‘He who
pays the piper calls the tune’ still holds true. To choose some other music
means losing out of a guaranteed subsidy. Within Church history this
arrangement can be recognised as taking place between Church Denominations) and
State.
In the
first two and half centuries Jesus was the ‘paymaster.’ He was the Church’s
theme and the guarantor of its funding. During that time the Church thrived in
the face of opposition, pagan religions, infiltration by false teachers and
Imperial edicts branding it as a threat. The melody of the cross sounded out
with grace and glory. Then came
Constantine. As he faced Maxentius at Milvian Bridge for the throne of Rome
he had a vision. It was of a cross with the inscription ‘by this conquer.’ He
had his soldiers stitch a sign of the cross on their shoulders as they prepared
for battle. I wonder how many – if any – had the cross in their heart.
When he
was Caesar in 313 he made Christianity legal and the State religion. The title
‘catholic’ appeared in edicts in 324. Bequests were allowed to the Church and
Sunday services were officially endorsed. Constantine’s purpose was clear. Keep
the Roman authority and State in unity and harmony in the face of Barbarian
attacks. The pagan State was now the ‘paymaster.’ An unequal yoking of the
State and Church took place. Christendom was ‘hatched.’
Slowly
but surely across the centuries this yoke lingers. Its effect on the spiritual,
moral and ethical life of the Church has been devastating. For those in
Government care little for Biblical truth, Biblical morality and Biblical
ethics. They require compliance and assist this with subsidies to clergy,
buildings and charitable works. What appears within Church history is the
horror of corruption within the Papacy and gross immorality and dereliction of
Christ’s call to service. When the Reformation began hopes were high for a new
beginning but the Church and State yoke remained even for the Reformers. There
were those who heard the music of the Cross and the melody within Scripture and
sought to live to its beat. They paid a high price as Christendom reacted to
their threatening ‘music.’
The West
is considered a mainly Christian influenced world. The message of Christ has
had a great impact over the centuries and has reached-out beyond its borders.
However the price of compliance and infiltration by the ungodly into the Church
still took place and still does. When you read of atheist priests, ‘Gay’
preachers and theologians who reject the Bible or even the historicity of Jesus
it makes people wonder about the Christian Faith. In recent decades various
Governments around the World have tried to deafen the music of the Scriptures.
Seemingly worthy laws such as the ‘anti-discrimination bill’ have been used to
bluff, frighten and silence dissent to practices contrary to the teachings of
Christ and His Scriptures.
Something
strange however is happening. Heaven’s melody is getting louder. A willingness
to stand with the Lord means a dependence upon Him rather than being compliant.
Such a stand brings its hardships and misrepresentations. We are threatened
with breaching discrimination laws because we hold to Biblical teaching on same
sex marriage, sexual practices contrary to Scripture and the uniqueness of
Christ for salvation. When the Church speaks against abortion, inhumane
treatment of refugees or the impropriety of transgender toilets it is opposed
or ignored.
A price
may have to be paid by those who hear and heed the music of the Lord and trust
Him to meet their needs. One thing is certain, within Christendom there is a
sifting going on. The ‘music’ to which people will dance will be dictated by
whom they accept as ‘Paymaster.’ Will it be to the Mammon offered by
Constantine’s successors or to the accepting of the Communion of Christ Jesus?
Will it be the Hallelujah Chorus or ‘Money, Money, Money, it’s a rich man’s
world?’
©Ray
Hawkins August 2016.
