No longer should Christians in the UK have to pay council tax and their income tax levels should be half what any other citizen pays. In addition anyone who threatens Christians in any way should be punished under law.

Yes, I know, how ludicrous! None of us would think it sensible to call for such changes even if we would dearly love it to happen. But way back in the fourth century this was the type of law passed in favour of the church by the Roman Empire led by Constantine.

Apart from those changes that allowed Christians the right and freedom to worship according to their conscience, the first laws passed that favoured the church were those releasing all clergy from having to fulfil civic duties that were compulsory to others. These duties included having to serve on city councils and involved a great deal of expense on the part of the councillors. To be forced to such a position could mean financial ruin. To be released from such duty could, therefore, be compared to being relieved from the duty to pay taxes today. The first of these acts was passed in 313 AD.

Another example of pro-Christian laws was one that was passed on 3 March 321 which demanded that all judges, inhabitants of cities, and craftsmen should rest on Sunday. The only ones free from this law were farmers who might have had to work. Another exception was made in July of the same year allowing the legal transactions necessary for freeing slaves to be conducted.

An example of a law protecting Christians from paganism was passed on 25 December 323 when it was decreed that no Christian should be forced to participate in pagan practices and that if such a thing were to occur, those responsible would be publicly beaten – unless of an ‘honourable rank’, in which case they would pay a fine.

And for centuries similar laws both promoting Christian practice and values and defending the faith from paganism were passed. But one wonders how quickly did the church – which had had to rely on the protection of God up till then – begin to depend on state protection? How soon did these benign circumstances become ‘another god’ for followers of Jesus, making the church a slave to idolatry?

This post forms part of a series on idolatry. More here.