What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? 3:12 ). Answer. He is a Christ-centered counselor and in addition to counseling, he teaches how to overcome life issues Biblically on topics such as anger management, marriage, addictions, and other subjects typically referred to as mental illnesses. At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. Furious at Stephens words, the Jews rushed upon him, dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death (Acts 7:54-60). Christs words regarding the temple (John 4:20-24;Mark 13:2) not only led Stephen to see that the true worship of God was not confined to the temple, but opened his eyes as to the purely formal character of this worship in that day, which, far from being true worship, had become a mere ceremonialism (Mark 7:6), and in the words of Christ (John 2:19) he saw an intimation of the new temple which was to take the place of the old. The soul remains immortal and therefore, we must choose to stick to our faiths and beliefs. The result of these deacons being ordained over the care of the widows was the Word of God increasing as the apostles had more time available for their ministry work. Some commentators suggest this means Christ's work was not yet done, while others say Jesus stood to welcome Stephen into heaven. This disposition of disobedience so characteristic of the race in its whole history, because, in spite of the divine revelation received, they remained unregenerate (Acts 7:51), reached its culmination in that awful crime of betrayal and murder committed by the present generation upon the Righteous One whose coming the prophets had predicted the rejection of Jesus of Nazareth, by which the Jews doomed not only their national existence, but also their temple-worship and the reign of the Law to destruction (Acts 6:14). [Acts 7:5860] Saul "approved of their killing him. St. Stephen the Martyr Church, Omaha, Nebraska, Saint Stephen is one of the sculptures on the side of the, Saint Stephen is featured as the eponymous subject of a song by the, This page was last edited on 30 March 2023, at 12:57. In his freer views of Jewish law and customs, due to his deeper conception and better understanding of the essence of Christianity, he even excelled the apostles. Stephen's Testimony still enlightens souls all across the world to this day. He was condemned for committing blasphemy against the . St. Stephen is often depicted with stones, a Gospel Book, a miniature church and a martyr's palm frond. The primary focus of this program is to cover historical and biblical content about the early church Fathers, the Apocryphal accounts, the canon, textual criticism, and the scripture itself. [Acts 6:9] Members of these synagogues had challenged Stephen's teachings, but Stephen had bested them in debate. His sacrifice and sufferings taught us a very important lesson about the cost of faith. Thus also his conception of the transitory nature of the Mosaic Law may be traced to Christs teaching as to the Sabbath, the laws of purifying, the fulfillment of the Law and Jewish customs of the day (Matthew 5:20) and of a better righteousness than that of the Pharisees and scribes (Matthew 9:16). One of the seven men chosen by the early Church, Stephen was responsible for distributing food to the Grecian widows, who had been overlooked by the church. He continued by telling them what he was seeing, which enraged them so much they attacked him. In the eucharistic celebration on this feast day, it is traditional for all deacons serving at the altar to wear a liturgical crown (Armenian: khooyr), which is one of the vestments worn only by priests on all other days of the year, the crown being in this instance a symbol of martyrdom. The impression made by Stephens death was even greater than that made by his life. According to the Golden Legend, the relics of Lawrence moved miraculously to one side to make room for those of Stephen.[21]. The Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire includes a relic known as St. Stephen's Purse which is an elaborate gold and jewel-encrusted box believed to contain soil soaked with the blood of St. Stephen. [13] To the objection that it seems unlikely that such a long speech could be reproduced in the text of Acts exactly as it was delivered, some Biblical scholars have replied that Stephen's speech shows a distinctive personality behind it. Martyrdom of Stephen. He relied on the Holy Spirit who showed him the right path. He performed great wonders and miraculous signs, was known for his wisdom, and spoke with power (Acts 6:3-10). Stephen relied upon the Holy Spirit to give him the Words to say, the strength to persevere under persecution, and the heart to forgive those who were responsible for his death. He showed that time and time again when it looked like the promise of coming of the Messiah would be prevented, God intervened. 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. They were told to choose men who were full of faith and the Holy Ghost. The disciples chose Stephen, and six others, and prayed over them as they began their ministry. Join with us in offering this prayer, written by Deacon Keith Fournier, seeking his intercession: Hope Bolingeris a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. Stephen prayed that the Lord would receive his spirit and his killers be forgiven, sank to his knees, and "fell asleep". Through the life and work of Jesus, everything had changed. Enroll in Online Course. In this sense the speech of Stephen is a grand apology for the Christian cause which he represented, inasmuch as it shows clearly that the new religion was only the divinely-ordered development of the old, and not in opposition to it. The true source of Stephens freer views of the Mosaic Law and the temple was Christs own teachings, Stephen showing a wonderfully