23 - On the Donatists

On the Donatists

In the first few centuries of the church, the Roman Empire spread from the near east in Asia to the British Isles and Iberian peninsula in the west. It encompassed North Africa as well as the northern Germanic provinces. There was very little to unify these very different peoples besides the Roman Empire itself. Hence part of living under Rome everyone required to burn some incense as an offering to Caesar acknowledging him as a living god. This was not an issue for most Romans as Caesar was usually added to a local pantheon, possibly in a subordinate position. Jews were allowed an exemption as an ancient monotheistic religion, but no others, especially new cults like those following Jesus. During the Christian persecutions, this led to all manner of creative torture and deaths in the name of civil unity. So what of those who under that pressure decided their own life and their family's lives are not worth a little bit of incense?

Donatism is one of the very first movements to be declared a heresy by the early church. Like the Novatianists before them, they rejected those (specifically priests in this case) who had made the choice to save themselves and their families.

This says that anyone who compromised during the trauma of persecution is not worthy of Jesus. The official ruling of the church: Life happens. Decisions made in traumatic situations do not reflect the reality of a person. God is the God of the weak. God does not only lend strength to those without, but comforts the weak without condemning them, just as Jesus did with Peter.

Mistakes happen, God knew this from the beginning of creation. It is our responsibility to make sure we deal with our mistakes correctly in repentance and reconciliation.