Persecution

What was the Christian conflict with Rome?

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 serve not to be served. He came to sacrifice himself for others not to make himself or his ministers rich. 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.

RELIGIO quid sit

Those who want to blame religion for the deaths and murder o people often use that label "religion" to cover their own covetous hearts and slothful practices. Pure religion 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” 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. 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” but forced its offerings through the secular authority of magistrates appointed by civil and imperial governments.

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.

“...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.”

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” 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.

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”. 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.

Christ came that the whole World might be saved. He was going to take the kingdom from the Pharisees because they were not bearing fruit, the fruit of Repentance. He complained about their Corban because it was making the word of God to none effect because children were not taking care of the needs of their parents but leaving that to the Corban run through the temple.

Jesus condemned them because they did not attend to the weightier matters. Jesus warned them to call no man on earth Father and not be like the Benefactors who exercised authority. John the Baptist had preached against the forced contribution of the world and said that to make the way of the Lord straight they needed to care for their social needs with charity.

Peter and Paul warn against covetousness and eating that which was offered in these civil systems of social welfare. Peter tells you that it is this covetousness that would return you to bondage and make you human resources, literally Merchandise. He tells you that through these Covetous Practices that you would curse your children with debt and bondage and you have. You are warned not to bite one another because you will be devoured by this act of unrighteousness.

The early Christians were persecuted for the most part because they did not sign up for Roman welfare for their free Bread and circuses. This was clearly the Christian conflict with Rome.

Modern Christians often claim a belief in Christ and The Way but are not doers of His word and are in need of Repentance.

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In the Bible

Deuteronomy 30:7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.

Nehemiah 9:11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

Job 19:22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

Job 19:28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

Psalms 7:1 « Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. » O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

Psalms 7:5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

Psalms 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

Psalms 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Psalms 31:15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Psalms 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Psalms 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

Psalms 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

Psalms 71:11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

Psalms 83:15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

Psalms 109:16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.

Psalms 119:84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

Psalms 119:86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

Psalms 119:157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

Psalms 119:161 SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

Psalms 142:6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Psalms 143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Isaiah 14:6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

Jeremiah 15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

Jeremiah 17:18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

Jeremiah 20:11 But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

Jeremiah 29:18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

Lamentations 1:3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.

Lamentations 3:43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

Lamentations 3:66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

Lamentations 4:19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

Lamentations 5:5 Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Matthew 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

Mark 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Mark 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Luke 11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

Acts 22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Acts 26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Acts 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

2 Corinthians 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God,

Galatians 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

1 Thessalonians 2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

2 Timothy 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Revelation 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

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  Brother Gregory
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