The studying of early Church history is a momentous event. Through this study I would like to bring out the impact of persecution in the beliefs and practices of early Church. For our deeper understanding I will describe the history of persecution. Further we will see how persecution brought dangerous issues in the Churches and that treated their future unity and existence.
The History Of Persecutions
The book of Acts does not mention about the persecution done by Nero, who came into power in 54 A.D. He was the sixth emperor of Rome, sanctioned the first persecution. This persecution was in Rome only. It was under his reign that the government officially sanctioned persecution to the Christian’s religion. Though this persecution was for short period and based locally but it was the beginning of marked difference between Christian and Jews.
Emperor Domitian took his divinity seriously such that he signed letters with “your lord and god Domitian.” He declared that to be a Christian is a crime. He sought out the lineage of Jesus to kill that (though Jesus did not marry and even He did not have a child). Saint John was banished to Patmos Island under his rule. Domitian successors also follow same persecution. It is worthy to mention that during persecution period, by looking at the age of Bishop Polycarp, the Proconsul ask him to reproach Christ so that he will be release, but old Bishop boldly replied, “eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my king and my savior.” The reason of persecution is that Christian claimed that there is only one God and that salvation will depend on our acceptance or rejection for eternity. This was the main issue on edict of Caesar worship, which gave proved that Christian are not good citizens and unfaithful before the Emperors. The persecution was such a severe and intense. That Latin scholar Tertullian remarked “if the Tiber reaches the walls, if the Nile does not rise to the fields, if the sky doesn’t move or if plague, the cry is at once; the Christian to the Lions! What, all of them to one lion.” In some persecution they attempted to destroy all the Christian’s property, Holy Scripture and Christian writing. However some persecution was instigated by mobs and others were by state. Therefore after examining the persecution we can understand that some of them were local, or regional, or empire wide.
THE IMPACT OF THE PERSECUTION IN THE EARLY CHURCH
Here we will thoroughly explore the impact and theological or practical issues face by the Churches from the persecution.
Separation of Christianity and Judaism
In the early years of Christianity it was possible for Christians to worship in the temple (Peter and John heal the crippled man, story in Acts 3:1-4; 22). They practice and worship different God but some thought that Christian is a sect of the Jewish religion. For example, Paul habitually started to preach in a new town at the synagogue. Thus in the first century Judaism were like the mother of Christianity. The persecution of Emperor Nero was for local and short period but that was the beginning of marked difference between Judaism and Christianity. Therefore this persecution gave quick split between Judaism and Christianity. It is to be clear that without persecution also there will be surely separation between Judaism and Christianity. However the significance of the first persecution is that it effected in a quick separation between Judaism and Christianity.
Sect-Type Mentality
Because of the intense persecution faced by the believers, of early Church they began to develop a “sect mentality.” The Christian began to fell a big gap in their social life too. Rodney Stark the author of The Raise of Christianity said sects are religious groups in a relatively high state of tension with the environment. Though Christian is not a sect Tertullian advocated that Christian should not take part in passionate excitement and even athletic competitions. Even they said that there is no relation between Christian thought and worldly knowledge and wisdom. It was like North and South Poles. Hence, persecution shaped the thought of early Christians into narrow mentality.
Martyrdom: A Treat
The ongoing threat of martyrdoms made a Christian a risky matter. The early Christians faced persecution of excruciating tortures. Most of them had obligated to pass their days in the fear of life treatments and even some for confiscations of church or personal property. Thus there were no any mass conversions. Only those who had deep commitment came to Jesus. Hence, because of persecution there was less quantitative conversion but there was qualitative church growth.
Contributed for the Church Growth
Though, often persecutions were carried out in every province, city and town because the governor was exceedingly active in fulfilling the imperial decrees or demands of mob. Thus some scholars said the early believers did not allow new people or strangers to come to their worship or fellowship. Hence, persecution became a barrier for church growth. However in contrast to that viewpoint Tertullian expressed “that persecution actually fed church growth.” Especially, the heathen people, like the executioner have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. It might be because of witnessing to the faith of believer and their humble acceptance of suffering unto death without complain or murmuring. Therefore, instead of plundering church, church was populated.
