Chapter 1

Ancient Rome

• Culture and the freedoms of people are fragile. Without a sufficient base, when such pressures come only time is needed–and often not a great deal of time–before there is a collapse.
• We may express the nature of Christian rebellion of Rome in two ways, both of which are true
  • They worshiped Jesus as God and they worshiped the infinite-personal God only. The Caesars would not tolerate this worshiping of the one God only. It was counted as treason.
  • No totalitarian authority nor  authoritarian state can tolerate those who have an absolute by which to judge the state and its actions. The Christians had that absolute in God’s revelation. Because the Christians had an absolute, universal standard by which to judge not only personal morals but the state, they were counted as enemies of totalitarian Rome and were thrown to the beasts.
• Rome did not fall because of external forces such as the invasion by the barbarians. Rome had no sufficient inward base; the barbarians only completed the breakdown–and Rome gradually became a ruin.

Cover Photo: Ancient Roman Columns in Évora, Portugal

This post contains quoted and paraphrased passages of How Should We Then Live? by Francis A. Schaeffer. 50th L’Abri Anniversary Edition, © 2005 by Crossway Books.