Bread & Circuses

1 John 2:15-17

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

“Bread and Circuses” is a phrase formed by an ancient writer of Rome named Decimus Lunius Luvenalis (Juvenal). He lived in the first and second century of Rome. His views and writings were stern. He wrote on the tyranny of the Roman Empire and how pagan practices spread through the society of their day. Food and fun were used by the nation’s leaders to distract and control the masses. By keeping the populous entertained and their bellies full, the people did not pay attention to what was happening in the government. Juvenal saw what was happening and wrote about it. A couple quotes from Juvenal read,

“Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt.”

“The people sell their souls and freedoms for full bellies and games.”

The solution to prevent public unrest were free grain and games. The citizens were caught up in entertainment such as banquets, theatre, games, sports, etc…

Ancient Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire; there were wars; national debt; high taxes; political corruption; scandals; pride; immorality; idolatry; gluttony; drunkenness; pleasure seeking. Do these practices resemble America today?

What happened to the Roman Empire?

What is the “Bread” in America today? – Social programs; welfare; entitlements; food stamps; handouts.

What are the “Circuses” we have in America today? – Amusements; movies; video games; music; sports.

These practices create idleness and laziness. In America we are seeing a repeat of what happened in ancient Rome. There is another aspect of Roman history that, as a Christian, we should keep in mind. Beginning with Nero until Rome fell, one of their main sources of entertainment was the persecution of Christians.

The word circus is the Latin word for circle. The Ancient Colosseum in Rome still stands and is a large tourist attraction today. It was built in the shape of a circle and seated 50,000 spectators. They used the colosseum for many sporting events. The Christians of that day had nothing to do with the colosseum games except when they were brought there to be persecuted and/or martyred for entertainment. This ancient circular colosseum has a bloody history.

The colosseum in Rome was so popular that they built another one. It is called Circus Maximus. This one seated 150,000 spectators but that wasn’t enough. They built onto it and added another 100,000 seats. After the reconstruction, Circus Maximus seated 250,000 people. This was before there were cranes and bulldozers. Think about that. All this effort to build structures for entertainment.

History tells us that spectator sports and other entertainments came out of pagan societies, specifically Rome and Greece. The Olympic games were a religious act. Interestingly, the origin of the word gymnasium means to exercise naked. The origin of the word athlete is athlon, meaning prize. The five-ring symbol used in the Olympics represents world unity.

As a Christian, what would our Lord have us do with this history? We see what is happening in America today. We are a divided nation. Like ancient Rome, it appears that we are imploding from within. America is ravaged with sin, humanistic reasoning, wickedness, and vain philosophies. The Church in Ancient Rome saw the implosion, resisted the decay, and were persecuted for their faith in Christ. The Christians in Rome minded the important things and remained faithful to God’s Word. We are the Church today. What will we do?

Psalm 9:17

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

Psalm 33:12

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

Psalm 101:3

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”

Proverbs 14:34

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Luke 16:15_b

“…for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

Romans 1:22-25

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

1 Corinthians 10:14

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-17

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

2 Timothy 3:1-4

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

1 Peter 2:9-12

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 4:16-18

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

1 John 5:21

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

Revelation 12:11

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”