I will begin this article by exploring the behavior and lifestyle of Christians in the first century, as well as the changes they underwent during the Middle Ages.

Firstly, it is crucial to understand that first-century Christianity experienced distortions over time. The encounter with various cultural, social, ideological, and political currents, as well as the influence of Jewish “gnosticism” or “Magianism,” weakened the doctrinal core and the projection of Christianity.

Additionally, Christians were among the most persecuted groups by the Roman Empire. Although Rome was usually tolerant of various cults, the Christian message threatened fundamental pillars of imperial stability, such as emperor worship, the political and economic system based on war, and the clear inequality between classes, peoples, and sexes. Furthermore, religious controversies between rabbinic Judaism and Christianity led both to distance themselves from their first-century origins.

Tragically, Christianity strayed from its foundations, especially in the form of worship, songs, customs, beliefs, and social influences. The authority of the church began to prevail over the Scriptures, giving rise to the creation of an institution that, although initially adapted to Roman law, leaned towards human precepts instead of divine ones. Despite its proclamation as a manifestation of God’s will on earth, the Church, in reality, accommodated the conveniences of its clergy. The Church’s edicts were unquestionable, even when many clergymen seemed to prioritize their interests over those of God. A humanism tailored to the Hellenistic philosophical ideal was placed above divine authority, turning man into his own god, gradually displacing Christ as the true savior.

Over time, the Church as a Roman institution generated conflicts with the state, as the latter was established on non-Christian foundations while the Church acquired considerable power. A sort of strategic “stalemate” developed, where the state provided protection to the Church, feeding off each other. During this period, numerous churches were built, and mandatory tithing was implemented to enrich the Church and consolidate more control and power, a convenience for both parties. However, this perspective was far from the moral foundations established by the apostles and the true first-century Christians, whose only model to follow was God through the life of His Son.

This era was tumultuous and bitter, marked by the loss of many social values, giving way to the beginning of a humanism renaissance. This movement promoted the independence and autonomy of man, considering everything relative without an absolute truth, a truth that faded into a statistical average created by man. The existence of an absolute being, God, was ignored despite belief in Him and, therefore, in the only truth.

I would like to recommend the documentary “How Should We Then Live?”, specifically chapter 2, based on the book by writer and lecturer Francis A. Schaeffer, to delve deeper into the topic we have tried to highlight here. This will facilitate the understanding of the changes that occurred during this period of Christianity in the Middle Ages.

Author: Hr. Julio Hermández