INTRODUCTION
The birth day of the church was on the day of Pentecost
after the Lord’s ascension. They were the people who united to Christ by the
Holy Spirit to live an outstanding example for others. But the church, till
this time, is persecuted by many denominations with false teachings and worldly
things. From the early church to the present day church, many changes and
politics have been taken in the church.
The Early
Church
“The ancient church was distinguished for strict discipline.
Previous to Constantine the great, this discipline rested on purely moral
sanctions and has nothing to do with civil constraints and punishments.”[1] The
dignity and purity of the church was built upon the object of the discipline.
The New Testament church was an example to progress in virtue and piety and was
against apostasy.[2] The essential mark of the Church of Christ was holiness
like unity and catholicity or universality.[3] Although Christians were
persecuted by others in an attempt to stop the movement, the great commission
could be fulfilled by ministering in the spirit and preaching the sound
doctrines. Because they knew that persecution purifies the church and pushes
her to accomplish God’s purpose.[4] Despite facing the persecutions, their
motive was to evangelize, and loving each other.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made
many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the
souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, we
must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God” (Act 14:21-22 NKJV).
“Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of
the Lord, with many others also” (Act 15:35 NKJV). The church involved in
evangelism and edification.
Religious
Battles of the Church
The early church not only faced with physical battles but
also with religious battles doctrinally to such as Judaism, Ebionism,
Marcionism, Montanism, Monarchianism, Manichaeism and Gnosticsm.
Judaism
“Christianity was a clear-cut religion distinct from Judaism
with already an extensive history of its own.”[5] The Jewish religious leaders
always were to destroy the Christian community.[6] Judaism was full of false
doctrines and meaningless religious ritual. It emphasizes the Sabbath
observance and keeping of the Mosaic Law as means of demonstrating one’s
righteousness.[7]
Ebionism (130-135 A.D.)
This movement sought to reconnect Judaism and Christianity.
It was a sort of rebirth of the issue settled at the Jerusalem Council in 49
A.D.[8] Their radical belief is that obedience to Mosaic Law was required for
salvation, and Jesus became divine at his baptism.[9]
Marcionism
This movement began in Rome 140 A.D. by a man Marcion.[10]
He thought the Jewish God of the Old Testament was different than Christian God
of the New Testament.[11] He put Christianity into a radical conflict with all
previous relations of God. Even in worship, he retained the sacramental bread,
water baptism, anointing with oil, and the mixture of milk and honey given to
the newly baptized. But he excluded wine from the Eucharist.[12] He taught that
Christ had no real body since the body is evil, and denied the bodily
resurrection. He rejected the entire Old Testament and some books of the New
Testament with the alteration of the New Testament Canon.[13]
Montanism (155 A.D.)
“Montanism was not originally, a departure from the faith.
But it was a morbid overstraining of the practical morality and discipline of
the early church.”[14] The founder of the Montanism taught himself as Holy
Spirit, and was still giving new revelation.[15] He encourages speaking in
tongues for all Christians. His teachings were “Carnal” (spiritually immature).
“This was the 2nd Century ‘Charismatic movement’ to reactive the apostolic
spiritual gifts and revives the dead.”[16]
Monarchianism
This heretical movement was established around 200 A.D. by
Paul of Samosata in Antioch.[17] The apostasies of this group were centered on
denying the deity of the Christ as well as the doctrine of trinity.[18]
Manichaeism (215-277 A.D.)
