Care and Generosity in the Early Church

I keep being amazed by The Patient Ferment of the Early Church: The Improbable Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire by Alan Kreider. I am learning (or maybe remembering) so much about how the Christians in the early church embodied the faith. They loved not just with words—they loved through action.  

The Roman Empire in the second and third centuries was remarkably pagan. Pagan people sacrificed to “the gods.” When plagues came it was because “the gods” were angry with them. Their gladiator spectacles included gruesome deaths for prisoners and Christians. Life was cheap. When death came, which it inevitably does, you had to be rich to receive a proper burial. The poor were often discarded in mass graves, their flesh torn at by dogs. 

The pagans actually established “burial clubs.” Burial clubs in second- and third-century Rome were primarily called collegia funeraticia (or simply collegia), which functioned as funeral societies for citizens, including lower-class Romans, freedmen, and slaves. Members paid monthly dues to ensure proper funeral rites, cremation, and burial, often in communal structures called columbaria. 

Burial clubs also provided monthly dinner parties, including good food and good wine. When members joined the burial clubs they were expected to contribute a fair amount of good wine for these parties. In exchange for their monthly dues, the members received a monthly party with other club members, and a respectable burial upon death. Think of it like the country club of life and death. Yet, when dues were delinquent by six months, members were kicked out of the club, losing the right of a respectable burial. 

That would have been a bummer. 

Enter Jesus and the way of the early Christians. The pagan Romans looked at this new group and cocked their heads a bit. It was somewhat similar to the burial clubs—they took care of one another after death. They also met for meals where they deeply enjoyed one another. 

Yet, there were profound differences. 

One, they met at least weekly for a meal, worship of Jesus, and signing songs to Jesus. They would often connect more than once a week. They really enjoyed each other. 

Two, they did not require dues to join or stay in the community. All were invited regardless of what they paid to financially support the community—rich and poor, male and female, slave or free. The Christian perspective toward generosity was completely voluntary. Jesus had sacrificially given His all for them, so it was natural all Christians would give sacrificially. The poor gave what they could. The rich did the same. It was not about the size of the gift—it was about the size of the sacrifice. This approach to God’s resources assured the Christians were able to provide for the felt needs of their community. 

Three, when plagues came to cities like Carthage, most of the pagans fled. The plague was a sign “the gods” were angry at their city. The Christians stayed in their city to provide the care of Christ for all who were sick, often risking and losing their lives. 

Finally, the Christians deeply respected the bodies of all who died in Christian community. The voluntary generosity of all Christians assured a Christian burial for all who were a part of the body of Christ. They were the best type of burial club—they deeply believed that their beloved brother or sister in Christ would bodily rise from the tomb, just as their Savior had. 

The patient ferment of the early church changed the world. They were a different type of people. They embodied the way of Jesus through their patience, love for their enemies, generosity, and deep care for their cities. The Holy Spirit led them to become more and more holy, and this holiness was very attractive to the pagans. 

May the same thing be true in our churches today. 

uniteleadership.org

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