Discussion Seeming decline of spiritual gifts and missions in early church due to Nero et al?

GoldenKingGaze · Jun 13, 2022

Records of healing rallies go on for a few centuries in the early church, but it seems there was a decline in the fervour seen in Corinth under Paul. Was this due to Nero's persecution and the need for the underground church? Was the church smothered somewhat? And then when weakened given the grand task of becoming the state religion of Rome, under Constantine, was that an overwhelming challenge? I'd say even Paul would have a lot of work to do with the conversion of so many pagan hearts to Christ if he was young and strong at that time.

Pioneer3mm · Jun 13, 2022

To:OP
You wrote..
"..but it seems there was a decline in fervour.."
---
The 'Move of God/Movements'
After the first generation, it starts to lose..
- the 'fervour, original vision & commitment.'
That has been the pattern..
- in Christian History.
- From the beginning of Christian Movement.. in the first century.

Norbert L · Jun 13, 2022

I think it substantially has more to do when living in nations that allow the freedom to preach the gospel compared to where a Christian in the middle east more literally puts their life on the line. I've heard ex-Muslims point out that in the communities where they are allowed to mix say something to the effect, 'Those Christians..! when they pray for us, their prayers get answered'.

Basically I'm of the view the west has gotten fat from freedom.

GoldenKingGaze · Jun 13, 2022

In the twentieth century it seems revivals had been gradually increasing in fervour and renewing the old ministry offices. With roots in the Moravians. The reverse of 95 AD to 295 AD, starting at the outset of modern times.

ByTheSpirit · Jul 2, 2022

GoldenKingGaze said:
In the twentieth century it seems revivals had been gradually increasing in fervour and renewing the old ministry offices. With roots in the Moravians. The reverse of 95 AD to 295 AD, starting at the outset of modern times.

I for one do not believe the modern church to be anywhere near the mark God wants it to be. Some sure, but the majority, no. At any rate, the church started losing it's power around the year 300 when Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the empire. Part of the gospel that most ignore is the gospel of suffering. All throughout the New Testament Christians are told they will and should suffer for Christ. First generations of Christians certainly suffered for Jesus and they walked in tremendous power and anointing, but as Rome grew more lenient with the Church, the Church grew calloused. As someone else here has said, just in other terms, the church by and large has gotten fat off it's freedom.

GoldenKingGaze · Jul 3, 2022

ByTheSpirit said:
I for one do not believe the modern church to be anywhere near the mark God wants it to be. Some sure, but the majority, no. At any rate, the church started losing it's power around the year 300 when Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the empire. Part of the gospel that most ignore is the gospel of suffering. All throughout the New Testament Christians are told they will and should suffer for Christ. First generations of Christians certainly suffered for Jesus and they walked in tremendous power and anointing, but as Rome grew more lenient with the Church, the Church grew calloused. As someone else here has said, just in other terms, the church by and large has gotten fat off it's freedom.

The churches in Nigeria and China grow, but also in south America. In the first two there is opposition, but take it away, and would growth increase more still? Or would they have to work with less a provision of grace?

By the time of Constantine, many leaders and outstanding Romans and others, were killed. Maybe this is why the church in Rome was anemic after losing so much metaphoric blood?

If Nero had been Christian, and the church grew fat under Paul, John and Peter, and Polycarp and many others, maybe this hypothetical church would have grown muscle and not fat?

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Discussion Seeming decline of spiritual gifts and missions in early church due to Nero et al?

GoldenKingGaze

Prevent Slavery, support the persecuted.

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Pioneer3mm

Well-Known Member

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Norbert L

Well-Known Member

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GoldenKingGaze

Prevent Slavery, support the persecuted.

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ByTheSpirit

Come Lord Jesus

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GoldenKingGaze

Prevent Slavery, support the persecuted.

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