1 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,670 David McCullagh: So, we're on part two of looking at the life of the church. 2 00:00:21,540 --> 00:00:25,329 And I told you last week, I, I particularly enjoy this. 3 00:00:25,329 --> 00:00:26,999 I particularly enjoy church history. 4 00:00:26,999 --> 00:00:30,349 I, I like the, the history of, of who we are, because as I 5 00:00:30,349 --> 00:00:31,990 said last week, it defines us. 6 00:00:32,935 --> 00:00:36,805 And we're gonna see similar threads, the se similar, similar threads this 7 00:00:36,805 --> 00:00:42,535 evening as we did last week, um, of what it means to be the church in the 8 00:00:42,535 --> 00:00:45,955 second century as we get into who we are. 9 00:00:46,345 --> 00:00:49,705 Last week we looked at Ignatius and Polycarp. 10 00:00:50,125 --> 00:00:51,925 Um, we looked at those two. 11 00:00:51,925 --> 00:00:54,055 They were disciples of the Apostle John. 12 00:00:54,535 --> 00:00:59,665 That's important for us tonight because throughout this, one of the threads, not, 13 00:00:59,695 --> 00:01:01,644 not each night, but, but most nights. 14 00:01:02,025 --> 00:01:06,685 We're going to see how it moves from one generation to the next. 15 00:01:06,685 --> 00:01:12,785 Ignatius and Polycarp, well they were the disciples of the Apostle John. 16 00:01:13,455 --> 00:01:17,425 And tonight we continue to the next generation of disciples 17 00:01:17,895 --> 00:01:22,505 as we look at someone who was indeed discipled by Polycarp. 18 00:01:22,795 --> 00:01:26,075 In fact Polycarp most likely was his minister. 19 00:01:26,805 --> 00:01:30,495 So, that's where we're heading, but before we are introduced to 20 00:01:30,495 --> 00:01:36,295 that man, we'll get started with what is really the continuation of 21 00:01:36,765 --> 00:01:38,634 persecution, in the early church. 22 00:01:40,745 --> 00:01:42,305 So it didn't end with Polycarp. 23 00:01:42,715 --> 00:01:46,375 Remember, he was the one last week that we heard of the first persecutions. 24 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,700 It's most likely, and of course it was, that others face persecution, but in the 25 00:01:50,710 --> 00:01:55,670 martyrdom of Polycarp we get a detailed account of what that persecution looked 26 00:01:55,670 --> 00:01:58,090 like and what his martyrdom looked like. 27 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,660 So the reason why we look to Polycarp is because it is the 28 00:02:01,660 --> 00:02:06,019 first written account that gives us, quite literally, the gruesome 29 00:02:06,049 --> 00:02:08,109 and gory details of what happened. 30 00:02:09,410 --> 00:02:10,699 And it didn't stop with him. 31 00:02:11,195 --> 00:02:15,774 Unfortunately, in fact, as we know, persecution has continued 32 00:02:15,785 --> 00:02:16,945 throughout the life of the church. 33 00:02:17,484 --> 00:02:19,754 There has never been a moment in the history of the church 34 00:02:19,994 --> 00:02:21,535 where there was not persecution. 35 00:02:21,984 --> 00:02:26,845 And as we know, thanks to our mission partners Open Doors, we learn of what is 36 00:02:26,924 --> 00:02:29,725 soft persecution and hard persecution. 37 00:02:30,075 --> 00:02:34,315 Hard persecution of what we see in Polycarp, but soft persecution 38 00:02:34,315 --> 00:02:37,650 perhaps of what we see in the Victorian times where The church 39 00:02:37,650 --> 00:02:38,870 was free to do whatever it wanted. 40 00:02:38,900 --> 00:02:41,020 In fact, it seemed that the church had power and authority. 41 00:02:41,549 --> 00:02:46,549 But actually, the church was softly being persecuted to water itself 42 00:02:46,549 --> 00:02:49,150 down to meet what society wanted. 43 00:02:50,290 --> 00:02:51,869 I wouldn't say that's what's happening now. 44 00:02:51,890 --> 00:02:54,009 I don't think it's soft persecution. 45 00:02:54,449 --> 00:02:58,429 I think what we're seeing is a middle ground persecution of somewhere between 46 00:02:58,429 --> 00:03:04,460 soft and hard where we are being forced to conform quite blatantly with society. 47 00:03:05,390 --> 00:03:09,739 And of course, with political shifts this week, we've always wanted to blame 48 00:03:09,739 --> 00:03:14,440 Westminster because they were over there, but with the dynamic shift at Stormont, 49 00:03:15,260 --> 00:03:20,450 don't be surprised if we begin to see more liberal agendas and more liberal 50 00:03:20,460 --> 00:03:26,329 laws that will mean the church's voice is reduced in this society, not in the 51 00:03:26,329 --> 00:03:31,840 next decade, but in the very term or the life term of this current assembly. 52 00:03:34,215 --> 00:03:35,304 So this is relevant. 53 00:03:36,495 --> 00:03:38,554 I don't think any of us will be like Polycarp. 54 00:03:38,984 --> 00:03:41,785 I don't think any of us will be chased over the hills to Newry 55 00:03:42,035 --> 00:03:43,974 and hiding out in some hay shed. 56 00:03:44,285 --> 00:03:47,734 Although, check with Francis before you go home tonight just in case 57 00:03:47,734 --> 00:03:49,305 the head roads as far as you get. 58 00:03:49,894 --> 00:03:54,174 I don't think we'll be put to the stake at the age of 86 and burned alive. 59 00:03:55,043 --> 00:03:58,305 But it will become harder and harder. 