- Nov 24, 2018
- 169
- 126
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
So today I'll be arguing with Early Christian sources (c.100-325AD) many forms of entertainment were forbidden. I hope this one serves to have a practical change in our lives. This is a small part of the "Separation of the World" beliefs which was the Early Churches main doctrine. This view; like the other Early Christian posts; was a universal teaching and you won't find a contradiction in the first 300 years of the church. The following quotes will be in chronological order.
I'm not claiming that entertainment is always wrong obviously. I'm not even claiming that secular entertainment is always wrong too. In fact, the early Christians were fine and even promoted to an extent with men and women keeping fit (for the sake of keeping fit) and having fun provided it was wholesome. I am claiming that we should be very careful with what we watch no matter if it's fiction or not. (another side note is that swearing, or cussing isn't inherently wrong and we have too much of a high view of it.)
If you're in a rush you can just look at the quotes and not some description of the passage and the context behind the writers.
Without further a do.
Tatian:
Address to the Greeks (c.160 AD)
"they utter ribaldry in affected tones, and go through indecent movements; your daughters and your sons behold them giving lessons in adultery on the stage."
Tatian was a mid 2nd century Christian and a disciple of Justin Martyr who was the first apologist of the church. His other work the "Diatessaron" (meaning harmony) was the first ever Gospel harmony and was used for hundreds of years in the East. Sadly, Tatian would become a Gnostic after Justin's death but it would appear that Irenaeus of Lyons won him back to Orthodoxy.
In this work Tatian is stating that many foul practices are encouraged and taught in the theatre. They were avoided because quite simply they promote ideals that a Christian should never stand for. If we as Christians are never supposed to even think about lust to someone we desire then how could we watch something which outrights supports it? Fiction or not these are performances which are promoting things we must reject.
Theophilus of Antioch:
Theophilus to Autolycus (168 AD)
"But neither may we see the other spectacles, lest our eyes and ears be defiled, participating in the utterances there sung. For if one should speak of cannibalism, in these spectacles the children of Thyestes and Tereus are eaten; and as for adultery, both in the case of men and of gods, whom they celebrate in elegant language for honours and prizes, this is made the subject of their dramas"
Theophilus was a mid 2nd century Christian who was bishop of Antioch which was considered a very important place in Pre-Nicean Christendom. He was the seventh bishop of that city (which had the like of Ignatius and arguably Paul as leaders) and was considered a very important Christian by his contemporaries and early Christian scholars.
As you see, back then many grievous sins were not only shown but promoted in a jokingly and sometimes positive way. Is this much different than the shows that we see today? Minus the cannibal part, you'd be hard pressed to find much difference between them in respects to the shows. Christians didn't want to become defiled and thus departed from sinful shows when they knew of their existence.
Athenagoras:
A Plea For the Christians (177 AD)
"For when they know that we cannot endure even to see a man put to death, though justly; who of them can accuse us of murder or cannibalism? Who does not reckon among the things of greatest interest the contests of gladiators and wild beasts, especially those which are given by you? But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him, have abjured such spectacles."
Athenagoras is quite an unknown early Christian who's work A Plea For the Christians was a letter written to Marcus Aurelius to try and give justice to his fellow brothers and sisters in faith.
As much as this quote can be used for pacifism as it can for being against certain types of entertainment. Christians despised seeing sin and clearly got upset seeing death. They fought just seeing gladiators or men fight as a heinous sin let alone committing it themselves. I understand that a real death done in a violent promoting way is different to seeing a death of fiction on the TV but nevertheless the point stands that seeing death may defile as Theophilus put it.
Clement of Alexandria:
The Instructor Book 3 (195 AD)
Let spectacles, therefore, and plays that are full of vulgar language and of abundant gossip, be forbidden. For what base action is it that is not exhibited in the theatres?
Clement of Alexandria was a late 2nd century early 3rd century Christian who developed and popularised the Alexandrian thought of Christians. The Instructor is a part of his great trilogy which was very popular in the Church. It can give us a good look into the early church's beliefs and behaviours.
