What We Gained — and What We Lost
Scripture Readings
Matthew 20:25–28
John 18:33–37
James 4:1–6
As we continue Walking His Word, we now arrive at a moment that forever changed Christianity—not because of a new revelation, but because of a new relationship.
This is the moment when faith began to seek power.
Not survival.
Not protection.
But authority.
Before Christianity Had Power
For its first three centuries, Christianity existed without political influence. Believers gathered quietly. They worshiped in homes. They were marginalized, misunderstood, and often persecuted.
And yet, the faith spread.
Not through law.
Not through force.
Not through dominance.
It spread through witness, service, sacrifice, and love.
Christians had no power to compel belief—and therefore, belief meant something.
The Turning Point: Constantine
In the early fourth century, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity and eventually aligned the Roman Empire with the Church. For the first time, Christianity moved from the margins to the center of political life.
This moment is often remembered as a victory.
And in some ways, it was:
- Christians were no longer persecuted
- Churches were built openly
- Faith gained cultural legitimacy
But something else happened—something quieter and more dangerous.
Christianity stopped being only a way of life and became a tool of governance.
When the Cross Meets the Throne
The moment faith becomes aligned with political power, it changes.
- Belief becomes expected
- Dissent becomes suspicious
- Conversion becomes cultural
- Obedience replaces discipleship
Jesus warned against this long before Constantine:
“The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them…
It shall not be so among you.”
Yet once Christianity became intertwined with empire, the church adopted the very structures Jesus rejected—hierarchy, control, coercion.
The cross, once a symbol of sacrifice, was lifted alongside the sword.
What Was Lost
When faith gained power, it lost several essential qualities:
Voluntary Faith
No longer was belief primarily chosen—it was inherited, expected, enforced.
Moral Credibility
The church became associated with violence, exclusion, and punishment rather than mercy.
Prophetic Voice
When the church needed the state, it struggled to speak truth to it.
Christ-Centered Witness
Jesus became a symbol of authority rather than a teacher of humility.
This does not mean the church ceased to do good—but it means its goodness was now mixed with domination.
Jesus’ Refusal of Power
At every opportunity, Jesus rejects political authority:
- He refuses kingship
- He avoids rebellion
- He silences attempts to weaponize him
- He submits to death rather than rule by force
When questioned by Pilate, Jesus says:
“My kingdom is not from this world.”
This is not a rejection of responsibility—it is a rejection of coercion.
Jesus trusts truth to stand without violence.
Why This Matters for Us
We often assume that if Christianity once held power, it should again.
But history tells a more complicated story.
Power did not purify the church.
Power did not unify belief.
Power did not save the world.
Instead, power introduced temptation—the temptation to protect faith through control rather than trust God through obedience.
A Subtle Shift Still With Us
After Constantine, Christianity was no longer primarily about following Christ—it was about belonging to Christendom.
And that temptation has never left us.
We still struggle to believe that faith can survive without authority.
We still fear that without dominance, truth will disappear.
We still confuse influence with faithfulness.
A Necessary Question
So we ask ourselves, not with accusation but with honesty:
What do we actually want?
- Faith that transforms hearts?
- Or power that enforces behavior?
Jesus never promises cultural dominance.
He promises presence.
He promises truth.
He promises transformation—slow, relational, costly.
Our Commitment as a Community
As those walking His Way, we commit to remembering that:
- Christianity thrived before power
- Jesus rejected coercion
- Faith loses clarity when it seeks control
- The Gospel does not need an empire
We choose discipleship over dominance.
We choose witness over weaponization.
We choose Christ over control.
Closing Reflection
As we move into the week, we invite you to sit with this question:
If Christianity had never gained political power, would we recognize it more clearly today?
May we have the courage to follow Christ even when it means letting go of authority.
Amen.
As we continue walking His Word together, this week’s Discipleship Practice invites us to reflect on the long relationship between faith and power—what was gained, what was lost, and what Jesus consistently refused. Rather than asking how faith can be protected through authority, we are invited to consider how discipleship is sustained through humility, witness, and trust in Christ’s way.
Walking His Way 