“The Manicheans rejected the Old Testament and treated the
New Testament in the most arbitrary way, rejecting whatever seemed unfavorable
their views, and maintaining that even the apostles did not fully understand
Christ.”[19] Through their teachings “sacerdotalism or the belief that
ministers of religion are intermediaries between God and man possessing by
virtue of their office, extra ordinary power with God.”[20] As the result of
this sacardotalism, the doctrine of indulgence was introduced in the church,
and Augustine the greatest of the Latin Fathers had connected with Manicheans
and was influenced.[21] They teach “that Christ’s body was not real,”[22] and
strongly affirmed that “asceticism (self denial) characterized the sect as they
considered many normal bodily functions like sex and appetite to be evil.”[23] “Manichaeism
emphasized the superiority of the unmarried state.”[24]
Gnosticism (2nd / 3rd Century)
They are the people an early form of a false
philosophy/religion of the Greeks known as Gnosticism. Not emphasizing faith
but knowledge was their motive. They denied totally the humanity of Jesus
Christ, and asserted that the body is evil.[25]
The author says, such many groups of cults were exalting and
spreading their philosophical heresies and theological errors, during the early
church period. Such apostasies arose for defiling and spoiling the church. But,
there was a sound doctrine. So the genuine believers were so against such false
teachings, and grew in Christianity. They did overcome the religious battles
doctrinally.
The Roman Catholic
Church
Many people converted into Christianity, as Christians
preached good news everywhere. So the Idolaters of the Roman Empire got very
much angry, and said that Christians were traitors. Frequently Christians were
persecuted by many emperors of Rome. Thousands of Christians were killed - many
were crucified. There were sewn up in the skins of animals and put out to be
eaten by wild beasts and lions, while the people watched. Some were tossed by
wild bulls. Some were tied to horses and pulled to pieces. Others were burnt to
death. Despite all these persecutions the church was doing her work so rapidly
throughout the world. Christians felt that it was great honor to be a martyr
for Christ. So they refused to worship the idols. By looking Christian’s
patience and love, many turned to Christ. To say that, really persecutions
helped Christians to spread the Gospel.
Constantine (274-337)
In the year 312 A.D., Constantine became the Emperor of
Rome. He had a vision of a cross in the sky with the words “in this sign
conquer” in Latin. Meanwhile he went and battled with his enemies at the battle
of the Milvian Bridge over the Tiber River. He got the victory there and
thought that the church might serve as a new center of unity.[26] He also decided
to make Christianity the official religion of the empire.[27] He made the
Sunday ‘a public holiday’. He wanted to make the world Christian but he made
the church was like the world.[28] He was baptized before his death.
Augustine (354 – 430)
In 373, Augustine adopted Manichaean teaching in his
research for the truth. He wrote lot of theological treatises, several
practical and pastoral letters. Among all these values, he brought some errors
into the stream of Christian thought.[29] He developed the doctrine of
purgatory with all its attendant evil and emphasized that the doctrine of
baptismal regeneration.[30]
Politics and Cults involved
Pope Leo, the first who lived in 400 A.D. – 460 A.D. taught
the people that Peter was the head for all apostles.[31] So he said that Peter
came Rome and was the first Pope.[32]
The Bishop of Rome inherited the place of Peter. Many
clergies and monks lived Godless lives, during these times. “At one time there
were three bad women who made their companions in adultery to be popes.”[33]
After the Constantine, Christianity became more and more
institutionalized, and secularized religion. Paganism involved in Christianity.
Mariolatry and hagiolatry (worship of saints) were observed in Christian
liturgy. As they change their life styles, hierarchical development also was
stimulated. Bishops, who had gained supremacy over presbyters, became uniformly
and entirely supreme after the union. Such ecclesiastical hierarchy has led
into counterpart of the civil government.[34]
In the early church, Sunday was devoted to the commemoration
of the savior’s resurrection and as the day of thanksgiving. When the festivals
of Mary, the apostles, saints and martyrs followed gradually, then the holy day
changed into holiday. Saints have overshadowed the Lord, and saint’s days
overshadowed the Lord’s Day.[35]
The Roman Church bishops had absolute supremacy over all
churches. “The church became a persecuting power, making use of the civil
authority for the suppression of dissent and paganism.”[36] The Apostolic
doctrines were destroyed and introduced new types of apostasies and
heresies.[37]
“The church has persecuted Christians for more cruelly, and
has destroyed vastly more Christians than pagan have done. The Diocletian
persecution is as nothing when compared with the work of the Holy Office.”[38]
The church has obeyed for all the papacy’s activities because of the ignorance
of the God’s Word.