As you see, anything full of vulgar language (which didn't mean swearing for the record) or promoting gossip could never be watched. The Early Christians believed that it only fed the beast of sin within you to watch the shows. Since sin must be controlled they could not watch such things. You see they didn't take things like this as a small issue but something where you could actually get kicked out of the church if you began promoting it (and disciplined if you went)
Minucius Felix:
The Octavius (c.200 AD)
"In the scenic games also the madness is not less, but the debauchery is more prolonged: for now a mimic either expounds or shows forth adulteries; now nerveless player, while he feigns lust, suggests it; the same actor disgraces your gods by attributing to them adulteries, sighs, hatreds; the same provokes your tears with pretended sufferings, with vain gestures and expressions."
Minucius Felix was the writer of the Octavius. A dialogue between a Christian and a Pagan. The topics brought up range from, why are Christians poor if God supports them to why do Christians act "holier than thou" to Pagans.
Felix references just before about the other games (gladiator matches etc) and clearly states that their sin in many worse in worse. They could never support anything with adultery because their King and Messiah and his Apostles taught directly against it. Look at that passage and again could that not be applied to today? With those emotions being shown?
Tertullian:
All following quotes are from The Shows (c.200 AD)
Chapter 16
"Since, then, all passionate excitement is forbidden us, we are debarred from every kind of spectacle, and especially from the stadiums, where such excitement presides as in its proper element. See the people coming to it already under strong emotion, already tumultuous, already passion-blind, already agitated about their bets... there is the united shout of a common madness... And the result accordingly is, that they fly into rages, and passions, and discords, and all that they who are consecrated to peace ought never to indulge in. Then there are curses and reproaches, with no cause of hatred; there are cries of applause, with nothing to merit them."
Tertullian was a Early Chrisitan living in Carthage and probably wrote more works than any other Early Christian. He had a major influence in the West and there was a sect of Christians named after him that survived right into the 4th century.
In many ways does this just match modern day too? No cause for hatred yet football ( or soccer for some) teams lashing out against each other just for being born in a different place. Or people being overjoyed by someone they've never met doing someone quite simple. The only thing in common is the badge that they both wear. Think of the mob mentality when we see such things live. It can be sickening.
Can a Christian who follows the way of peace indulge in such madness and such perverseness? We can lose what makes us Christian if we're not careful.
Chapter 17
(best quote on the issue)
"But if we ought to abominate all that is immodest, on what ground is it right to hear what we must not speak? Why, in the same way, is it right to look on what it is disgraceful to do? How is it that the things which defile a man in going out of his mouth, are not regarded as doing so when they go in at his eyes and ears--when eyes and ears are the immediate attendants on the spirit--and that can never be pure whose servants-in-waiting are impure? You have the theatre forbidden, then, in the forbidding of immodesty... What you reject in deed, you are not to bid welcome to in word."
If we cannot speak it how it any way should we listen to it? We as Christians should never want to associate with sin in any forms. If we reject adultery we shouldn't be happy with statements on it. If we reject striking back we shouldn't support when someone does it. Our deeds and our words should match not contradict. As Tertullian says, lets flee from sin or it very well defile us when we see or hear it. A virtuous life is commanded of us not one of sin an shame.
Chapter 21
"The father who carefully protects and guards his virgin daughter's ears from every polluting word, takes her to the theatre himself, exposing her to all its vile words and attitudes"
Isn't this ironic and doesn't it match many of our brothers and sisters in faith today? Some parents try so hard to take care and prepare their child for a world of sin only to take them to places that strongly supports it. If we regard sin as wrong lets not be blind to the sinful ways of the theatres, TV shows and films.
Chapter 25
"Seated where there is nothing of God, will one be thinking of his Maker? Will there be peace in his soul when there is eager strife there for a charioteer? Wrought up into a frenzied excitement, will he learn to be modest?... And when the athletes are hard at struggle, will he be ready to proclaim that there must be no striking again? And with his eye fixed on the bites of bears, and the sponge-nets of the net-fighters, can he be moved by compassion?"
When we look at and enjoy sinful things can we in anyway support the tenets of the faith given to us by Christ? Can we in any way live out the life commanded to us of the Sermon on the Mount all those years ago? God hates a hypocrite so if we say one thing but act differently we only bring his name down.
Novatian:
Can't Remember the Book (c.250 AD)
"how idle are the contests themselves; strifes in colours, contentions in races, acclamations in mere questions of honour; rejoicing because a horse has been more fleet, grieving because it was more sluggish, reckoning up the years of Cattle, knowing the consuls under whom they ran, learning their age, tracing their breed, recording their very grandsires and great-grand-sires!"
