One of my main beefs with history is what Constantine did when he married church and state. He paved the way for civilization. Okay, maybe a lot of this has to do with the fact that I'm reading The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus. Personally, I really agree with his idea that Christianity is a call to a barbarian lifestyle. He's not talking about "eating the heads off living chickens" barbarianism, mind you. His message is simple: God calls us to a road of risk and trial. This is completely counter-cultural in America today, especially where the "prosperity gospel" is so prevalent. We believe in feeling good, being rich, and living well. God calls us to love Him with our whole being and love our neighbors like we love ourselves. The way I see it, we currently love God when it's convenient and love our neighbors even less than that.
What does Constantine have to do with this? Simply put, he made it civic duty to be a Christian. When the Roman Empire recognized Christianity as the official religion, it became a mark of citizenship to join the church, only the wrong kind. It was no longer a mark of being a citizen of God's kingdom, but of Rome's. This union allowed corrupt men to come to power in the church and the government, using both to push a wholly sinful agenda. She stopped listening to God's voice and began listening to another's. Constantine took much of the risk away from being a Christian and domesticated the church.
Which path will you choose: the one marked by risk and passion guided by God's voice or the other, more comfortable, easier path of domestication?
