My favorite Christian artist is Brandon Heath. I have all his CDs, and more often than not he's who I'm listening to in the car. My kids love the music, but they listen very closely to the lyrics and are always asking me questions about the meaning behind the lyrics. One such question came about Heath's song song "The One" which includes these lyrics: When I think of what could be if we let our hearts believe that it takes just one, just one could turn this all around. And if we're living history, how will they think of you and me if it takes just one, just one. What if I'm the one?
I explained to the kids that the song is about how even one person can make a difference in the world. Caleb immediately exclaimed, "Even a KID could change the world!" Oh how I love that optimism and simple faith of a child.
That conversation brought to mind a man who lived 1600 years ago, a simple man, but one whose actions in the last moments of his life changed the world. The story of Telemachus, first written down by historians a few decades after his death, goes something like this:
It is said that in the year 402 AD, the young monk Telemachus felt called to leave the monastery and head out into the pagan world to not only learn what the world had to offer, but to spread the message of Christ to all who would listen. One day in prayer, Telemachus felt called by God to leave immediately and head to Rome. If monasteries were the hub of a local community’s society, Rome was considered the hub of the world. This was the center of society during this time. Not sure what he would find, or why God had called him on his mission, he headed from the monastery and began his trek.
Upon arriving in Rome, he was immediately caught up in the crowd. The crowd was immense and excited. Soon Telemachus found himself giddy with the contagious excitement of those around him. He wasn’t sure where he was headed but he knew whatever it was, it had to be great, and there was no way he was going to miss out on it.
Within a few moments he found himself deep in the seating area of the Roman Coliseum. Asking those around him, he learned that the Romans had just defeated the Goths, and the emperor had commanded a circus to be held for the celebrating crowd. As he took his seat, he couldn’t have missed the emperor sitting in his seat of honor. He most certainly would not have missed the arrival of the gladiators into the coliseum.
As the gladiators lined up below the emperors seat, together they stood and yelled out: “We, who are about to die, salute you”. It was the traditional greeting of the gladiators to their emperor, and in that instant he knew exactly what he had stumbled upon. The Bishops and leaders of the church had spoken out about the gladiator games in Rome, yet many believed it legend. In that moment, Telemachus realized it all was true.
Soon the gladiators pulled their weapons and the bloody brawl began just a few yards away from him. The grotesque nature of the sport appalled him. Worse yet were the reactions of those around him. The spectators were in a bloodthirsty ecstasy over what they were seeing. Telemachus was sickened and shocked. In that instant he realized that it must stop. From his seat, he yelled out to the warriors: In the Name of Christ, stop! But no one heard.
Without thinking, he jumped over the wall and into the battle arena with the fighters. The gladiators, surprised by the unexpected guest, momentarily stopped their fight and stared at the monk. “IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!” he yelled over and over again. After a few moments, the silence turned to chuckles and outright laughter. One of the gladiators, with a sick enjoyment, took a swing at Telemachus with his sword, just barely missing him. With that the others began to draw their swords. Soon they were chasing this man around the arena to the laughter of the crowd. Most who witnessed the spectacle thought he was a clown or was there for comic relief.
That was until they heard what he was yelling...in the name of Christ, stop!… He ran, jumped, dodged and ducked, and with each passing moment his words grew clearer and louder...in the name of Christ, stop! In the name of Christ, stop. IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!
Eventually the gladiators surged and when the dust cleared, there laid Telemachus on the ground with a sword in the center of his chest. There was silence in the crowd. It was said in that moment, that his words echoed one last time in the coliseum; In the name of Christ, stop.
After what seemed like an eternity, one man got up from his seat and left in silence. Then another… Then another… Until everyone got up from their seats and left in silence and disbelief.
The site of the dead monk in the center of the coliseum, and the reaction of the crowd, led the emperor and his guests to silently stand, turn and leave the coliseum. After a few minutes, the Gladiators put their swords down and they too left. All that remained in that giant coliseum was the scrawny lifeless body of Telemachus. History claims that this was the very last gladiator contest at the coliseum. The memory of that man screaming to the crowd, and the image of the blood thirsty lust of the crowd had changed the hearts and the minds of the Romans in that instant. Within the hour the emperor issued an edict forbidding any future games of war within the Roman Empire.