Novatian was a Roman Presbyter in the mid 3rd century and wrote many works. Sadly, after the Decian persecution (248-250) Novatian did break away from the church and started the first schism in the church.
When we say that the early Christians lived in different times, does this sound out of the ordinary today? I think this sounds exactly like modern sports. Maybe they don't live too differently from us after all.
Cyprian:
Epistle 1 of Cyprian (c.250 AD)
"In the theatres also you will behold what may well cause you grief and shame... Things which have now ceased to be actual deeds of vice become examples. In the mimes, moreover, by the teaching of infamies, the spectator is attracted either to reconsider what he may have done in secret, or to hear what he may do. Adultery is learnt while it is seen; and while the mischief having public authority panders to vices, the matron, who perchance had gone to the spectacle a modest woman, returns from it immodest"
Cyprian was a disciple of Tertullian and the bishop of Carthage during the Decian Persecution and the Novitanism crisis between 248-258AD. He wrote over 80 Epistles and lead the African bishops in the Synod criticising the schism for it's rigorism on baptism and lapsis and Rome for it's lax decision on those baptised by the schismatics (as well as Pope Stephen calling himself Bishop over Bishops which was unheard of before).
If deeds of vice become examples for you and me is it then a good and holy thing to do? If we're supposed to do everything for the Glory of God, if something is constantly promoting sin, how can we in anyway watch it? Such shows and shape and change our behaviour to change us into those that do not serve Christ but serve the flesh. if someone returns immodest how could this be a good thing to partake in?
Lactantius:
The Divine Institutes (c.305 AD)
"so that they who come for the sake of beholding the spectacle now themselves exhibit more of a spectacle, when they begin to utter exclamations, to be thrown into transports, and to leap from their seats. Therefore, all spectacles ought to be avoided"
Lactantius was a early 4th century Christian who eventually became the religious adivsor to Emperor Constantine.
As you see, the shows began to turn people into those who couldn't control their bodies or minds. They became slave to their desires when they saw such things. Think about the decadence and drunkenness linked to shows that promote sin. They're closely linked. If we begin to lose ourselves to our flesh they as Lactantius says, we should avoid it like the plague.
I'm not claiming that entertainment is always wrong obviously. I'm not even claiming that secular entertainment is always wrong too. In fact, the early Christians were fine and even promoted to an extent with men and women keeping fit (for the sake of keeping fit) and having fun provided it was wholesome. I am claiming that we should be very careful with what we watch no matter if it's fiction or not. (another side note is that swearing, or cussing isn't inherently wrong and we have too much of a high view of it.)
If you're in a rush you can just look at the quotes and not some description of the passage and the context behind the writers.
Without further a do.
Tatian:
Address to the Greeks (c.160 AD)
"they utter ribaldry in affected tones, and go through indecent movements; your daughters and your sons behold them giving lessons in adultery on the stage."
Tatian was a mid 2nd century Christian and a disciple of Justin Martyr who was the first apologist of the church. His other work the "Diatessaron" (meaning harmony) was the first ever Gospel harmony and was used for hundreds of years in the East. Sadly, Tatian would become a Gnostic after Justin's death but it would appear that Irenaeus of Lyons won him back to Orthodoxy.
In this work Tatian is stating that many foul practices are encouraged and taught in the theatre. They were avoided because quite simply they promote ideals that a Christian should never stand for. If we as Christians are never supposed to even think about lust to someone we desire then how could we watch something which outrights supports it? Fiction or not these are performances which are promoting things we must reject.
Theophilus of Antioch:
Theophilus to Autolycus (168 AD)
"But neither may we see the other spectacles, lest our eyes and ears be defiled, participating in the utterances there sung. For if one should speak of cannibalism, in these spectacles the children of Thyestes and Tereus are eaten; and as for adultery, both in the case of men and of gods, whom they celebrate in elegant language for honours and prizes, this is made the subject of their dramas"
Theophilus was a mid 2nd century Christian who was bishop of Antioch which was considered a very important place in Pre-Nicean Christendom. He was the seventh bishop of that city (which had the like of Ignatius and arguably Paul as leaders) and was considered a very important Christian by his contemporaries and early Christian scholars.
