Chapter Two: The Story of the Church
Three broad periods of time in the history of the church.
Minority Status Marks:
- Internal. A close knit, even secretive community that rejected the cults of the pagan gods. Generally did not undertake military service. But, they had a very effective pastoral care ministry for their members.
- External. They were afraid of the very real threat of persecution. They were misunderstood and accused of human sacrifice and cannibalism. But, they extended their pastoral care to the marginalized and the poor.
Minority Status Tensions.
- Religious inheritance and environment
a. Judaism. The early Christians had to navigate Jewish law and realities of life. “What emerges for Paul as the key ethical principle in this area is the importance of bearing one another’s burdens, including the burden of conscience.”
b. Paganism. While the early Christians borrowed from pagan thought, much of pagan belief and practice was offensive to them - The State
a. Provocation. The morals of the state are bankrupt and the church needs a complete separation from the state.
b. Compromise. There are areas where the church and state can coexist. Even Jesus seemed to support that view. Keeping the law is one good example. - Eschatology and daily life. Because the eschaton did not appear to be happening in their lifetimes, the church had to deal with issues that related to morals living in their society.
a. Money and Slaves. The early church had to struggle with these issues. Money became to be viewed as both bad and good. Slavery was largely not condemned, but Christian masters were urged to not be harsh.
b. Sex and Marriage. Attitudes to sex were largely driven by the culture’s sexual license. Chastity was the ideal. Marriage a secondary option. Woman were viewed as subordinate to their spouses, just like the culture viewed them.
c. Women. The church struggled with the role of women. While there were women who were prominent, in general the church followed the cultural norms.
It was during this time that the monasticism became a trend. Anthony is the iconic monastic.
Christendom.
- The Constantinian Church. Christianity underwent a huge change when Constantine adopted Christianity and became its champion.
- Monasticism after Constantine. Monasticism underwent a huge change as well. It became less solitary and more communal and was for both men and women (separately).
- The Medieval Period. After the fall of Rome in 410 CE, the church had a roman center and a Constantinople center. Eventually, in 105e the two split and the Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches were formalized. Issues that were addressed by the church during this period include:
a. Confession and penance, Confession was a transaction. A sin was traded for an appropriate penance.
b. Social Ethics. The church tended to view the existing social order as part of God’s order.
c. War. War was seen as a necessary evil, but in defined circumstances. This gave legitimacy to the Crusades and to the anti-Jewish sentiments that were common.
d. Money. Lending at interest was widely condemned. Property ownership was debated and the church authorites came down on the side of property was part of God’s plan. - The Reformation. Key themes in the reformation include:
a. Works and the will. Grace trumps works. Works are not necessary, but may be a natural outcome of grace.
b. Social order. The secular life was given dignity, but there was no social revolution.
c. Money. - The church in Modernity. During this time, the idea of Christian ethics started.
a. Reasonableness and Fervor.
1. Industrialization and Mission.
2. Mission and the shift away from western Europe and North America.
3. Eucmenism and other faiths.
4. Political and theological liberalism.