John, this is from Chapter 5 of your Tithes and Offerings book:
“It is understandable that a people, cruelly persecuted for many years, would rejoice if that persecution ended. But the Empire did more than offer a cessation of hostility against the saints. It offered them a share in the power of the Empire, and foolish believers fell for that sweet bait.”
When I got to this point, I had to ask “Why?” Why did the Empire offer the saints of God anything? What was in it for them that they wanted? The money? I know you’ve talked the “great whore” just previously, but what do you think about really pinpointing that seductive relationship?
Donna
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Hi Donna.
This is one of the tangents I did not want to get on in this particular book, even though the question is provoked by the information I did give. Scholars generally agree that the Emperor Constantine’s purpose for seeking a relationship with believers was to get some help uniting and stabilizing the empire. The empire was huge, socially and politically fragmented, and difficult to control, but believers were known for their unity (with exceptions, of course), and their willingness to listen to the bishops drew the attention of the crafty rulers of the Roman Empire.
That is a very short answer, but in brief, that is what the empire wanted from the bargain. Satan (via the empire) wanted better control over the population, and the authority of the bishops over the saints appeared to be something that would help to achieve that end.
Pastor John
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Hi John,
I enjoyed Donna’s question “Why?” Why did the Empire offer the saints of God anything? And your answer. I loved what you said last night. It is not about books; it is about the spirit of God that He sent back through his Son to us. What I liked about Donna’s question is that without the spirit of God, I don’t know if anyone would even think to ask that question.
I got to thinking about this scripture (Hos. 4:6): “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me. Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
The knowledge that is missing in our time is the knowledge of what God has actually done for his people. What God did through his Son is not known by almost all of God’s children today. They don’t know what happened when he filled them with his sweet holy ghost, and they can easily be manipulated by wise serpents in this world, who would lead them to be a part of something God hates – and they don’t even know it!!
We, as saints of God, because of the lack of knowledge, have been overtaken and many destroyed because the knowledge of God has been rejected by many. We were in the condition to receive the share of power that the Roman Empire had to offer when it came. I am sure a small remnant held on to the faith and paved the road for us.
I love what God is teaching us through you, John, we are gaining knowledge and understanding that is very rare among the saints of God today on this earth, that I know of anyway. All the books and tracts, and CDs, and websites, and Justin TV, are used to get God’s people to seek for that knowledge that they need — that we need, from God above, so we will not fall victim to what this world and satan has to offer. And we will reign with him in the end because he loves us that much and wants us to be with him. It is an honor to be a part of what God is giving us through you and I pray that we all take it in and hold on to it. It is our life, our joy, and hope to see his face some day. I want to be there with you and all the rest of his saints we know. Thank you, John, for giving us what God gives you.
Your Thankful brother
Stuart