The Army of Compassion

By Marshall Foster

With our national welfare system facing bankruptcy, it is time to remember that Christian mercy and compassion provided for the poor and needy in America for almost three hundred years—without government assistance! This Christian army of compassion was birthed in the Roman Empire, incubated in Europe, and was most fully expressed in America.1 This story provides clues to solving the crises of America’s unsustainable government welfare system.

Mention the ancient Roman Empire and many Americans envision a lifestyle of incredible riches and luxurious villas on the Mediterranean. This fantasy is far from the truth. What was life really like for the everyday Roman, living in the “eternal city”? Rome and other cities of the empire “were far more crowded, crime-infested, filthy, disease-ridden and miserable than are the worst cities in the world today” according to historian Rodney Stark. There was only one private house for every 26 blocks of tenements. Most people lived in tenements made of “wattle and daub” (stakes and mud) that were built as high as seven stories and only a few feet apart. Open fires were the only source of heating and cooking, which brought constant dread of massive infernos that often consumed whole sections of the city.

Polytheism, the religion that dominated the ancient world, offered little hope to the people. With thousands of merciless gods (such as Zeus) and a long succession of emperors who demanded worship and crushing taxes, the life of the individual had little value. Mercy and compassion were considered character defects by the philosophers of Greece and Rome. Without the hope of heaven or the fear of judgment, people of the empire lived in a culture of death. Murder, suicide, infanticide, and depression permeated the empire.

Dr. D. James Kennedy documents that, “Antiquity has left no trace of any organized charitable effort”. Speaking of the frequent epidemics of the time, Bishop Dionysius, an eye witness in 251 A.D., says “At the first onset of the disease, they [pagans] pushed the sufferers away and fled from their dearest [family], throwing them into the roads before they were dead.”

Into this dying world, a conquering army, representing a new kingdom with a new King, began to fill the empire! This army of reconciliation was transformed and empowered by the risen Christ. The Law of God and His virtues were implanted in their hearts and minds. Their bravery and charity became legendary throughout the empire and whole cities, such as Antioch, began to surrender to their loving power.

By the 3rd century AD, this small band had multiplied into millions of people. They became the major perceived enemy of the pagan emperors. Christ’s army of reconciliation endured ten massive attempts at genocide by the empire. Bur this new kingdom appeared unstoppable.

Let’s meet one of the leaders of this new force, this new kingdom, as he faces off with the governor of Rome. Lawrence was a bishop of the church in Rome that met in the catacombs. The church had a powerful ministry, especially to the poor and downtrodden of the city. Lawrence had a list of 1,500 needy people that the church fed and cared for from their tithes. The Roman governor, Macrianus, heard of the tithing and the gold and silver vessels used in the services of the church and wanted to seize this wealth for the empire. He had Lawrence arrested and dragged before him. After the governor demanded that Lawrence give him the riches of the church, the bishop replied, “In three days I will bring before you the greatest treasures of the church.” With this assurance, the governor released Lawrence.

After three days the governor came back to Lawrence, “Are the treasures collected?”… Lawrence replied, “They are my lord: will you enter and view them?” With these words he opened a door and displayed to the astounded gaze of the governor, the poor pensioners of the church, a chosen number—a row of the lame, a row of the blind, orphans and widows, the helpless and the weak. The governor turned fiercely upon Laurence, saying: What mean you by this mockery? Where are the treasures of gold and silver you promised to deliver up?” “These that you see before you,” replied the undaunted Laurence, “are the true treasures of the church. In the widows and orphans you behold her gold and her silver, her pearls and precious stones. These are her real riches, Make use of them by asking or their prayers; they will prove your best weapons against your foes” (Foxes Book of Martyrs).

The governor, enraged at not securing the hoped for gold, furiously commanded his guards to seize Lawrence and burn him as a martyr. Lawrence triumphed over him to the last. He did not cry out in the flames, but in his dying breath prayed for the conversion of the whole empire. Millions of other ambassadors of charity went on to provide the loving, private, social welfare net of new civilizations.

What was the source of the power of this army of compassion? Jesus astonished His hearers as He gave his strategy at the Sermon on the Mount. He declared “the meek shall inherit the earth.” How could this be? The entire ancient world from Egypt to Rome was built upon the plunder and violence of the powerful and proud, who seemed to be conquering the world. But in reality they were just ensuring their own destruction. Jesus taught the way of servant leadership (Matt, 20:25). The Messiah was revealing to His followers the way that the world would be won and His kingdom prevail.

The army of reconciliation was winning (II Cor. 5: 17-21). They defeated the paganism of the Roman Empire. They saved the abandoned children of infanticide and those threatened with abortion. They cared for the needy, both Christians and unbelievers alike. When Emperor Constantine was converted, persecution virtually ended, Christians began hospitals across the empire, As Christianity grew through the centuries, charity for the poor and needy grew alongside it. By the 10th century, when pagan Europe was converted, there were over 20,000 Christian hospitals in cities and monasteries across the continent.

As colonies were settled in America, private Christian charity effectively eliminated extreme poverty. Following the Biblical model, Americans understood that government was created to restrain evil, not to be the purveyor of love (charity). For nearly three centuries the vast majority of welfare in America was private, voluntary, and Christian.

In the 20th century Americans increasingly placed their trust in the federal government to produce a more effective welfare system. Today that system is failing. History’s only proven solution is for an awakened Christian army of compassion to provide for the truly needy—as it has done—imperfectly but successfully for 2,000 years.

* These facts are well documented in, for example, Marvin Olasky’s landmark book The Tragedy of American Compassion.

This article was originally published in the World History Institute Journal, September 2012 Issue.

Dr. Marshall Foster, accomplished minister of the Gospel and Christian historian, is president of the World History Institute. The World History Institute teaches the liberating lessons of historically proven Biblical principles to benefit people of all nations. Dr. Foster co-produced the movie Monumental, documenting Kirk Cameron’s search for America’s national treasure.

Used by permission © 2012