Salvation Essay #11. Christians Thrived, Despite Severe Roman Persecutions. Why?

By Interim Pastor Jeff Swanson. New Hope Lutheran Church, El Paso Tx. 2 Jul 26

"The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed”. Written about 197 AD by the early church theologian, Tertullian, to Roman officials.

In fact, Tertullian was correct. By the time we get to the Nicene Creed in 325 AD, over 60% of the 60 million
Roman citizens were Christians. What accounts for this growth? Regarding the Roman officials and citizens,
there was objective realization the Christians tended to make good neighbors, law abiding citizens. Christians
were moral, brave, and virtuous soldiers. Consequently, many Roman officials were sympathetic to
Christianity and saw no pragmatic sense nor benefit in persecuting them.
But persecution persisted and did not die gently…. Imagine the shock of Christians when the last and worst,
the Diocletianic Persecutions, were issued, 303-311. These were largely social and economic. Christian
properties were seized. Christians were fired from their jobs, forbidden to worship, and ordered to pay
homage to Roman temples or be imprisoned. They were stripped of rights and outlawed.
Imagine the next shock, as one of the same issuing officials, Galarius, helped rescind the horrendous
Diocletianic Persecution by issuing Articles of Toleration on 30 April 311! Then…..Two emperors Licinius and
Constantine followed and issued the Edict of Milan in 313. This Edict basically stated that citizens of the
Roman Empire could be any or no religion, they wanted as long as they behaved to Roman law and order.
Persecutions of Christians were immediately stopped, and all properties returned. These two forward thinking
documents stand as testimony to civilized behavior today. Here is a reference link to read the short
documents. https://sourcebooks.web.fordham.edu/source/edict-milan.asp
Amongst the citizens, Christianity offered a morally stable life. For example, rather than selling young
daughters to be brides, Christians wanted their children to be about 18 years old and to be friends before they
married. Christian families participated in childrearing. The House Churches served as safe places among
safe people. They shared food, cared for the sick, children, and elderly.
I believe that the Holy Spirit worked amongst these sociological, political, and economic factors to make
Christianity appealing. I further believe that the Christian concept of Salvation was by far the dominant factor
for growth. Why? The records of early Church liturgies of the first four centuries, regarding, prayers, hymns,
worship, and writings indicate a clear belief that Jesus saves us from our sins by forgiveness and grace now.
Plus saves us for eternal life. Also, the first Christians saw and heard of the many martyrs, who presented an
exemplary witness in salvation via by Jesus. Salvation was focused, forefront, in their hearts, minds, and
behaviors. They daily lived out the salvation message of God’s love!
The Christian message became…that the Holy Spirit is at work in our world and lives, bringing about faith in
the grace and salvation presented by Jesus. This salvation ministry is not something we conjure up nor do on
our own. Rather God’s Spirit calls, gathers, inspires and empowers us with gifts. We see the matter of gifts
quite clearly in the Bible Epistles and early church witness. Some sing. Some preach. Some count. And
more…. So, in the early church experience, Christians believed that God was working salvation here and now
and eternally through Christians…. and others. Obviously when Roman leaders who were not Christians
became more hospitable and quit feeding them to beasts, and issued the Articles of Toleration and Edict of
Milan….well….we can barely imagine the relief! Likewise, evidenced by God changing the hearts and minds of
Roman officials who once persecuted them, their faith in God’s salvation message was immensely broadened
and bolstered. Tertullian was right.
Next, we’ll consider one man who set the course of salvation history; Emperor Constantine.