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Constantine’s Influence on the Christian Church Today

   Written by on October 20, 2016 at 10:38 am

logo-hevenerOver the centuries, Christianity has been exposed to the pull and push of societies, governments, and individuals.  One person who markedly influenced Christianity was the Roman Emperor, Constantine.  He became the Western emperor in 312 A.D., and the only Roman emperor in 324. Constantine was also the first emperor to accept Christianity.  Some scholars question the sincerity of his conversion.  In fact, many historians now debate whether “the first Christian emperor” was a Christian at all. “Some think him an unprincipled power seeker. What religion he had, many argue, was at best a blend of paganism and Christianity for purely political purposes;”  however, only God knows the heart.

Now, let’s look at four ways Constantine influenced the practices of many Christians today.

First, pastors were unsalaried for some three hundred years after Christ’s death on the cross.  They were volunteers who largely supported themselves by their work as did Christ and His Apostles; however, they did accept free-will gifts.  Constantine paid the clergy from imperial and municipal treasuries.  Salaried clergy cannot be found in the New Testament.  Christ was a carpenter (Luke 8:3), and the Apostle Paul was a tentmaker (Acts 1:31.)  Peter, James, and John were fishermen, and Matthew was a tax collector.  Constantine, however,   decided to pay clergy (bishops) handsome salaries, making them “professional” vendors of the gospel of salvation through Christ.  Under him, the clergy had many advantages.  In addition to being paid salaries, they were also exempt from serving in the military and from paying taxes. Constantine saw the Christian ministry as a job, not as a “calling” from God.

Second, Constantine launched a huge building program, constructing magnificent cathedrals in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Constantinople, and other places.  In the early fourth century Emperor Constantine decided to build a basilica in ancient Rome. Construction of the basilica started between 319 and 322. It was finally completed around 349 A.D. The church had a 279 foot-long nave with four aisles and a spacious atrium with a central fountain, enclosed by a colonnade.  No doubt, many poor Roman slaves and beggars sat in the shadows of this grand edifice. One historian writes: “The middle-classes were increasingly squeezed out of existence and many farmers and laborers were transformed into serfs.” Remember, Christ was born in a humble stable!  “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7.)

Third, in order to pay for these extravagancies of fine buildings and pastoral salaries, Constantine abandoned the practice of free-will giving by Christians after the cross and levied a 10% tax, tithe, on the citizens. This tithing plan he, no doubt, lifted from the Mosaic laws, which were annulled by the death of Christ.  Many churches today require their members to pay a tithe tax rather than continuing the plan of free-will giving, taught and demonstrated by Christ’s life, His disciples’ lives, and the theme of love demonstrated in the parable of the Good Samara tin.

Fourth, Constantine wrote the first Sunday law, which was contrary to the teaching of the fourth of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20.) You will recall that at creation, God sanctified the seventh-day as the weekly Sabbath, which means “rest.” (Genesis 2.)  Constantine’s Sunday Law  of 321 A.D., reads, “ On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed” (Codex Justinianus lib. 3, tit. 12, 3; trans. in Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 380, note 1).” This Sunday law was an obvious injection of pagan sun worship into Christianity.

Therefore, Constantine began the practice of (1) paying the Christian clergy a salary, of (2) building extravagant cathedrals, often at the expense of the working poor and slaves, of (3) reinstating the practice of the tithing tax, and of (4) writing and enforcing the first Sunday law, requiring certain people to abstain from labor on the “venerable day of the sun.”  Therefore, a pressing question that we Christians must ask ourselves is, “Has Constantine had more influence on various Christian practices than Christ and His apostles?”   If the answer is, “Yes,” do we continue following Constantine, or do we return to our Creator and the teachings of His prophets, His apostles, and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ?

Until next week, may God richly bless you and yours!

(Note: For further information on the relationship between Constantine and the Christian church see:  Constantine and Christianity in Ancient and European History.)

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©2016 by Fillmer Hevener

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