60 00:03:59,144 --> 00:04:04,214 to be a Christian in this so called Christian society that we've been used to. 61 00:04:05,204 --> 00:04:09,374 And so our studies, as we come to look at our questions, they're 62 00:04:09,374 --> 00:04:11,094 about helping us get ready for that. 63 00:04:11,894 --> 00:04:13,654 Please don't think it's not going to happen to you. 64 00:04:14,325 --> 00:04:14,724 It will. 65 00:04:15,404 --> 00:04:17,624 The conversations will become more difficult. 66 00:04:18,214 --> 00:04:22,224 And don't think Moran will continue to remain a place apart, ten 67 00:04:22,224 --> 00:04:23,495 years behind everywhere else. 68 00:04:24,180 --> 00:04:29,370 It's already coming, it's already here, and the church is already being challenged 69 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,890 by these liberal shifts in society. 70 00:04:35,149 --> 00:04:40,289 And it all is summed up in that word, persecution, where the church's voice is 71 00:04:40,289 --> 00:04:47,729 desired to be silenced so that society can get on without feeling judged, without 72 00:04:47,729 --> 00:04:51,490 feeling they're doing any wrong, without anyone telling them that they're not 73 00:04:51,510 --> 00:04:53,659 right, because that's not what they want. 74 00:04:54,990 --> 00:04:58,050 But the good news of this is the promise of Jesus. 75 00:04:59,609 --> 00:05:04,359 Because be it now or be it at the time of Polycarp, we heard these words from Jesus 76 00:05:04,359 --> 00:05:08,589 in Matthew 16 and verse, uh, verse 18. 77 00:05:09,219 --> 00:05:11,149 And I tell you, you are Peter. 78 00:05:11,309 --> 00:05:15,419 On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell 79 00:05:15,599 --> 00:05:17,560 shall not prevail against it. 80 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:20,289 Jesus told us he's going to build his church. 81 00:05:21,809 --> 00:05:23,809 Yes, persecution may come. 82 00:05:23,979 --> 00:05:27,559 Persecution did come to these early believers that we're looking at. 83 00:05:28,859 --> 00:05:30,520 But Christ continued to build his church. 84 00:05:30,530 --> 00:05:31,330 How do I know that? 85 00:05:31,549 --> 00:05:32,459 Because we're still here. 86 00:05:33,189 --> 00:05:34,819 The church has never been done away with. 87 00:05:34,819 --> 00:05:38,119 As I told you last week, that account of China where there was great concern 88 00:05:38,119 --> 00:05:42,119 whenever the missionaries were kicked out of China, where they couldn't 89 00:05:42,119 --> 00:05:45,209 go in and now when they've gone back fifty years after the revolution, 90 00:05:45,229 --> 00:05:48,679 however long it was, they're now saying that the church exploded. 91 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,060 The Church didn't die, the Church will never die, and don't let 92 00:05:53,070 --> 00:05:55,070 anyone tell you that it will die. 93 00:05:55,099 --> 00:05:56,110 It will never die. 94 00:05:56,250 --> 00:06:00,289 Oh, it might need to be pruned, of course, but it will never 95 00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:03,150 die because God has promised. 96 00:06:03,565 --> 00:06:07,515 That through His Son, Jesus, and on what we call apostolic succession, 97 00:06:07,515 --> 00:06:11,414 not that we still have apostles today, but as we've seen through the Apostle 98 00:06:11,414 --> 00:06:16,324 John to Ignatius and Polycarp, and we'll see that continue today, through 99 00:06:16,335 --> 00:06:19,494 that line, the Church continues to us. 100 00:06:20,294 --> 00:06:24,284 We are here because of who was before us, the generation before 101 00:06:24,284 --> 00:06:28,005 us, and the Church will be here because of the generation to come. 102 00:06:28,599 --> 00:06:32,920 And what we do to proclaim the truths so that the Church will be 103 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,400 strong for the next generation. 104 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:42,300 So we're going to read as we begin because we're going to go 105 00:06:42,300 --> 00:06:44,759 now to the French city of Lyon. 106 00:06:45,209 --> 00:06:50,550 Not that we find Lyon in the Scriptures, but as we go, we're 107 00:06:50,550 --> 00:06:54,690 going to focus on this city that really faced quite harsh persecution. 108 00:06:55,109 --> 00:06:57,880 in the end of the 1st and the start of the 2nd century. 109 00:06:58,599 --> 00:07:02,799 But let's remind ourselves of what the Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 110 00:07:02,890 --> 00:07:05,739 chapter 3 and verses 10 to 17. 111 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:13,530 Paul writes, You, speaking to Timothy, however, have followed my teaching, my 112 00:07:13,530 --> 00:07:18,390 conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness. 113 00:07:18,999 --> 00:07:25,109 My persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, at Iconium, and 114 00:07:25,109 --> 00:07:31,779 at Lystra, which persecutions I endured, yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 115 00:07:32,099 --> 00:07:37,129 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 116 00:07:37,495 --> 00:07:42,255 While evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and 117 00:07:42,265 --> 00:07:48,764 being deceived, but as for you, continue in what you have learned and affirmly 118 00:07:48,764 --> 00:07:53,174 believe, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have become 119 00:07:53,174 --> 00:07:57,344 acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for 120 00:07:57,344 --> 00:07:59,893 salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 121 00:07:59,893 --> 00:08:05,379 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof. 122 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:17,990 And so we go to Lyon. 123 00:08:18,430 --> 00:08:20,770 I don't know if you've ever been to Lyon on your holidays. 