Notes: Raising Up Leaders of Renewal, Revival, and Restoration

Raising Up Leaders of Renewal, Revival, and Restoration

Henry Reyenga

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Christianity Brings Disruptive Change

Christianity Enters into History at the Time of the Roman Empire.

The Caesars are worshipped and the “good news” of the Roman peace (Pax Romana) was proclaimed

Jesus is Lord – Disruptive Love and Reign

There is no getting around that fact that the Christian message challenged the authority of the Caesar and the Roman way of life. Pilate mockingly inscribed on Jesus' cross the words, "King of the Jews." When Jesus rose from the dead, he rose as king over life and death - and everything in between.

Christianity Spread Quickly

Eighty years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Christian message was quickly spreading. By this time the Roman government started persecution campaigns because of this disruptive message that threatened to place Jesus as Lord of life, death and even culture. Christians became in trouble with the law. Many were thrown in prison; many were martyred.

The emperor cult stressed the point that Caesar saved humanity. Christians stressed the point that Jesus saved humanity.

The Appeal of Christianity

Interestingly, Christianity appealed to large numbers of people in the Roman Empire. Donald L. Wasson observed that "Christianity continued to spread across the empire, appealing to women and slaves as well as intellectuals and the illiterate." http://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Religion/

The Disruption Was Noticed!

By 112 CE, Pliny the Younger, a Bithynian Magistrate, complained of this fact to Emperor Trajan in one of his surviving letters. Pliny sensed that Christianity was a threat to the Roman way of life and religious thought. He wrote that Christians are everywhere, "for there are many of every age, of every rank, and of both sexes, who are now and hereafter likely to be called to account, and to be in danger; for this 'superstition' is spread like a contagion, not only into cities and towns, but into country villages." http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/primary/pliny.html

Disruption Brought Persecution 

While Trajan did not ruthlessly seek out Christians for martyrdom, he did consider their offenses against the Emperor worthy of death. Pliny enforced his policies with moderation. Pliny investigated the seriousness of the problem. He found some Christians who would not deny Christ. Some recanted their faith. Some he executed and some he set free.

The Most Disruption Observation

“These examinations made me think it necessary to inquire by torments what the truth was; which I did of two servant maids (female slaves), who were called Deacons ("deacons" in the Greek; "ministers" in Latin): but still I discovered no more than that they were addicted to a bad and to an extravagant superstition.” http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/primary/pliny.html

The Christians Make Slaves Their Leaders

Sounds like an Uprising in the making!

I believe that Pliny wanted to mention the slave women called "deacons" (ministrae).  Pliny writes Latin here, and he uses the word "ministries" which is translated into English as a minister. The Latin word "ministry" is translated from the Greek word "diakonos", which is translated as "deacon, minister or servant". He wanted to communicate that the Christians have leaders who are slave women, called deacons.  I believe Pliny wanted Emperor Trajan to know that these women ministers were slaves.

Christianity Was A Threat!

The message between the lines was: "Sir, these Christians are a threat! Their ministers also include slave women. Sir, they are mobilizing the slave women to be their leaders. Remember Spartacus! Sir, this group should be persecuted, what is your advice? These are criminals against the state."

 
Rome was built on the backs and bosoms of slave labor

Slavery was widespread in ancient Rome. Historian Mark Cartwright comments on this:

The Romans needed the slaves to stay slaves. Any religion that mobilized slaves to be the leaders was offensive.

Two Female Slaves are Ministers

The role of a female slave was defined in Roman culture. A female slave was not a person; she was property. She was not allowed to marry. When she bore a child, the child was a slave. Even if the father was the master, the child was still a slave. The slave child was not considered a son or daughter of the slave owner. This slave child did not belong to her, but to her owner. She raised her child as the owner's property. Edgar S. Shumway said, "The prevailing view of the Roman slave was that he/she was a thing and not a person."  (Freedom and Slavery in Roman Law", Edgar S. Shumway)

Disruptive Worldview

The worldview of the Christian faith was that all people are image-bearers of God and have intrinsic value in Christ. Female slaves included! Christians were ordaining deacon ministers who were women, slaves. 

Social Change

In fact, Christians were seeing the slaves in the Roman empire as "brothers and sisters." Not property. This was evidenced in recent archaeological digs. 

Early Christian.org reports,

 

The Demographics Revival

The pagan writer Celsus criticized Christianity in the second century for being a cult of the low, women, slaves, and children -  "only foolish and low individuals, and persons devoid of perception, and slaves, and women, and children." (http://www.bluffton.edu/courses/humanities/1/celsus.htm)  Christianity reached the lowest strata. Women and slaves, the ignorant and children, were given value in the early church.  Christianity mobilized ministers including men and women, freeborn or slave born. They were made out to be criminals, and many died for their "crimes."

Early Christian is Not Social Gospel

Christianity is not a "social gospel," meaning that Christianity was not attempting to make the freeing of slaves the purpose of the cause of its existence. Instead, within the confines of the customs and strata of the given culture, Christianity sees a person as God would see them. While on earth, they might be a slave, in the heavenly kingdom, they are image-bearers of Christ who are even deacon ministers. Eventually, later Christian leaders wrote against Christians participating in the institute of slavery. Many slaves who were Christians would become prominent witnesses or leaders in the early period of Christianity. The story of the slave girl Blandina showed the bravery and courage of this young slave woman who suffered martyrdom at the hand of the Romans.

The Mobilization of Local Christian Leaders

The story of the early spread of Christianity is a case study in the mobilization of local Christian Leaders. This mobilization included every rank: slave or free, low-born or high-born, every economic status, each gender, every education level. Many were in trouble with the law because of their faith. The spread of early Christianity was potent and irresistible.  The participants and leaders were from local stock. The early church raised up effective leaders who quickly reproduced themselves in their communities. Christianity spread to renew, restore, and revive individuals, families, and communities. The goal was to reach the whole world with the gospel 

Do you sense Calling to Ministry?

Maybe you are considered the low of the low; God may be calling you to bring renewal to this world. Maybe you are in the middle class, do you sense his irresistible calling to bring restoration? Maybe you are well-off financially, but you know you are called to bring revival. Still today, like in the early days of Christianity, I want Pliny's word to be said again of Christianity,

"For there are many of every age, of every rank, and of both sexes, who are now and hereafter likely to be called to account, and to be in danger; for this "superstition" is spread like a contagion, not only into cities and towns but country villages" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/primary/pliny.html