In a recent radio interview, Steve Wilkins talks about the history of Saint Nicholas and Christmas.  In this wonderful interview Wilkins is given opportunity to talk widely about Church history, the calendar and the making of time, feasting and rejoicing in God’s goodness in this season. The interview can be heard here: Advent, Christmas, and the Saints

Last year I posted on this last year as well, with another interview by Steve Wilkins: The Advent Conspiracy

Tags: Advent, Christmas, history, Saint Nicholas, Steve Wilkins

From “Q” Ideas For The Common Good I wanted to make available a video by Kevin Kelly called Christianity In 1000 Years.  Of this talk Q says:

How would you engage differently if you had a long-term view of the church’s existence in society? If Jesus doesn’t return tomorrow, then what is the scenario for the next 1,000 years of Christianity? Kevin Kelly’s plausible scenarios are guaranteed to expand, challenge, and boggle your mind.

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Tags: church progress, eschatology, history, Kevin Kelly

Christians today know that something has changed in our relation to the world in the last couple of centuries. We know that we no longer are in a position of leadership or even broad influence in the broader culture. But we are torn as to why this is true, or even if this is a good or bad thing. Is it even a part of our mission as the Church to lead culture in an explicitly Christian manner, or has Christ instructed us to be content with being a sub-culture within a culture?

Peter Leithart’s, Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom, is an attempt to address these questions in a manner that takes seriously the Great Commission, the history of the last two thousand years, and the ongoing theological reflections of various Christian thinkers on the subject.

Since Constantine was the first (in a long line) Christian ruler that tried to rule as a Christian, historians, theologians, political philosophers and social scientists begin with him. Among most academics today (both Christian and otherwise), Constantine has become an almost iconic symbol of all that has been wrong about Christian involvement and leadership society, and is now associated with what is called “Constantiniansm.” Leithart’s aim is to not only provide a fresh look at Constantine in his historical context (biography), but to present a polemic to the prevailing negative attitude toward Constantine and the Christendom that follow in next thousand years (and into the modern period). One of his aims is to “contribute to the formation of a theology that does not simply inform but is a social science.” His final and most important purpose is very practical: “I have found that, far from representing a fall for the church, Constantine provides in many respects a model for Christian political practice” [and general cultural engagement by Christians].

One of the fascinating things that Leithart demonstrates is that the ancient world, from beginning to end, was bound up with sacrifice (both animal and human). With Constantine, the world was forced to come to grips with the Gospel (i.e. good news) of Christ and the implications of the finality of His self-sacrifice. Only the sacrifice of Christ and our participation in that sacrifice can free the world of the tyranny of paganism.

I’m not one to read the end before the beginning – but I can, in good conscience, recommend that people may want to read the last two chapters first so as to be assured of the value of reading such a careful and academic work. For, indeed, the journey through Defending Constantine is well worth the time and effort it is to get to the end.

Of note is the fact that one of those whom Leithart takes to task in the book, Stanley Hauerwas, has written a very positive review of Defending Constantine. Hauerwas wrote:

“Leithart has written an important book that does more than help us to better understand the complex human being who bore the name Constantine…Leithart has done his historical homework. As far as I can judge, he uses the best scholarship available to develop an engaging biography of Constantine as emperor and human being…I am primarily interested in Leithart’s primary interest- which is to provide a critique of Yoder in the hope that Christians will recognize that they have a more robust political theology than Yoder could provide.”

The review is available here: http://www.faqs.org/periodicals/201010/2172849851.html

I cannot possibly recommend this book too highly. It is a must read for anyone serious about Church history, the theology of Christian mission and involvement in society.

Tags: Constantine, history, pacifism, Peter Leithart, socialogy, Stanley Hauerwas

“Of the many legends surrounding Patrick, few can be authenticated. He did not chase snakes out of Ireland. There is no way of knowing whether he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity…Even Patrick’s great prayer in Irish – sometimes called “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate” because it was thought to protect him from hostile powers – cannot be definitely ascribed to him.” (Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization).  Here is the music that we sing the song to:

Regardless of the academic squabbles over authenticity – it is one of the chief treasures of the church. We sing it at our church, and it has been a favorite of mine for years. It reminds me of a more earthy and human version of the Te Deum, which may have been written at about the same time. Saint Patrick’s Breastplate (Also known as “The Deer’s Cry” and “The Lorica”). Here is a version of it that I see fairly frequently in various histories and novels.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,

Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

 

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

 

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rick.

 

I arise today

Through God’s strength to pilot me:

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s host to save me

From snares of devils

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

 

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul

Against incantation of false prophets,

Against black law of pagandom,

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

 

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

 

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ  behind me, Christ in me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

 

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

(Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization, pp. 116-119).

Here is an Irish language version of the song:

Tags: history, Ireland, Saint Patrick, Saint Patrick’s Breastplate

I began reading this book in preparation for our Ireland trip.  I’ve found it very insightful and helpful in gaining a clearer understanding the historical context of Christianity in Ireland, which has always perplexed me, not only in terms of what it is now, but also from where it has come.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly. Not the usual history book – it is a lilting and inspiring story of an important people. I have a much great understanding and appreciation of the significance of the Irish in the work God has been doing in the world over the last 1500 years.

As with almost every book I’ve read of the Irish – it is also a sad tale of decline, injustice and oppression that is enough to raise a prayer to ones lips for the reclamation of this once great people.

Tags: history, Ireland