Who Am I?

On the Incarnation of the Word 28 – Test the Claim of Victory Over Death

Posted: September 20th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Incarnation of the Word | Tags: , , , , | 5 Comments »

In his next section, Athanasius exhorts those who do not believe the claims of Christ’s victory over death to become Christian and see for themselves. It strikes me that this perspective on what it means to be Christian stands somewhat at odds with the present Western view. See for yourself.

But just as he who has got the asbestos knows that fire has no burning power over it, and as he who would see the tyrant bound goes over to the empire of his conqueror, so too let him who is incredulous about the victory over death receive the faith of Christ, and pass over to His teaching, and he shall see the weakness of death, and the triumph over it. For many who were formerly incredulous and scoffers have afterwards believed and so despised death as even to become martyrs for Christ Himself.

Become Christian (rather than whatever else you presently might be) and then you will believe in the same way that someone will believe that asbestos protects you from fire after testing it. The experience proves the point and many of the martyrs experienced exactly that. There are many stories of those putting the martyrs to death converting themselves in the middle of the process. They went from persecutor to Christian to martyr in the space sometimes of moments.

Become Christian and then you will believe. I think I experienced some of that myself.


5 Comments on “On the Incarnation of the Word 28 – Test the Claim of Victory Over Death”

  1. 1 mike said at 9:51 pm on September 20th, 2009:

    “..so too let him who is incredulous about the victory over death receive the faith of Christ, and pass over to His teaching, and he shall see the weakness of death, and the triumph over it..” .. in the fundamentalist churchs i’ve been acquainted with this would not constitute much of a alter call…it lacks the emotional plea and the invitation to ask Jesus to come into your heart…. 🙂

  2. 2 mike said at 7:13 pm on September 22nd, 2009:

    …”It strikes me that this perspective on what it means to be Christian stands somewhat at odds with the present Western view” …..God help us rabbi…we’ve been duped by an imitation gospel….the american Jesus is an imposter…woe to those who lead astray!….

  3. 3 Dana Ames said at 6:02 pm on September 24th, 2009:

    You ok? It’s been pretty quiet here 🙂

    Dana

  4. 4 Scott said at 10:50 pm on September 24th, 2009:

    Well, my first business travel since being diagnosed with celiac didn’t put a dent in my blogging. 😉 (And that’s a post I need to write.) But the nasty upper respiratory virus (non-flu, got tested) that hit me after I got home certainly did. I’m better now and will get back to Athanasius soon. Have a couple of posts in draft.

    Thanks for noticing.

  5. 5 Dana Ames said at 1:07 pm on September 25th, 2009:

    Glad you’re better.
    D.