Reimagining How We Relate to God / Glimpsing the 2nd Century Church / God: the Uncreated One

Good morning!

Today’s offerings: our latest “conversation,” on how we relate to God—based on a book as important as it is interesting; a glimpse at the 2nd century church through the eyes of Justin Martyr; an inspiring hymn; plus a handful of nurturing quotations. We hope you find something useful and inspiring.

For an overview of this amazing book, including some of my favorite passages, click here.

With is challenging and insightful, profoundly simple yet easy to follow. For the conversation, click HERE (and scroll). In the notes you will also find several interesting short videos by the author.

EARLY CHRISTIAN WRITINGS (12)

As we continue our tour through the ancient Christian writings, Justin Martyr’s provide an intriguing and valuable window on church life in the mid-2nd century.

Sundays, according to Justin Martyr (1st Apology, AD 155-157)

• Communion wine was mixed with water (chap. lxv). Not that it was unusual for table wine to be diluted with water in the ancient world, yet it’s also possible the custom recalls John 19:34.

• Deacons (servants—see Acts 6:3-6) served the bread and wine. Here, in the later 2nd century, the description sounds like something less than a full meal. They also brought portions of the Lord’s Supper to those who were absent from the Sunday meeting (chap. lxv).

• “And this food is called among us eucharistia, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and for regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined” (chap. lxvi). In other words, only those baptized for the forgiveness of sins and “walking the walk” were permitted to take communion. This is “closed communion,” as opposed to the “open communion” practiced in most evangelical circles.

• “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all wise together and pray and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succors the orphans and widows, and those who through sickness or any other cause are in want, and those who are in bonds, and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead. For he was crucified on the day before that of Saturn [i.e., Friday]; and on the day after that of Saturn [Saturday], which is the day of the Sun [Sunday], having appeared to his apostles and disciples, he taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration” (chap. lxvii). Notice:

  • Christians, who may have otherwise assembled in small groups, made an effort to come together on Sunday (not Saturday—SDA and other sabbatarian groups are mistaken, although of course this is not a big mistake).

  • The memoirs of the apostles would be the four gospels, which had been circulating among the churches for some time, even as a collection of what would become the first section of our NT. The writings of the prophets refer to the OT.

  • It seems the message was based on the scripture read aloud, not a prefabricated outline matching the speaker’s agenda.

    Giving to the collection was not mandatory.

• “And the wealthy among us help the needy” (chap. lxvii). This was not Christian communism—but love! The primary recipients of generosity were the less wealthy members of the Christian community. (See Gal 6:10.)

GOD, THE UNCREATED ONE

I was recently inspired by this song. You can watch / hear it HERE.

QUOTABLE

• He who has no consciousness, no feeling, no impression of the vastness which characterizes belief in God and Christ, should say nothing at all on the subject. — Richard Rothe (1799-1867)

• He who is near the feet of God will let any man go above him, nay, trample on him, without offense. He is not concerned at what they say of him; he knows the subject better than anyone else. — R. W. Barbour (1900)

• He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. — Jim Elliott (1927-1956)