Why does it matter what people thought of the Christians who lived soon after Christ? (This means the apostles, first disciples and a few generations after.) Well, it is because the early Christians are the best, untainted example we have of how Jesus wanted us to live. So for the next couple posts (or more) I will be copying translations of what some of the people back in history said about Christians of the day, some believers themselves. To make it an easier read, I will put in bold the words I consider most interesting.
Let’s see if the world today could say these same things about Christians today…
Pliny the Younger 61 to 112 AD
‘Those who denied that they were or had been Christians…--none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do…’
(In charge of putting Christians to death, Pliny forced them to prove their denials of Christ by sacrificing to gods. He found the true Christians would never recant!)
Justin Martyr 100 to 165 AD
“We who used to value the acquisition of wealth and possessions more than anything else now bring what we have into a common fund and share it with anyone who needs it. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.”
“We don't speak great things—we live them” (possible quote of Justin)
Clement 150 to 215 AD
“He impoverishes himself out of love, so that he is certain he may never overlook a brother in need, especially if he knows he can bear poverty better than his brother. He likewise considers the pain of another as his own pain. And if he suffers any hardship because of having given out of his own poverty, he does not complain.”
True Christians would not deny Christ or sacrifice to gods even if faced with certain death.
Common wealth and possessions were shared with the needy.
They stopped hating and cliquish behaviour, rather living with anyone.
They prayed for enemies.
They lived what they said.
They share out of love with brothers.
They considered one another’s pain as their own.
They did not complain when they suffered hardship by helping others.
Would the ‘unsaved’ world say these things about us?