Earl Gillespie

The Pacification of Christian Values Earl Gillespie

After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, persecution of the Christians intensified under the rule of the Roman Empire. There was a concerted effort by the Jewish elite and the Romans to stamp out this new religion called Christianity. Upholding the values of this new religion was instrumental in the early death of all of the Apostles and many of the newly converted followers of the Gospel. Paul was one of the chief instigators of church persecution, yet when he was converted, he endured the same hardship and he endured like a good soldier. He later wrote, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) A better interpretation would have been, endure all things. The church formed in the midst of persecution, was a place of refuge, a place where members assembled to offer support to each other. In the midst of persecution the church flourished. This was not the intent of the Devil. The Devil hoped the Christians would compromise their values in exchange for a life filled with worldly pleasure. That old Satan drunk with a false sense of success in his campaign to destroy the Jews and after the crucifixion of Christ turned his full attention to the destruction of the Church.