Concerning those who have been forced to sacrifice, and who, in addition, have partaken of feasts in honor of the idols; as many as were haled away, but afterwards went up with a cheerful countenance, and wore their costliest apparel, and partook with indifference of the feast provided; it is decreed that all such be hearers for one year, and prostrators for three years, and that they communicate in prayers only for two years, and then return to full communion.
There were those believers who were forced to partake in sacrifices as mentioned in the previous canon, but then went on to partake willingly, were allowed to return but were required to spend a set amount of time at each prescribed position within the meeting. Since the leaders had already been addressed, this canon would be directed toward all others.
The lesser degree of severity was probably due to the lesser expectation of the common person in the church. A biblical example is the sin offering (Lev 4:1-5:13) where the sacrifice given varied depending on the relative spiritual position of the sinner within the company of God's people—the high priest offered a bull, but the common person offered a goat, lamb, birds, or flour depending on his or her financial ability. Church leaders need to understand that the Lord requires a greater accounting because of the position in which he has placed them.
There were those believers who were forced to partake in sacrifices as mentioned in the previous canon, but then went on to partake willingly, were allowed to return but were required to spend a set amount of time at each prescribed position within the meeting. Since the leaders had already been addressed, this canon would be directed toward all others.
The lesser degree of severity was probably due to the lesser expectation of the common person in the church. A biblical example is the sin offering (Lev 4:1-5:13) where the sacrifice given varied depending on the relative spiritual position of the sinner within the company of God's people—the high priest offered a bull, but the common person offered a goat, lamb, birds, or flour depending on his or her financial ability. Church leaders need to understand that the Lord requires a greater accounting because of the position in which he has placed them.
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