volunteers will be going out to visit with each church pastor in Tallahassee to pray about how to use the time the Lord has for us while we remain. What is the Lord's will? Each one of us is called to die for something. We are called to die to our own will and to live for His. Therefore we must ask Him what His will is for our lives since we are offering to Him a sacrifice of praise, not just with our lips, but with our obedience as His bond-servants. We must each pick up our crosses.

Can we hear an "amen"? May it ever be so.