Imagine that your church is being persecuted in ways that drastically separate those who follow Jesus from those who cave to the pressure. Let’s say that at some point the persecution subsides, and the Christians who disowned Jesus in one way or another are wanting back into the church. How should your church respond?
Background and Summary
During the major persecutions in which Christians were forced to offer incense to pagan gods, many Christians resisted and suffered. Others did not sacrifice but obtained certificates falsely saying they did. Others, however, escaped suffering by caving into the Roman demands.
How should the church authorities deal with those Christians who had lapsed? Since at the time, baptism was believed to deal with past sins but not future sins, what was to be done with those who gave in after their baptism?[1] Ultimately, those with the harshest demands (e.g., refusal to commune with the lapsed) splintered off from the church while the mainline church took a more moderate, gracious approach.
“Ultimately, those with the harshest demands splintered off from the church while the mainline church took a more moderate, gracious approach.”
Proponents of Acceptance of Lapsed Christians
Callistus, the bishop of Rome, took a more lenient stance toward the lapsed Christians, basing his approach on the epistles of Paul and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Most in the church followed his lead.[2]
Cornelius was elected bishop of Rome after Callistus, continuing in his predecessor’s more liberal approach toward the lapsed.[3]
Against Novatian, Cyprian of Carthage taught readmission to the church after a probationary period.[4]
Opponents of Acceptance of Lapsed Christians
Novatian, a presbyter in the church of Rome, lost to Cornelius for the bishopric. He and his followers left the church and appointed other “separatist” bishops throughout Asia Minor and Africa. Novatianists refused the lapsed back into their fellowship. The splintered Novatianist churches faded in the seventh century.[5]
Donatists, as they came to be known, began as a protest against the election of a bishop in Carthage, for the bishop who consecrated him was believed to have at one time surrendered scriptures to the authorities. The group elected their own bishop, who was succeeded by Donatus.[6] Donatism soon became the dominant church in North Africa.[7]
“Donatism soon became the dominant church in North Africa.”
Biblical Basis for Accepting Lapsed Christians
“Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:31-32)
“Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted also.” (Gal. 6:1)
[1] W. Ward Gasque, “The Challenge to Faith,” in Introduction to the History of Christianity, ed. Tim Dowley (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002), 90
[2] Gasque, “The Challenge to Faith,” 91-92.
[3] Gasque, “The Challenge to Faith,” 92.
[4] Harold O.J. Brown, Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1988), 107.
[5] Gasque, “The Challenge to Faith,” 92.
[6] Gasque, “The Challenge to Faith,” 92.
[7] David F. Wright, “The Donatists in North Africa,” in Introduction to the History of Christianity, ed. Tim Dowley (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002), 211.
