The overlooked Christian value?

In the 18th century, two famous Enlightenment thinkers argued that the Christian revolution was a mistake.

The English historian Edward Gibbon held that the triumph of Christianity led to “an age of superstition and credulity,” while the French philosopher François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) contended that “every sensible man, every honourable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror.” These men were not saying that the Christianity is outmoded, they were arguing that the faith is morally repugnant.

Until recently, contemporary British historian Tom Holland agreed with these sentiments. He was convinced that the Enlightenment project was founded on the recovery of long-forgotten, pre-Christian values. That is, until he did his own in-depth research on the great classical civilizations: The Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. Each, of course, has their glory, but he notes each were also callous and grotesque. Ethnicity was paramount; brutality rampant. What’s more, in these ancient pre-Christian civilizations, the poor had no intrinsic value.

These are the reasons why Tom Holland has admitted to being “wrong about Christianity.” According to him, there are two values contemporaries treasure that stem not from classical civilizations but from Christianity. The first is that the poor have a claim on the rich. The second is that there is “neither Jew nor Greek” (or, no ethnic group is superior to another).

Having studied ancient history before attending seminary, I have real admiration for the great ideals and accomplishments; the spirit and ingenuity of the classical world. But when reading about the treatment of the weak and the “other,” I could not help but be appalled. Jews and Christians were the first to give dignity to the poor; the followers of a crucified Lord the first to explicitly denounce the torture of a defeated outsider.

And while I’m thankful for Holland’s sympathetic voice--including that he’s made clear that the values Gibbon and Voltaire cherish are, in fact, owed to Christian revolution they denounce--there’s a Christian value I think he fails to notice. I’d write about it now, but that might mean you won’t come Sunday. Until then…

Grace and Peace,

Ben