124 00:08:20,809 --> 00:08:24,739 It's a place that actually comes up again in church history, in Reformation history. 125 00:08:25,270 --> 00:08:29,820 Um, but it's a city that has always been at the center of things. 126 00:08:30,619 --> 00:08:33,400 It was an important city at the time of the Roman Empire. 127 00:08:33,630 --> 00:08:35,629 It continues to be an important city. 128 00:08:35,645 --> 00:08:41,225 And in the early 100s, so, yes, we're, we're going back that 129 00:08:41,235 --> 00:08:43,255 generation of Ignatius and Polycarp. 130 00:08:43,265 --> 00:08:49,954 The church was, uh, established in Lyon, but from day one it faced persecution. 131 00:08:50,614 --> 00:08:53,514 In fact, it was quite strong persecution because of the 132 00:08:53,514 --> 00:08:55,015 influences of the Roman world. 133 00:08:55,454 --> 00:08:58,335 And on the top of page two there, I've given you this 134 00:08:58,365 --> 00:09:00,755 picture of what Lyon looked like. 135 00:09:01,035 --> 00:09:05,135 And the reason why I show it to you is, just look at Rome. 136 00:09:06,315 --> 00:09:09,555 You have everything there that Rome brought with it. 137 00:09:10,205 --> 00:09:14,285 Whenever Rome established a place, there would be an amphitheater or a coliseum. 138 00:09:14,725 --> 00:09:18,254 There would be great buildings where the, the civil authorities or the 139 00:09:18,255 --> 00:09:20,145 civil magistrates would be based. 140 00:09:20,455 --> 00:09:23,695 There would be bridges across rivers and roads, because 141 00:09:23,705 --> 00:09:25,665 again, all roads lead to Rome. 142 00:09:26,045 --> 00:09:27,125 There would be aqueducts. 143 00:09:28,055 --> 00:09:32,565 There would be investment in places so that they looked like Rome. 144 00:09:34,460 --> 00:09:38,010 So, this shows you just how Lyon was. 145 00:09:38,870 --> 00:09:44,200 It was truly a Roman city, and because of that, some would say it 146 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,700 became more Roman than Rome itself. 147 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:54,310 But, regardless of the persecution, the church grew. 148 00:09:54,810 --> 00:09:57,980 The church was established, and it thrived. 149 00:09:59,230 --> 00:10:03,620 And the local leaders there, decided they were going to persecute Christians. 150 00:10:03,620 --> 00:10:05,800 This is what happened in the generation before them, and 151 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:07,030 they were going to continue. 152 00:10:07,930 --> 00:10:10,610 And so the Christians in the city were harassed. 153 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:12,270 They were taken. 154 00:10:12,309 --> 00:10:13,440 They were punished. 155 00:10:13,860 --> 00:10:19,879 And by the 170s, the local officials in Lyon had stepped up their, um, 156 00:10:19,890 --> 00:10:21,830 their aggression against Christians. 157 00:10:21,830 --> 00:10:22,930 They didn't trust them. 158 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:29,150 But the problem for Lyon was that they were truly out of step with Rome. 159 00:10:29,979 --> 00:10:35,449 Because by the time that we get to the late 100s, this is the Caesar. 160 00:10:36,150 --> 00:10:38,479 This is Marcus Aurelius. 161 00:10:39,130 --> 00:10:41,510 Caesar from 161 to 180. 162 00:10:42,339 --> 00:10:43,910 He was a different Caesar. 163 00:10:44,149 --> 00:10:47,719 He wasn't the Caesar of the time of Polycarp and Ignatius. 164 00:10:48,060 --> 00:10:51,050 He wasn't a Caesar of war. 165 00:10:51,540 --> 00:10:53,000 He wasn't looking more conflict. 166 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,949 The Roman Empire was safe and secure. 167 00:10:55,109 --> 00:10:56,589 He didn't need to defend it. 168 00:10:56,770 --> 00:10:58,319 He didn't need to expand it. 169 00:10:59,365 --> 00:11:00,435 He was a philosopher. 170 00:11:00,925 --> 00:11:01,795 He was a thinker. 171 00:11:02,065 --> 00:11:03,345 He turned to the arts. 172 00:11:03,585 --> 00:11:07,395 And this was really a renaissance, uh, from Greek culture at this 173 00:11:07,405 --> 00:11:09,445 point coming into Roman society. 174 00:11:10,325 --> 00:11:12,934 And so he wasn't concerned so much. 175 00:11:13,224 --> 00:11:16,055 If you want another word for this man, he was liberal. 176 00:11:16,714 --> 00:11:17,674 All things. 177 00:11:17,675 --> 00:11:22,845 As long as you worship a god, you're fine. 178 00:11:23,225 --> 00:11:25,365 Because of course the Romans had a pantheon of gods and you 179 00:11:25,365 --> 00:11:26,735 could take your, your choice. 180 00:11:27,460 --> 00:11:31,330 And so he wasn't so hard on Christians as his predecessors had been. 181 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:36,519 And so there was no official policy at the time in Rome about persecution. 182 00:11:38,060 --> 00:11:42,870 And this is when Leon becomes more Rome, Roman than Rome itself. 183 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:48,669 Because they, rather than following the rest of the empire, they decide 184 00:11:48,669 --> 00:11:49,919 they're going to up the ante. 185 00:11:50,289 --> 00:11:55,979 They're going to be the ones who are going to really push hard on the Christians. 