Post by The Gospel Coalition

In his book The Rise of Christianity, Rodney Stark points to the clear contrast between Christian selflessness and pagan self-interest during the Plague of Cyprian in the third century. Whereas pagans retreated to their country villas to escape the plague, Christians stayed behind in the cities to provide medical care, community support, and God-centered conversation for sufferers. Pagans ran away from their neighbors. Christians moved near. Stark argues this singular disposition is the likeliest explanation for why a relatively minor religious group grew to become the Roman Empire’s dominant worldview. I’d argue our world still needs neighbors. If believers will commit to move near as they did in Cyprian’s day, if we’ll foster the same kind of caring relationships in our contemporary contexts, whole communities can be shaped for God’s glory and people’s good.