The Church: Then and Now
Seventeen hundred years ago, the Council of Laodicea was convened. The presiding officer over this council, Constantine the Great, Emperor of Rome, would establish the Nicene Creed, the standard by which the tenants of Christian doctrine have been measured ever since. Also as a result of this council, the Roman Catholic Canon was agreed upon; fixing the books of the Bible and establishing Sunday as the Lord's day, as if by decree of God Himself.
As for what some of those early church father's believed:
I presume that you are not ignorant of the fact that the living Church is the body of Christ. The Scripture says, "God made man male and female." The male is Christ, and the female is the Church. Moreover, the Books and the Apostles declare that the Church belongs not to the present, but has existed from the beginning. She was spiritual, just as was our Jesus; but He was manifested in the last days so that he might save us. And the Church, being spiritual, was manifested in the flesh of Christ. [From the so called Second Letter of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians, ca. A.D. 150], in: Jurgens, 1970: 43].
From what has been said then, it seems clear to me that the true Church, that which is really ancient, is one; and in it are enrolled those who, in accord with a design, are just... We say, therefore, that in substance, in concept, in origin and in eminence, the ancient and Catholic Church is alone, gathering as it does into the unity of the one faith which results from the familiar covenants, - or rather, from the one covenant in different times, by the will of the one God and through the one Lord, - those already chosen, those predestined by God who knew before the foundation of the world that they would be just. (From St. Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis, after 202 AD, in Jurgens, 1970: 185).[/b]
Titus Falvius Clement is considered to be a Roman Church father, having had direct participation in the Roman Church's early organization. The above is an extant quote from the Apocryphal New Testament. Obviously, modern Christianity is very different from then. For more than a thousand years the Catholic church was the only Church, and not until the ?'Protestant Reformation' of 1517 did any other doctrine exist outside of Catholic doctrine. The reformation resulted in the denominational Christianity we know today. But the ?'Christ' of Christian worship today is obviously the same one of Clement's time. This ?'apocryphal book' was well received in the Roman church, and read publicly. Now that modern Christians are diverse in their beliefs, the New Testament has changed to fit those beliefs. Now ?'Christ' and the ?'Church' are not as Catholic as they once were. It is said that time waits for no man. But God does not change, and if the ?'Church' was His, it would not change either.
The Bride of Christ cannot be defiled. She is inviolate and chaste... Whoever is separated from the Church and is joined to an adultress is separated from the promises of the Church; nor will he that forsakes the Church of Christ attain to the rewards of Christ. He is an alien, a worldling, and an enemy. He cannot have God for his Father who does not have the Church for his Mother... Does anyone believe that in the Church this unity which proceeds from the divine stability and which is welded together after the heavenly patterns can be divided, and can be separated by the parting asunder of opposing wills? Whoever holds not fast to this unity holds not to the law of God; neither does he keep faith with the Father and the Son, nor does he have life and salvation. (St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Unity of the Catholic Church, [AD 251/256], in: Jurgens, 1970: 221).
"There is one God and one Christ, and one Church, and one Chair founded on Peter by the word of the Lord. It is not possible to set up another altar or for there to be another priesthood besides that one altar and that one priesthood. Whoever has gathered elsewhere is scattering. (St. Cyprian of Carthage, Letter to all his People, AD 251, in Jurgens, 1970: 229).[/b]
Cyprian, born in 200 a.d. and another ?'father', was made Bishop of Carthage in 248. He was banished in 257 and later beheaded for preaching the gospel from his garden. The rules of the Catholic Church were strict back then. Their beliefs even stricter. Early in the Church of Christ, as this father referred to it, it was understood that there was no salvation outside of the Catholic ?'Church'. Recall again that the Church as modern Christians know it, is the exact same one Cyprian is speaking on. It has been almost eighteen hundred years, and quite a few denominations later, but Christians still believe basically the same thing. Only the Catholic Church in these times are seen as something of an ?'anti-Christ.', and they are the one's most responsible for his popularity. When the Church was young, many non Christians were converted on the basis of these very words. The Christians thought they were doing the heathens a favor. For the Church fathers, there was literally One Church and Christ, one bible and one doctrine that was taught out of it. But the times have changed, and modern Christians have not been educated in these matters.
Furthermore, the more anyone observes that a bishop remains silent, the more he should stand in fear of him. For anyone whom the master of the house sends to manage his business ought to be received by us as we would receive him by whom he was sent. It is clear, then, that we must look upon the bishop as the Lord Himself. (St.Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Ephesians,
In like manner let everyone respect the deacons, as they would respect Jesus Christ, and just as they respect the bishop as a type of the Father, and the presbyters as the council of God and college of Apostles. Without these, it cannot be called a Church. (St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Trallians, ca.AD 110, in Jurgens, 1970: 20 - 21)[/b]
As for credibility and authority, Ignatius of Antioch is reputed to have been instructed by John himself, and intimately acquainted with Peter and Paul. Ignatius is one of the earliest Church fathers, having been made bishop of Antioch around 70.a.d. He wrote expansively in the Apocryphal New Testament and he is considered a saint by Catholic standard. Ignatius was martyred at the behest of Emperor Trajan not to long after the latter quote. The two quotes provide much of the weight modern clergy enjoy as respected and revered men of the cloth. Modern bishops are diverse in nature, occupying different roles in the various Christian denominations. But in the early Church, the Bishop was to be respected like unto the ?'Father' in heave, whereas deacons were second to them, as Christ was to his Father. As the centuries have progressed, Christianity is a trinity now, the bishop and deacon no longer the powerful leaders of the Catholic Church, but pastors and assistant preachers of the local denomination. Again, modern Christians are unaware of the changes that have taken place since the inception of their belief.
