Christendom
This is the first in a series about Christendom. Following this introduction will be a series on Christendom and influence within seven particular spheres of life. This is important to understand within the context of the forming of our nation, and her first two-hundred years. Additionally, this has to do with the effect Biblical Classical education has in relation to Liberty for the individual and nation today. But, before we can discuss this topic we need to first define Christendom.
Restoration Era on the History of Liberty Timeline
Providential History
Take a listen. . .Defining Christendom
According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary christendom means, “The territories, countries or regions inhabited by Christians, or those who profess to believe in the Christian religion; the whole body of Christians; Christianity; the Christian religion; as, while christendom prevailed.”(1)
At the 2024 Christian Education Initiative Summit, Dr. Kevin Clauson explained the Christian worldview of Christendom. It was something along the lines of how Christ’s Kingdom isn’t limited to the individual and Church—nor is it just internal—it encompasses every part of life/the world. In other words there is no sacred-secular divide.
Saved By Jesus, Loving Jesus, and Worldview
It’s necessary to make note that an individual can be saved by Jesus and love Jesus, and not yet have the Biblical worldview in various areas of life. We’re all born with sinful, selfish natures—and have a secular-humanist worldview. That’s why our minds need to be renewed (Romans 12:2) after we convert to Christ. This means that we learn how to live according to God’s ways, conforming to the character of Christ, and learning how to think with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We learn how to operate in this world according to the absolute Truths of God’s Word, applying them to life.
Principles Aren’t a Formula
That isn’t to say that God’s principles are a formula. There isn’t a formula to life. It is to say that we can choose to live by God’s best practices, taking into account the context of His Sovereignty and providence, and the fact that we are living in a fallen world which contains individuals who may or may not choose sin (individuals don’t have to choose sin). Things won’t be perfect until Jesus Christ returns, but as individuals choose Christian self-government they can be improved.
Take Into Account God’s Sovereignty
Ultimately what happens and how things happen is up to God. Our duty is to obey Him by living according to what His Word teaches us. Christendom becomes a part of the fabric of our very being as we choose to govern ourselves under God—choosing for Christ to govern in and through us.
Christendom’s History
In Acts 17 we learn that Christians were noted for turning the “world upside down”.(1). What does that mean? What was the cause to effect?
As individuals who responded to Holy God by accepting Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they had internal changes taking place. Each one became a new creation in Christ and was having their minds renewed from a secular-humanist mindset (or worldview) to that of the mind of Christ.(2) That internal working had an outward expression of their faith.
In the context of their setting, they did the following:
- preached the Gospel,
- congregated in homes,
- some were used by God to do miracles,
- glorified Jesus despite the cruel treatment laid upon them,
- lived with an undaunted spirit,
- applied His principles to life,
- loved and helped take care of others.
These Christians didn’t just live a “quiet faith.” They lived with the mind of Christ, took to heart what He did for them as individuals, wanted others to be set free from the bondage of sin as well, and surrendered their whole being to God. As a result, God worked through them in a mighty way. To be sure, they were known.
Christendom and the Protestant Reformation
In a similar fashion, the Protestant Reformers “turned the world upside down.”
There were Key Individuals whom God used to wake up the world to the heresy within the Roman Catholic church.
- John Wycliffe, the Morning Star of the Reformation, began translating the Bible into the language of the common man where he lived. He did this by hand, nonetheless.
- Martin Luther—credited with unintentionally kicking off the Protestant Reformation—wrote 95 Thesis on the corruption in the Roman Catholic church.
- Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press and was the first to print copies of the Bible—resulting in copies landing in the hands of his fellow man, faster and more affordably than ever.
- The Separatists knew that reformation began with the individual. Therefore, they separated from the Church of England to follow Christ and worship God as the Bible instructs us to.
There were many who died with the same intense and unshakable faith that the early Christians did.
Christendom and America
The Separatists—eventually known as the Pilgrims—made their way over to America’s shores to propagate the Gospel, and for religious liberty. Generations were born, and they were instructed with the worldview of Christendom. At the onset, America had a Christendom viewpoint.
Christendom in the Context of Our Culture
This series will be addressing Christendom in regards to key influential areas of life as described by Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM: 1. the family; 2. the church; 3. education; 4. media; 5. the arts; 6. business/economy; 7. government. We’ll also be taking a look at why things aren’t so wonderful in America right now, and how reclaiming these areas of influence will help restore Christendom to America.
Of note, Bill Bright and Francis A. Schaeffer each had their own lists that were quite similar. These three individuals had virtually the same list and message, and they didn’t work together on them.
All of this is essential because as Christians we are to live according to God’s Word, impacting the culture for Christ (Matthew 5:13-16, Romans 12:1-2). Let’s, once again, turn the world upside down!
Footnote 1: Acts 17:6-7
Footnote 2: 1 Corinthians 2:16
Footnote 3: Proverbs 29:2 (KJV)