Many priests lived in open sin and kept concubines. Bishops
failed to supervise the clergy in a biblical way. Many clergies neglected for
preaching and house visitation.[39] The sale of indulgence was introduced. The
purpose of introducing indulgence was for maximizing the wealth in the church
and to build St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. Indulgence was associated with the
sacrament of penance. The absolution for the gullible Christians was given by
the professional pardoners on the payment of money.[40] People thought that
through getting the sale of indulgence, there was temporal satisfaction either
in this life or purgatory. Money charged for the absolved sinners, due to their
wealth position but a king should pay more than three hundred dollars for his
indulgence.[41]
There were conflicts between two Popes (1378-1416 A.D.),
Clement VII (French Papacy), Urban VI (Roman Papacy). This bitter issue was
brought to a universal council in 1409 A.D. at (Pisa) Italy. This council
rejected these two Popes and elected a new Pope Alexander V. Now there are
three Popes. After five years by 1417 A.D., the issue settled basically and
Martin V was officially recognized as Pope by the Church Council of Constance.
It made a number of discussions that condemned the teachings of John Wycliffe
and burned John Hus.[42]
The Reformation
This was the right time for the reformation of the church.
Martin Luther angered because of Papacy’s introducing of the sale of
indulgence. It was Luther’s famous protest in the ninety five theses against
the abuse of the indulgence, which resulted in the reformation. On October 31,
1517, Luther posted his ninety five theses on the door of the Castle Church in
Wittenberg. He condemned the abuses of indulgence and challenged all of them to
debate on the matter.[43]
The State
of Today’s Church
So, what is the condition of the church today? The church is
influenced by Rationalism, Liberalism, Pentecostalism, Materialism and rise of
new cults.
Many people arose and asserted their principles in the
modern churches. They are arguing that Bible is not true. Some of them began to
teach their personal experience with God, not the Word of God.
Liberal theology is denying the inerrancy of the Bible, the
virgin birth of Jesus and the bodily resurrection of Christ.[44] Prosperity
theology which advocates healthy and wealthy Gospel “as being guaranteed to the
believer by virtue of atonement.”[45] Kenneth Copland, Jim baker, and others
have promoted prosperity theology. The Pentecostal movement started by Charles
Parham in Bethel Bible College at Kansas in the early 20th Century. The impact
of this group spread everywhere. They are called as Assemblies of God and also
the Church of God. Pentecostalism teaches to get belief in glossolalia
(speaking in tongues), miracles, healings and prophecy.[46]
New Age Movement
Its doctrines are “mixture of pantheism, humanism, holistic
medicine and eastern mysticism (Hindu-reincarnation).”[47] It teaches all
religions are true and there is no single way to God. This new age movement is
a very popular in America.[48] “It is an ultimate form of pantheistic humanism
which exalts man and denies the biblical revelation about God.”[49]
Ecumenical Movement
This group accepts different views of doctrine. In 1908,
Federal Council of Churches (FCC) was started by thirty one American
denominational groups. Because of its liberal theology, most conservative
churches did not join with them. But in 1950, it became a larger National
Council of Churches (NCC). Many Protestant organizational groups joined with
them, and in 1948, thus got the title the “World Council Churches” (WCC) in
Amsterdam, Holland.[50] Their main aim is to form the world churches into one
unity with false doctrines. It is very sad to say that many theologians, and so
called Christian denominations, joined with them. They didn’t realize that “the
organizational unity can never replace spiritual unity in the church and basic
agreement on areas of doctrine and practice.”[51] For making union among
Christians, “A number of non-theological factors have played their part in this
development.”[52] The spirit of ecumenism spread everywhere and so defiled the
church.
