Nicene Council Staff – Part II

Church Councils Got Violent!

Meticulus: Hi Sally! It’s sure good to see your face again!

Sally: You mean without the black eyes and broken nose? You’re not making fun of me are you Ticulus? I know I was in pretty bad shape after Nicea. I was so embarrassed that I didn’t want to leave the palace for months!

Meticulus: I thought it was awful how you ended up getting caught right in the middle of that brawl between those Church Fathers Sally. They were all claiming to be the true disciples of Jesus but I’m not sure about any of them. A lot of people are still dumbfounded by how nasty they were to each other.

The Church Fathers Wanted Constantine For an Ally

Pragmatticus: Let’s just call it what it was kiddos, religious hatred pure and simple. Those guys were so full of pride they couldn’t stand anyone who dared to disagree with them! That’s what it looked like to me anyway. Once they figured out that the winner was going to have the Emperor for an ally that so called “Great Church Council” turned into a plain old street fight. I’ve seen bar fights that were more civil.

Constantine Had Power Over the Nicene Council

Meticulus: I thought the same thing Prag! As soon as the Emperor got involved with all his power no one seemed to care much about having the King of Kings for an ally. Once old Constantine got that Council rolling there was no turning it back! No way! He was footing the bill for the whole Council and it was his idea in the first place. There wasn’t much chance that anyone would stand up and say, “This Council is a bad idea! Let’s all go home now before we really mess things up!”

The Church Fathers Were Christian Pharisees

Sally: The first time I heard how Jesus said “He that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.” I knew I was going to love Him! I always thought Jesus was trying to protect us from each other when He said, “Who are you to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.” I felt safe when I heard those words but I sure didn’t feel safe at that Council! They made it sound like you better dot every “i” and cross every “t” just like they wanted or you were on your way to hell. Then they voted to throw everyone out of the Church who disagreed with anything they said! The more they said the worse it got! I don’t know the difference between a hoot owl and homoousios but at least a hoot owl makes sense!

Jesus Shelters Us From Each Other

Pragmatticus: You know Sally, I always thought Jesus taught the parable about Tares and the Wheat for the same reason. He was trying to protect us from each other, especially from people who claim to know who belongs in the Kingdom and who should get thrown out. Jesus taught that we should mostly just forgive each other and let Him run His kingdom the way He sees fit. When we try to weed His fields all we do is uproot the wrong people and offend the lost. I know He plans to send His angels to sort it all out when He returns and that’s good enough for me. I don’t like pulling weeds anyway and figuring out who belongs and who doesn’t is way above my pay grade!

Entering The Kingdom of God Depends on Creeds?

Meticulus: You two are a fine pair of rebels! These are some pretty dangerous thoughts my friends and we haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet! If the Reunion Organizers find out I think like you they’ll probably take away my press pass! I mean, the whole purpose of the Council was to make up a Creed to help us decide who’s in and who’s out of the Kingdom. That ancient Creed machinery is still running strong and most people never even wonder why it’s running at all.

Sally: Well Ticulus! I had no idea you were so crazy but don’t you worry! I promise not to tell anyone what you think until the Reunion is over. I’m just glad I know someone who knows how to read and write and makes good sense anyway.

Pragmatticus: We could stand here and talk all day but I’ve got work to do. I better get going.

Meticulus: Alright Prag, see you at the Meet and Greet! I suspect you’ll be hanging around the punch bowl acting like you’re working! Oops, sorry about that word Sally.

Sally: (Ducking and starting to twitch) Whatever Ticulus! Just be more careful next time huh?

Meticulus: I will Sally! Right now I’m going to see if I can’t find you a nice helmet and a good set of earplugs.

PS: The Theology All-Stars Reunion Opening Ceremony is coming up next. Now we’re going to have some fun you don’t want to miss! Bring a friend, share a link. Thanks and God Bless.

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About the Webmaster John

I’ve always believed in God and Jesus and in dutifully going to church every Sunday. Once a long time ago a co-worker named Sonny asked me if I was a believer and if I was going to heaven. He challenged my personal beliefs by sharing some Bible verses he knew. I was not about to be outdone so I went right out and bought a Bible of my own the next day! That was the beginning of my journey in the Word of God and then I purchased a Strong’s Concordance for the Hebrew/Greek dictionaries.

I began testing the beliefs I had been taught to see if the Bible supported them. After three years of reading and studying on my own the Lord sent me some help. He brought three people into my life who forced me to decide what I genuinely believed about God, His Son, and the Word of God. There was a nun named Margret, an ex-Pentecostal preacher named Jack and the man who turned out to be my father in the Gospel, Bob. They shared their beliefs with me that I then studied out. I am thankful to each of them for kindling a fire that eventually led me to a real relationship with my Lord and His Word.

