Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Navigating the church amidst "overpowering" storms.

Matthew 16:18b “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

The story of the development of the church has been much confused by the squalls and storms that have diabolically sought to resist its progress!

The attempts by Catholicism to resist the true church of Jesus Christ has been ferocious! The true churches have had their history re-told in disparaging and dishonest accounts of so-called "church history" - history re-written by their own detractors! Such storms of resistance have been thrown at these "crews" ... these congregations - God's ships at sea representing Him down through the centuries! The so-called 'heroes of the faith' presented by the 'classic church historians' were more often the very bolts of lighting that had been thrown against the remnant of believers to be found in scattered congregations dotting almost every 'parallel.'

A false "history" of the church has been accepted and Christ's own process of 'building His church' has been retold - rewritten and mythologized by giving credit to so-called Apologists, Synods, Councils and Empire powers. Catholicism's efforts to resist the true Gospel message have desperately thrown their 'powers" - their strength, like a storm, against the true body of Christ.

The more true and accurate history of the church is a story of individual separate congregations who's survival and advance through the storms have been rejected or ignored. Genuine Christianity's congregations have grown as they have discovered vital axioms amidst the storms present during their century or during their period or "age" (Matthew 13, Revelation 2, and 3). The actual or rather factual history of the church is a story of spiritual warfare between the Truth defended by non-conforming congregations and individual Christians and the State Church - their enemy - possibly the very 'gates of Hades' itself!

In naivety many have assumed that "the doctrines of the church of Jesus Christ" must be assumed to have been clear from the beginning. Yet, any study of the letters of Paul, Peter, James or John make it clear that the Truth of God’s Word would unfold progressively through the times of the Apostles. Regretfully many have come to believe that the 'New Testament churches' could be a “pattern” for all future Christian thought. The goal, for those with this belief in a “pattern,” is (of course) to return to the ‘Early Churches’ as a divine "model." As convenient as this might be, a number of genuine difficulties arise when evaluating this perspective.

First, there is a problem with the belief in a pattern or model which implies the early church reached an ‘apex’ and then following centuries would record a devolution and battle to maintain historic identity and/or “apostolic” authority.

Second, there is a type of denial inherent in the belief in a pattern. Denial of some very obvious immaturity, denial of some clearly sinful habits – left (after much Apostolic effort) still unbroken. There is a denial, as well, in the failure to see the growth in the early churches and especially in the many congregations that refused false doctrine and stood outside the Catholic realm of "Christianity." So many of these non-conforming congregations matured independently amidst the attacks or storms of heresy and doctrinal error that surrounded them! Further, under the strain of being falsely accused of being "heretical" themselves - they "stood tall" in opposition to these religious and political compromised "churches" being drug along into falsehood by a tidal wave as strong as one can imagine!

These much maligned brethren – leaving the Catholic Churches or having remained outside - from the very beginning - were rarely ever guilty of the harsh accusations and “mud slinging” cruel language used against them. The many different regions such as North Africa, Asia Minor, Southern Europe and beyond often had landscapes ‘spotted’ with good Christians and faithful congregations. The errors that may well have been adopted by some of the non-conformist congregations were so many times not nearly so grievous as their detractors would have us believe. Then too, where there were errors to be found in one quarter or period of history - (over the generations and in regard to the various regional interpretations and teachings of these non-conforming congregations,) many of the earlier errors simply did not carry-over or continue to apply in later periods or in other regions.

When the Catholic church attacked these non-conformist congregation in later periods of their development, these particular non-conformists congregations were rarely ever still related to some of the earlier forms from their own "historic roots" – these congregations were vitally alive and in their independence stood in their own right on the truth of God's Word - at least as they best understood it at that time or place. Often the "errors" (real or as matters of accusation) from "their historic past" were just that – long past ... matters of the past.

Their "names" given as terms of abuse and used in derision, were rarely little more than terms of dishonest mockery! The Catholic church's language of derision was rarely supported in fact. So few were guilty of the accusations thrown at them by their Latin and Greek Catholic detractors and enemies. (This factor or possibility should be consider as a common method of Catholicism in every generation to come)

Storms are interesting matters to navigate through and every storm seems to have strengthened the non-conformists along their way! So it should be! Being verbally abused and called a "sect" or worse is a squall that Scripture, Prayer and the Hope of the Gospel can guide us through! Let us be faithful in our efforts to witness of the Lord's Saving Grace - no matter what storm or squall attempts to come against us!

drMSBsr


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