What I Didn’t Learn in Seminary

I’m so grateful that I was able to do my undergraduate work at a Christian university. It was there that I truly developed a love for the Scriptures and a passion to impact the world for Christ. I’m also thankful for being able to graduate from Seminary, and for the many practical ministerial lessons I learned there.

However, even though I was blessed with a wonderful traditional Christian education and graced with many brilliant professors, I feel like the writings of the earliest Christians have deepened my faith far more than anything I was exposed to in the classroom.

To be fair, we did learn about a few of the major Gnostic heresies during the Ante-Nicene period such as Marcionism, Valentinianism and Manichaeism. However, it was basically implied that real orthodox Christianity began to take root with the 5th century teachings of St. Augustine (who spent his early years as a Manichaean before converting to Christianity).

I have encountered many believers who experienced the same carefully shaped version of Christian history in Bible college or seminary as I did. We were informed of the heresies the earliest Christians stood against, but despite the vast amount of Ante-Nicene writings available to be studied, we were neither exposed to them, not taught what the earliest Christians actually stood for.

So, for the remainder of this blog, I’m going to provide you with a few testimonies from the early Christians that led me to begin questioning my previously held spiritual worldview. Each of these testimonies are from apologetic-type works, with the authors describing the actions of Christians around the entire known world at the time.

As you read these excerpts, I’d like for you to ask yourself this question: Why? Why are testimonies like these rarely being taught to the up-and-coming pastors, professors and leaders of Christendom?

Justin Martyr on Christians and Violence in 160CE:

We who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons, — our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage, — and we cultivate piety, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope, which we have from the Father Himself through Him who was crucified… Now it is evident that no one can terrify or subdue us who have believed in Jesus over all the world. For it is plain that, though beheaded, and crucified, and thrown to wild beasts, and chains, and fire, and all other kinds of torture, we do not give up our confession; but the more such things happen, the more do others and in larger numbers become faithful, and worshippers of God through the name of Jesus. For just as if one should cut away the fruit-bearing parts of a vine, it grows up again, and yields other branches flourishing and fruitful; even so the same thing happens with us. – Justin Martyr 160CE, ANF Volume 1, p. 413 [CD-ROM]

Irenaeus on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in 180CE:

Those who are truly His disciples, receiving grace from Him, … perform [works] in His name, in order to promote the welfare of others, according to the gift that each one has received from Him. Some truly and certainly cast out devils. The result is that those who have been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come. They see visions, and they utter prophetic expressions. Still others heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and the sick are made whole. What is more, as I have said, even the dead have been raised up and remained among us for many years. … It is not possible to name the number of the gifts which the Church throughout the whole world has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and which she exerts day by day for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practicing deception upon any, nor taking any reward from them. – Irenaeus 180CE, ANF Volume 1, p. 676 [CD-ROM]

Tertullian on Christians and Government in 197CE:

As those in whom all zeal in the pursuit of glory and honor is dead, we have no pressing inducement to take part in your public meetings; nor is there anything at all more entirely foreign to us than affairs of state. … If, also, Jesus exercised no right of power even over His own followers, to whom He discharged menial ministry; if, in short, though conscious of His own kingdom, He shrank back from being made a king, He in the fullest manner gave His own an example for turning coldly from all the pride and garb, as well of dignity as of power. For if they were to be used, who would rather have used them than the Son of God? What kind and what number of weapons would escort Him? What kind of purple would bloom from His shoulders? What kind of gold would beam from His head, had He not judged the glory of the world to be alien both to Himself and to His? Therefore what He was unwilling to accept, He has rejected; what He rejected, He has condemned; what He condemned, He has counted as part of the devil’s pomp. – Tertullian 197CE, ANF Vol. 3, p. 67, 110 [CD-ROM]

So, what do you think? What could be some of the reasons that testimonies like these are rarely being taught to the up-and-coming pastors, professors and leaders of Christendom?

As I mentioned earlier, these are just a few of the subjects written about by the earliest Christians that began to cause shifts in my spiritual worldview. It can be scary when our worldviews are shaken; I know from experience. However, I’m so thankful that it happened.

The early Christians taught me to take Jesus more simply and seriously than I ever did before. They inspired me to believe with much more fervency that the same Holy Spirit who indwelt and empowered the Apostles still transforms and enables Christians today to walk as Jesus walked. They challenged me to trust more fully in God as my protector and avenger, and to more passionately wage war against the forces of darkness with the divine weapons graced to us by our Lord.

