Why I am Ashamed...Page Two

Girolamo Savonarola was a Dominican friar. He "flamed like a comet" during the late 15th. century in Florence, Italy at the height of the Renaissance. the period historians cite as the "re birth" of knowledge. While it is true the Renaissance produced great thinkers and artists, it must be noted that it also brought us the Inquisition.

Savonarola, who was born in 1452 and martyred in 1498 at the hands of the Roman Church and the civil government of Florence, was one of the early Reformers and a vital part of the Reformation movement. He abhored the extravagence corruption and immorality of the civil government and of the Church with its immoral and worldly clergy; including that of its Popes, and preached vehemently against this corruption while friar at San Marco Cathedral in the city of Florence. Alexander VI, the second of the Borgia Popes, finally succeeded in getting rid of that "pestulant" Savonarola by stripping him of his Holy Orders and turning him over to civil authorities for the sentence of death.

The Borgia, like the Medici ruled Florence for years during the Renaissance in the 15th.century through graft, corruption and intimidation. The Church at this time, lead by its Popes from Nicholas V (1447-1455) to Leo X (1513-1523) cooperated with this corruption. Savonarola exposed and denounced this corruption with fiery and plain term preaching. He was feared and reviled at the same tiime until finally in May of 1498 he and two others were hanged then burned to ashes in the Public square; the palazzo della Signoria, with their ashes spread out afterward into the river Arno. Before they were killed the Pope, in an "act of kindness (?)" offered the three a plenary indulgence which would "rescue them from the sufferings of Purgatory", they accepted, then Savonarola followed Silvestro and Domineco, his fellow protestants, to the gallows and to Christian martyrdom. His story is inspiring. A must read for Christians who love Church history.

Pat and I recently stood in the Palazzo della Signoria during our visit to Florence and Italy where I took pictures of the large round plaque marking the very spot on which he was hanged and burned. I was honored to meditate on the happenings in that very place. As I stood there I wondered, "what kind of hatred by "Christians" could bring about such a deed? It is hard for me to fathom. I am a firm believer and preacher of the Sermon on the Mount by our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Christianity was never designed to be a militant movement. Love was to rule and selflessness was to be the attitude of life of the believer. We are taught to love even our enemies. Not to hate anyone. Yet hatred really exists among Christians!

It was so interesting to listen to a professor from Wisconsin give our group a lecture on the art of the Renaissance along with an historical sketch. She was so right about the corruption of Florence and the ruling Borgia's and Medici. They gained much of their wealth by the deals they made with the Popes to collect the tithes of the people for the Church, take their cut, and give the Church the remainder. Lorenzo de'Medici was the supreme political boss of Florence during the 1480s during the time when the Florentines became known as the "fast talkers" of finance and trade. However, she does not give Savonarola a fair shake in that she dismisses him, as did the Roman Church, as an heritic and guilty of being a schismatic, seeking to split the church. This is the official Roman Catholic position to this day.

The truth is, however, that he is revered by Christians who not only "rightly divide the Word of truth" but study Church history more objectively and realistically. Sincere Christians admit the failings of Protestantism, even today, but to ignore the facts of Church history in regard to the reasons for the Reformation is inexcusable. Men like Savonarola were lights not to be ignored. they stand as giants during the time when the common man was continuing to be subjugated by the leaders of organized religion. as well as civil authority.

The Roman Church, which was organized and operated on the model of the old Roman Empire including having its head, like Caesar, carry the title Pontifex Maximus; High Priest of the Heathen...the supreme bridge builder, controlled the laity by keeping them ignorant and steeped in religious superstition both unscriptural and untrue. Much of it continues today especially in regard to the Virgin Mary. Savonarola early in his ministry flew in the faces of the spiritual leaders with the fictional question that since Mary, like Jesus, was of humble station, "why did painters dress her up to look like a luxurious Renaissance whore"? An invention for wealthy and powerful men. The truth is in the reading of history.

The hatred of Savonarola at the time of his death is a matter of record. He, with the other two, were first hanged, then iron collars were secured around their necks and the gibbet so as to keep their bodies from dropping into the fire. The executioner then lit the fire of straw and firewood spiked with gunpowder so that sharp sounds of rockets and cracking was seen and heard making the fire more spectacular. Witnesses reported that once the fiery bodies had started to shed legs and arms leaving the remains hanging from the chained iron collars, boys began throwing stones at the bodies hoping to get the stumps to fall into the fire so they could then drag the blackened charred remains around the Palazzo. Once the workers finally got to the ashes that remained they swept them up into carts and rolled them to the Ponte Vecchio where they dumped them into the Arno river. All in the name of Ecclesiastical and political justice. Christian? I think not!

I am Ashamed and frankly Disgusted by this same kind of hatred today!

It seems our country is filled with hate. Such hate as I have never seen before. We are being polarized by this hatred. People are not acting reasonably or sensibly in so many areas today it is heart wrenching. hatred for the President; hatred for the Jews; hatred for Christians. Hatred that spawned by an ungodliness that also produces someof the most horrible crimes is frankly unbelievable. Yet the sad thing is this hatred is evident even in so called "Christian" relationships.

Excuse me friends! This is not the Christian Nation in which I was raised. It is not the Christian Nation that I have loved. This is not the Christianity I preach and defend. No, something has happened...something terrible, and it is becoming scary. Where are we headed...really?

A Terrible Example I must cite!

Recently 5 men calling themselves Christian leaders conspired to take over a small Christian College in Indiana with which I am acquainted. They had been leaders in the school. Their objective was simple. Replace the President and dissolve the Constitution and by-laws and dismiss all 20 of the Cooperating board as well as other Trustees. If the school failed as a result they would have complete control of property valued at more than $4 million dollars. Property they could do whatever they wished with, including selling it for their personal gain. If this was their aim remains to be seen. How they went about doing what they did is what is truly despicable. The personal venomous almost obscene attacks on an innocent older woman is unforgivable. That they went to court and lied repeatedly is despicable. They brought reproach on the name of Christ and gave impetous to the world's already negative perception of Christians. They ignored the counsel of Godly men and with a measure of pride I have never seen before pushed forward. It should be no wonder that I am ashamed...terribly ashamed! If this was an isolated case it would be one thing, but it is not. Bear with me and I will tell you more...next time.

I am Gerald Stokes, and these have been First Coast Musings from Jacksonville, Florida.