As you see, back then many grievous sins were not only shown but promoted in a jokingly and sometimes positive way. Is this much different than the shows that we see today? Minus the cannibal part, you'd be hard pressed to find much difference between them in respects to the shows. Christians didn't want to become defiled and thus departed from sinful shows when they knew of their existence.
Athenagoras:
A Plea For the Christians (177 AD)
"For when they know that we cannot endure even to see a man put to death, though justly; who of them can accuse us of murder or cannibalism? Who does not reckon among the things of greatest interest the contests of gladiators and wild beasts, especially those which are given by you? But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him, have abjured such spectacles."
Athenagoras is quite an unknown early Christian who's work A Plea For the Christians was a letter written to Marcus Aurelius to try and give justice to his fellow brothers and sisters in faith.
As much as this quote can be used for pacifism as it can for being against certain types of entertainment. Christians despised seeing sin and clearly got upset seeing death. They fought just seeing gladiators or men fight as a heinous sin let alone committing it themselves. I understand that a real death done in a violent promoting way is different to seeing a death of fiction on the TV but nevertheless the point stands that seeing death may defile as Theophilus put it.
Clement of Alexandria:
The Instructor Book 3 (195 AD)
Let spectacles, therefore, and plays that are full of vulgar language and of abundant gossip, be forbidden. For what base action is it that is not exhibited in the theatres?
Clement of Alexandria was a late 2nd century early 3rd century Christian who developed and popularised the Alexandrian thought of Christians. The Instructor is a part of his great trilogy which was very popular in the Church. It can give us a good look into the early church's beliefs and behaviours.
As you see, anything full of vulgar language (which didn't mean swearing for the record) or promoting gossip could never be watched. The Early Christians believed that it only fed the beast of sin within you to watch the shows. Since sin must be controlled they could not watch such things. You see they didn't take things like this as a small issue but something where you could actually get kicked out of the church if you began promoting it (and disciplined if you went)
Minucius Felix:
The Octavius (c.200 AD)
"In the scenic games also the madness is not less, but the debauchery is more prolonged: for now a mimic either expounds or shows forth adulteries; now nerveless player, while he feigns lust, suggests it; the same actor disgraces your gods by attributing to them adulteries, sighs, hatreds; the same provokes your tears with pretended sufferings, with vain gestures and expressions."
Minucius Felix was the writer of the Octavius. A dialogue between a Christian and a Pagan. The topics brought up range from, why are Christians poor if God supports them to why do Christians act "holier than thou" to Pagans.
Felix references just before about the other games (gladiator matches etc) and clearly states that their sin in many worse in worse. They could never support anything with adultery because their King and Messiah and his Apostles taught directly against it. Look at that passage and again could that not be applied to today? With those emotions being shown?
Tertullian:
All following quotes are from The Shows (c.200 AD)
Chapter 16
"Since, then, all passionate excitement is forbidden us, we are debarred from every kind of spectacle, and especially from the stadiums, where such excitement presides as in its proper element. See the people coming to it already under strong emotion, already tumultuous, already passion-blind, already agitated about their bets... there is the united shout of a common madness... And the result accordingly is, that they fly into rages, and passions, and discords, and all that they who are consecrated to peace ought never to indulge in. Then there are curses and reproaches, with no cause of hatred; there are cries of applause, with nothing to merit them."
Tertullian was a Early Chrisitan living in Carthage and probably wrote more works than any other Early Christian. He had a major influence in the West and there was a sect of Christians named after him that survived right into the 4th century.
In many ways does this just match modern day too? No cause for hatred yet football ( or soccer for some) teams lashing out against each other just for being born in a different place. Or people being overjoyed by someone they've never met doing someone quite simple. The only thing in common is the badge that they both wear. Think of the mob mentality when we see such things live. It can be sickening.
Can a Christian who follows the way of peace indulge in such madness and such perverseness? We can lose what makes us Christian if we're not careful.
