Persecution
Why were Christians persecuted and what did that persecution look like?
In the first few hundred years of the last millennium 1.5 million people on all sides of the conflict were killed in the Crusades to the Holy Land which was suppose to be led by “Christians”.
During the late 1500s in the Wars of Religion in France people claiming to be Christians killed 4 million people claiming also to be Christians. If you add in the inquisitions there were at least 6 million people killed by people claiming to be Christians. Other estimates reach number three and four times that. The question is are those killers “real Christians”.
Back in the late second century when Romans were persecuting Christians the Taoists of the Yellow Scarves Rebellion in China were causing the death of over 7 million people. A dearth and crop failures had brought famine and displaced the people. The Taoists of that Rebellion had organized the people to rise up and throw off the oppression of corrupt governments and those who became wealthy by exploiting cheap labor. Others took advantage of this to become rich at their expense because of their misfortune.
The truth is if you look at the Democratic Socialist Party in Germany they killed close to 20 million people including about 9 million Christians only to be out done by Stalin who killed some three times that number of his own people. China’s People Revolution topped that with their own efforts to murder each other from World War II to 1970.
The truth is people kill people.
Religion is sometimes used as an excuse. As we have shown there are two definitions of religion floating around in the mind of men throughout history. There is the religion of love and service steeped in forgiveness and giving and the religion of prideful theological opinions. The more people lean to the definition that “religion” is “what you think about supreme beings” (personal or private theological opinion) the more likely religion can be used as an excuse to oppress and even kill people.
Just as an example, Pope Innocent the III pronounced it the duty of each secular government at the Lateran Council in 1215 to execute heretics and Frederic the II obliged him just 5 years later to get himself off the heretic list.
Fred’s edict said, “Heretics of all sects were outlawed; and when condemned as such by the Church they were to be delivered to the secular arm to be burned.” even if they recanted they would get life in prison.
But of course the real motivation could be seen in the unjust terms of the edict “All the property of the heretic was confiscated and his heirs disinherited. His children, to the second generation, were declared ineligible to any positions of emolument or dignity, unless they should win mercy by betraying their father or some other heretic.”
Pope Pius II engaged in this profitable search for heretics as late as 1458 when dead people were still being accused of heresy. They would be literally dug up, put on trial, found guilty, and their remains burned. The key motivation here too was again the heirs of estate of the dead heretical ancestor would have all their property confiscated by religious rulers of Rome. And of course someone would have to manage these properties which was often the accusers themselves if not the inquisitors.
The combining of secular powers of the earth with the desires of opinionated theologians was often a recipe for death and oppression. But when you sweep away all the labels like religion and government it comes down to the real cause of mass murder is pride, hate and greed. So the true followers of Jesus the Christ who preached humility, love and charity never killed anyone nor has the religion preached by Jesus caused the death of any people.
Jesus came to serve1 not to be served. He came to sacrifice himself for others not to make himself2 or his ministers rich.3 But a great many people still call themselves “Christians” and believers in Jesus but they are in fact taking that label or name in vain. They are clearly and actually workers of iniquity.4
RELIGIO quid sit5
Those who want to blame religion for the deaths and murder often use that label to cover their own covetous hearts and slothful practices. Pure religion6 is the way you take care of your obligation to your fellow man. We do that by providing for the widows and orphans and needy families of society who have fallen on hard times. In order to do that in a way that strengthens the poor we need to gather together in away that allows us to strengthen those in need. The true followers of Christ, John the Baptist, Moses and Abraham want to do that with freewill offerings which is what we call charity while the secularist wants to force the offerings of the people through authoritarian governments.
The people of the world often want to force all people to do what they want, pay for what they want, do things their way. Such covetous and autocratic practices are anti Christ whether you rely upon a king or the ballot box. Socialism is secular religion in the sense that it is the way some people take care of the needy of society. The socialist is not pro choice though he or she may profess they are with their lips.
Since the definition of religion just two hundred years ago consisted of “the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men”7 the socialist believes that duty should be enforced by secular government. While the socialist may have a variety of opinions about the existence or non existence of a spiritual supreme being they all believe that some men should have the right to rule as supreme over their fellow man in the performance of that “religious” duty of social care.
