Water From A Deep Well

In his fine book, Water From A Deep Well, scholar Gerald Sittser explains why followers of Jesus in the first century were vilified, hated, and abused. And it’s not because they were on the street corners proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus. Here’s what Sittser writes: basically three things got the early Christians into serious trouble in the Roman Empire. First, they had an adverse affect on the economy of the Empire. Economics. Because they followed the Way of Jesus, early converts drifted away from temple worship and their absence, or the absence of their financial support, had a dramatic impact on the treasury. Isn’t it nice to know that their behaviors were in line with their beliefs.

Second, Christians were accused of forming “political clubs.” They spoke a different message. It was about hospitality, caring for the poor, creating social events to share fellowship. These topics, among others, led Empire leaders to believe that a new political system was forming, one very different from their own. Isn’t it nice to know that they were accused of caring and sharing.

Third, they were accused of departing from “the cultural norm.” Now, there’s a dangerous outfit! Addressing “cultural norms” meant rocking the boat. Dangerous! That can’t be tolerated.

Economics. Politics. Cultural norms. How dare these people address real life issues when they should have been concerned only about things “religious!” We could take a lesson from those first century folks. The truth is, they did have a huge influence in those three areas. They changed the world by how they lived. Times have changed and times haven’t changed. What might we be accused of these days? I wonder.