Before Vatican II Ecumenical Council (1962 - 1966)
The Church was identified with the kingdom of God, and considered a perfect society.
The Catholic Church is the one true Church. Outside the Church there is no salvation. Conversion was needed: other Christian Churches were seen as lacking ecclesial character, and it was generally taught that outside the Church there could be no salvation. Certainly, outside Christianity, other religions were deemed as having no salvific value.
Divine revelation only existed in Israel (Old Testament) and Christianity (the Fulfilment of the prophet i.e. promises of the Old Testament in the New).
The Church is based on the sacrament of Holy Orders and the Hierarchy. A direct unbroken lineage could be traced, from the mandate given to St. Peter by Christ, to the present pontificate. The Church was seen in an authoritarian and monarchical mould. The Church was centralised (Rome), with its focus on the Pope.
The Church was a teacher: it is engaged in a monologue - teaching the world.
An emphasis was given to the sacrament of ordination. Through Holy Orders, the charismatic power to teach, preach, forgive, sanctify, dispense divine graces, and govern, was given to the Church.
Catholic life was generally devotional. The lay-person was expected (in the words of Cardinal Octaviani) "to pray, to pay, and to obey". The laity to a great extent was passive. Membership to the Church was defined clearly and in a legalistic manner.
The Roman Catholic Church was legalistic in theological emphasis - uniformity in worship and belief was important.
The above is what the ?'Church of Christ' represented for Catholic leadership and all Christians prior to the Protestant Reformation. During this time, the Church was one, the doctrine was one, and all Christians believed and were taught the exact same thing. This is the part of Christian history that modern Christians have not be educated about. The New Testament contains the verses ?'One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism'. Many Christians ignore this part, or conclude it to mean Christianity as a whole. For the church fathers and a thousand years of Christians this was the literal truth for them. There was no other ?'church' to pick up and go to. After the Ecumenical Council, the ?'Church' has changed in the following ways:
The Church is seen as the pilgrim people of God, and seen as sacrament and mystery (Lumen Gentium).
The Catholic Church is now seen as the heart of the one true Church; salvation is not seen as the exclusive possession of the Catholic Church.
The Church recognises that divisions exist within itself and in the wider Christian community. Therefore, ecumenism is important. The Church must become involved in dialogue, which necessitates not only speaking to the world but also listening to it with sensitivity.
There are elements of divine revelation outside Israel and Christianity.
The Church is based on baptism and on the priesthood of all. It is charismatic and must reflect its collegial character.
There are elements of divine revelation outside Israel and Christianity.
Catholic Life is Sacramental and Scriptural: people belong to the Church in different ways and in different degrees.
Laws are less important. Theological pluralism flows from the reality of cultural pluralism in the world. Unity rather is to be seen in diversity, as the Church strives for active participation of all its members according to individual gifts and graces.
The Churches are centred on the local Church and its Bishop.[/b]
These stark contrast between the early ?'Church' under exclusive Roman authority and modern Christianity is a rude awakening. The reasons why modern Christians believe what they believe is explained above by the Catholics themselves. Long ago, christianity was a different religion and run by a totally different set of rules. Rules that provided for the murder of innocent ?'heretics' in the Crusades. Rules that have only relatively recently allowed for denominations and differing doctrines as the above certainly proves.
Previously in the early church,
?'Divine revelation only existed in Israel (Old Testament) and Christianity (the Fulfilment of the prophet i.e. promises of the Old Testament in the New).'
Now in the modern:
?'There are elements of divine revelation outside Israel and Christianity.'
The Christian faith is modeled and built by Catholic decree. In the beginning, Catholics were unanimous, there is only one salvation, and only one way to it. But to suit modern circumstances, which would have to include the Protestant Reformation, Rome changed the ?'rules' again, and no Christian is the wiser. Every single tenant of Christian doctrine was settle on under the Roman Catholic Canon. How can such an ancient Church now be considered ?'anti-Christ' by most ?'non-catholic' Christians?
How can One Church, established by ?'one' man, devolve into the unrecognizable religion it has become? Most Christians believe in the ?'divine' element of the bible, having no idea the part played by Rome and Constantine. Most Christians believe in the saving graces of Jesus ?'Christ', and are completely unaware of these public catholic facts. Check them for yourself, there is a whole website dedicated to the Church and its development. Check them for yourself. This is how Christianity started. I will tell you how it will end.
http://www.mcauley.acu.edu.au/~yuri/ecc/index.html
Isaiah 1;2-3
"Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: I reared up children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not understand."
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