May 26, 1899: "Future President William McKinley, 56, wrote in his notebook: 'My belief embraces the Divinity of Christ and a recognition of Christianity as the mightiest factor in the world's civilization.' (McKinley had been "born again," at age 10, during a revival meeting, and later joined a Methodist church.)" (Today in Christian History)
May 26: 1328: "William of Ockham forced to flee from Avignon by Pope John XXII" (Scopes System)
May 26,1521: "Edict of Worms outlaws Martin Luther & his followers" (SS)
May 26, 1647: "A new law bans Catholic priests from the colony of Massachusetts. The penalty is banishment or death for a second offense." (historynet.com)
"Terrible Outbreak of Antisemitism"
"This day, May 27, 1096, may have witnessed the worst atrocities. Archbishop Ruthard of Mainz, unwilling to be a party to a massacre of the descendants of Jacob, hid 1,300 of them in his cellars. The mob learned of it, broke in, and killed over a thousand. The archbishop saved the rest by taking them into his cathedral." (Christianity.com)
This terrible action toward people of Jewish descent was the cause of unspeakable atrocities committed by both Gentiles and Jews. Gentiles gave Jews the choice of converting to Christianity or be killed. Some Jewish mothers killed their children rather than seeing them convert. Where would Jesus, the Jew, have stood in this situation? Folks, I believe that is the ultimate standard by which we must assess our actions and reactions.
Taken from - http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/901-1200/terrible-outbreak-of-antisemitism-11629795.html
Anti-Semitism - expressing outright hatred of the Jews - is the extreme opposite of Christian Zionism, which places an undue significance on the nation of Israel as an agent of divine fulfillment of prophecy. Can any disciple of the Heavenly Father hold to either extreme?
Hatred of the Jews (or any other people) clearly violates the Christian mandate of showing love to all based on the fact that all are made in the image of God. And, conversely, giving the Jewish people any special standing with God based strictly on their nationality makes the work of Christ on the Cross a non-essential. If one man or nation can be saved outside of the work of the cross, then salvation comes by merit and not by grace. Thus, it cannot be, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Furthermore, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, NIV) ( That would include the names Abraham, Issac and Jacob)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpxtCMnHR40
May 28, 1725: "English founder of Methodism John Wesley wrote in a letter: 'I can't think that when God sent us into the world He had irreversibly decreed that we should be perpetually miserable in it.' " (TiCH)
May 29, 1593 - The hanging of John Penry, Welsh Puritan separatist. Penry was a Welsh preacher who was deeply burdened for the spiritually lost condition of his fellow-Welsh countrymen. He spoke out against the neglect and abuse of office of the Anglican clergy charged with ministering to the needs of the people of Wales. And like many other cases, his strong words of judgement did not sit well with those on the receiving end of them.
"Captured, he was treated to a travesty of justice. Some strong words of warning against Elizabeth in his notebook were interpreted as treason. Archbishop Whitgift was the first to sign his death warrant. Penry was hauled off to be hanged on this day, May 29, 1593. A thin scattering of bystanders, none of them his friends, watched as the 34-year old departed this world at the end of a rope about four in the afternoon. He was not allowed to preach a final sermon." (C.c)
John Penry died because he cared deeply enough about the spiritual condition of his people that he was willing to do something positive about it - at any cost!
Taken from - http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1501-1600/john-penry-pleaded-for-welsh-soulwinners-11630039.html
May 29, 1453: "Constantinople, the capital of Eastern Christianity from A.D. 324, fell to the Turks. The city afterward became the capital of the Ottoman Empire and was renamed Istanbul. Its conquest marked the end of the Middle Ages." (TiCH)
May 30, 339. Death of Eusebius, first early church historian whose works survived. Eusebius made many valuable contributions to the faith including New Testament chronologies and expositions. But his greatest legacy was his compilation of Church history, a challenging task since he had to piece together a chain of events taken from the many differing calendars employed through the early centuries of the life of the Church.
Taken from - http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/301-600/eusebius-1st-church-historian-11629659.html
May 31, 1942: "German warplanes bombed Canterbury, England, causing severe damage to the Canterbury Cathedral (seat of Anglicanism), in retaliation for Britain's assault on Cologne, Germany." (TiCH)
http://bestvaluetours.co.uk/images/products/gt-lc-cld-n/xl-p-511-xmas-canterbury-cathedral.jpg
On this date, June 1, 1660, the authorities hanged Mary Dyer. What does it say to those outside of the faith when one believer dies at the hands of another?
http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1601-1700/mary-dyer-hanged-for-wrong-faith-11630131.html
As much as I enjoy sharing a little Christian history and the discussion that follows, this song has a message for us in the present. If we can get this spirit into our hearts, I absolutely guarantee that our differences will diminish and we will leave this world a much better place! I find that it sounds pretty good at high volume!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PkDusBOdR0
