Page 36 - LD215 History of the Church in Africa A4 final

A History of the Church in Africa

and safer for the followers of Christ, such as the apostle Paul, to travel
throughout the empire with the message of the gospel. Roman road
workers did not know they were building highways for the advancement
of the kingdom of God!

Many years ago I visited an Italian construction company that was
building the main highway in northern Tanzania in the 1960s. The road
was a vital link to the nations north and west, and it remained in good
condition for decades. Although it has been repaired many times, the
basic foundation still exists. The Italians have excelled in constructing
roads for centuries. One can still admire the remains of straight, paved
Roman roads in southern Europe today.

In addition to inland roads, the Romans also provided organized and
relatively secure sea routes. They conquered the pirates of the waterways
and ensured safety for commerce and government officials. The book of
Acts indicates that the sea provided a way of travel for early missionaries
(Acts 27). Reaching the nations by using existing methods of travel was a
focus of the early church.

The Roman Army

The Roman army also prepared the way for the coming of Christianity.
The army was an important agent not only by conquering much of the
then-known world but also in providing peace and security throughout
the empire. As Roman soldiers traveled to the far-flung corners of the
empire, they also spread the Greco-Roman culture and encouraged the
use of Greek as a language of commerce and education. Strategic cities
of the empire became important military posts as well as centers for
trade and commerce. This commercial trade brought vast wealth, but
frequently it also brought with it social and economic pressure to the
people who lived in these cities. One may note that there are many
references to these thriving cities in the book of Acts.

Religion and Morals

Although the Roman Empire grew and prospered during the first
century, wealth and prosperity failed to produce happiness in morals
and religion. Many of the people who had been conquered lost faith in
their gods. After all, their many gods had failed to save them from defeat.

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