186 00:11:57,115 --> 00:12:01,714 And so that's where we move to, the great persecution in Lyon. 187 00:12:06,595 --> 00:12:10,645 And a lot of what we learn about this is from a church historian called Eusebius. 188 00:12:11,145 --> 00:12:13,535 And he wrote a book called The History of the Church. 189 00:12:14,135 --> 00:12:17,875 And he was very detailed because he wanted to, to really explain to the 190 00:12:17,875 --> 00:12:21,954 generation that would come what the church went through to be established. 191 00:12:22,415 --> 00:12:26,194 And this is what he wrote about the persecutions in Lyon. 192 00:12:26,355 --> 00:12:27,915 It's just there at the bottom of page one. 193 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:34,170 First of all, they endured nobly the injuries heaped upon them by 194 00:12:34,180 --> 00:12:38,593 the populace, clamors and blows, and draggings and robberies, and stonings 195 00:12:38,593 --> 00:12:45,160 and imprisonments, and all the things which an infuriated mob might mob delight 196 00:12:45,189 --> 00:12:48,710 in, flicting on enemies and adversaries. 197 00:12:53,310 --> 00:12:55,370 Just think about that for a moment. 198 00:12:58,270 --> 00:12:59,810 What does it say about the Christians? 199 00:12:59,820 --> 00:13:02,310 It says there they endured nobly. 200 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,710 They took their stand for Christ. 201 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:08,609 They suffered well. 202 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,080 A word that's going to come up again is recant. 203 00:13:12,100 --> 00:13:14,930 They did not recant on what they believed. 204 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:17,550 But look at the people. 205 00:13:18,590 --> 00:13:19,500 Neighbors. 206 00:13:20,260 --> 00:13:21,320 Friends. 207 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:23,700 Not knowing who to trust. 208 00:13:24,130 --> 00:13:29,170 Because they might be the one who grabs you, who clamors with blows and 209 00:13:29,210 --> 00:13:31,780 draggings, and robberies and stonings. 210 00:13:31,820 --> 00:13:37,610 And interestingly enough, robbery was one of those things that could be more subtle. 211 00:13:38,119 --> 00:13:41,689 And it turns out, Eusebius records for us, that whenever the Christians 212 00:13:41,690 --> 00:13:47,130 would head off to worship, to meet, then the locals would come and break 213 00:13:47,130 --> 00:13:49,310 in and steal from their houses. 214 00:13:51,379 --> 00:13:52,460 Soft persecution. 215 00:13:52,995 --> 00:13:53,925 It's not a safe area to live. 216 00:13:53,935 --> 00:13:54,405 Move out. 217 00:13:55,025 --> 00:13:55,795 We don't want you. 218 00:13:56,385 --> 00:13:57,395 Just get away. 219 00:13:57,785 --> 00:13:58,715 We have the power. 220 00:13:58,795 --> 00:13:59,715 We have the authority. 221 00:13:59,925 --> 00:14:00,855 We don't want you here. 222 00:14:02,155 --> 00:14:06,034 The subtlety of persecution, it's not just being flogged in 223 00:14:06,035 --> 00:14:07,445 the street or being arrested. 224 00:14:08,335 --> 00:14:09,964 Doesn't even have to come officially. 225 00:14:10,755 --> 00:14:14,275 It's simply a case of them and us. 226 00:14:15,825 --> 00:14:18,885 And this is what was going on to the Christians in Lyon. 227 00:14:19,930 --> 00:14:23,940 And the crucial moment came in one hundred and seventy seven. 228 00:14:24,340 --> 00:14:28,520 Because the officials of the city, they rounded up all of the Christians 229 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:32,749 together, and they put them in prison and charged them as criminals. 230 00:14:33,230 --> 00:14:35,099 They jailed them one after the other. 231 00:14:35,579 --> 00:14:38,580 And after a month or two, they brought them out into the amphitheater, 232 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,860 those great places that Rome built. 233 00:14:40,910 --> 00:14:44,310 Now this isn't from my holidays, as was last week's. 234 00:14:44,310 --> 00:14:46,859 I've never been to Lyon, so I can't go there. 235 00:14:47,795 --> 00:14:53,475 I'm told by Google what the amphitheater in Rome looks like, or in Lyon looks like. 236 00:14:54,085 --> 00:14:56,684 But this is the very place where those Christians were dragged out. 237 00:14:57,735 --> 00:15:01,434 And this is the very place where they were told to recant their faith. 238 00:15:02,265 --> 00:15:04,804 Now maybe the word recant is a new word for you, but it's a 239 00:15:04,804 --> 00:15:11,104 word that's used in church terms of taking away your confession. 240 00:15:12,090 --> 00:15:15,120 Where one minute you said you were a Christian, you recant your faith 241 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,710 by saying, I didn't believe that, I was making it up, I was a fool. 242 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:21,669 And what the officials wanted, they would ask each Christian to come 243 00:15:21,669 --> 00:15:25,360 forward onto that very stage on that amphitheater, and they would 244 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,250 say, Say you're not a Christian. 245 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:28,840 In other words, recant your faith. 246 00:15:29,950 --> 00:15:31,900 And this would have done two things. 247 00:15:32,270 --> 00:15:36,280 Number one, it would have made a mockery out of the person who was standing there. 