Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 9
Justin Martyr is summarized as saying converts renounced an old habitus for a new one in four concrete areas (continence instead of sexual license, dedication to God instead of magic, common fund generosity instead of private wealth, enemy-love instead of violence/xenophobia); which of those four would require the most painful “rewiring” in a typical evangelical church, and what would early Christians assume is non-negotiable there?
Another way to ask: Justin Martyr said converts changed in four areas: sexual self-control, devotion to God instead of magic, generosity instead of clinging to wealth, and loving enemies instead of violence or fear of outsiders. Which change would be hardest for a typical evangelical church, and which would early Christians say can’t be optional?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript doesn’t rank which area would be most painful for evangelicals, but it strongly implies that “rewiring” is expected in all four areas, and early Christians would treat these changes as non-negotiable marks of becoming “made not born” Christians.
- Wendell summarizes Crider’s paraphrase of Justin (p.143): renouncing old habitus and entering a new one in “sex… in place of magic… in wealth… in violence and xenophobia.”
- The new patterns include “bringing what we have into a common fund and sharing with everyone in need,” and “praying for our enemies.”
- Wendell stresses reflexes are not automatic at conversion: “Christians are made not born,” requiring “rewiring” and “transformation.”
- Hector says it “messes with my worldview” that the early Christians didn’t expect people “to change overnight,” implying the church built long processes for real change.
- The group repeatedly ties true witness to embodied life: “We do not speak great things, but we live them,” and outsiders said, “Look, how they love one another.”