The effect of this shift is incalculably vast and profound for the history of the church and for the realities of the Christian’s walk. They are well-illustrated in a story—probably apocryphal—that is told about one of the great thinkers of the Roman Catholic church, St. Thomas Aquinas. The story goes that, while walking amid the splendors of Rome, a friend said to St. Thomas, “We Christians certainly no longer have to say to the world, ‘Silver and gold have we none.’” To this St. Thomas replied: “But neither can we say to the lame man, ‘In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk.’” As
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