It did not take long before I realized that Bob, the author of this blog, was a true student of the Word who dared to ask the question. “Why do we believe this and does the Word confirm it?” He taught me to look at the Word of God without the colored glasses of religious dogma and tradition to see what it actually SAYS. He gave me the courage to trust in the Word instead of the crowd. I think I know a little how the Apostle Paul must have felt when he finally began to see things clearly for the first time.

I am involved with this blog in the hope it will provoke you to dig into the scriptures and find answers to your own questions. The ones I struggled to answer were:

Why did the God of the Old Testament always drive home the point so emphatically that HE IS ONE, and never tipped His hand that two other “persons” with Him made THREE?
What did the Apostles believe regarding the Godhead since modern Jews have no doubt the Trinity is a form of polytheism? Did the Apostles think the same way?
How can a single being have two natures?
Did God give the councils of the 4^th century new revelations, or was man behind it?

As I studied the councils and the violence that resulted, these two scriptures haunted me:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16 NKJV)

“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:18 NKJV)

I hope our blog really blesses you! Please consider the simplicity of what God has placed in His Word and don’t be afraid to examine your own beliefs. My prayer is that you might gain a clearer vision of the great “I AM” we worship as God, and of His Son Jesus Christ. Have fun with this blog and thanks for reading my story!

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Welcome To Our Reunion!

We are so glad you’ve arrived at our website and hope you have a truly wonderful time while you’re here! This is an easy site to navigate and you will find just about everything you need right here in the Table of Contents. If this is your first time visiting please take the time to read things in the order presented. This will give you a little perspective and an appreciation for the “flavor” of what we have cooked up for you.

Etiquette is so important! Please know that we insist on good manners and gentle Christian spirits. We welcome your comments, opinions and good-natured conversation! We are repelled by nastiness, sanctimonious self-righteousness and ugly, threatening or insulting comments. Please try to stay civil or you will be banished and exiled from this site for eternity… unless of course you repent, and in that case we’ll be happy to welcome you back.

Our plan is to post something new every few weeks and offer timely and thoughtful responses to your comments. We look forward to your feedback and involvement. Please share a link to this site with your friends and enemies and anyone else you can think of! If you would like to be notified when something new is added to this site please enter your email address on the Newsletter and Updates link on the home page. If you do that we’ll be sure to keep you up to date.

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God Bless,

Bob, Greg and John

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Artist and Essayist – Greg Hallback

A personal word from Greg,

I come to this project humbly asking anyone who will to please read on. It wasn’t all that long ago that most would have thought I came with an air of arrogance based on my love of philosophy. It has only been recently that I realized I was driving theological wedges into the Body of Christ. Dusty theological arguments were my playing field until it finally dawned on me that the more theological I became the further I was from the simple Christian home I grew up in. Now that I’ve grown older and younger than I was back then I can with good humor poke fun at myself. I would like all that read on to laugh with me at our religious foibles as I pray to become the kind of primitive Christian that I ought to be.

PS: Greg didn’t mention it here but the portraits that adorn our home page are his artwork!

Bob Shutes

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Caesar’s New Palace

A Nice Location For The Reunion?

Finding a nice location for the All Stars Reunion was a real challenge! Some of the organizers pressed for a low cost option like a Holiday Inn near Milwaukee. Sadly, and to the great disappointment of those theologians who enjoyed a few beers now and then, they just couldn’t generate much enthusiasm for the idea. Others thought that Constantine’s old palace would be a great choice but it was in ruins and underwater and try as they might no one could think of a good way around that.

Constantine’s New Palace in Las Vegas!

Finally, after weeks of looking, one of the search committee members shouted, “Eureka! I’ve found it! Caesar has built a new palace in a place called Las Vegas and it looks perfect!

Caesar’s New Palace

Lots of rooms, food like I’ve never seen before, drinks, fountains, statues everywhere and pretty girls to wait on us! It has a nice big hall where we can meet and something they call a sound system so we don’t even have to shout to be heard!”

Famous Magicians, Illusionists and Entertainers!

Needless to say the excitement was off the charts! No one paid any attention at all to the simpletons who claimed the place didn’t really belong to Caesar. We knew better! Besides, it was available and we could book it directly through Caesar’s own servants. When we let them know that we were close associates of the Emperor himself things started moving right along. They even told us we were going to have our names up in lights along with a whole slew of other famous magicians, illusionists and entertainers! What could be better than that? We knew we were going to feel right at home in Las Vegas. Sometimes it’s just wonderful the way things work out when you are right smack dab in the middle of God’s will!

PS: If you think for a minute that we intend to have some irreverent fun at the expense of the Church Fathers who have shaped the history of the Church… you are absolutely right. We’re just getting started so please come back and visit again. We’ll never ask you for money but we aren’t embarrassed at all to ask you for help. One way you could help is by sharing a link to our website with anyone you think might be interested. www.theologyallstars.com Thanks and Blessings.

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