Denominations and Christian Warfare
Apr 25, 2017 13:29:38 GMT -6
Post by Todd on Apr 25, 2017 13:29:38 GMT -6
The early church had no “fellow travelers” – the cost of Christianity might be martyrdom at worst and at best was an opalescent social stigma and the marginalization that came with it. Because there were no fellow travelers within the early church, there were no evangelistic sermons. There was “Sunday school,” prayer, praise, worship, and “sharing.”
With the fall of the church at the coming of Constantine, the church filled to overflowing with these “fellow travelers.” So much so, that many of the true Christians fled the church and went to the desert to become monks. Soon thereafter, when the monks came under the control of the church, denominationalism arose. The different monastic orders were very much like Protestant denominations, but were held together under the umbrella of Catholicism. But it was the very political nature of Catholicism that truly reflected the fall.
Protestants have criticized themselves, and have been roundly criticized by Catholics for the presence of “denominationalism,” and disunity brought to the church by the Reformation. But for those who think the rise and presence of denominationalism and the resulting “disunity” are horrific, I would point out that the gain and use of political power and warfare by various “national” churches in seeking political advantage make denominationalism pale to insignificance. Luther, the Calvinists, the Church of England, and the Catholics were at each other’s throats (and most bloodthirstily, at the throat of the Anabaptists), for years, and the unfathomable bloodbath might justifiably seem to the uninitiated to be unforgivable.
- Todd
With the fall of the church at the coming of Constantine, the church filled to overflowing with these “fellow travelers.” So much so, that many of the true Christians fled the church and went to the desert to become monks. Soon thereafter, when the monks came under the control of the church, denominationalism arose. The different monastic orders were very much like Protestant denominations, but were held together under the umbrella of Catholicism. But it was the very political nature of Catholicism that truly reflected the fall.
Protestants have criticized themselves, and have been roundly criticized by Catholics for the presence of “denominationalism,” and disunity brought to the church by the Reformation. But for those who think the rise and presence of denominationalism and the resulting “disunity” are horrific, I would point out that the gain and use of political power and warfare by various “national” churches in seeking political advantage make denominationalism pale to insignificance. Luther, the Calvinists, the Church of England, and the Catholics were at each other’s throats (and most bloodthirstily, at the throat of the Anabaptists), for years, and the unfathomable bloodbath might justifiably seem to the uninitiated to be unforgivable.
- Todd