In 1964 the Lutheran Church in America published an amazing Sunday School curriculum. I taught material on Great Christians to a fifth-grade class despite being only a few years older than the students. I don’t know if the class had any lasting effect on the students, but it certainly did on me. I learned about all sorts of people, most of whom I had never heard of before. One of these was Athanasius, a deacon and later bishop of Alexandria in Egypt.

Athanasius was one of the staunchest defenders of the doctrine of the Trinity, that is, the belief that God is three co-equal persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but one God. He was present at the Council of Nicea in 325 when it promulgated the Nicene Creed. It’s hard to imagine now that the doctrine of the Trinity was opposed by many who thought themselves Christian. Athanasius was hated for his defense of the Trinity and was banished from Alexandria five times as a result. He never wavered or compromised his beliefs. Today almost all those who call themselves Christian hold to the doctrine of the Trinity.

I am amazed at the depth of courage and dedication Christians like Athanasius had. I’m disappointed that their stories aren’t better known especial among Lutherans. We tend to think the history of the church jumped from Paul to Martin Luther and then to dear old Pastor Thorkelson who confirmed us. There is a long chain of witnesses that brought the faith to us. I hope we will always treasure their memory.

Read Matthew 28:18-20 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne