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Church History – Research Paper on a
Religious Movement
C.B.I. of B.B.C.–Dan Eberly
Leaving the Final
Authority
Introduction: Paul dealt with this very early in church history.
Reference -
The circumcision controversy in
the Jerusalem church,
which had to early on establish a foundation of
truth and not depart from it.
My thinking is
that we have all these other movements because the pure waters of
Christianity were very early on muddied.
Paul even said under the
inspiration of the Lord in
2Cor.2:17 “For
we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of
sincerity,
but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” Early on the
departure from the truth to man’s traditions, philosophies
and wisdom
led to a hierarchy of power grabbing religionists. A power struggle was
on between the simple but authoritative words of
scripture and men
seeking to elevate themselves in power.
In 3John we have a prime example of trying to shut out the truth
by keeping the man of God away from the people. Diotephes
was a man
seeking the preeminence of the people in his pride. This is the
beginning of leaving the Bible for man’s headship over the
church. The
bible specifically tells us that the pastors are to be ensamples to the
flock 1Pet.5:3a “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage.”
Religious Movement
Once you have a move away from the clear and literal teaching of the
bible you have a movement away from truth. It is most
always man and his
philosophy and rationalizing against the bible that produces this
veering from simple truth. The bible gives clear
direction in it’s
doctrines on such things as; Baptism, Salvation, and church structure.
The bible was finished or should I say the c
anon of scripture
(authoritative books assembled) completed around 175ad. I have neither
the words nor desire to include all the isms,
schools, heresies, groups,
and errors that were all apart of the move to a catholic (universal)
named church and a hierarchy of bishops
with one standing out above the
others.
Nevertheless this is a movement (which preceded the Dark Ages
375-1066) to beget all religious movements. Two of the primary
forces in
this race to a central ruling bishop were the persecution of the church
and the heresies and schisms in the church. The church
sought to close
its ranks but did not close its ranks around the scriptures.
We will look at some dates, people, and events in the very early
church that were turning points toward a Catholic Church and
papacy with
all its succeeding children.
The Marks of the New Testament Church
1.
Jesus Christ is the
only Head and Founder
2.
There are two church
offices
3.
The Bible is the
final authority
4.
The churches are
independent and autonomous
5.
Personal soul liberty
and responsibility for each believer
6.
Baptism and the
Lord’s supper are ordinances of the local church
Some important dates
and information
1.
The apostles are
martyred – end of first century
2.
Under persecution the
church spread into all the Roman Empire, Asia and Africa
3.
Churches grew large
in Jerusalem, Rome, Ephesus, and Corinth
4.
The churches had many
elders and preachers.
5.
 Some pastors
assumed authority not given to them by the scriptures such as; claiming
authority over smaller churches and denying
fellowship to others – 3John
9
6.
 The structure of
the church changed from congregational polity to the “Catholic”
hierarchy.
7.
The doctrine of
salvation begins to change – The Jews and Pagans lay stress on ceremony,
types and shadows, in the scriptures
as real and part of salvation. The
greatest and first ceremony elevated over its real importance was
Baptism.
8.
Since the bible said
so much about it then it must be part of salvation was the thought
process. It was during this time that Baptismal
Regeneration takes
footing as doctrine.
9.
The next logical step
into more heresy was since Baptism plays a part in salvation, than the
sooner the better, hence Infant Baptism.
10.
The move is made from
believer’s baptism to infant baptism. The Eastern Church continued to
immerse (though still to infants), but the
Western branch of the church
began sprinkling and pouring.
11.
These changes are
slow and sporadic but nevertheless the trend is away from the bible.
Note:
Keep in mind that there are some churches not following this heretical
path but are holding to the pure doctrine of the scriptures.
251 AD
loyal churches split away.
12.
300 AD – Persecutions
become more and more widespread. Christianity is seen as a threat to
pagan leaders and their worship of idols.
13.
303 AD- First edict
made by Galerius (emperor) as law to persecute Christians.
14.
311 AD- This decision
fails miserably and he reverses his decree to tolerate and allow them to
live as Christ followers.
15.
313 AD – Constantine
comes to power and supposedly sees a fiery cross “ By this thou shalt
conquer” He becomes a “Christian”
Now Christianity is attached to the Roman Empire and becomes a
world religion.
16.
An unholy union is
made between church and state.
17.
A council is called
and a union made with many churches (but not all churches attend this
council) and Christ is dethroned as
Constantine is made head of the
church.
18.
This is the beginning
of the Catholic Church.
19.
Its true beginnings
were more to the end of the second and turning of the third century.
20.
Emphasis is made that
there were many Christian (Baptist) churches that did not attend this
council which believed there should be:
·
No marriage with the
state
·
No centralized
religious government
·
No higher hierarchy
of bishops or churches
Note:
These Christian churches (Baptist) never entered the Unholy Catholic
Church!
Succeeding events
leading into the “Dark Ages”
Note:
An incomplete
Bible left many with only portions of the New Testament in the early
church. It was easy for error to creep in
as many had not a full
understanding of all truths. There was corruption by men in positions of
power which were called “Christians”.
As Constantine (and many others)
head of the eastern branch of the church, perpetuated false doctrines
the church became more
and more paganized.
1.
416 AD – Infant
baptism becomes compulsory
2.
426 AD – The Dark
Ages begin – True Christian churches are martyred unmercilessly for the
next 1000 years.
3.
Popery begins with
Leo II
4.
