This year the youth of Fellowship Bible Church in Fort Smith are studying "The Story of Christianity." They are learning about key events and people in Christian History that have greatly influenced the present state of the Christian faith. I began our study by sharing several reoccurring themes. I have listed them below. KEY THEMES
(1) God is at work in history
(2) God's purposes are accomplished through people
(3) People are flawed
(4) God’s opposition is always present
(5) God’s purposes always prevail
UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIANITY AS HISTORY
After describing these themes, I explained how many fail to see Christianity in the proper light viewing it as a philosophical belief system, when in fact it is a major part of our world’s history. The Christian faith has influenced every area of life, from morality to politics, from art to literature, and from science to philosophy.
Jesus, the central character of the Christian faith, is a historical figure who was born and lived over 2000 years ago in the Middle East. His death and burial also occurred in real time, at the hands of real people and in a real place.
If you travel to the Holy Lands, you can visit the places where he ministered and the place where he was crucified. His disciples (also historical figures) not only acknowledged that Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate (historical figure), but claimed that he was resurrected on the third day and appeared to them on numerous occasions. We also learn from history that most of the disciples gave their lives for the cause of Christ.
THE HISTORICAL SETTING OF THE EARLY CHURCH
In order to understand the history of the early church, one must begin by looking at the world in which it evolved. Notice 3 Influencers
Jewish Influence: The first Christians were first century Jews and Palestine was the land where Christianity first appeared. The first Christian church was a Jewish congregation in Jerusalem.
The earliest persecution of Christians was at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders. The earliest martyr was a Jew named Stephen whose death was approved by Saul of Tarsus, who would later be converted to the Christian faith and become the most influential Christian in history.
Jewish Influence: The first Christians were first century Jews and Palestine was the land where Christianity first appeared. The first Christian church was a Jewish congregation in Jerusalem.
The earliest persecution of Christians was at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders. The earliest martyr was a Jew named Stephen whose death was approved by Saul of Tarsus, who would later be converted to the Christian faith and become the most influential Christian in history.
Greek Influence: Alexander the Great was responsible for pushing back the Persian Empire and expanding Greece. He wanted to solidify his power so he decided to unite people under a common culture.
Hellenism, a word used to describe the spread of Greek Culture, would greatly influence the Christians of the first century. The early manuscripts of the New Testament were written in Greek and the Christians who first ministered to the Gentiles had to understand and address belief systems that were greatly influenced by philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
Roman Influence: The Roman Empire emerged in 63 BC and from 30 BC to AD 180 Rome was at the height of its prosperity. Their beliefs and practices clashed with the Christian worldview, which would result in severe Christian persecution.
APPLICATION FOR TODAY
My hope is that as we study the early church, our youth will be encouraged in their faith as they learn that the God whose purposes prevailed through unlikely people, in the midst of severe opposition and across culturally diverse landscapes, still rules and reigns in our world today and will for all eternity.
