Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'On idolatry'.
My summary
Today Tertullian gives us his thoughts on idolatry.
He teaches us about the influence of idolatry:
(i) broadly, in all sin;
(ii) in statue worship;
(iii) on tradesmen who make idols;
(iv) on school teachers;
(v) on special days;
(vi) on special festivals;
(vii) on clothing;
(viii) on military service;
(ix) on blessings;
(x) on written contracts.
What grabbed me
In Western society it is hard for us to appreciate how steeped the culture of the early Christians was in idol worship.
Thankfully the early Christians had Tertullian to guide them through such troubled waters.
I particularly liked how Tertullian showed the relationship of idolatry to other sin: 'Thus it comes to pass, that in idolatry all crimes are detected, and in all crimes idolatry. Even otherwise, since all faults savour of opposition to God, and there is nothing which savours of opposition to God which is not assigned to demons and unclean spirits, whose property idols are; doubtless, whoever commits a fault is chargeable with idolatry, for he does that which pertains to the proprietors of idols. '
The second commandment is broken much more easily than we think.
Next week's reading
Read 'The shows'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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