Many movements arose in the latest centuries thus led the
church away from God and toward humanism. It has changed from Bible centered
authority to man centered authority. “In modern times the tendency of the
church, Romanist and Protest alike, has been toward social regeneration and a
form of Christian socialism.”[53] Really, the church has corrupted herself by
the false doctrines.
Anti-clericalism
There are many clergies not obeying God’s Word but still
they are doing something without purpose. Many believers charge many faults
against clergies. Many clergies are very weak in preaching God’s Word. Not
interpreting the Word of God accurately by doing contextual, syntactical,
verbal, historical and theological analysis. Expounding the truths of His word
became tiresome work for the clergies. A very few clergies of this time, are
spending their time genuinely in preparing God’s Word to expose the truth to
the people. Whenever they go to pulpit, there should be preparation in all
things before participation. There are many clergies preaching without
preparation. Instead of God’s Word, there will be more funny stories.
There is also a problem in the church about offerings. It is
an obligation for every believers of the church to give offerings to the
church. Nevertheless, the congregation of the church is very much taught and
forced only by offerings. No preaching about holiness and eternal blessings but
about the prosperity and materialism. Clergy is always visiting a rich church
believer, frequently for prayer because he gets often money there. Clergy is
ministering homes only where the covers are given. The motivation and
destination of the church has been changed. There is no care about poor people
but about prosperity. So the congregation rise the voice against such
fraudulent money making business. The church of this age also introduces new,
new types of offerings such as Harvest offering, Christmas offering, Carol
offering, old year offering, new year offering, birth day offering, death day
offering, rice offering, dhal offering, coconut offering, potato offering, etc.
Some clergies involves in political things, morally loosing
their personal testimony is a great sad thing. In many C.S.I. churches, bishops
are not living an outstanding example to others, thus led the church to blood
shed and legislation. There are many charges against clergy, morally and publicly.
Exploitation of Superstitions
In these Centuries, Church plans also reflect the difference
in Christian worship. As the result of this, the church likes only the outward
experience not inwardly. All night prayers, fasting prayers were introduced.
Everywhere miracle crusades and fanfare have started. Many people became
superstitious, even the educated people. At this time, Superstitious belief is
strong among people who have little or no education. Ladies ministries were
encouraged. Oil blessing and cloth anointing became very famous and blessed
water is given to the participants of the meeting. Vomiting ministry and
walking prayer ministry has been begun instead of preaching and teaching the
word. Here the question should be asked that “Is this the church which Jesus
intended to establish in the world?”
Many began to reveal themselves as saints by saying that “I
went heaven and met Moses and Paul, we, altogether had dinner”. There are many
gullible Christians to believe this because of their ignorance of God’s Word.
In many foreign countries, superstitious beliefs followed, and still following.
Even in India, the famous speaker D.G.S. Dinakaran introduced a new ridicules
superstitious belief that is “the secret about a smallest Golden key”. Whoever
gets the golden key by paying two lacks rupees, they will prosper. So many
people bought the key for blessing. “How Christians are becoming foolish
people,” because they never read Bible. The main reason for the growth of
superstitions is ignorance of His Word. A few months ago, in
Pappanaickenpalayam (Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu), there was a pastor who
tried to revive his brother’s dead body. He continuously was praying for 100
days, but no miracle. Finally, he was arrested by police. There are many
incidents arising in this world like this every day, because there is no sound
doctrine. The church really needs a true awakening today. The newly recruited
people to ministry, should be clearly taught and observed by well experienced
and faithful ministers of God. A special attention should be given to recruited
person and he should be taught with ‘what Christ’s mind involves in church
ministry?’
Pentecostalism believes in dancing spirit, blowing the
spirit to others, laying hands and falling down. Now there are many preachers
announces a new form of TV club membership, young partner team. People, who
join either in the club or team by paying thousands of rupees, will be
remembered in the powerful Holy man’s prayer. Lot of Christians believes this
and has joined.