248 00:15:37,100 --> 00:15:42,150 But secondly, it would have given power and authority to the officials to say this 249 00:15:42,190 --> 00:15:44,770 faith that they talk about is nonsense. 250 00:15:44,959 --> 00:15:49,490 And so the more people you have recant, then the easier it is to quash this. 251 00:15:50,380 --> 00:15:54,120 Because whenever you start saying this is rubbish, then that's when 252 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:58,360 society jumps on board and helps you to clean out the so called rubbish. 253 00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:06,620 And one of the things in church history that happens Those who do survive all 254 00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:10,530 of this and those who recanted and those who didn't recant, there became a 255 00:16:10,530 --> 00:16:15,280 great division in the church, a schism, where those who didn't recant, who stood 256 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:20,170 firm, they pointed the finger and they shunned those who recanted because they 257 00:16:20,170 --> 00:16:21,610 couldn't understand why they could. 258 00:16:22,090 --> 00:16:25,840 But then those who had recanted said, look, we're mere mortals, we're 259 00:16:25,850 --> 00:16:29,340 human, we still love and believe in God, but the pressure was too much. 260 00:16:30,530 --> 00:16:33,420 And so actually it was kind of a conquer and divide. 261 00:16:33,925 --> 00:16:36,215 Get them to recant, and those that don't recant and live, well 262 00:16:36,215 --> 00:16:39,255 they're going to divide themselves anyway, they're going to split, and 263 00:16:39,255 --> 00:16:40,605 eventually they're going to die out. 264 00:16:41,485 --> 00:16:46,945 So that was the whole idea of recanting publicly, to make a fool of you, so 265 00:16:46,945 --> 00:16:49,455 that the officials would look strong. 266 00:16:51,384 --> 00:16:52,275 Think about that. 267 00:16:54,205 --> 00:16:57,765 Imagine if you were dragged down to Christmas Tree Corner here in Annalong. 268 00:16:58,345 --> 00:17:01,724 And imagine if you were put up on the blocks in front of the little hedges. 269 00:17:02,355 --> 00:17:06,305 And you were told to recant your faith in front of a crowd. 270 00:17:08,234 --> 00:17:08,974 Would you do it? 271 00:17:12,025 --> 00:17:15,733 We're gonna, in a moment or two, hear of one particular incident 272 00:17:16,055 --> 00:17:17,665 of a girl called Blandina. 273 00:17:19,223 --> 00:17:23,114 And there's a description there that's used that we look at, and 274 00:17:23,114 --> 00:17:27,565 it's called that they were like wild beasts against the Christians. 275 00:17:28,825 --> 00:17:30,495 Imagine being faced with that. 276 00:17:30,975 --> 00:17:35,875 Looking to tear you limb from limb because of what you believe and 277 00:17:35,875 --> 00:17:37,505 what you practice in that belief. 278 00:17:39,154 --> 00:17:43,555 Well, the Christians were brought forward, and they confessed to no great crime. 279 00:17:43,935 --> 00:17:49,054 They confessed to no issue with the Roman Empire or the Roman Caesar. 280 00:17:49,444 --> 00:17:52,234 All they simply confessed was that they were Christians and that 281 00:17:52,234 --> 00:17:53,894 they were followers of Christ. 282 00:17:54,995 --> 00:17:59,705 They would not recant, and for this then, they were taken back, and 283 00:17:59,705 --> 00:18:01,725 they were put into prison again. 284 00:18:03,205 --> 00:18:06,395 The interesting thing about this is, it's all contrary to Roman law. 285 00:18:07,344 --> 00:18:11,294 They shouldn't have been tried and treated like this, because Rome was 286 00:18:11,475 --> 00:18:17,514 genuinely open to this pantheon, this, this whole collection of gods that you 287 00:18:17,514 --> 00:18:19,274 could pick and choose who you worshipped. 288 00:18:20,504 --> 00:18:23,485 This went against the very foundation of what Rome was built on, that, 289 00:18:23,705 --> 00:18:24,834 that everyone had the right. 290 00:18:26,674 --> 00:18:31,335 But here in Lyon, becoming more Roman than Rome itself, well then 291 00:18:31,345 --> 00:18:36,624 the Roman law really was secondary to what they wanted to do to ensure 292 00:18:36,625 --> 00:18:38,385 their city was safe and secure. 293 00:18:39,695 --> 00:18:41,195 And that's the other thing about this period. 294 00:18:41,195 --> 00:18:45,415 It's not like Anna Long and Kilkeel and then Town Hall is in Newry and 295 00:18:45,415 --> 00:18:46,855 that's where we're governed from. 296 00:18:47,515 --> 00:18:50,105 Every town had its own government. 297 00:18:50,534 --> 00:18:53,104 They're all like city states almost. 298 00:18:53,114 --> 00:18:58,214 Yes, there's one, uh, Roman law, but there was a lot of local law as 299 00:18:58,214 --> 00:19:03,485 well, based by a magistrate and civil leaders in these towns, and they 300 00:19:03,485 --> 00:19:05,634 really held more sway than Caesar did. 301 00:19:07,115 --> 00:19:09,225 And so this is what they had chosen to do. 302 00:19:11,479 --> 00:19:12,659 But they were brought out again. 303 00:19:13,660 --> 00:19:16,320 They were put in front of the people, given a chance to recant, 304 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:20,810 and a few did, but the vast majority maintained their confession in Christ. 305 00:19:21,580 --> 00:19:24,520 And for the entertainment of the mob, they were martyred. 