The Monk that Ended Christian Bloodlust
Used to showcase the power of the Roman Emperor, these violent spectacles were a community event—one that bound these so-called Christians together in their common bloodlust.
Christianity had been the state religion in the Roman Empire for 20 years when the monk, Telemachus, rode into town in 391 AD. Despite being a newly Christian empire, Gladiator games were still wildly popular among the Romans. Mostly used to showcase the power of the Roman Emperor and other political figures, these violent spectacles were a community event—one that bound these so-called Christians together in their common bloodlust.
No one knows much about the eastern saint except that Telemachus must have been curious about the beautiful round building where thousands of Romans congregated for entertainment.
During one of the events, Telemachus watched from his seat as two gladiators fought to the death for sport. Why are these Christians cheering something so vile? Why is bloody, violent murder so thrilling to them? Where is the justice of my Savior in all of this?
Whatever it was that compelled him, the monk threw himself into the ring in an attempt to curb further violence, screaming for mercy. But it wasn’t a fierce gladiator that plunged a sword into his chest, ending his life, it was the watching crowd enraged by this holy man’s interference. From the stands, the spectators picked up stones and hurled them at the peacemaker, eventually killing him.
But his one act of justice—this one decision to give his life for others—ended the dehumanization of image bearers in the coliseum ring forever. Emperor Honorius banned the games and many, many followers of Jesus were humbled by the monk’s example.
A few days ago, I watched a video of ICE agents smashing the face of a 16-year-old girl into the hood of a government vehicle. Her mother wept while holding a newborn sibling in her arms as her eldest daughter screamed and reached toward her: “Mama! Mama!” the girl screamed. I felt like I was watching Gestapo 2.0 in action.
Meanwhile, our administration tried to fill a plane with asylum seekers and send them to Libya, one of the most dangerous countries in the world—a country where the U.S. doesn’t even have an embassy. One where Catholic Mexican migrants would surely experience intense religious persecution.
Small children being treated for cancer are smuggled out of hospitals and deported to Honduras.
Two-hundred fifty men, profiled for their tattoos and clothes, are sent to one of the most notorious prisons in the western hemisphere without any due process, their constitutional right. When questioned about whether the President should follow the constitution in cases such as these, he answered “I don’t know…” and showed another reporter an so-obviously-photoshopped-that-it’s-ridiculous tattoo of “MS-13” on the knuckles of one of the innocent men.
I know many believers that are loudly protesting the extreme violence occurring in our country. I also know many so-called Christians that support the violence—that are eager to see men, women, and children forcibly and violently removed from the country. They use the false statistics (let’s call it for what it is—TOTAL LIES) of drug trafficking presented by Pam Bondi and Karoline Leavitt to undermine our pleas for justice—to even undermine Jesus’ own command to love and care for the “least of these.”
Just like Hitler, this administration has taken an entire people group and villainized them, luring Christians around a common enemy. Blaming them for the prevalence of opiate addiction (mostly among rural whites, ironically) and the failing economy. Many Christians in Nazi Germany embraced this propaganda because it agreed with their own bigotry. It justified their own hate. Today, the hatred of so many religious folks isn’t even disguised but some of them refuse to acknowledge it in themselves. They’d rather propagate lies than reveal the true nature of what’s in their hearts.
The truth is this: many, many migrants—at least 45% of them, according to World Relief—are children under the age of 18. 33% of them are women, 14 years old and older. So, most asylum seekers are not exactly the evil villains they’re portrayed to be. They came here escaping a life of danger only to be met by something even worse. A United States filled with Christians who lack the compassion that their Jesus demands.
This week, I’ve felt fear over the volume of my voice. After a terrifying encounter with local police and another incident where I was followed to a coffee shop and watched by what appeared to be some kind of government agent, I’ve wanted to hide—to stay silent in my outrage at the numerous injustices I observe almost every day.
But I want to encourage my fellow brothers and sisters that continuing to resist and stand against the inhumane treatment of the Ones Jesus loves could turn the tide of violence in this nation. Just as Telemachus risked his life to save many, will we also choose to “not love our lives to the point of death?” (Revelation 12:11)
This is good Brooke - stay the course!!