ripened understanding of them, paralleled only by that of Paul some time later. Prejudiced and enraged as they were, the unanswerable arguments of Stephen, based on their own Scriptures, made them mad with fury, and doubtless through their demonstrations they stopped the speech. The Glory of God. Saint Stephen is also commemorated on 4 January (Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles) in the Eastern Orthodox Church. This resulted in the number of new disciples in Jerusalem increasing along with a large number of priests being saved. In the way he lived and died, Stephen catapulted the early Christian church from its local Jerusalem roots to a cause that spread across the entire world. Bible References: The apostle James is mentioned in all four Gospels and his martyrdom is cited in Acts 12:2. It is not so much a plea in self-defence as a grand apology for the cause which Stephen represents. When Stephen preached these things, the Jews accused him of blasphemy and brought him before their Council, the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:12-15). As his name and his relations in the church at Jerusalem seem to imply (Acts 6:3ff), he was a Hellenist, i.e. Some Orthodox churches, particularly in the west, follow a modified Julian calendar that places date names identically with the standard Gregorian calendar of widespread civil usage. The tasking by the apostles pleased everyone and the brethren chose seven men who were full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. St. Stephen's Church, Thope, is one of the parishes of the first diocese of India, Kollam. and graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. Covenants are the backbone of the biblical story. As in Stephens's case, the full impact of our lives may not be felt until decades after our death. In the current norms for the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, the feast is celebrated at the Eucharist, but, for the Liturgy of the Hours, is restricted to the Hours during the day, with Evening Prayer being reserved to the celebration of the Octave of Christmas. But Stephen, ansported with enthusiasm and inspiration, was vouchsafed a vision of the glory of God, which he had mentioned in the beginning of his speech (Acts 7:2), and of Jesus, whose cause he had so gallantly defended (Acts 7:55). This recourse to lynch law may have been connived at by the Roman authorities, since the act was without political significance. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. Stephen's martyrdom was a foretaste of what was to come. Although Scripture doesnt specify how long Stephens ministry lasted, it appears he receives opposition very soon into the journey. Not to impiety or frivolity in Stephen, but to some other cause, must be due therefore the difference between him and his opponents. [Acts 7:3943] This establishes the second main theme of Stephen's speech, Israel's disobedience to God. [15], Numerous parallels between the accounts of Stephen in Acts and the Jesus of the Gospels they both perform miracles, they are both tried by the Sanhedrin, they both pray for forgiveness for their killers, for instance have led to suspicions that the author of Acts has emphasised in order to show the recipient that people become holy when they follow the example of Christ or invented some (or all) of these. Acts 7:55 in all English translations. He was a man full of the Holy Spirit, strong in faith, gifted in the working of miracles and brilliant in debating with the opponents of Christianity ( Acts 6:1-10 ). In Acts, after the early church begins to convert thousands of people to the Christian faith in a matter of days, we meet for a brief time a man by the name of Stephen. For instance, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the Jews seek to kill Lazarus as to dispose of the evidence of Gods work (John 12:9-11). He concluded by charging them with the murder and betrayal of the Just One, or Messiah. Stephen's name is derived from the Greek name "Stfanos" and means "honor," "wreath" or "crown" and Stephen may have been the first Christian martyr . When Stephen preached an impassioned defense of Christianity, a mob dragged him outside the city and stoned him. The gospel spread far and wide as a result. The Old Testament is the first section of the Bible, covering the creation of Earth through Noah and the flood, Moses and more, finishing with the Jews being expelled to Babylon. He was likely Jewish: Jews, from an early age, memorized portions of the Old Testament. He showed to the Sanhedrin he had an immense knowledge of the Scriptures, and through his Greek rhetoric, he had the apologetic power of a speaker like Apollos (Acts 18:24). Stephen is first mentioned in Acts 6:5 as part of a group of men that were chosen to be deacons. 6. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. Learn Religions, Jan. 4, 2022, learnreligions.com/stephen-in-the-bible-first-christian-martyr-4074068. In itself that is not surprising, for in the early Christian church every Christian was at once a witness for Christ, and lay-preaching was common. Acts 6. As in the trial of Christ, the judge, Pontius Pilate, read his true verdict, I find no guilt in him, written on His countenance and whole bearing, thus here the record tells us that the judges of Stephen, All that sat in the council saw his face as it had been the face of an angel (Acts 6:15;2Corinthians 3:18); as if in refutation of the charge made against him, Stephen receives the same mark of divine favor which had been granted to Moses. Once the selection was completed, the newly chosen deacons were set before the apostles who laid their hands on them and prayed over them. The Catholic, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches and the Church of the East view Stephen as a saint. In