The zeal of early church has been destroyed throughout the
years by false heresies. So, “The church today desperately needs to rekindle
the passion of first century evangelism. The Bible can only be effective when
in contact with the human heart.”[54] Today’s church should be realized that
the early “church won the Roman Empire from heathenism to Christianity.”[55]
The motivation of “the reformation was with efforts to purify and reorganize
the church”[56] not to grow in superstitions.
Finally,The question must be asked " Why the churches
of this time is forgetting New Testament Gospel Ministry and going after
superstitions?" More accurate answer is that God's Word is nullified. Is
that not ringing in your ears My friend?
___________________
[1] Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2,
(U.S.A.: Hendrickson, 1996), p. 187.
[2] Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 1, p. 501.
[3] Ibid, p. 501.
[4] Dennis J. Mock, Church History Survey, (Atlanta: Zondervan,
1989), Pp. 46-52.
[5] Adrin Hastings, A World History of Christianity, (Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999), p. 7.
[6] Mock, Church History Survey, p. 45.
[7] Ibid, p. 33.
[8] Mock, Church History Survey, p. 60.
[9] Ibid, p. 60.
[10] Ibid, p. 61.
[11] Ibid, p. 61.
[12] Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2, Pp.
483-486.
[13] Mock, The Church History Survey, Pp. 61-62.
[14] Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2, p.
417.
[15] Mock, The Church History Survey, p. 61.
[16] Ibid, p. 61.
[17] Ibid, p. 62.
[18] Earle. E. Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries,
(Grand Rapids: Academic, 1982), Pp. 102-103.
[19] Albert Henry Newman, A Manual of Church History Vol. 1,
(U.S.A.: Judson, 1953), p. 197.
[20] Ibid, p. 197.
[21] Ibid, p. 197.
[22] Mock, The Church History Survey, p. 62.
[23] Mock, The Church History Survey, p.62.
[24] Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries, p. 100.
[25] Mock, The Church History Survey, p. 50.
[26] Cairns, Christianity Through the Centuries, p. 124.
[27] A.E. Horton, The Church age, (Hong Kong: Everplay,
1988), p. 18.
[28] Ibid, p. 18.
[29] Cairns, Christianity through Centuries, Pp. 146-449.
[30] Ibid, p. 449.
[31] Horton, The Church Age, p. 19.
[32] Ibid, p. 19.
[33] Ibid, Pp. 19-26.
[34] Newman, A Manual of Church History Vol. 1, Pp. 313-314.
[35] Schaff, History of the Christian Church Vol. 1, p. 480.
[36] Newman, A Manual of Church History Vol. 1, p. 315.
[37] Ibid, p. 316.
[38] Ibid, p. 316.
[39] Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries, p. 281.
[40] Ibid, p. 282.
[41] Ibid, Pp. 282-283.
[42] Mock, Church History Survey, p. 145.
[43] Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries, p.290.
[44] Mock, Church History Survey, p. 307.
[45] Ibid, p. 308.
[46] Mock, Church History Survey, Pp. 299-300.
[47] Ibid, p. 309.
[48] Ibid, p.309.
[49] Ibid, p. 309.
[50] Ibid, Pp. 302-303.
[51] Mock, Church History Survey, p. 304.
[52] Bernard Lambert, Ecumenism Theology and History,
Translated by Lancelot C. Sheppard, (West Germany: Herder KG, 1967), p. 250.
[53] Archibald B.D. Alexander, Christianity and Ethics, (New
York: Charles Scribener’s Sons, 1923), p. 242.
[54] B.K. Pramanik, “The incomparable Word of God”, Sowing
Circle, Vol. 21, No. 2, May-Aug. 2006, p. 22.
[55] Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, Hurlbut’s Story of the Christian
Church, (Chicago: The John C. Winston, 1918), p. 182.
[56] Ibid, p. 182.
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