The First Christian Empire

It began on Monday May 11, 330, when it was officially founded by Constantine the Great, and it ended on Tuesday May 29, 1453, when Sultan Mehmed II breached its walls and conquered its capital.  Its one thousand one hundred twenty three years are a study in Christian government and empire.  I am referring to the Byzantine Empire.

Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in 312 A.D. marks the victory of Christianity over Roman paganism.  Constantine then faced a question unique in history up to that point, “What does it mean to be a Christian ruler and a Christian empire?” The eighty-seven Byzantine rulers who would occupy the Byzantine throne after him over the next millennium would grapple with the same question.  If we were to judge them solely by the longevity of the empire they stewarded, we would have to conclude they did well.  But there is more to commend the Byzantines than mere longevity.

John Julius Norwich writes, “The Byzantines were…a deeply religious society in which illiteracy–at least among the middle and upper classes–was virtually unknown, and in which one Emperor after another was renowned for his scholarship; a society which alone preserved much of the heritage of the Greek and Latin antiquity, during these dark centuries in the West when the lights of learning were almost extinguished; a society, finally, which produced the astonishing phenomenon of Byzantine art.”

Notwithstanding the glories of the Byzantine Empire, ultimately the kingdom of God is not defined or delimited by earthly empire, and, therefore, Constantinople’s sacking in 1453, while a historical tragedy did not impede the advance of the kingdom of God.  In fact, as I have suggested in another post, Kingdom History: 1453-1455, the fall of Constantinople may have been necessary in God’s larger plan for the advance of the kingdom of God.  GS

Are You Beer or Wine?

My parents and most of my extended family live in the same small town, halfway across the country from where my wife and I live.  And when I visit my parents for a day or two, I usually spend all my time with them.  As a result, I haven’t seen many of my aunts and uncles and cousins for years.

Yesterday, though, we had  a Fourth of July celebration with food, fireworks and family fellowship.  Seeing a person you know well in five year increments is a lot like time-lapse photography. It gives you perspective familiarity plus proximity obscure.  Change is highlighted instead of hidden. All this got me thinking about aging.

I’ve noticed as people age, one of two things happen. If they are not a Christian, they tend to become more self-centered and set in their ways and care less about the needs of others.  If they are a Christian, submitted to the lordship of Jesus and subject to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, with age they become less self-centered, more adaptable and concerned about the needs of others.

I realize this is a broad generalization, subject to exceptions and gradations, but the distinction is real.  It’s like the first group becomes more abrasive with age and the second palatable.

It’s the same with beer and wine.  As beer ages it becomes offensive to the palate.  This realization is what gave birth to the idea of “born-on dating” for beer.  A lot of people like beer, but I don’t know anyone who likes it when it is old.  Wine is the opposite:  as it ages it gets smoother and more palatable.  Even very expensive wine, if you drink it too soon will have a harshness to it, but age will transform it into something even a wine novice can enjoy.

Jesus is the Great Vintner.  He turned water into incredible wine.  (John 2:1-11).  So here’s the question: are you beer or wine? GS

A Tale Of Two Travelers

I’ve spent the entire day at the airport.  My wife and I arrived at 9:30 a.m. for our 10:50 a.m. flight. First, it was delayed for nearly three hours.  Then, once we boarded, our plan was stuck in line on the tarmac for an hour waiting to take off because of the weather. Our plane then pulled out of the line because we had a mechanical problem.  When it couldn’t be fixed, we taxied back to the gate where we waited and later deplaned when the flight was cancelled.  Not good.

By the time those of us who had been on the flight got into the long line back at the gate to try to find alternative flights to our destinations, it was 4:30 p.m, and it looked like it would take an hour before we reached the desk to find out our options.  People were not happy.

While standing in line, I overheard a man behind me on the phone, explaining in a loud, angry tone to whomever the events of the last 7 hours.  He blamed the airline for making us wait out on the tarmac for an hour and for making us wait while they tried to fix the problem and then for not canceling the flight sooner.

As I tried to tune him out, I heard another man directly behind me also talking on the phone, explaining to someone what had happened.  His voice was calm and pleasant.  “Brother, it’s all good,” he said, “It’s better they cancelled the flight than that we all end up with our heads between our knees on landing.  It’s for the best.  We’ll see you when we get there. Lord bless you.”

I suspected the second man was a Christian, and I was right.  Over the next 30 minutes I engaged him in conversation.  It turns out he and his wife were on their way to a Christian conference.  He had a delightful attitude and he even drew a smile from the airline representative, who had been dealing with angry customers all day.  It made me proud to be a Christian.

As I write this, it’s 7:45 p.m. and I’m still stuck in the same airport.  It’s not clear whether our new flight will be cancelled. It’s ok though because there are more important things, like being a good ambassador for the King and His kingdom.  GS

How Kingdom Citizenship Provides Basis for Racial Harmony

One of the things I love about my church is we are truly diverse.  In fact, if you were to visit our church you would see it looks very much like the major city in which I live.  This is as it should be, and for good reason.

The Apostle Paul said that Jesus, through the cross, abolished the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles and reconciled them into one. (Ephesians 2:11-16).  This was a result of the cross of Christ.  The genius of the cross is it ensures all must come the same way to God.  It doesn’t matter how much money one has, how skilled they are, how strong they are, how religious or how good they are, because none of that is a basis for being reconciled to God.

Only through the finished work of the cross does one gain access to God.  Therefore, we all come the same way, and consequently, we are all born again “equal.”  This is the basis for racial harmony.  All others are cheap imitations: they may achieve some progress, but they do not get one to the finish line.

The foundation for the love the members of our racially diverse church have for one another is not inspired by a humanitarian impulse, man-made political correctness or even a common cause, but that we were all rescued the same way, by the same Person, through nothing we brought to the table.  As a result, none of us can claim to have been more deserving of our reconciliation to our Creator. As the Apostle Paul said, “by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The cross, and hence citizenship in the Kingdom, is the foundation for racial harmony.  GS

A Simple Question

Which is more powerful, the effect of the Fall of Man or the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

It’s an important question.  Many Christians talk like they believe the former is more powerful.  They say a Christian can never really live in victory over sin this side of heaven.

They say the world will get worse over time as sinful man prevails even over the leavening work of the Gospel.  They say the Gospel will not succeed on the earth until Jesus physically returns to impose His rule on mankind.  Although they would never say it like this, they believe God is a loser in history.

I don’t see how that can be.  If you are a Christian, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.  (Romans 8:11) The same Spirit that defeated death can defeat sin.  The same Spirit that changed you can change the world.

So, which is more powerful?  It’s a simple question. GS