Constantinople was mad for horse racing in the same way that Americans are enthralled by NFL football. The Hippodrome of Constantinople, a U-shaped horse track for horse and chariot races, was the centre of the city's social life. Huge sums of money were bet on chariot races. For all I know they had "Fantasy Hippodrome!" At the time of Gregory Nazianzus (c. 381) four teams took part in these races, each financially sponsored and supported by a different Byzantine political party (sports sponsorships are not new!). The teams were named by colors: the Blues, the Greens, the Reds, and the Whites. The people of Constantinople identified themselves by their favorite racing team, like British football supporters. Using the analogy of the horse racing teams in Constantinople, Gregory chided those of his hearers about being denominated "Christian" when they were in fact opponents of the divinity of Christ. Why choose to be known by a name that belongs to a mere creature, as the Arians did? "Christian" cannot be taken as a mere name, like wearing the battle-red jersey of your favorite football team. What does it mean to be a Christian? It must begin with Christ. And Christ not as a mere creature, but as He is; God of God.

 

The adoration of Christ as God of God is not a zero-sum game. In economics, a zero-sum game is the presumption that there is a limited amount of value, represented by money, to go around. In this pattern of thinking, if I have more money it necessarily means that someone else has less of it. This kind of thinking gave rise, and still gives rise, to socialistic redistribution schemes intended to provide social justice. The only quality it created was to make everyone equally miserable. Zero-sum games are played not just in economics. The Arian heretics of the fourth century presumed that if divine honor and worship were accorded the Son of God, then it would diminish the honor and worship bestowed upon the Father. And yet they willingly called themselves Christian, which is itself an expression of honor. In our day, at least the Jehovah's Witnesses are honest in declining to name themselves Christian.

 

When I moved to the town of my first parish, I asked around to find out who was the best barber in town. It was Sam. I duly went to Sam when my head demanded it. Being a small town, Sam was interested in why I was there. When I told him that I was a Lutheran pastor there to start a new parish, he was intrigued. After some conversation, he informed me that he was a member of the local Masonic lodge and that the Anglican rector was the secretary of the organization. I understood that this was a not-so-subtle invitation to join the lodge. Wickedly, I played along. I began to ask him about the religious rites of the lodge, and he intoned sagely, "The lodge is a very religious organization, Reverend." "Ah, but your religious rites wouldn't mention Jesus Christ would they? You would not want to offend those who declined to believe the holy Trinity." "Oh, absolutely Reverend." "But are you a Christian, Sam?" "Oh, absolutely Reverend. I attend the United Church at least once a month." "So then you would have a great deal of respect for what Jesus actually said, right Sam?" "Oh, absolutely, Reverend." "How can you participate in prayers that leave out the name of Jesus, when Jesus himself specifically says, 'that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him' ( Jn 5:23). Immediately, he said: "Reverend, the lodge is not a religious organization." "Ah." Sam was basically an Arian, who thought more of the name "lodge member," than he did of the name of the eternal Son of the Father, Jesus Christ. Honoring the Son is honoring the Father. By worshiping the Son, the Father is not cheated, but rightly worshiped in Him.