"After his victory at the Milvian Bridge, faithful to his promise, Constantine favors the church from which he has received support. Catholic Christianity becomes the state religion and an exchange takes place: the church is invested with political power, and it invests the emperor with religious power. We have here the same perversion, for how can Jesus manifest himself in the power of domination and constraint? We have to say here very forcefully that we see here the perversion of revelation by participation in politics, by the seeking of power. The church lets itself be seduced, invaded, dominated by the ease with which it can now spread the gospel by force and use its influence to make the state, too, Christian. It is great acquiescence to the temptation Jesus himself resisted, for when Satan offers to give him all the kingdoms of the earth, Jesus refuses, but the church accepts."
React to this quote
More by Jacques Ellul
See allResonant Thoughts
"The issue before us is whether the 21st century belongs to China. And I would say that China will be preoccupied with enormous problems internally, domestically with its immediate environment, and tha…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny ; flattery to treac…"
— David Hume"Americans should challenge policies of our country that are wrong and harm others."
— Ann Wright"But there is only one way we will have a Trump shutdown: if President Trump clings to his position for an u…"
— Chuck Schumer"His Majesty's Government have not the slightest intention of devaluing the pound."
— Stafford Cripps"Mr Murray would be well advised to direct his attacks towards the Tory Government, who have been devastatin…"
— Arthur Scargill"I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world …"
— Thomas Jefferson