If you’d like to read more about my journey with Christ and how the testimony of the earliest Christians has been affecting my approach toward so many areas of life, please check out my book. Also, perhaps the best way to get introduced to the beliefs and practices of the Ante-Nicene Christians is to invest in The Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs. I recommend the hard copy, as it has proved much more user-friendly when navigating from topic to topic than the digital version. 

Seminary was definitely a blessing for me, but it’s what I didn’t learn in seminary that totally changed the course of my life. 

September 23, 2017 – Homecoming or Ho Hum?

For the second year in a row, certain Christians have been predicting that major, world-changing events will take place on my son’s birthday. It has to be a bit of a bummer when you want to celebrate but folks around you are forecasting apocalyptic-type events for your big day.

A growing number of Christians have been rallying behind the belief that a secret rapture of the Church is going to occur on September 23, 2017. They believe this event will then kick off a seven-year tribulation period, which will ultimately culminate with Jesus’ visible return.

I have to admit; the folks that have been working on this theory have done a ton of research. Hundreds of hours must have been spent putting all of this stuff together. And to be honest, some of it is impressive.

  

The theory, though, totally hinges on the doctrine of imminence. The modern doctrine of imminence basically states that Jesus will secretly rapture His Church without any signs preceding this event, and then the Great Tribulation will begin. Many Baptist seminaries teach this doctrine, and I used believe it as well. It’s become a very popular teaching over the last 150 years, and I admit that aspects of it are quite appealing.  

However, please consider that understanding of imminence in light of Jesus’ parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24. 

Jesus also told His disciples, “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Matthew 24:32-34).”

Jesus said that when we see all these things, we will know His return is imminent. So, what are all these things that He referenced earlier in the chapter?

v Vs 10) A great apostasy occurs within the Church.

v Vs 15) The Antichrist sets himself up in temple of God declaring himself to be above God.

v Vs 21) There is a great tribulation like never before in history.

v Vs 24) False Christs and false prophets do remarkable signs and wonders to mislead the elect.

v Vs 29) The sun is darkened.

v Vs 29) The moon doesn’t give its light.

v Vs 29) Stars fall from the sky and the powers of the heavens are shaken.

v Vs 30) THEN, all the tribes of the earth mourn when they see the Son of Man coming in clouds with power and great glory like lightning flashing from one end of the sky to the other. He appears with a great trumpet blast to gather His people to Himself.

Peter affirmed the simple words of Christ in his first sermon on the day of Pentecost. Quoting the Lord God in the book of Joel, he proclaimed, “And I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come (Acts 2:19-20).”

According to Peter and Jesus, before the day of the Lord, the sun will be darkened and the moon will look like blood. We should be looking for these signs.  

Paul adds his witness against the modern understanding of imminence in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3-4, writing that Jesus’ return and our being gathered to Him will not occur until after the great apostasy and the Antichrist is revealed.

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him… Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Like Paul and Jesus, the early Christian writers overwhelmingly affirmed that the Church would remain on earth while the Antichrist was bringing tribulation upon Christians. Here are just a few examples:

He shall come from heaven with glory, when the man of apostasy, who speaks strange things against the Most High, will venture to do unlawful deeds on earth against us Christians. – Justin Martyr 160CE, ANF Volume 1, p. 413 [CD-ROM]

He will cause all those who will not worship the image of the beast to be put to death. Here the faith and the patience of the saints will appear, for he says: “And he will cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead; that no man might buy or sell without having the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” For, being full of guile, and exalting himself against the servants of God, with the wish to afflict them and persecute them out of the world, because they give not glory to him, he will order censers to be set up by everyone, everywhere, so that no one among the saints may be able to buy or sell without first sacrificing. – Hippolytus 200CE, ANF Volume 5, p. 382 [CD-ROM]

The Antichrist, when he begins to come, will not be allowed to enter into the church just because he threatens. We will not yield to his arms and violence, even though he declares he will destroy us if we resist. . . . The Antichrist is coming. Yet, above him, comes Christ also. The enemy goes about and rages, but immediately the Lord follows to avenge our sufferings and our wounds. – Cyprian 250CE, ANF Volume 5, p. 613, 619 [CD-ROM]

The testimony of the earliest Christians is that we are going through the Great Tribulation. We will be around while the Antichrist is wreaking havoc on us and on the earth. Many Christians will fall away. Though we will experience the wrath of Satan and the Antichrist, true believers who persevere will not experience the wrath of God. Jesus will come for us just before He pours His bowls of wrath out upon the earth.