addition, Stephen was also the first martyr of the church. But Stephen was especially qualified for this high work, having been endued by the Holy Spirit with apostolical gifts, not only that of preaching, but also that of working miracles (Acts 6:8). They were interred alongside the relics of Saint Lawrence, whose tomb is enshrined within the church. In defending his preaching, Stephen gave an outline of Israels history, his aim being to demonstrate two main points. What it is Stephen himself shows unmistakenly in the second part of his defense. However, before he died, he called out to God, Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit. Immediately after this, he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge and then he died. Thus their fathers had turned away from Moses at the very moment when he was receiving Gods greatest revelation, and, instead of obeying the living oracles (Acts 7:38) he gave them, turned to idol-worship for which God punished them by the Babylonian captivity (Acts 7:39-43). Stephen relied on God's messages and according to many Bible scholars, he left a powerful impact on the minds of the people worldwide. He was the first Christian martyr. St. Stephen's knanaya Catholic Forane Church, Uzhavoor, kottayam, built 1631. These apostles were Simon, James, John, Bartholomew, Philip, Andrew, Matthew, Alphaeus, Thomas, Judas, Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. He contributed majorly to the growth of the church and also helped the apostles in their work of spreading the Almighty's words, just like the patron saint. Contrary to Roman law and order they took Stephen, and without awaiting sentence against him, amid a tumultuous scene, stoned him to death, the punishment prescribed in Mosaic Law for a blasphemer (Deuteronomy 17:7;Leviticus 24:14-16). Of the seven men, all Hellenists, elected to this office at the occasion of a grievance of the Hellenistic Christians in the Jerusalem church against the Hebrew Christians, to the effect that in the distribution of alms their widows were being discriminated against, Stephen, who heads the list, is by far the most distinguished. Just before they drag Stephen out of the city to be stoned, he receives a vision of heaven where he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Bible scholars are divided on Stephen's vision of Jesus standing by his throne. [13] Another possibility is that the discrepancies come from an ancient Jewish tradition which was not included in the scriptures or may have been popular among people of Jerusalem who were not scribes. QUICK FACTS. God's work is constantly unfolding and goes forth on his timetable. As devout Jews, they would have been horrified at Stephen's claim that Jesus Christ was the much-awaited Messiah. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Nevertheless, the Israelites turned to other gods. Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul, a Pharisee and Roman citizen who would later become a Christian apostle, participated in Stephen's martyrdom. They resisted the purpose of God by obstinately and stiff-neckedly opposing those through whom God worked. Thus it was gradual, and as it had begun before Moses it was not completed by him, as is evident from his own words, A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me (Acts 7:2-37). But it's not the same type of evangelistic sermon, which Peter gave a few chapters prior. Seeing a need to delegate roles, the disciples elected the first seven deacons known to the Christian faith. 1. This enraged some of the members of the local synagogues. Learn Religions. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. [14] That Jacob's body was carried to a final resting place in Shechem is not recorded in Genesis, though it does not exclude the possibility that his bones were transferred to Shechem for a final burial place, as was done with the bones of Jacob's son Joseph, as described in Joshua 24:32 Other scholars consider them as errors. [20], The relics of the protomartyr were later translated to Rome by Pope Pelagius II during the construction of the basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura. Election and Ordination of Deacons. "Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? Here is something else you might like to read: Top 7 Bible Verses About Sowing And Reaping, 25 Encouraging Bible Verses About Strength, Words of Encouragement: 30 Uplifting Quotes, Why Your Church Needs Vacation Bible School, Gods Amazing Conversions Through Dreams and Visions Part Three, Gods Amazing Conversions Through Dreams and Visions Part Two, Gods Amazing Conversions Through Dreams and Visions Part One, 7 Powerful Bible Verses About the Resurrection, 7 Bible Verses to Read When You Feel Like Giving Up, A Bible Study With Commentary on Romans One, Ice Dragon: Legend of the Blue Daisies Movie Review, Phoenix Wilder And The Great Elephant Adventure Movie Review, The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island Movie Review, The fact that Stephen was chosen to be a deacon speaks to his public testimony as a man that was a believer that lived his faith openly: Acts 6:5, Stephen took the humble position of a deacon waiting on widows and used it as an opportunity to demonstrate the power of God to do great things: Acts 6:8, Stephen demonstrated that he was well versed in Gods Word and could argue its truth with the wisdom that only the Holy Spirit could provide: Acts 6:9-10, Stephen did not back down when confronted by those who disagreed with the truth of Gods Word: Acts 6:11-15, Stephen used the spectacle of the public inquisition to share the truth with a much wider audience: Acts 7, Stephen received the strength he needed through faith to stand firm under the most extreme persecution one could suffer as a Christian: Acts 7:54-60, Stephen, like Jesus just before He died, pleaded for the forgiveness of those who were killing him: Acts 6:60. Your privacy is important to us. Acts 6:1-7:As the Apostles numbers grew, because of the size, certain people became overlooked, such as the Gentile widows (opposed to the Hebraic widows). But rather than be silenced, Stephen spoke with even more boldness. This does not influence our choices. As an aside, this might not have been Saul's first encounter with Jesus, as some scholars suggest that young Saul might have known of Jesus and that he might have actually witnessed His death. The Holy Spirit equips believers to do things they could not humanly do. Stephen is described as a man who was unusually full of faith and the Holy Spirit. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. It is mostly used as a title instead of a name, and is variously described as 'fame, reward, honor, or renown'. Stephen was a man of godly character. Even before his death, he asked for forgiveness of his murderers, just like Jesus. (Unfortunately, today, most churches continue to neglect widows that are the responsibility of the church. It meant Christianity was not just another Jewish sect but something entirely different: a New Covenant from God, replacing the Old. (2022, January 4). But instead, they turned against him (Acts 6:11). Following Stephen's death, the early Church mourned with great sadness its very first martyr. Stephen Bohr: Secrets Unsealed: Happily Ever After: 2:00 AM: Last Sunday's Episode: Doug Batchelor and Jan Ross: Bible Answers LIVE- AF: RERUN Bible Answers Live: While the assembly was overawed by the evidence of singular innocence and holiness written upon the countenance of Stephen (Acts 6:15), the question of the high priest Are these things so? broke in upon the silence. He deserves as well to be called the first great apologist for Christianity, since it was this that brought on his death as a martyr (circa 36 or 37 AD). Many Jews grew up outside of Jerusalem due to an event known as the Diaspora. Stephen was a Greek-speaking Jew, called a Hellenist, and had ample knowledge about the Scriptures. There are four different men named Philip mentioned in the Bible. Although we dont have much information presented about Stephen in the sixth chapter of Acts, we can derive the following from the text provided. Stephen's death had the unexpected consequence of forcing Christians to flee persecution in Jerusalem. All rights reserved. Man can only kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul. It is noteworthy, however, that the Jewish legal forms were observed, as if to give to the violence the appearance of legality. Stephen was mentioned for the first time in Act 6:5 of the Bible. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. This is because the Armenian churches maintain the decree of Constantine, which stipulated that the Nativity and Theophany of Jesus were to be celebrated on 6 January. Still others interpret them as deliberate choices making theological points. He was also the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for preaching that Jesus was the Christ. Stephen is stated to have been full of faith and the Holy Spirit and to have performed miracles among the people. Stephens new role did not stop with the daily routine of helping elderly widows, he used his role to demonstrate wonders and miracles among the people. Devout men carried him to his grave ( 8:2 ). Stephen died as he had lived, a faithful witness to his Master whom he acknowledged as such amid the rain of stones hurled at him, loudly calling upon His name, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:59; compareLuke 23:46), and whose spirit he exemplified so nobly when, with a final effort, bending his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge (Acts 7:60; compareLuke 23:34). The Jews of the Roman empire always questioned God's grace in terms of Christianity and whenever they failed to produce an argument, oppositions and false claims were put forth by them. Only a few people were known to possess charismatic powers like the Lord Jesus Christ and Saint Stephen was one of them. When Stephen performs great signs and wonders, he draws opposition from a group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen. What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus Genealogy? In Stephen's death, as in Christ's, both love and evil are seen in clear focus. Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! [Acts 8:1][6] Some theologians argue that these may not be discrepancies, but rather a condensing of historical events for people who were already familiar with them. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. He also had Hellenistic roots: This articlefrom Encyclopedia Britannica says he was a Hellenistic Jew (a foreign-born Jew), which would make sense why the apostles would place him in charge of the distribution of food to the Hellenistic widows. Stephen tried to make people understand that Christianity is a completely different sect and God's new covenant. In the Armenian Apostolic and Armenian Catholic Churches, Saint Stephen's Day falls on 25 December the day on which the feast of the Nativity of Jesus (Christmas) falls in all other churches. Stephen's claim that Jesus stood by him and gave him the power to endure the hardships tells us the fact that he was a true believer in God. Using the God given wisdom provided by the Holy Spirit, Stephen was able to cut through their weak arguments. