History of Christendom notes - 12/20

In order to convert in masses, missionaries used to go to the king or chieftain. This way, you convert a nation instead of individuals. This is federal headship. Christ is to be our federal headship, and if we don't follow him, Adam is our federal headship. This form of conversion isn't adapted in modern times, and is looked at with scorn. People are skeptical about it, but in essence, this is how a culture should function, based upon strong religions led by the king or ruler.

Part of the reason the Irish saved their civilization was the fact that they copied the great classical books. They kept them in print and so saved them for us. We would not have the literature we have now without their dedication to copying.

They took the gospel to the least likely and they were met with amazing reforming results.

Patrick was born around 385 into a Roman family who lived near water. They weren't super rich, but they weren't poor at the same time. He was captured around 406 by invading pirates who sold him to be a shepherd. He experienced hunger, nakedness, and loneliness throughout the time he spent watching the sheep. It was out there, however, that he finally came back to God. He began to recall what his parents had taught him of God and the Bible. He spent whole days praying to God out there in the fields. The Holy Spirit gave him full recall of all the Scriptures he had been taught as a child. He grew to love those who had enslaved him instead of hating them. He saw an angel in a dream telling him that his ship was ready. He left his flock and walked two hundred miles in six weeks not knowing where he was going to finally come to a harbor with a ship sitting there waiting for him. He was invited aboard and was soon on his way home. He was greeted with great enthusiasm as he was supposed lost forever or dead. He had been gone for eight years. Soon after, he felt the need to return to Ireland and convert the same people who had captured him and sold him. He did so, and through him a great many people were converted. It has been said that he was the tipping point for Ireland's conversion.

There is a huge difference between conversion and assimilation. Conversion is truly taking up the robe of a new belief. Assimilation is simply acting like it; becoming like it; imitating it; absorbing it. There is a difference between being Christian and being American. Many people say they are the same, but it is not. The Celtics were a primitive and earthy people before they were converted. Once they were converted, a primitive and earthy Christianity emerged. Christianity transforms that which it converts if it is rooted within the Word.

Eucatastrophe - a catastrophe with a purpose. An example of this would be the cross, or Joseph being sold as slave, or St. Patrick. Patrick's faith was incarnational.

Christians had a zeal to take the Word to the world. The Irish Christians had a Celtic adventurer spirit. They took the Great Commission to heart. They didn't have many adversaries so they didn't have a chance to be martyrs. Instead, they became green martyrs. Christians who would leave and give up their homelands in Ireland to go among the world and spread the gospel.

We are allowed to be different. Every culture's church will look different. Unity within diversion.

The Irish church should look different from the American church and the Spanish church etc. We can look different as long as we have Christ at the center.

The barbarians crossed the river and the Irish changed the world through it. "We may not know what's going on, but we can be confident that God will remain faithful to His Word." - Pastor.

Poets sprang up from the Irish Christians.

Brenden set out as an adventurer. He journaled his journey and wrote poetry. He was born in 485 and when he was about 17 he gathered a group of his friends together and sailed around making trips. He sought out new lands. He inherited his wild spirit from his parents. He found vast lands. Some say that he even discovered America.

Columba - was born in 521 and was a member of the royal family. His parents were Christians and he attended school. He took twelve companions with him to go convert the Iona Community. The people of that community were fierce. They were also very druidic. Christianity spread to them. Christ alone was the head of the Church there. Missionaries from there went to Germany, Scotland, and Holland. More then seventy kinds have been buried at the Church in the Iona Community. They are thought to be what converted Europe.

The Iona Church had a high view of women and the Bible. They had a low view of hierarchy and effeminate men as missionaries.