That is the overwhelming testimony of the earliest Christians. Now, it is possible that they could have been mistaken. It’s possible that at any moment, even on 9/23/17, without any signs or warnings, there will be a secret rapture of the Church that will usher in the Great Tribulation. But which is more prudent to prepare for?

Hurricane season is rapidly approaching in Houston, TX. In my lifetime, some have hit close to home, and some have been all bark and no bite. That being said, anyone who has been a Houstonian as long as I have knows that you prepare for the worst but hope for the best. Perhaps we should take the same approach to the Great Tribulation as we hold fast to the simple words of Christ.    

The Egyptian Church Bombings and the Early Christians

A little over a week ago on Palm Sunday, around 50 people were murdered when two bombs were detonated at Christian Coptic churches in Egypt. Responsibility for this horrific act was quickly claimed by the Islamic State, who vowed to spill rivers of blood from countless other followers of Jesus.

Two of the most common emotional reactions to unspeakably tragic events like this are anger and fear. We have to be careful with both emotions because though the Bible does give room for times when these attitudes of the heart are appropriate, they are frequently labeled as sinful and often lead to unholy actions.

For instance, James writes this about anger in 1:19-20, “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

In Luke 12:4-9, Jesus gives a masterful explanation of the difference between holy and worldly fear. “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”

There is a time and place for holy indignation and we should approach every situation with a fear of the Lord, however, I have experienced the destructive consequences of anger and anxiety far more than I would like to admit. If I was an Egyptian Christian, I’m sure those emotions would be tempting me to act in ways I would later regret. After all, it’s only human to try to overcome evil with evil.

But when I read about atrocities like the Egyptian church bombings, my mind always travels back to the early Christians. They faced unconscionable forms of persecution. So, how would they respond to a situation like this?

First, they would write apologetic letters to the governing authorities to help increase understanding and dispel rumors around the country about the Christian faith.

The Christians, O King … know and trust in God, the Creator of heaven and of earth, in whom and from whom are all things, to whom there is no other god as companion, from whom they received commandments which they engraved upon their minds and observe in hope and expectation of the world which is to come. … They comfort their oppressors and make them their friends. They do good to their enemies. … From now on, let the tongues of those who utter vanity and harass the Christians be silent; and in the future let them speak the truth. – Aristides 125CE, ANF Vol. 9, p. 443, 445 [CD-ROM]
 


Second, the early Christians would continue to faithfully follow the simple words of Christ, believing that the more persecution they faced, the more the power of the gospel would be unleashed.

We who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons — our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage — and we cultivate piety, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope, which we have from the Father Himself through Him who was crucified. … Now it is evident that no one can terrify or subdue us who have believed in Jesus over all the world. For it is plain that, though beheaded, and crucified, and thrown to wild beasts, and chains, and fire, and all other kinds of torture, we do not give up our confession; but the more such things happen, the more do others and in larger numbers become faithful, and worshippers of God through the name of Jesus. – Justin Martyr 160CE, ANF Vol. 1, p. 413, [CD-ROM]

Finally, as described in the Martyrdom of Polycarp, the early Christians believed that the power of prayer could transform enemies of the gospel into sons of the living God.

So when he (Polycarp) heard that they (the arresting soldiers) had come, he went down and spoke with them. And as those that were present marveled at his age and constancy, some of them said. “Was so much effort made to capture such a venerable man?” Immediately then, in that very hour, he ordered that something to eat and drink should be set before them, as much indeed as they cared for, while he pleaded with them to allow him an hour to pray without disturbance. And on their giving him leave, he stood and prayed, being full of the grace of God, so that he could not cease for two full hours, to the astonishment of them that heard him, insomuch that many began to repent that they had come forth against so godly and venerable an old man. – Martyrdom of Polycarp 135CE, ANF Vol. 1, p. 68 [CD-ROM]

The early Christians show us that we neither have to resort to worldly anger nor fear when faced with persecution. There is always another way. There is the way of the misunderstood King who rode a young donkey into Jerusalem a week before He was crucified. It may not be safe, but it transforms enemies into brothers.  

