Why Christianity isn't a made-up faith...

The following excerpt from a homily written by St. John Chrysostom (c. 347-407 AD, commemorated on January 27 in the Episcopal Church) contains one of the best responses to the shop-worn argument that Christianity is a fabricated faith, that the Resurrection is a purely "spiritual" event, and that the Gospel is primarily an intellectual phenomenon, not one involving the total person.

This reading is appointed as a non-Scriptural lesson on Eves of Apostles and Evangelists. Tonight is the Eve of St. Bartholomew's Day, and as I read it at Evensong, I thought it would be a good thing to share with all readers of this blog as a reminder of the seriousness of the faith we share, and the fact that Christians have been dealing with both inquiry and criticism of the faith from the beginning. St. John's response is passionate, but not vicious...a good thing to remember when doing this sort of work.

We don’t know much about St. Bartholomew, but as the collect for his feast day reminds us, we share in the faith he proclaimed and for which he died. That faith burns brightly still in the lives of those who have given themselves over to the saving power of the Risen Christ—the True Light of the world.

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It was clear through unlearned men that the cross was persuasive, in fact, it persuaded the whole world. Their discourse was not of unimportant matters but of God and true religion, of the Gospel way of life and future judgement, yet it turned plain, uneducated men into philosophers. How the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and his weakness stronger than men!

In what way is it stronger? It made its way throughout the world and overcame all men; countless men sought to eradicate the very name of the Crucified, but that name flourished and grew ever mightier. Its enemies lost out and perished; the living who waged a war on a dead man proved helpless. Therefore, when a Greek tells me I am dead, he shows only that he is foolish indeed, for I, whom he thinks a fool, turn out to be wiser than those reputed wise. So too, in calling me weak, he but shows that he is weaker still. For the good deeds which tax-collectors and fishermen were able to accomplish by God’s grace, the philosophers, the rulers, the countless multitudes cannot even imagine.

Paul had this in mind when he said: The weakness of God is stronger than men. That the preaching of these men was indeed divine is brought home to us in the same way. For how otherwise could twelve uneducated men, who lived on lakes and rivers and wastelands, get the idea for such an immense enterprise? How could men who perhaps had never been in a city or a public square think of setting out to do battle with the whole world? That they were fearful, timid men, the evangelist makes clear; he did not reject the fact or try to hide their weaknesses. Indeed he turned these into a proof of the truth. What did he say of them? That when Christ was arrested, the others fled, despite all the miracles they had seen, while he who was leader of the others denied him!

How then account for the fact that these men, who in Christ’s lifetime did not stand up to the attacks by the Jews, set forth to do battle with the whole world once Christ was dead - if, as you claim, Christ did not rise and speak to them and rouse their courage? Did they perhaps say to themselves: “What is this? He could not save himself but he will protect us? He did not help himself when he was alive, but now that he is dead he will extend a helping hand to us? In his lifetime he brought no nation under his banner, but by uttering his name we will win over the whole world?” Would it not be wholly irrational even to think such thoughts, much less to act upon them?

It is evident, then, that if they had not seen him risen and had proof of his power, they would not have risked so much.

Collect for the Feast of St. Batholomew, Apostle

Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.