Worship in the Catacombs
Despite the unimaginable moment of pain, the tomb stone inscriptions breath forth peace, joy and triumph. Thus in The Archaeology of Early Church William H.C. Frend said “what catacomb art demonstrates is that in addition to the aspirations of the deceased.” For example ‘conquered in peace and in Christ,’ and ‘Home calling, he went in peace,’ in the midst of emotional struggles also believers lived to witness the moral values, love for their God and even used the fruit of forgiveness to their persecutor. In the catacombs they honored and burned their dead. Later on they use catacombs as a place to fellowship and worship. Hence, William H.C. Frend said “the banquet scent in the capella gracea, the little subterranean can chapel in the Priscilla catacomb, forming part of the earliest representation of the Eucharistic sacrifice.”
Privilege of Leadership to Women
If famine, pestilence, or earthquakes afflicted the region then Christians bore fury and also confiscations church-owned buildings. To avoid the problem Christians began to meet in house and catacombs for fellowship and worship. Thus, the house-church was the normal church building during the first two centuries of Christian expansion. The positive side of persecution was that women began to actively take part in worship. According to the church historian Paul Mekechnic there were a multiple house churches (not just one) in medium-single household (quasi private) to multiple-household (quasi public) churches may account for a fast change away from the initial situation in which women who were heads of their own households were likely to figure as Christian leaders leader by virtue of that position.
This shows a higher proportion of women, as church house owners were the women. Paul Mekechnic further said that, over the first three centuries, a large majority of house church patrons were women. In support to that Abraham J. Malherbe in Social Aspects of Early Christianity maintains “the development of church policy can never be understood without reference to the house church. The house church was the training ground for the Christian leaders who were to build the church after the loss of apostolic guidance.” Hence, because of persecution women got privileges to involve in leading worship.
Veneration of Martyr Saint
The sentiments of some martyr were so zealous in their imitation of Christ. Some critic said to attained honorable veneration or holy name after death few martyr bourns witnesses up to final execution. Many heard their fiery sentence without emotions, walked cheerfully to the place of execution, and underwent their martyr with great fortitude. It is reported the early church annually honored martyr by having their death anniversaries as heavenly birthdays and even they praise martyr in songs. The reading of the martyr’s history and prayer were held at the grave. Believers gave high esteem to remain cloth of martyr. The bloods and bones of martyr saint were regarded more valuable than precious stones and finer than gold. Even people believed that in them was power to work miracles to heal and to protect from evil spirits. They believed that martyr would receive crowned with garlands of flowers; for which they, in heaven, received eternal crown of glory. But some early church Father advised them we should not invite death or martyr. If it’s come on the way we have to accept it. Thus their writing helped shape the church’s of emerging theology of martyrdom.
Issue in Returning After Lapsing
The persecutions under Decius particularly obtain of a certificate (libellus) this method created the moral chaos in Christian community. It was clear that Christians should not sacrifice to a false god at any circumstances. But it was a bit of gray area some Christian to save their own life they buy certificate by bribing the Roman officer without bowing to a false god. Other though that it is only image, sacrificing before them is not any problem even eating food offered to idols is nothing to do with faith, but there were many Christians executed for defying or going against this edict. The problem aroused in the Christian community some save their lives by sacrifices or bribe certificate. Whether they will be accepted in the churches became an issue. The few rejected but most of the churches accepted. Then internal desertion start in church and some begin to form sects or schismatic namely Novatianists.
CONCLUSION
The preceding essay attempted to examine the beliefs and practices of the early church in the midst of the impact of persecution. The study was thoroughly done to find the root cause of their internal problem faced by churches during and after the persecution period. Unlike some period of history they do not had rules book or set doctrine or tenants of faith, but their theology was purely based on everyday experience. Thus, most of their beliefs and practices were shaped by the experiment of suffering. This persecution has brought quality conversion, solid church growth and some acknowledgement of women leadership but probably not much. On other side, persecution also divides the unity of church after returning of lapsing and leads the formation of sect or schismatic. These issues were varied from person to person and place to place and they were present in almost every church. However, faithful belief presented on that situation an unshakeable commitment to witness of their exemplary life up to last breath is admirable.
Yumri Taipodia
Bangalore