306 00:19:25,070 --> 00:19:30,999 And Eusebius tells us that there were 48 Christians in Lyon martyred at this time. 307 00:19:32,129 --> 00:19:35,485 And I think we become very sensitized because of what we 308 00:19:35,485 --> 00:19:38,655 hear on the news of figures of people being killed in wars daily. 309 00:19:40,014 --> 00:19:41,435 One is a large number. 310 00:19:42,034 --> 00:19:43,975 Forty eight is a huge number. 311 00:19:44,885 --> 00:19:45,955 For what reason? 312 00:19:46,685 --> 00:19:48,745 Simply believing in Jesus Christ. 313 00:19:50,675 --> 00:19:57,234 One particular martyr that I mentioned there, uh, Bal uh, Blandina, Eusebius 314 00:19:57,245 --> 00:20:01,065 refers to her, um, in his writings. 315 00:20:01,465 --> 00:20:04,945 He also refers to a few others and, and one other said, This. 316 00:20:06,170 --> 00:20:10,500 Even if they had before, um, sorry, even if they had before been 317 00:20:10,510 --> 00:20:13,910 moderate on account of friendship, they were now exceedingly furious 318 00:20:13,910 --> 00:20:15,700 and gnashed their teeth against us. 319 00:20:16,869 --> 00:20:19,569 This is neighbors, supposedly friends. 320 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:26,349 And it was friends who brought Blondina towards that place of having to recant. 321 00:20:26,350 --> 00:20:34,619 And Eusebius describes her in terms of how Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 9, 25 27. 322 00:20:35,050 --> 00:20:38,380 Where he says every athlete exercises self control in all things. 323 00:20:38,780 --> 00:20:42,420 They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we are imperishable. 324 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,020 So I do not run aimlessly. 325 00:20:45,170 --> 00:20:47,620 I do not box as one beating the air. 326 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:52,440 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to 327 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,300 others, I myself should be disqualified. 328 00:20:57,530 --> 00:21:03,005 And why this is significant, and why this is important for Eusebius to record 329 00:21:03,005 --> 00:21:05,175 is because Blandina did exactly that. 330 00:21:05,774 --> 00:21:12,405 She stood, and she stood, and she stood, before that crowd of raging beasts, 331 00:21:12,735 --> 00:21:15,955 and she simply said, I am a Christian. 332 00:21:16,974 --> 00:21:19,305 She would not fall down. 333 00:21:19,875 --> 00:21:23,325 She had strength to take whatever they were going to throw at her. 334 00:21:25,175 --> 00:21:27,445 Exactly what Paul had described. 335 00:21:28,379 --> 00:21:29,490 She had trained herself. 336 00:21:29,950 --> 00:21:31,850 She was ready to stand. 337 00:21:34,189 --> 00:21:37,749 And mixed in the middle of all of this is the person that we're 338 00:21:37,749 --> 00:21:39,229 going to look at this evening. 339 00:21:39,879 --> 00:21:41,990 And his name is Irenaeus. 340 00:21:42,729 --> 00:21:47,399 And Irenaeus, uh, was born in Smyrna in 130 A. 341 00:21:47,399 --> 00:21:47,709 D. 342 00:21:47,709 --> 00:21:48,179 or thereabouts. 343 00:21:48,969 --> 00:21:51,439 And that fits in with the time of Polycarp. 344 00:21:51,910 --> 00:21:57,880 Polycarp would have been about 60 when, uh, Irenaeus was born, and, uh, he 345 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,960 would have taught, or Irenaeus would have sat under Polycarp's ministry. 346 00:22:02,270 --> 00:22:07,460 In fact, he was ordained by Polycarp as an elder, uh, to go to Leon, and he would 347 00:22:07,460 --> 00:22:09,570 eventually become the Bishop of Leon. 348 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,910 So Polycarp is important in Irenaeus life. 349 00:22:13,100 --> 00:22:13,940 So do you see? 350 00:22:14,170 --> 00:22:17,260 John the Apostle, Polycarp, Irenaeus. 351 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:24,530 This is the living life of the Church that goes from one generation And what is 352 00:22:24,530 --> 00:22:29,120 significant about Irenaeus is that he took a defence for the persecution, or for the 353 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:31,750 persecuted Christians of Leon to Rome. 354 00:22:32,330 --> 00:22:37,650 He knew his Roman law and he says, much like Paul did a century before, 355 00:22:37,860 --> 00:22:40,020 I want to take my defence to Caesar. 356 00:22:40,129 --> 00:22:43,910 He knew who Caesar was, he knew he wasn't the military hard nosed Nero. 357 00:22:43,910 --> 00:22:47,720 He knew that this Marcus Aurelius 358 00:22:52,165 --> 00:22:55,275 And so off he went to Rome, and he met with the Roman Christians 359 00:22:55,275 --> 00:22:58,185 there, and he shared with them what was going on in Lyon. 360 00:22:59,895 --> 00:23:02,695 We don't know if he ever met Caesar. 361 00:23:02,695 --> 00:23:04,705 We don't know if he ever made his defense. 362 00:23:04,705 --> 00:23:11,445 But we do know that he went back, and by the time he went back, the 48 had been 363 00:23:11,525 --> 00:23:14,495 executed and martyred for their faith. 364 00:23:16,304 --> 00:23:17,645 But that didn't stop Arrhenius. 365 00:23:19,090 --> 00:23:21,470 He went from strength to strength. 366 00:23:21,820 --> 00:23:26,460 He stood up against the civil leaders, but it wasn't just the 367 00:23:26,460 --> 00:23:28,110 civil leaders he had to worry about. 368 00:23:28,630 --> 00:23:32,299 He had to worry about some other Christians, who we now look 369 00:23:32,310 --> 00:23:34,350 back and call the Gnostics. 