I believe the opposite of what Sandman541 posted. "When in Rome" doesn't speak about the church in Rome. In fact I believe it's criticizing society and it's attempt to conform to the well-known debauchery and sinfulness that had filled Rome before the creation of the church.
It's obvious it's playing off the cliche of "When in Rome do as the Romans" and not "do as the Catholics". The commentary that they focus on are values that have begun to fade such as education: "those books you gave us look good on the shelves at home, and they'll burn well in the fireplace teacher when in Rome".
The thing that really grabs my attention and make me think that it's actually speaking towards Christianity in a positive way is the last verse: "Where can a dead man go... when he spent a lifetime learning to live in Rome?" This is speaking to the knowledge that Christians shouldn't consider this world their home and understand that we are set apart as the bible says. If you conformed to the sinful nature of this world, where do you go when you die? How would you function after learning to live sinfully and then be presented in death with an eternity of living selflessly, serving God.
I believe the opposite of what Sandman541 posted. "When in Rome" doesn't speak about the church in Rome. In fact I believe it's criticizing society and it's attempt to conform to the well-known debauchery and sinfulness that had filled Rome before the creation of the church.
It's obvious it's playing off the cliche of "When in Rome do as the Romans" and not "do as the Catholics". The commentary that they focus on are values that have begun to fade such as education: "those books you gave us look good on the shelves at home, and they'll burn well in the fireplace teacher when in Rome".
The thing that really grabs my attention and make me think that it's actually speaking towards Christianity in a positive way is the last verse: "Where can a dead man go... when he spent a lifetime learning to live in Rome?" This is speaking to the knowledge that Christians shouldn't consider this world their home and understand that we are set apart as the bible says. If you conformed to the sinful nature of this world, where do you go when you die? How would you function after learning to live sinfully and then be presented in death with an eternity of living selflessly, serving God.