Rachel Et Cetera

In studying about the Paulicians in the 7th through 9th centuries, I noticed a common theme. There is not a lot of information about this group of people, and much of what we do know was written and propagated by their enemies. But I did notice this common thing about some of the leaders.

Constantine was previously part of the Manichaeism sect and somewhere around the year of 655, sheltered a Christian deacon who was fleeing persecution. When the deacon left, he gave Constantine a present of the four gospels and the epistles of Paul. This was quite a costly gift, so there is no doubt that the deacon and Constantine had conversations about the subject. After reading these manuscripts for himself, Constantine threw away his entire Manichaen library, and became a teacher of the doctrines of Christ. From his attention to the epistles of Paul and their instructions, he and his followers soon gained the name of Paulicians.

Simeon was the officer sent by the emperor to dispose of Constantine around 685. He used traitorous members within Constantine's own congregation to kill Constantine as well as many of the brethren. However, he was so struck with the Paulicians readiness to die for their religion and the pleading reason they gave as he examined them, that he decided to study out their arguments, and became a believer himself, renouncing all his honors.

And then there is Sergius, who began preaching around 810. As a young man, he was educated and exceeding intelligent, but quite ignorant of religion. One day he came into the acquaintance of a woman who challenged him about reading the Bible for himself. He argued with her that it was not for him to read - only the priests were to read the Word of God. She urged him not to listen to the gross tyranny of the priests, but rather to read for himself. This he did and was converted.

Did you see the common theme? In each of these cases, it came down to the person reading for themselves the Word of God, and this was spurred on by an acquaintance who challenged what they had believed about religion up to that point. So many people just blithely accept what they are told and never take the time to study it out for themselves. I wonder how many people today would change their minds, if only they were urged to read it for themselves?