Are we liberal or conservative?

Following is a summary of Rodney Stark’s ten marks identifying the social practices of the earliest Christians.

The conclusions following the ten points are particularly thought provoking. Be sure to check them out.

• 1- They refused to attend blood thirsty entertainment. They wouldn’t go to gladiatorial events because they believed it defiled humans who were created in the image of God. This made them appear to be anti-social. Tertullian and Augustine both write about these events in a negative light.

• 2- They did not serve in the military to support Caesar’s wars of conquest, which made them appear weak.

• 3- They were against abortion and infanticide. In this culture, both were considered acceptable. To throw your baby out on the dung heap if you didn’t want it was not taboo.

• 4- They empowered women by showing their value and dignity in places of learning and service which had previously been exclusively for men. Christians held women in high regard and treasured them rather than viewing them as just a step above expendable children and servants.

• 5- They were against sex outside of marriage. This fidelity was considered odd and against culture. Sex was viewed as nothing more than a desire like eating or sleeping. Christians held a high view of the bed and kept it pure and would not engage in sex outside of marriage.

• 6- They were against homosexual relationships. This was odd in a time when same sex practice was not frowned upon.

• 7- They were exceptionally generous with their resources. They shared what they had with one another and welcomed others in with a hospitality that was unparalleled.

• 8- They were radically for the poor. In a time when the poor and downtrodden were viewed as getting what they deserved, they were aggressively committed to loving and serving people in the margins of society.

• 9- They mixed races and social classes in ways that were unseen in their gatherings, and for it they were considered scandalous.

• 10- They believed only Christ was the way to salvation. This was in a time when everyone had a god and could believe something entirely different and it was totally acceptable to be polytheists and pluralistic. Christians dared claim that Jesus was the only way and refused to bend to other gods.

If we held the values 1-Refused bloodthirsty sports, 2-Refused militarism, 4-Empowered women, 8-Were radically for the poor, and 9-Mixed races and classes, we would be considered liberal by conservative ideology.

If we held to values 3-Were against abortion, 5-Forbid sex outside of marriage, 6-Forbid same-sex practice, and 10-Insisted that Jesus was the only way for salvation we would be labeled conservative by liberal ideology.

* This is taken from an online article by Pastor David Fairchild. He is summarizing a book by Rodney Stark. I have read some of Stark’s work and I liked what I saw. He is a historian/sociologist of religion who teaches at Baylor.