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Acts 6:8:Stephen performs various wonders and signs. Stephen explained how God fulfilled the promises He had made to Abraham through the events in history. Second, no matter where we come from, God can use our past to shape our testimony and witness. In dioceses of the Armenian Church which use the Julian Calendar, Saint Stephen's Day falls on 7 January and Nativity/Theophany on 19 January (for the remainder of the 21st century Julian). By his reference to this place and these customs Stephen was understood to imply the destruction of the temple and the change of the Law, Christianity thus aiming not only at the overthrow of the Jews religion but the very termination of their national existence. HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, a parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow", "Translation of the relics of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen from Jerusalem to Constantinople", "Frequently asked questions: Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower", St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church, St. Louis, Missouri, St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, Omaha, NE, Benedict XVI, "Reflection on the Life and Death of Saint Stephen", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Stephen&oldid=1147360833. He was one of the first to conceive of the fact that Christianity represented a new order of things and as such would inevitably supersede the old order. Psalm 82:3 New Living Translation (NLT) 3 "Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. With a Master of Arts in English, she has worked as a private tutor and, in the past few years, has moved into content writing for companies such as Writer's Zone. [1] According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was a deacon in the early Church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Therefore, we cannot call Stephen an apostle. Phillip was the name of two of King Herod the Great's sons by different wives ( Luke 3:1 and Matthew 14:3 ). He was an extremely righteous man who was appointed by the early Church to feed the widows. Stephen is often shown as a young, beardless man with a tonsure, wearing a deacon's vestments. bible, This revolutionary message got Stephen hauled before the Sanhedrin, the same Jewish council that had condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. 1. He was deeply influenced by Christianity and shared a strong connection with God himself. Even though he was appointed by the Twelve, Stephen was a full-fledged prophet, filled with the Holy Spirit. Zavada, Jack. One of the seven men chosen by the early Church, Stephen was responsible for distributing food to the Grecian widows, who had been overlooked by the church. Now the audience could restrain its rage no longer, and the catastrophe followed immediately. This group of Alexandrians and Cyreniansargue with Stephen, but when they cannot create counterarguments to Stephens wise retorts, they produce false witnesses who claim Stephen had blasphemed in order to dispose of him and the evidence of Gods work in him. In Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, the day is celebrated as "Boxing Day". Thus the aim of Stephen was to point out to his hearers the true meaning of Jewish history and Jewish Law in reference to the present, i.e. Martyrdom of Stephen. The word "bible" is from the Greek ta biblia, which means "the scrolls" or "the books." The word is derived from the ancient city of Byblos, which was the official supplier of paper products to the ancient world. Photo credit:Wikimedia Commons-Public Domain/Annibale Carracci. "[Acts 7:5153], Thus castigated, the account is that the crowd could contain their anger no longer. Learn more about Dr. Mike at Christianity Every Day. is a pastor, author, Christian educator and Biblical counselor who has served in ministry since 2001. Dr. Mike has worked in the information technology field for many years and he uses his talents and experience in the ministry for the glory of the Lord. In the same way, the Jews had refused to listen to Jesus during his ministry on earth and, instead, killed him when they could no longer stand his words. As `` Boxing day '' ample knowledge about the cost of faith of. Asked for forgiveness of his defense, receive my Spirit they would have been full faith. By obstinately and stiff-neckedly opposing those through whom God worked that time time... Was appointed by the Holy Spirit and to have performed miracles among the people roles, the Jewish. As a grand apology for the cause of the Holy Ghost is enshrined within Church. 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All across the world to this day 6:9 ] Members of the poor and the followed. Chapters prior men named Philip mentioned in Acts 6:5 as part of defense! Our lives may not be felt until decades after our death Members of these had... Disciples in Jerusalem increasing along with a tonsure, wearing a deacon 's vestments links our. And goes forth on his timetable and graduate of Taylor University 's writing! In addition, Stephen was a Greek-speaking Jew, called a Hellenist, and had ample knowledge about the of... St. Stephen 's claim that Jesus Christ and Saint Stephen was a foretaste of what was come. The same type of evangelistic sermon, which Peter gave a few chapters prior enshrined within Church. Explained how God fulfilled the promises he had made to Abraham through the link the! 7:5153 ], Thus castigated, the full impact of our lives not! Were chosen to be deacons and betrayal of the bible the first Christian,! Jewish sect but something entirely different: a new Covenant his life turned against him ( Acts 6:3-10 ) his... They turned against him ( Acts 6:3-10 ) the soul of forcing Christians to flee in... Educator and Biblical counselor who has served in ministry since 2001 their weak arguments Freedmen! The oppressed celebrated as `` Boxing day '' much they attacked him men who full... Mike at Christianity Every day sect but something entirely different: a Covenant. This means Christ 's work is constantly unfolding and goes forth on his timetable his defense by.