There was no more killing in the Coliseum. There were no more gladiator matches in Rome. There was no more killing as sport. Ever. All because one man stood up and said, “In the name of Christ, stop!”
I thought that story was worth sharing. The next time you feel that your words and your actions make no difference in the world, remember Telemachus. Stand for what is right, even if you feel you are standing alone. Telemachus wasn't alone that day, though it could easily have felt that way. God was with him, and in that moment, he changed the world through a simple monk. You aren't alone either. Never forget that.
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| Brandon Heath |
I explained to the kids that the song is about how even one person can make a difference in the world. Caleb immediately exclaimed, "Even a KID could change the world!" Oh how I love that optimism and simple faith of a child.
That conversation brought to mind a man who lived 1600 years ago, a simple man, but one whose actions in the last moments of his life changed the world. The story of Telemachus, first written down by historians a few decades after his death, goes something like this:
It is said that in the year 402 AD, the young monk Telemachus felt called to leave the monastery and head out into the pagan world to not only learn what the world had to offer, but to spread the message of Christ to all who would listen. One day in prayer, Telemachus felt called by God to leave immediately and head to Rome. If monasteries were the hub of a local community’s society, Rome was considered the hub of the world. This was the center of society during this time. Not sure what he would find, or why God had called him on his mission, he headed from the monastery and began his trek.
Upon arriving in Rome, he was immediately caught up in the crowd. The crowd was immense and excited. Soon Telemachus found himself giddy with the contagious excitement of those around him. He wasn’t sure where he was headed but he knew whatever it was, it had to be great, and there was no way he was going to miss out on it.
Within a few moments he found himself deep in the seating area of the Roman Coliseum. Asking those around him, he learned that the Romans had just defeated the Goths, and the emperor had commanded a circus to be held for the celebrating crowd. As he took his seat, he couldn’t have missed the emperor sitting in his seat of honor. He most certainly would not have missed the arrival of the gladiators into the coliseum.
As the gladiators lined up below the emperors seat, together they stood and yelled out: “We, who are about to die, salute you”. It was the traditional greeting of the gladiators to their emperor, and in that instant he knew exactly what he had stumbled upon. The Bishops and leaders of the church had spoken out about the gladiator games in Rome, yet many believed it legend. In that moment, Telemachus realized it all was true.
Soon the gladiators pulled their weapons and the bloody brawl began just a few yards away from him. The grotesque nature of the sport appalled him. Worse yet were the reactions of those around him. The spectators were in a bloodthirsty ecstasy over what they were seeing. Telemachus was sickened and shocked. In that instant he realized that it must stop. From his seat, he yelled out to the warriors: In the Name of Christ, stop! But no one heard.
Without thinking, he jumped over the wall and into the battle arena with the fighters. The gladiators, surprised by the unexpected guest, momentarily stopped their fight and stared at the monk. “IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!” he yelled over and over again. After a few moments, the silence turned to chuckles and outright laughter. One of the gladiators, with a sick enjoyment, took a swing at Telemachus with his sword, just barely missing him. With that the others began to draw their swords. Soon they were chasing this man around the arena to the laughter of the crowd. Most who witnessed the spectacle thought he was a clown or was there for comic relief.
That was until they heard what he was yelling...in the name of Christ, stop!… He ran, jumped, dodged and ducked, and with each passing moment his words grew clearer and louder...in the name of Christ, stop! In the name of Christ, stop. IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!
Eventually the gladiators surged and when the dust cleared, there laid Telemachus on the ground with a sword in the center of his chest. There was silence in the crowd. It was said in that moment, that his words echoed one last time in the coliseum; In the name of Christ, stop.
After what seemed like an eternity, one man got up from his seat and left in silence. Then another… Then another… Until everyone got up from their seats and left in silence and disbelief.
 |
| Telemachus at the Coliseum |
There was no more killing in the Coliseum. There were no more gladiator matches in Rome. There was no more killing as sport. Ever. All because one man stood up and said, “In the name of Christ, stop!”
I thought that story was worth sharing. The next time you feel that your words and your actions make no difference in the world, remember Telemachus. Stand for what is right, even if you feel you are standing alone. Telemachus wasn't alone that day, though it could easily have felt that way. God was with him, and in that moment, he changed the world through a simple monk. You aren't alone either. Never forget that.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:10-17 (NIV)
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