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Where Was, And Is, The Church
The period of history when the Roman Catholic Church ruled so much of Western society is called the Dark Ages, around 400 to 1400 A.D. Where was the true church of Christ during that span of years? Why is this question such an important one?
Members of the church of Christ reject being identified as a denomination. They are dedicated to the removal of denominationalism that has caused such widespread religious division and paved the way for the advance of atheism. They are intent on being just the church of which we read in the New Testament. They take seriously the prayer of Jesus in John 17 for unity among those who profess to follow Christ. With the desire that all people simply follow the Scripture, they reject the creeds, disciplines, catechisms, manuals, prayer books, confessionals and other such "authorities" that are used by many in religion. The name "Christian" is the name disciples of Christ were called in Scripture and this is the name they seek for all to wear without other names that divide. To refer to those of the church of Christ as members of a denomination is to show contempt for their convictions, goals and practices. It is done either ignorantly or maliciously, either being reprehensible. Whatever be the motive of those who would call the church a denomination, it is a false charge, even though some who call themselves a "Church of Christ" may have adopted denominationalism and not remained a faithful church of the Lord.
The Pattern
Things religious should be done according to the New Testament pattern. The New Testament is the blueprint to follow in reproducing Christianity in our own century. When Moses was given directions for building the tabernacle (Exodus 25:40), he was instructed to build according to the pattern God gave him. This was repeated in Hebrews 8:5. Following other "gospels" was condemned (Galatians 1:6-9; II John 9-11). We are to neither add nor take from God's Word (Revelation 22:18,19). This is that which faithful members of the churches of Christ are committed to do. We seek to do and be what was done in the New Testament regarding what to believe, how to become a Christian, worship, work, organization, manner of life and all other matters of Christianity. Peter's teaching is taken seriously when he wrote, "If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God." (I Peter 4:11). There should be a "thus saith the Lord" for religious authority and men should neither fall short of it nor presume to go beyond it. This purpose and mission cannot be wrong because it is what the Bible teaches is supposed to be.
Dark Ages
Daniel prophesied the establishment of the kingdom of God (Daniel 2) when he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar s dream in which he saw an image of four parts that Daniel said represented four empires. During the days of the fourth, Babylon being the first, God would establish His kingdom. The Roman Empire was the fourth empire and during that period the Lord's kingdom came, which is His church. But please notice that Daniel's prophecy said the kingdom would stand forever. So again we ask, where was the church during the days of the Dark Ages? It certainly was not the Roman Catholic Church, that apostate body that was foreign to New Testament revelation. Rather, it was the result of the apostasy which Paul predicted would come.
In Matthew 13, Jesus taught seven parables regarding the kingdom. Beginning with verse three He taught the parable of the sower sowing seed. The seed fell on various kinds of soil, soil which represents the hearts of people. Luke 8:11 identifies the seed as the Word of God. We note the varied reactions and responses by people to the teaching of the Word.
The Seed
The point of the parable is that the gospel. the seed, must be sown in the hearts of people. Whenever, wherever the gospel is preached, people hear it, believe it, and obey it, the Lord's church, His kingdom, will be produced. Even if one cannot trace congregations of faithful Christians down through the ages, and none can, so long as the seed remains the church has not been banished nor destroyed from the earth. Life is in the seed.
Let us illustrate. One may take kernels of corn, plant them, and reap a harvest of corn just like the harvest that formerly existed even if there had not been any harvest for many years previously. The corn existed in seed form even if not as a stalk, ear or grain.
The seed of truth was sown on Pentecost and what was produced was the church belonging to Christ. If people will take that same seed and sow it today, can any other harvest come forth? Does not seed reproduce after its kind? New Testament Christians lived nearly two thousand years ago. Their religion was founded on the truth of God. Why should not people today take that same truth and be what they were?
No Line Necessary
Some place great emphasis on tracing a continual line of succession from Pentecost until now. This is neither possible nor necessary to have the Lord's church today. For any church to make an attempted tracing of its history, it must of necessity pass through the years of apostate bodies, various Protestant digressions, Romanism, and other tangents from the truth. Should we be descendants of such things? Those were churches that came into existence as a result of tares of false doctrines rather than the seed of the kingdom.
We actually know only fragments of the work of the apostles, the early history of the church, and what happened in succeeding years. Peter and Paul dominate the New Testament historical record and what other apostles did we have no inspired record to any large extent. It is entirely possible that faithful Christians have existed in various places down through the many years since Pentecost. We are not affirming it because we cannot prove it, even though now and then there are hints and traces of evidence in that direction. But what of that anyway? That is not what is important as far as our own need to be Christians and having the knowledge how to become and remain faithful Christians! Regardless of where members of the church may or may not have been during the Dark Ages or any other time since Pentecost, the seed, the Word of God, is with us in the inspired, infallible, inerrant, authoritative and all-sufficient Scriptures (II Timothy 3:16,17). From it was can learn whatever we need and nothing is lacking therein.
Romanism is not the New Testament church. Its doctrines and practices vary too widely from God's revelation to deserve such an identification. The same is true regarding the Protestant denominational bodies. But there is a way to have the church, be the church, and know the truth.
Take God's pattern, the Bible. Follow it intently and faithfully. Either find the church that fits the pattern, or take the pattern and sow the seed and produce the church among people again. Therein one can learn everything that is necessary to being a member of the church revealed in the Bible.
The Right Church
This matter of identifying the Lord's church has too often been complicated by irrelevant demands, assumptions, presumptions and misconceptions. Inasmuch as our salvation is at stake, it is time for plain words and unvarnished truth. Where was the church? If not in visible existence among men, it existed in seed form because the seed remained. Where is the church? Wherever people have heard, believed, obeyed and remain faithful in the doctrine of Christ the Lord's church exists. Churches that began at the wrong place, the wrong time, wearing the wrong name, practicing the wrong practices, teaching the wrong doctrine, organized the wrong way, worshiping the wrong way, cannot fit the inspired pattern. Our plea is for the church revealed in God s Word. This is right and cannot be wrong unless the Word itself is in error.