“The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful.” Edward Gibbon (1776)(Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part I. Second Paragraph)
But when Gibbons wrote this quote he was not referring to religion as much as he was speaking of superstition for it appears between two lines with that reference.8 The real problem with what had become Roman religion was its connection to civil government. Like Herod’s system of Corban the Κορβάν system of Greece and Rome were religious institutions with its “Roman Pontiffs”9 but forced its offerings through the secular authority of magistrates appointed by civil and imperial governments.10
It has been reported that Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the Younger once said "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." Atheists and anti religion factions love to quote him but I find no evidence that he ever did actually say or write this. In fact he makes a distinction between the two Latin words that are each sometimes translated as “religion”. One is “riligio” which he regarded as virtue and “superstitio” which he believed became a vice.11
“...just as religion does honour to the gods, while superstition wrongs them, so good men will all display mercy and gentleness,...” Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the Younger , De Clementia On Mercy , II. iv. 4-v. 4
He went on to connect religion with duty, the weightier matters of Christ and the whole list of Social virtues that appear in true fellowship. And it points out that it is avarice that degenerates society:
“ ...[Philosophy’s] sole function is to discover the truth about things divine and things human. From her side religion never departs, nor duty, nor justice, nor any of the whole company of virtues which cling together in close-united fellowship. Philosophy has taught us to worship that which is divine, to love that which is human; she has told us that with the gods lies dominion, and among men, fellowship. This fellowship remained unspoiled for a long time, until avarice tore the community asunder and became the cause of poverty, even in the case of those whom she herself had most enriched. For men cease to possess all things the moment they desire all things for their own.” 12
That avarice was the “extreme greed for wealth or material gain” at the expense of your neighbor that moves the socialist toward a welfare state. Romans had spoken of and warned Roman society from Polybius to Plutarch and Seneca was no different.
Early Christians were fond of Seneca and his writings, and authors like Tertullian referred to him as "our Seneca." This was because he was not against religion but superstition. Superstition is used to unmoor our understanding from the wisdom of God. We are warned against the same in the Bibles reference to “fables”13 which is translated from the Greek word “muthos” from which we get the word myth.
There are countless warnings in the Bible and by Christ that we would be deceived by false Christs preached by many professing Christ.14
It was Christ and the apostles who preached charity, love and forgiveness and Cain, Nimrod, Caesar and Herod who preached the socialist state which forced offerings compelled by civil government which takes away the freedom of man.
Even Cicero understood that “If we do only what is required of us we are slaves, the moment we do more we are free.” Cicero, 106 - 43 B.C.
A free society cannot survive as free unless the people embrace the wisdom of Christ and walk in His way of love. Coveting the goods or sweat of your neighbor, even though he may be wealthy, drags society into a path of degeneration and hopelessness.
If you will not trust your neighbor to make the righteous choice of helping those in true need why do you trust them with the power to force and distribute contributions needy in society? Those who choose to imagine that people will not volunteer to help their neighbor like faith but those who want to force the contributions of others covet power more than righteousness. They love their own pride more than they love their neighbor.
In Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, he praised “the union and discipline of the Christian republic”. He also pointed out that “it gradually formed an independent and increasing state in the heart of the Roman Empire”.15 The early Christian ekklesia was a republic that was recognized by Rome through the proclamation nailed to the cross of Christ by order of the Proconsul of Rome, Pontius Pilate. When Jesus rose from the dead to stand again upon the earth, so did His Kingdom.
The apostles when instilled with the Holy Spirit came out preaching the kingdom of God was at hand and comes to us by grace as we love one another by doing the will of the Father in heaven instead of the fathers of the earth. That Kingdom is now living in the hearts of those who follow His way as doers of His word.
1Luke 22:27 For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
22 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
3Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
4Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Workers_of_Iniquity
5RELIGION what it is
6James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Pure_Religion
7John Bouvier's 1856 Law Dictionary
8“The policy of the emperors and the senate, as far as it concerned religion, was happily seconded by the reflections of the enlightened, and by the habits of the superstitious, part of their subjects....The superstition of the people was not embittered by any mixture of theological rancour; nor was it confined by the chains of any speculative system.”
9A pontiff is from Latin pontifex. In Roman antiquity they were the high priests of the Roman religion.
10“The magistrates could not be actuated by a blind, though honest bigotry, since the magistrates were themselves philosophers; and the schools of Athens had given laws to the senate. They could not be impelled by ambition or avarice, as the temporal and ecclesiastical powers were united in the same hands. The pontiffs were chosen among the most illustrious of the senators; and the office of Supreme Pontiff was constantly exercised by the emperors themselves. They knew and valued the advantages of religion, as it is connected with civil government.” Chapter 2, Fall In The West from The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
11RELIGIO et superstitio quid different. What difference between religion and superstition
12Moral letters to Lucilius by Seneca, Letter XC. On the Part Played by Philosophy in the Progress of Man
131 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
14Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Revelation 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
15Rousseau and Revolution, Will et Ariel Durant p.801. fn 83 Heiseler, 85.