370 00:23:35,210 --> 00:23:36,360 Gnosticism. 371 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:41,589 And what these Christians believed was, now two or three generations 372 00:23:41,589 --> 00:23:46,869 beyond the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, two generations 373 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:51,085 beyond the Apostles, They believed that they were the ones that had 374 00:23:51,085 --> 00:23:52,955 been given a secret knowledge. 375 00:23:52,955 --> 00:23:54,365 That's what Gnosticism is. 376 00:23:54,595 --> 00:23:57,905 A secret knowledge, which means I'm better than you. 377 00:23:57,945 --> 00:24:01,735 I know more than you, but I'm not going to tell you what that is 378 00:24:01,735 --> 00:24:04,894 because you're just going to have to find out how to join our club. 379 00:24:06,205 --> 00:24:11,535 So what they were doing is they were restricting Christianity to knowledge. 380 00:24:12,655 --> 00:24:16,615 Christianity, how you became a Christian, was through your knowledge. 381 00:24:17,835 --> 00:24:20,625 Now we look back and go, well, that's ridiculous. 382 00:24:21,110 --> 00:24:24,820 Because it's by faith alone, that's what the Reformation, but the Reformation 383 00:24:24,820 --> 00:24:27,740 is 1, 400 years in the future. 384 00:24:29,340 --> 00:24:30,590 People were easily swayed. 385 00:24:30,590 --> 00:24:33,259 They did not have the theological grounding that we 386 00:24:33,260 --> 00:24:35,159 have, that we take for granted. 387 00:24:36,710 --> 00:24:38,889 And so he took his stand against the Gnostics. 388 00:24:39,429 --> 00:24:42,949 The Gnostics who, who said it's all about a secret knowledge rather 389 00:24:42,949 --> 00:24:44,780 than about faith in Jesus Christ. 390 00:24:46,450 --> 00:24:47,810 And he took a stand against them. 391 00:24:48,780 --> 00:24:52,980 And you know the church in Lyon grew from strength to strength because of his stand. 392 00:24:54,190 --> 00:24:56,780 He was facing persecution from the Roman officials. 393 00:24:57,070 --> 00:25:00,590 He was, uh, receiving persecution, as you could call it, from 394 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,510 Christians, or so called Christians. 395 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,180 And he was a man who stood, and he was a man who passed on the 396 00:25:07,180 --> 00:25:09,620 faith to the next generation. 397 00:25:11,549 --> 00:25:18,240 You see, what Irenaeus did is the foundation on which we worship today. 398 00:25:19,890 --> 00:25:24,130 He took a stand for the truth, and the truth of the Gospel. 399 00:25:24,130 --> 00:25:29,135 And in fact, many things that that Irenaeus did and said and taught would 400 00:25:29,135 --> 00:25:36,695 come out in the Council of Nicaea, where we get the Nicaean Creed, which is a 401 00:25:36,695 --> 00:25:38,895 further expansion of the Apostles Creed. 402 00:25:39,975 --> 00:25:43,475 And so it is his work deep down that influences the creeds of 403 00:25:43,475 --> 00:25:48,515 the church that we still recite today and still believe today. 404 00:25:49,055 --> 00:25:53,455 And yet here we are at the end of the 100s into the 200s, where these 405 00:25:53,485 --> 00:25:57,235 battles were fought so that we can stand on a heritage of faith. 406 00:25:57,785 --> 00:26:06,155 Today, Irans was eventually martyred and it was in 202 AD that 407 00:26:06,155 --> 00:26:08,285 he was martyred for his faith. 408 00:26:09,665 --> 00:26:15,005 But what he did was he took what Paul said to Timothy in 409 00:26:15,010 --> 00:26:17,255 second Timothy chapter three. 410 00:26:17,585 --> 00:26:19,685 That's why we began with that passage. 411 00:26:20,695 --> 00:26:23,365 Paul says, if you try to do good. 412 00:26:24,035 --> 00:26:27,695 If you try to live a life for Christ, good as in the Christian 413 00:26:27,695 --> 00:26:30,325 good, well then expect persecution. 414 00:26:31,335 --> 00:26:34,815 Not only did Irenaeus expect it, but he took it head on. 415 00:26:35,434 --> 00:26:39,965 He survived it many times, but he was eventually martyred, but before 416 00:26:39,965 --> 00:26:44,305 he was, he influenced the church for the next generation so that it 417 00:26:44,315 --> 00:26:46,205 would continue to take its stand. 418 00:26:47,585 --> 00:26:52,820 Leon would appear in church history and will appear in 1400 years because 419 00:26:52,820 --> 00:26:55,070 the Reformation is key in Lyon. 420 00:26:55,730 --> 00:27:00,590 And in fact it is from there that the Huguenots leave France under 421 00:27:00,590 --> 00:27:04,720 the French persecution around the 1500s and settle in South Africa. 422 00:27:05,349 --> 00:27:09,389 And where the Gospel then takes hold in the southern part of that country. 423 00:27:09,719 --> 00:27:12,820 Or that continent even, never mind the country of South Africa. 424 00:27:13,659 --> 00:27:17,889 And so, that's why we started looking at a place and not a person. 425 00:27:18,629 --> 00:27:21,950 Because it's actually the place as well as the person that has huge influence. 426 00:27:22,389 --> 00:27:25,420 and leanings when it comes to our church history. 427 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:33,220 And what Paul does in 2 Timothy 3, after he says that this is gonna 428 00:27:33,230 --> 00:27:35,379 happen, he wants to give us assurance. 