Chapter 17
(best quote on the issue)
"But if we ought to abominate all that is immodest, on what ground is it right to hear what we must not speak? Why, in the same way, is it right to look on what it is disgraceful to do? How is it that the things which defile a man in going out of his mouth, are not regarded as doing so when they go in at his eyes and ears--when eyes and ears are the immediate attendants on the spirit--and that can never be pure whose servants-in-waiting are impure? You have the theatre forbidden, then, in the forbidding of immodesty... What you reject in deed, you are not to bid welcome to in word."
If we cannot speak it how it any way should we listen to it? We as Christians should never want to associate with sin in any forms. If we reject adultery we shouldn't be happy with statements on it. If we reject striking back we shouldn't support when someone does it. Our deeds and our words should match not contradict. As Tertullian says, lets flee from sin or it very well defile us when we see or hear it. A virtuous life is commanded of us not one of sin an shame.
Chapter 21
"The father who carefully protects and guards his virgin daughter's ears from every polluting word, takes her to the theatre himself, exposing her to all its vile words and attitudes"
Isn't this ironic and doesn't it match many of our brothers and sisters in faith today? Some parents try so hard to take care and prepare their child for a world of sin only to take them to places that strongly supports it. If we regard sin as wrong lets not be blind to the sinful ways of the theatres, TV shows and films.
Chapter 25
"Seated where there is nothing of God, will one be thinking of his Maker? Will there be peace in his soul when there is eager strife there for a charioteer? Wrought up into a frenzied excitement, will he learn to be modest?... And when the athletes are hard at struggle, will he be ready to proclaim that there must be no striking again? And with his eye fixed on the bites of bears, and the sponge-nets of the net-fighters, can he be moved by compassion?"
When we look at and enjoy sinful things can we in anyway support the tenets of the faith given to us by Christ? Can we in any way live out the life commanded to us of the Sermon on the Mount all those years ago? God hates a hypocrite so if we say one thing but act differently we only bring his name down.
Novatian:
Can't Remember the Book (c.250 AD)
"how idle are the contests themselves; strifes in colours, contentions in races, acclamations in mere questions of honour; rejoicing because a horse has been more fleet, grieving because it was more sluggish, reckoning up the years of Cattle, knowing the consuls under whom they ran, learning their age, tracing their breed, recording their very grandsires and great-grand-sires!"
Novatian was a Roman Presbyter in the mid 3rd century and wrote many works. Sadly, after the Decian persecution (248-250) Novatian did break away from the church and started the first schism in the church.
When we say that the early Christians lived in different times, does this sound out of the ordinary today? I think this sounds exactly like modern sports. Maybe they don't live too differently from us after all.
Cyprian:
Epistle 1 of Cyprian (c.250 AD)
"In the theatres also you will behold what may well cause you grief and shame... Things which have now ceased to be actual deeds of vice become examples. In the mimes, moreover, by the teaching of infamies, the spectator is attracted either to reconsider what he may have done in secret, or to hear what he may do. Adultery is learnt while it is seen; and while the mischief having public authority panders to vices, the matron, who perchance had gone to the spectacle a modest woman, returns from it immodest"
Cyprian was a disciple of Tertullian and the bishop of Carthage during the Decian Persecution and the Novitanism crisis between 248-258AD. He wrote over 80 Epistles and lead the African bishops in the Synod criticising the schism for it's rigorism on baptism and lapsis and Rome for it's lax decision on those baptised by the schismatics (as well as Pope Stephen calling himself Bishop over Bishops which was unheard of before).
If deeds of vice become examples for you and me is it then a good and holy thing to do? If we're supposed to do everything for the Glory of God, if something is constantly promoting sin, how can we in anyway watch it? Such shows and shape and change our behaviour to change us into those that do not serve Christ but serve the flesh. if someone returns immodest how could this be a good thing to partake in?
Lactantius:
The Divine Institutes (c.305 AD)
"so that they who come for the sake of beholding the spectacle now themselves exhibit more of a spectacle, when they begin to utter exclamations, to be thrown into transports, and to leap from their seats. Therefore, all spectacles ought to be avoided"
Lactantius was a early 4th century Christian who eventually became the religious adivsor to Emperor Constantine.
As you see, the shows began to turn people into those who couldn't control their bodies or minds. They became slave to their desires when they saw such things. Think about the decadence and drunkenness linked to shows that promote sin. They're closely linked. If we begin to lose ourselves to our flesh they as Lactantius says, we should avoid it like the plague.
Last edited: