It is necessary to note that the spread of Christianity, especially on matters of its diversity was primarily not the work of the preachers, but as a result of the circumstances with which, the traders, slaves, and others came to the preachers and received God’s message. Later then did the work of the missionaries to the non-Jews or Gentiles was done, through the works of the Apostles who followed Christ example in proclaiming the good new to the Gentiles.
As Christianity grows, its challenges regarding faith were also grown. There were remarkable persecutions such as the martyrdom of St. Stephen which gives a profound example of embracing the faith. Then Christians, especially during the time of Nero and Domitian, were persecuted not for the reason of believing what they believe but because of their denial of what the law or the state ordered. Such example was the emperor’s order to worship the Roman gods, which was rejected by the Christians and resulted to some persecutions.
Those persecutions became agents of awareness to the following believers on defending their faith. Then, in some circumstances, another persecution occur but not because of conflict with the state or intellectual matters but because of class prejudice. Christians faced many accusations and criticisms especially regarding on their gatherings in communion, which were interpreted by non-Christians as act of barbaric people or uncivilized. Then there came the Church’s apologist who defended such criticisms. Later on, the Church faced the Gnostics (who claimed that they have the secret avenue to salvation) and the Marcionists which were responded with the Canon, the Creed, and the Apostolic succession. Then these responses were strengthened by the Teachers of the Church; Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria who harmonized faith and reason, Tertullian of Carthage, and Origen of Alexandria.
If we try to reflect on the events that happened, every challenge of faith gets its response, and those responses are all for the defense of faith, which were handed to us from generation to generation. They were able to defend their faith to the extent of giving their lives all for the greater glory of God. In this generation, our challenges of faith are found in some issues regarding morality. We are challenged by the issues regarding abortion, divorce, same sex marriage, fornication, and all other immoral realities which seem to be a common thing to everyone. As disciples of Christ, it is our responsibility to guard our faith and to restore our morality. It is our duty to be an agent of God to bring His people back into his merciful arms. Yes, martyrdom is no longer an issue these days but we can find it in our daily encounter with those challenges in which we are given opportunity to deepen and defend our faith.
As Christianity grows, its challenges regarding faith were also grown. There were remarkable persecutions such as the martyrdom of St. Stephen which gives a profound example of embracing the faith. Then Christians, especially during the time of Nero and Domitian, were persecuted not for the reason of believing what they believe but because of their denial of what the law or the state ordered. Such example was the emperor’s order to worship the Roman gods, which was rejected by the Christians and resulted to some persecutions.
Those persecutions became agents of awareness to the following believers on defending their faith. Then, in some circumstances, another persecution occur but not because of conflict with the state or intellectual matters but because of class prejudice. Christians faced many accusations and criticisms especially regarding on their gatherings in communion, which were interpreted by non-Christians as act of barbaric people or uncivilized. Then there came the Church’s apologist who defended such criticisms. Later on, the Church faced the Gnostics (who claimed that they have the secret avenue to salvation) and the Marcionists which were responded with the Canon, the Creed, and the Apostolic succession. Then these responses were strengthened by the Teachers of the Church; Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria who harmonized faith and reason, Tertullian of Carthage, and Origen of Alexandria.
If we try to reflect on the events that happened, every challenge of faith gets its response, and those responses are all for the defense of faith, which were handed to us from generation to generation. They were able to defend their faith to the extent of giving their lives all for the greater glory of God. In this generation, our challenges of faith are found in some issues regarding morality. We are challenged by the issues regarding abortion, divorce, same sex marriage, fornication, and all other immoral realities which seem to be a common thing to everyone. As disciples of Christ, it is our responsibility to guard our faith and to restore our morality. It is our duty to be an agent of God to bring His people back into his merciful arms. Yes, martyrdom is no longer an issue these days but we can find it in our daily encounter with those challenges in which we are given opportunity to deepen and defend our faith.
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