Religious liberty is
gone as true New Testament churches are hunted and hounded for the next
ten centuries.
So we have the what, when and a little of the why, of what
happened; but I would write further about the who, that were involved
in
this movement toward religious apostasy.
The beginnings of the church were simple in that Christ the Chief
Cornerstone paved the way and the foundation was laid on Him
by wise
master builders. 1Cor.3:10, 11. Now Christ cannot be changed or diluted
in His personal work (Calvary) and as being the Rock
of the church. The
problem lies in the building by those who were not “wise master
builders.” The bible
clearly states in 1Cor.3:11 that there
is no other foundation or Rock
that can be laid. The true Christian church starts with Jesus Christ. It
is just too obvious from the clear teaching
of scripture that no one
could; Whoa !!! stop the presses; there is one “church” that tries to
change the very Rock of the church. You guessed
it the Unholy Roman
Catholic Church. They take Matt.16:18 and make Peter (the
stone) the
foundation in place of the statement of truth about
Jesus Christ. In
Matt. 16:16 we see Peter’s own profession from his lips state that “Thou
art the Christ the Son of the living God.”(The
Rock).
In Matt.16:19 they (they being
the bible violators) insist was Christ giving all authority to Peter
(the keys of the kingdom) and John 21 Peter is
told to feed the sheep.
Did Peter have authority? Yes, but only that which was given by
Christ and the scriptures. Peter himself said in his epistle 1Pet.2:6-8
that
Jesus Christ was the foundation and Chief Cornerstone. Question:
Who denied Christ and failed Him in the garden at a most critical time?
Jesus Christ
had to urge Peter to feed His flock after the resurrection.
My, my how simple truth is twisted and changed to suit men’s beliefs and
attempts to solve
internal and external problems in the church. Take
heed we do not the same things but stick to the truth. The church faced
persecution (external) in the
period between 100-300ad. It also faced
heretical teaching (internal) from various men and groups that arose.
The church tries to gain solid footing and
closes the canon of scripture
but then veers away from it by setting up monarchal bishops. Guess whose
bishop goes straight to the top, right Rome’s.
This is the beginning of
a slide that so far has perpetrated 2000 years violence and death toward
bible believing Christians. Millions pour into hell under
blind guides
and apostate leadership. This is the unholy union or bondage created
when church and state marry. May I offer an illustration.
Illus:
It takes 90 days for waters of the Mississippi River to travel 2552
miles from here - its headwaters at Lake Itasca in Minnesota - to the
Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi
River is the largest river system in the
United States
and the largest of America. This river drains all or part of 31 U.S.
states. The three months it takes to leave its headwaters and meander to
the Gulf of Mexico this river accumulates all kinds of things along the
way.
From a pure, cool, deep, clear lake in Minnesota, it winds up a
shallow, lukewarm, muddy delta draining itself into the Gulf.
This is what happens when men
add or subtract to God’s word.
The devil doesn’t want unity according to truth, just the
opposite. Truth divides but when the lines of truth are blurred it
allows confusion.
This allows the boundaries to be set by the church and
apostate men instead of the Bible.
Conclusion:
If we would look
back at how this small despised sect of believers became such a great
movement, with it becoming the official religion
of the Roman Empire, we
might wonder how this was detrimental. Christianity had raised the moral
bar very high. Women were given dignity as human
beings and more
recognition in society. The gladiator shows were eliminated and the
slaves were given milder treatment. Roman legislation became
more just
and missionary work was spreading. There were disadvantages such as the
government in return for position, protection and aid, demanded
the
right to intervene in spiritual and theological matters. The church paid
the price then and will pay the price today if we bend to any pressure
from
the state wanting a hand in the true church.
Points:
State accreditation today in Christian schools and colleges is a
slippery slope. Having the charitable giving status is fine but if they
take it away
believers should continue to give without batting an
eyelash. We don’t give to take it off our taxes at years end. We are
going for an education (hopefully)
to serve the Lord not make a ton of
money. Today the “wall of separation “ screamed so loudly by the
atheistic crowd is the most twisted misunderstood
writing one could ever
imagine. I include that very letter below in hopes (I FOR ONE) it is not
ever believed to be anything but what it was intended
– religious
freedom.
Mr. President
To messers Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson a
committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of
Connecticut.
Gentlemen
The affectionate sentiments of esteem & approbation which you are so
good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist
association,
give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a
faithful & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in
proportion as they are persuaded
of my fidelity to those duties, the
discharge of them becomes more & more pleasing.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely
between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith
or his worship,
that the legitimate powers of government reach actions
only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act
of the whole American
people which declared that their
legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus
building a wall
of separation between church and state. [Congress thus inhibited
from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorised only
to
execute their acts, I have refrained from presenting even occasional
performances of devotion presented indeed legally where an Executive
is
the legal head of a national church, but subject here, as religious
exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each
respective sect.] Adhering to this expression of the supreme will
of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with
sincere satisfaction
the progress of those sentiments which tend to
restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right
in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of
the common Father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and
your
religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.
(signed) Thomas Jefferson
Jan.1.1802.
May I add to the very end of this paper that the Unholy Catholic
Church is the only entity that is both a sovereign city-state and head
of the
largest religious whore on earth. The devil is the great deceiver
and if you don’t believe that knock on any door in Ireland or in the
world and try to tell
the occupants that salvation is full and free in
Jesus Christ alone. Eph.2:8, 9
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