Church History Where was the Church during the Dark Ages?

Introduction When we study church history we usually follow the divisions –We see the falling away of the Roman Catholic Church –We see the division with the Orthodox –We follow the progress of the Reformers –And eventually we see the return to the gospel by the restoration movement It comes out looking something like this... (the chart is for example purposes only)

The missing years? Where was the church of Christ during the years from the falling away of Catholicism until the late 1700’s? Churches of Christ are autonomous –No central headquarters –No body to define our beliefs –No written collection to define our history

The promise Matthew 16:18 –Jesus promised His church would not fail –If the church stopped for years then it couldn’t be His church Isa 2:2-4 – It would conquer the world Dan 2:44 – Begin in the Roman Empire and never cease Jn 18:36 – a kingdom not of this world Eph 1:20-23 – the kingdom was established Col 1:23 – spread to all the world –1 Tim 4:1-3 – A falling away prophesied –Acts 20:29-31 – Starting from within

Where were the faithful? We watch the history of the departure –Like watching a train wreck in slow-motion We hate what’s happening, but we seem fascinated by the horror But where were the faithful? –The best place to find truth is to look at what the false teachers condemned –The false teachers would suppress and destroy teachers of truth They may even make false accusations against them to discredit them

Early innovations of false teachers Infants are sinful –You would expect the faithful to have vehemently opposed this doctrine Ezk 18:20 Lord’s Supper changed from a memorial to a ritual to recreate the sacrifice –The faithful would oppose this (Heb 10:10) OT practices used for priesthood, incense, etc –Faithful would oppose (Heb 10:9, 8:13)

Early innovations of false teachers Focus on elaborate buildings, altars –The faithful would worship anywhere (Jn 4:21) Images “venerated”, idolatry –Faithful would reject idols (1 Cor 6:9) Pouring, then sprinkling, substituted for baptism –Faithful practiced immersion (Acts 8:36-39) We could go on, but the point is made –We can find the faithful by looking for those opposed to innovations

The major innovators Constantine, Roman emperor –Temples, altars, priests, idols, feasts, etc Augustine of Hippo (AD 354 – 430) –Original sin, predestination, irresistible grace, purgatory, limbo, sprinkling, infant baptism, etc

Those opposed to innovation [Not all of the teachings of these men are known. Catholics burned their writings. But here is what we know] Pelagius – Denounced “original sin”, was condemned as a heretic John Cassian (AD 360 – 435) –Rejected original sin and predestination –Taught salvation available to all, free-will, scripture as only authority –Many who agreed hid in southern France for centuries

Those opposed to innovation “Paulicians” AD –Name given to denigrate them –Used the NT, esp. Paul’s letters, to show what the church should believe and practice –Called themselves “Christians” –Opposed infant baptism –Required faith and repentance before baptism (by immersion only) –Rejected OT practices –Did not consider Catholics to be Christians –Executed for their beliefs, went underground by AD 900

Those opposed to innovation AD 1000 – 1200 –Gundulphus (AD 1025) Opposed infant baptism, Eucharist, consecrated buildings, holy altars, holy oils, images, Mary worship, special saints, purgatory, etc. –Berengarius (AD 999 – 1088) Opposed infant baptism, Eucharist Taught Scripture to be sole authority Teachings spread throughout Europe Executed in 1088

Those opposed to innovation AD 1000 – 1200 –Peter of Bruys (Pierre de Bruis) AD 1100 Opposed infant baptism, mass, holy buildings and altars, prayers for the dead, images, celibacy, transubstantiation Taught baptism of adult believers for remission of sins Was burned by a Catholic mob in 1130 –Gregory Grimm tortured to death in 1118 because he had been baptized (immersed) by his grandfather who had been baptized by a traveling merchant

Those opposed to innovation AD 1000 – 1200 –AD 1143 a congregation of over 100 were tortured in lower Rhein because they worshiped autonomously having elders and deacons. Admitted there were similar congregations everywhere Authorities could not find the others because of the decentralized nature of the church

Those opposed to innovation AD 1000 – 1200 –Henry of Toulouse AD 1146 in Europe and England Taught a believer’s baptism by immersion Opposed infant baptism, clergy, feasts, sacraments, penance, etc Elders of one church offered to publicly debate the issue –They were arrested and burned alive AD 1150, Henry caught and executed

What we learn None of the examples show a church exactly as defined by NT –But they do show Catholicism was not universally accepted Biblical teachings were taught widely Catholic suppression of the truth failed There were always people who tried to follow the Bible only for doctrine and practice The church of Christ existed across those centuries, opposed by the false teachers, but never destroyed

Conclusion For all those centuries, a simple truth was evident –People could become part of the church of Christ by simply returning to the doctrines found in the Bible –The same is still true today You too can become part of the church that Jesus built