429 00:27:36,500 --> 00:27:41,289 And he says those wonderful verses, all Scripture is breathed out by 430 00:27:41,290 --> 00:27:46,100 God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and 431 00:27:46,100 --> 00:27:47,600 for training in righteousness. 432 00:27:48,639 --> 00:27:52,110 You see, this is what Paul points us to, and this is what Irenaeus knew, 433 00:27:52,110 --> 00:27:55,469 and this is what our brothers and sisters around the world know today. 434 00:27:56,315 --> 00:28:01,085 They know that to survive, we stand on the Word of God. 435 00:28:02,725 --> 00:28:06,175 And before Christmas, we had those three weeks looking at why we read the Bible. 436 00:28:06,204 --> 00:28:08,595 I wonder how that's going for you. 437 00:28:09,115 --> 00:28:10,865 I don't want to assume anything. 438 00:28:11,405 --> 00:28:13,325 I don't want to guess. 439 00:28:14,194 --> 00:28:16,944 But let me ask you as a check in a month later. 440 00:28:17,365 --> 00:28:18,924 How is Bible reading going? 441 00:28:20,114 --> 00:28:21,074 Are you reading it? 442 00:28:21,084 --> 00:28:23,184 Are you reading a good chunk of it at a time? 443 00:28:24,020 --> 00:28:25,510 Maybe you're listening to it. 444 00:28:26,060 --> 00:28:30,450 Maybe you've found some way of listening in the car and paying attention. 445 00:28:31,399 --> 00:28:34,469 See, the only way we can stand is to take the Word of God, 446 00:28:34,919 --> 00:28:36,909 to read it and to know it. 447 00:28:37,530 --> 00:28:41,299 I'm gonna say again what I said last week because I think it's wonderful. 448 00:28:42,020 --> 00:28:47,419 Something I heard on someone's interview with Derek Thomas where he said, I may not 449 00:28:47,419 --> 00:28:50,580 remember every meal, but I know I was fed. 450 00:28:51,450 --> 00:28:56,840 We may not remember every bit of teaching we receive, but we need to know. 451 00:28:59,150 --> 00:29:03,380 Are you feeding on the Word of God so that when persecution comes 452 00:29:03,380 --> 00:29:05,980 we can stand firm and believe? 453 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:10,830 And that's where our questions take us this evening. 454 00:29:11,550 --> 00:29:14,509 Because they're on the back of, or just at the bottom of page 3. 455 00:29:14,509 --> 00:29:16,239 Three questions for your tables in the next few minutes. 456 00:29:16,890 --> 00:29:18,300 Uh, 15 minutes or so. 457 00:29:18,970 --> 00:29:22,920 Looking at that passage in 2 Timothy 3, two verses there, have that open. 458 00:29:23,180 --> 00:29:26,400 How are we seeing evil people and impostors going from bad 459 00:29:26,449 --> 00:29:28,070 to worse in society today? 460 00:29:28,570 --> 00:29:34,649 Secondly, we may not have to recant our faith, but how do we shy away from 461 00:29:34,649 --> 00:29:39,599 faith in our everyday, and what can we do to ensure we remain faithful? 462 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:41,980 to sharing the gospel. 463 00:29:42,730 --> 00:29:46,320 And Irenaeus took a stand against the false teaching of Gnosticism, 464 00:29:46,530 --> 00:29:47,830 that is secret knowledge. 465 00:29:48,170 --> 00:29:50,040 Do we still have Gnostics today? 466 00:29:50,060 --> 00:29:53,190 Do we still have people who proclaim a different gospel? 467 00:29:53,510 --> 00:29:55,960 Perhaps a gospel of, of certain knowledge. 468 00:29:56,420 --> 00:29:58,500 And if so, how do we identify them? 469 00:29:58,849 --> 00:30:00,350 So that we can be aware of them. 470 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:05,330 I'm going to pray to finish this bit off, and then we'll let you 471 00:30:05,380 --> 00:30:07,410 get thinking about those questions. 472 00:30:07,420 --> 00:30:08,120 So let's pray. 473 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:15,440 Our Father God, we thank you that we can learn from the past. 474 00:30:16,475 --> 00:30:19,925 It's probably something that does interest us a little to learn and 475 00:30:19,925 --> 00:30:25,145 hear some of these stories of, of our, of our forefathers, of 476 00:30:25,145 --> 00:30:26,565 those who have gone before us. 477 00:30:27,595 --> 00:30:33,245 People like Blondina, who stood well for Christ, where she would not fall 478 00:30:33,265 --> 00:30:36,335 down, but like an athlete, stood firm. 479 00:30:37,465 --> 00:30:38,685 Thank you for her training. 480 00:30:39,385 --> 00:30:43,845 Thank you for Irenaeus and his training and the discipleship he received, so he 481 00:30:43,845 --> 00:30:48,830 too could stand firm and influence the Church for the next generation so that 482 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:51,070 we, the Church, would still be here today. 483 00:30:51,890 --> 00:30:54,560 Thank you for that promise that you are building your Church, and the gates 484 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:56,210 of hell will not prevail against it. 485 00:30:56,860 --> 00:30:57,979 May we believe that. 486 00:30:58,419 --> 00:30:59,619 May we know it to be true. 487 00:31:00,089 --> 00:31:04,920 And Father, may that give us a passion to proclaim the good news of the Gospel 488 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:09,990 in this village and around the world so that we will see souls coming to Christ 489 00:31:10,350 --> 00:31:13,219 so that the Church can be built for you. 490 00:31:14,410 --> 00:31:19,080 So hear us as we pray and be with us in our time of discussion 491 00:31:19,450 --> 00:31:20,900 as we seek you in Jesus name. 492 00:31:22,050 --> 00:31:22,460 Amen.