In Sunday school, in Christian literature and from the pulpit, a common theme is the distinction between Jews and Christians. Circumcision, ceremonial laws and the Lord’s Day are a few of the topics that are highlighted in those classes, books and sermons. For the modern Christian there is a bright line between the two groups. However, in the early church that was not the case, at least not from a secular, historical perspective.
The Romans ruled the Mediterranean world (which touched three continents), and they gave Jews a wide berth to practice their religion. After all, it promoted public morality and political stability. At first Christians enjoyed the same latitude because they were viewed as a sect of the Jews. It’s true that Christians were persecuted throughout the century following Christ, but it was intermittent and localized. By 250 A.D., however, torturously persecuting Christians became an empire-wide phenomenon.
What happened? Why did Christianity emerge from being seen as a subset of Judaism to being singled out as a threat to the empire? The answer is two-fold. First, Jews were not particularly interested in converting the world to their faith. Largely they kept their traditions within their own so it had little impact on the empire. Conversely, Christians were fanatical about witnessing to others about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The message of the New Testament church was spreading wildly among Gentiles and the church was expanding across all of Palestine.
Second, the tolerance that Rome demonstrated toward the religious practices of their subjects was based on the expectation that the people would participate in a form of syncretism. That is a fancy word for “at the same time” (think “synchronize”). In other words, Rome was fine with people worshipping how they wanted, as long as they also acknowledged the deity of the emperor. Christians ardently refused to do so. It became a practice for the Romans to ask a person to recite the words, “Caesar is Lord” as a test for Christianity. They knew that Christians would refuse, as they recognized that Jesus, exclusively, held that title.
Today you don’t hear of believers being burned at the stake or forced to fight wild beasts for failing to declaim a specified phrase. Much has changed since those early centuries. Or has it? Perhaps the Evil One has employed craftier tactics to accomplish the same goal. In the United States you are not labeled an enemy of the state for being a Christian, but you may be shunned. You may be ridiculed for your “antiquated” beliefs, disregarded for your “narrow” views or marginalized for your “bigoted” opinions. While no bloodshed may be involved in identification as a Christian in America, it frequently comes with other forms of pain.
Unquestionably syncretism is alive and well in the United States. To be a Christian that does not endure social persecution, simply agree with America’s cultural ideals in addition to your Christianity. The American way is to believe what you want without outside interference. It’s your business. That is, as long as you also don’t talk about Jesus, don’t bring up anything resembling the concept of sin and generally stay away from topics that would suggest there is absolute truth.
That should be as unappealing to you as the demand for our predecessors to say, “Caesar is Lord.” But it isn’t, is it? It’s easy to say that you would never make that Roman declaration, but you probably have consciously avoided bring up Jesus, sin or other hard truths from the Bible when talking to unbelievers.
The life of Jesus in the New Testament is full of examples that demonstrate when you should defer to others and when you should not. As a principle, Christ taught that you should defer when it is at your expense and you should not when it is at the expense of biblical truth. Unfortunately, the more common practice is to take a stand when you have been offended and to roll over when it tramples on a clear biblical teaching.
We know from Acts 4:12 that the Christian faith is, in fact, quite narrow in its doctrine.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This belief is the foundation for your need to confidently evangelize in the name of Jesus and to hold firmly the line of biblical truth. There is no other way to be saved.
Instead of reflecting on the third century and reassuring yourself that you would never say, “Caesar is Lord,” ask yourself if, in the 21st century, there would be enough evidence to convict you for trying to evangelize others or for openly standing on the truth of God’s Word. Pray that God would help you to live a life that would return the verdict of “guilty as charged!”