Page 9 - God's Church through the Ages - Student Textbook

10. Roman crowds began to pass around rumors that Christians practiced cannibalism every week in their
services, because they ate bodies and drank blood.

In other words, the lives of the Christian stood as a light against the pagan culture of Rome. Those who
practiced the evil of the day saw Christians as a threat to their culture and way of life.

In the book to the Roman Church, the apostle Paul commanded Christians to NOT be
conformed to the culture of their world, but to be transformed (metamorphosis = changed into a
different form) so that in doing so, they would prove the will of God. Paul reminded Timothy that “In
fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (II Tim. 3:12). It is clear
that as the culture moves further and further away from God, those who claim to be God’s children
will become the brunt of evil men’s hatred and abuse.

The question is, are you persecuted? And if not, why not?

Early Christianity: A Very Brief Account

Developing an Early Church World View

We just looked at how the Early Church viewed the society in which they lived. They applied the teachings of
Christ to the behavior of their lives, even if it conflicted with the views of those with whom the lived. They
internalized a Christian or Godly world view. They began to think God’s thoughts and apply it to what others
thought or how they behaved around them.

A world view is the sum total of answers that a person can give to the most important questions in life. If you
take all the big questions in life, compile all your answers, and however coherent the system may result from
these answers is your world view.
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