Please note that the following are rough notes, directly spoken from, at the Emergence Young Adult retreat in August, at Algonquin Provincial Park. They will be turned into literary format soon.
Eusebius and Constantine
- church history leading up to this moment /
glory/power/victory/church meant to rule
On the other hand: Monastic movement
- rejected association with empire
With constantine came:
1. Christian freedom
2. Political benefits package - bishops / army
3. Political interferrence, both at councels and at regional positions (davinci code and Nicea) (some accepted this, some rejected it)
4. Money into church
5. Status quo, apathy, decadence
6. Theological controversy and schism
7. Centre of the marketplace
8. Rise of earthly powerful and wealthy church
The two responses to Constantine - one embraced, brought half of the church very deeply into the empire
- reaching masses, bringing them to "salvation" association with church
- other rejected, and went out to the deserts
- "salvation" stayed a deeper, more personal experience, later became not associated w/church at all
Unpack both of these
- also every shade inbetween --------------------------
- this situation is the same today
- some closely integrated in society, political, wealthy denominations
- some isolationist, separate, anti-governement and wealth
- everything in between ------------------------
Augustine - tricked out of monastic life into bishopric
Ambrose of Milan - taken from public service into bishopric
John Chrysostum - always felt pull to monastic life
Jerome - always seeking solitude away from city church
To say nothing of Egyptian desert fathers, Monastaries later came to be more linked to organized church but always remained seat of challenge
Martin luther was a monk
Q: what were they seeking out there?
What were they trying to do?
Why?
"do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds"
Personal devotions: Principles of power/authority/hierarchy, not appropriate in the Christian church, not because it either works, or doesn't work, but because of where it leads, or what it leads to - and where it comes from . . . .
"you are not to call each other Master or Lord . . ." Jesus Christ.
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