FALSE NARRATIVE
I had not thought about this information from Church history for a long time. I use to refer to this information, in order to point out that Christian values sometimes prohibit our involvement with society, and it is sometimes misunderstood by society.
For the record, early Christians were thought to be...
1. Anti-social. Christians did not participate in, or attend certain public events because the public behavior was offensive to Christian values, such as sports, because the athletes either wore no clothes or were immodestly attired.
2. Atheistic. Christians did not participate in various public service positions, such as government jobs and medicine, because it required sacrifices to be made to false gods.
3. Homosexual. Christian love for fellow believers was misinterpreted and framed in strctly carnal terms.
4. Unpatriotic. Christians did not acknowledge Caesar or the State as God, and they did not give allegiance to human powers.
5. Cannibalistic. Christians had secret meetings where it was reported that they ate the body and drank the blood of other people.
I know this seems absurd, but it is true. Today we are revisiting those days. I should say, the Christians who choose to live according to the word of God are being falsely accused of such absurdities. Those who are true Christ followers will not be a part of certain social activities because participating requires denial of Christian truth or values. Also, because society is so thoroughly anti-Christian that it falsely judges Christian beliefs and behavior. To be squeezed into the fashion of the Christless society is called, "worldliness."
It is better to be falsely accused by the world than to be conformed to the world.
Matthew 5:11-16
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
