DAY 29 - Overflowing Faith
Read It
Hebrews 11
Study It
In the 3rd century AD, a plague swept Northern Africa, Italy, and most of the western Roman Empire. History tells us that 5,000 people per day were dying in Rome. The sick were left in the streets. In the city of Carthage, Christians were falsely blamed for the epidemic and were told by the Emperor to make sacrifices to their gods to end the plague. The Emperor obviously didn’t understand how Christianity worked. Cyprian, the bishop of Carthage at the time, instructed Christians to take care of the sick and the dying. And not just their own family members—the Romans, too. Christians in the Roman Empire began burying the dead and caring for the ill, at the risk of their own health. They showed concern for all people, even those with different beliefs, and even as they were blamed and mocked.
In the year 362, the Emperor Julian wrote, “The impious Galileans [Christians] support not only their own poor but ours as well.” Even as he derided Christianity, he noted it was spreading across the empire partly because of “benevolence to strangers.”
Rodney Stark, author of The Rise of Christianity, argues that some of the growth of the church in the early centuries can be attributed to the care and compassion Christians showed for the sick. During this plague, an earlier plague in the 2nd Century, and a later plague in the 6th century, he notes increased conversion rates.
There have been times in your life when you’ve been looked down upon for your faith. But throughout the history of Christianity, the world has noticed our generosity. Your contribution to our church may not feel on par with caring for the sick during a Roman plague, but rest assured, you’re contributing to our collective witness. You’re standing with Christians everywhere who love God with all their heart and love their neighbor as much as they love themselves.
Live It
Read It
Hebrews 11
Study It
In the 3rd century AD, a plague swept Northern Africa, Italy, and most of the western Roman Empire. History tells us that 5,000 people per day were dying in Rome. The sick were left in the streets. In the city of Carthage, Christians were falsely blamed for the epidemic and were told by the Emperor to make sacrifices to their gods to end the plague. The Emperor obviously didn’t understand how Christianity worked. Cyprian, the bishop of Carthage at the time, instructed Christians to take care of the sick and the dying. And not just their own family members—the Romans, too. Christians in the Roman Empire began burying the dead and caring for the ill, at the risk of their own health. They showed concern for all people, even those with different beliefs, and even as they were blamed and mocked.
In the year 362, the Emperor Julian wrote, “The impious Galileans [Christians] support not only their own poor but ours as well.” Even as he derided Christianity, he noted it was spreading across the empire partly because of “benevolence to strangers.”
Rodney Stark, author of The Rise of Christianity, argues that some of the growth of the church in the early centuries can be attributed to the care and compassion Christians showed for the sick. During this plague, an earlier plague in the 2nd Century, and a later plague in the 6th century, he notes increased conversion rates.
There have been times in your life when you’ve been looked down upon for your faith. But throughout the history of Christianity, the world has noticed our generosity. Your contribution to our church may not feel on par with caring for the sick during a Roman plague, but rest assured, you’re contributing to our collective witness. You’re standing with Christians everywhere who love God with all their heart and love their neighbor as much as they love themselves.
Live It
- Have you seen that in tougher time, followers of Jesus are more caring, loving and generous?
- Remember a time that you were that person. When you stepped in and were caring, loving or generous during a hard time. How did that make you feel?