Dead people speak to me. It’s true, they really do!

Don’t misunderstand me, it’s not that the dead visit me in my sleep, or that I hear voices in my head. I am talking about the writings of the early church leaders, those great men of God who passed from this earth 1700-1900 years ago. Their writings speak volumes to me about what it means to live as a follower of Christ in a world that isn’t following Him.

I think I am drawn to their writings because they lived in such close proximity to Christ and the Apostles. Two-thousands years after the fact, it is easy for well-meaning people to slightly or significantly alter the message of Christianity. Going back to these early writings helps bring balance.

I have found their writings so personally inspiring that I want to re-introduce some of them to the 20th century followers of Christ, with the hope they will inspire you.

Today’s quote is from the earliest complete sermon found outside of the New Testament, the book of Second Clement, chapter 6:1-7. We don’t know who wrote the letter, but most scholars date the sermon somewhere between 100 – 140AD. It clearly reflects what the early church believed about living the faith.

“Now the Lord says, “No servant can serve two masters.” If we wish to serve both God and money, it is harmful to us. “For what good is it, if someone gains the whole world but forfeits his life?”

This age and the one that is coming are two enemies. This one talks about adultery and corruption and greed and deceit, but that one renounces these things. We can not, therefore, be friends of both; we must renounce this one in order to experience that one.

We think it is better to hate the things that are here, because they are insignificant, transitory, and perishable, and to love the things that are there, which are good and imperishable. For if we do the will of Christ, we will find rest; but if we do not–if we disobey his commandments–then nothing will save us from eternal punishment.

And the scripture also says in Ezekiel, “Even if Noah and Job and Daniel should rise up, they will not save their children” in the captivity. Now if even such righteous men as these are not able, by means of their own righteous deeds, to save their children, what assurance do we have of entering the kingdom of God if we fail to keep our baptism pure and undefiled? Or who will be our advocate, if we are not found to have holy and righteous works?”