Douglas Jacoby Podcast

Christ Through the Ages, 26: The Later Middle Ages

Episode Summary

Douglas continues his series Christ Through the Ages, looking today at The Later Middle Ages.

Episode Notes

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Doctrinal development and changing views of Christ

• Changes occur slowly, accumulating incrementally. Probably most people never even noticed.
• But in the 4th century the church rockets into worldliness.
  • Majority authentic disciples -> only the minority (Matthew 7).
  • At odds with the world -> friends with the world (James 4).
  • Apostolic message authoritative -> Roman message reinterprets and adds to the message.
  • The church “baptizes” pagan practices, attitudes, etc. – creative and certainly pragmatic, but what about authentic  Christian culture?
  • If we want to locate a pivotal date, perhaps 325 (Nicaea) or 381 (Christianity the official imperial religion)

Mary

• Mother of God, Ephesus, 431 AD
• West (Catholic and Orthodox Christianity) v.  East (Church of the East, 400s+)
• The stern Christ (his mother is more approachable)
• She will be understood as Queen of Heaven (see Jeremiah 7:8. 4417-19, 25)), and become a de facto goddess.

Accommodation

• Many martyrs are venerated, and days are assigned to remember them.
• Saint days take over pagan holidays.
• Many pagan customs are accepted, after minor tweaking, as Christian traditions.

Eucharist

• A spectacle
• The cup eventually forbidden to the laity.
• Eucharist brings luck -- even when committing a crime!

Violence

• Christus Victor
• Inquisition (13th century +)
• Christ of the Crusades
• Papal bodyguards and armies
• Meditation on Matthew 5:9.
  • Blessed are the peacemakers.
  • How does the medieval Christ square with Jesus' teaching and character?
    • Jesus' treatment of outsiders?
    • Jesus' teaching about enemies (later in Matthew 5)?
    • Jesus' attitude towards those who have wronged us?
    • Paul’s comments on the gentleness of Christ, e.g. in Philippians 2?
    • Paul's observation that we do not wage war as the world does, in 2 Corinthians 10?
    • The fact that, whereas OT warfare is often literal, NT warfare is spiritualized (Ephesians 6 etc)?
  • How distinctive was the church in its attitude and practice? How distinctive are we?

Next: Christ in Church History: 500 Years of Alternative Christs