Fire of Fire

Occasionally, we have a random maid come by to clean the house. Just like when the Jehovah’s Witnesses ring our doorbell, I try to make the most of these opportunities.

After she finished up, I asked her if she liked to read. When she said she did, I offered her a copy of my book New: Wineskins and the Simple Words of Christ. I explained how I believe that everyone who comes into a relationship with Jesus carries baggage that influences him or her to not take God at His word.

Societal and familial traditions, religious and denominational leanings, philosophical pontifications of teachers and university professors, traumatic experiences, affluence, poverty and the values of our closest friends are all potential pieces of luggage we bring into the journey of following Jesus. And most of the time, we have no concept of the tremendous weight they carry in shaping our worldviews.

Also, it is very natural to see God through the lens of how we feel about our fathers. If our fathers were dependable, we often find it easier to trust God, who is referred to as our heavenly Father. However, if we had rocky or nonexistent relationship relationships with our dads, taking God at His word often proves to be a difficult endeavor. The cleaning lady told me she hadn’t seen her father in roughly twenty years, and had only just begun going back to church after about that same amount of time.

It’s interesting how the Scriptures inform us that instead of passing God through the filter of our earthly fathers, we should let the life and ministry of Jesus be the living, visible definition of our unseen heavenly Father.

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. – John 1:17-18

“Only begotten” is a weird phrase we do not often hear in our culture, which literally translates as “one of a kind”. To help understand what it means that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, let me explain by using an analogy from the early Church (remembering, of course, that all analogies will fall short at some point).

It is just as we see also happening in the case of a fire, which is not lessened when it has kindled another fire. Rather, it remains the same. And that which has been kindled by it likewise appears to exist by itself, not diminishing the fire from which it was kindled. The Word of Wisdom … is Himself this God, begotten of the Father. … “The Lord made me the beginning of His ways for His works. From everlasting He established me in the beginning, before He had made the earth.” – Justin Martyr 160CE, Volume 1, p. 365 [CD-ROM]

Fire of Fire. Light of Light. God of God.

Jesus, the Word who was God and was with God from the beginning, was never created, for by Him all things were created. Jesus was begotten. He is very God of the eternal one true God. All these truths reveal why Jesus could say to Philip, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Those words can be life-changing for people like me who have grown up with trust issues.

Maybe you’ve been wounded by a parent, so it’s hard for you to trust in a God who calls Himself a heavenly Father. Maybe you’ve been hurt by Christians who call God their heavenly Father, so it’s difficult for you to become part of what you consider a dysfunctional family. Maybe you’ve read sections of the Old Testament where you see God making laws or doing things that appear to be contradictory to One who calls Himself slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Whatever the case, whatever baggage you carry, let me ask you: How do you feel about Jesus? Is He someone you feel you can trust? Personally, I can’t think of anyone more trustworthy, and He is the exact representation of the Father’s nature.

The apostle Paul wrote, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). This passage does not imply that God forced Christ to die for us, but that Jesus willingly engaged in this selfless act.

In fact, Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.” His joy was not found in experiencing the agony, but in what would be accomplished through His humiliation—our reconciliation. Our deliverance from the domain of darkness brought Jesus Christ joy as He contemplated and endured the physical and spiritual torture of the cross. We fix our eyes on Jesus because He shows us God the Father.

For nearly two decades, I believed I had a terrible earthly father, and thus a sketchy heavenly one. But how many people can say they had fathers who constantly told them they loved them? Or had fathers who always pro- vided new clothes for school? Or had fathers who came to virtually all their sporting and musical events? Or had fathers who played sports with them, even if they did not particularly enjoy those sports? Or had fathers who were separated from their mothers but still managed to keep doing these things?

I could go on, but you get the idea. Perception is not always reality. The truth is I am blessed to have the father I do, and I had a much better upbringing than millions of other people. Likewise, though for a while I thought my heavenly Father was untrustworthy, nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God, has demonstrated to us the character of God the Father, and He is good. He is worthy of us laying down our lives for Him, because Jesus has already laid down His life for us.

It was amazing seeing the fire come into that woman’s eyes as we talked and she began to view her heavenly Father in a new and true light. May the fire of the Holy Spirit ignite a new love for your heavenly Father that manifests in a passionate commitment to following the simple words of Jesus Christ.