Second century theologian Tertullian reports this pagan comment on the early Christian community - “Look how they love one another and how they are ready to die for each other.”
The Christian virtues of compassion and service and self-sacrifice were not shared with the pagan culture. To do for those who were of lesser status, to do for those who could not reciprocate, to give without expectation of return did not have merit in the pagan world. Rather, that pagan world was about self-aggrandizement and honor seeking. No self respecting pagan would seek to humble themselves or give themselves for the sake of another. It was those odd and hard to fathom Christians who did the unthinkable and who upset the social order by giving without consideration for who was receiving and what might be gained. They associated with the poor, the sick, slaves, and all manner of nobodies. Interestingly, some wealthy folk found the Christian way to be attractive. It was a different, more virtuous way for them.
Sociologist of religion Rodney Stark has published a number of studies about the early church. He has made note of this different ethic of the early church. What he found is perhaps surprising but also a source of great hope and inspiration for us at this time in our history. According to Stark, Christians had a higher survival rate during the periodic epidemics that affected the Roman Empire. When the plagues made their way through the pagan world, the right thing in the pagan mind was to seek what was beneficial to oneself. If you were wealthy, that probably meant that you would separate yourself from the world behind walls and gates, keeping your treasure for yourself while the sick and the poor died in the street. Other wealthy people would flee to a country home and wait out the plague.
It was the Christian who lived differently. They would care for the sick, both family and stranger, rather than shun them. It seems that the sharing of love, the sharing of nutrition, the practice of caring for others, and prayer actually lowered the mortality among Christians. To be a Christian is to live differently as Christ showed us and commanded us to live, not just in the happy and safe times but also in times of crisis. Each in their own way must figure out how they are called to do this.
One lesson we take from this is that prayer matters. While not all can go out and help others, and some certainly should not, all can pray. Prayer matters. Science has shown that and I happen to believe in science as well as the power of God. So, be different and be like the Christians of the early church. Pray expectantly for the sick and for those out serving others, and know that you are making a real difference with your prayers.
Grace and peace,
Fr. Bill+