One individual who had a significant impact on the church was not a pastor or theologian but rather a Roman emperor by the name of Constantine. The fact that he impacted the church has not been disputed; however, the nature of his contribution is hotly debated as I have heard people describe his influence on the church as being very positive while others have seen it as very negative. The mixed perception of his role on the church of the past (and thus the church of the present and the future) comes in part, because of some complexities within the individual himself. Therefore, in this post I want to highlight why he is so significant and also why he (and his legacy) is also complicated.
His Life and Times
One of the greatest persecutions of the Christian church by the Roman empire, under the emperor Diocletian (who reigned from 284-305), occurred just prior to Constantine’s rise to power. During the last few years of his reign, Diocletian commanded that churches be destroyed, sacred books confiscated and burned, clergy be imprisoned and made to offer sacrifice by torture, and Christians stripped of the privileges of citizenship and barred from holding public office or being in the army. Diocletian abdicated the throne in 305, but persecution continued under Galerius. While the aim of this intense persecution was to eradicate the church, this did not happen as Christians continued to testify to their faith to the watching world. In fact, public favor seems to have been much higher in favor of Christians than in previous times, so Galerius issued a moratorium on persecution in 311 that allowed Christianity to be tolerated.
Constantine rose to power after the death of Galerius. He was the son of the Roman ruler over Gaul, Spain, and Britannica (who had not been as adamant about persecuting Christians) and proclaimed emperor by his troops when his father died. He marched to Rome with his troops and attacked a rival, Maxentius, in an attempt to consolidate power, with the armies meeting at the Milvian Bridge just outside of Rome. What exactly happened next is debated as some reports note that he had a dream and an angel told him to put the Greek letters Chi and Rho (the first letters of Christ in Greek) on the shields of his soldiers while others say that he had a vision of the cross and was told “in this you shall conquer.” Either way, Constantine fights under the banner of Christian faith and wins, rising to power.
The way Rome treated Christians changed, as in 313 the Edict of Milan goes further than previous laws in granting toleration of Christianity and other religions and restores property to Christians. A number of other laws emerge during Constantine’s reign in support of the Christian faith, such as exempting clergy from civil service and giving them financial support, funding the building of churches, and making Sunday a holiday. Gladiator games ended and crucifixion was no longer a form of punishment. Church leaders came together to discuss doctrine and write creeds, and biblical manuscripts were more readily copied and preserved. It should be noted, however, that while Christianity now is favored, it was not made the official religion of Rome until 380 by Emperor Theodosius.
His Impact and Legacy
Some see Constantine as an opportunist who realized that Christian persecution wasn’t working and that the empire could be united under it. He was baptized late in life (in 337) and continues to participate in pagan rites and sacrifices. I think there was, most likely, sincerity in his faith, but he also had some mixed motives and shortcomings in his discipleship. His significance in church history, however, resides less in his personal faith and more in terms of the climate he created for the Christian faith in Rome, as much of the next phases in church history stood in response to this new era.
In moving Christianity from a religion that was, at best, tolerated, Constantine ushered a period in the West in which it was no longer dangerous to be a Christian — in fact, it might be an advantage. This likely led to many people identifying as Christians — not out of genuine faith in Christ or a transformed heart, but out of convenience or opportunities. For the first time, the church could be confused with culture, and it also seems that the culture would start to impact the church more and more. For example, the persecuted church eventually becomes the persecuted of others rather than the defenders of the freedom they had sought before, and Christian leaders refrained from offering any criticisms of the government officials at times and instead found ways to defend them. Christian beliefs and practices emerged that may have been borrowed or adapted from pagan rites. However, because Christianity was now legal, people who likely would not have been exposed to the gospel before heard it and the church grew and developed in new ways.
Therefore, while there is much to be thankful for in terms of his work (as Christians were no longer being killed, churches built, and biblical manuscripts copied) there may also be a darker legacy. This is a good reminder that in the fallen world in which we live, actions can have both positive and negative influences. To put it in a spiritual framework, God can bring good things out of the schemes of the devil, and the devil tries to co-opt and spoil the good things that God is doing.
A Worldwide Perspective
Constantine’s legacy has been felt in America due to its connection with Western European history, but it also is a good reminder of the place of Christianity around the world throughout time and today. There are places in which it is culturally acceptable and advantageous to be a Christian — in which there are state churches and ways that the government and culture might favor Christianity — and there are also places where it is illegal to be a Christian. Both situations can cause the church to grow but also create challenges for Christians.
May we pray for our brothers and sisters today who live in places like pre-Constantinian Rome in which they may be put to death for their faith. We should also pray for brothers and sisters in places where Christianity might seem favored, that they would not grow complacent in their faith and that the amazing truth of the gospel may be heard and embraced. Finally, may we remember to pray for the governing officials in our land and around the world as instructed by Paul in 1 Timothy 2 that “we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (2:2).
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