Lesson 2: Why Are There So Many Churches (Part 1)

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Lesson Overview

Estimated Date: Practice Practice

Why Are There So Many Churches

When Phil studied his Bible he learned that Jesus would build His church, Matthew 16:18. Before He died, Jesus prayed that His disciples would be unified, John 17:21. The church began in Acts 2 (about 33 A.D.) and the message of the gospel quickly spread throughout the world. Believers established churches in their localities but they followed the same doctrine. In fact, Paul spoke strongly against those who would create confusion and divide the church (1 Timothy 6:3-5). In his many letters, Paul warned the believers of false teachers and false doctrines that would lure many from the truth of the gospel (See question 2). Here we find the seeds of division that have plagued the church. In order to know about the church that Christ built, Phil realized that he must learn the truth of what Jesus did teach and the errors opposing it. Change in Government The first error that was obvious was a change in how the church was organized and governed. In the New Testament, men called elders* were overseers of the local churches. The elders would be chosen from among the brethren according to the *The terms elder, presbyter, bishop, overseer, shepherd, and pastor all come from three Greek words and all refer to the same office in the New Testament. They are used inter- changeably in 1 Peter 5:1-4. (Part 1)? qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Their authority would only extend over the local church of which they were a part. They had no legislative power, only oversight over the souls of the members. Gradually, men began to change God’s order. The elders at a church would choose a man of good judgment and wisdom to be the presiding elder, or bishop. He would have to make decisions with the rest of the elders but he had special oversight and delegation responsibilities to the other elders (Mosheim 39). When large city churches would establish rural churches, the bishop would exercise authority over them as well. He would appoint deputies, called country bishops, to oversee those churches. They occupied a position between the elders and the bishop (Mosheim 39). Eventually, the bishop would rule a specific territory, called a diocese (Cox 27). The diocese was subdivided into smaller districts, called parishes, overseen by a presbyter or priest who would answer to the bishop (Latourette 132). Throughout the second and third centuries, we can see the distinction between the members of the church and the leadership. The idea of clergy (church government) and laity (members) was unknown in the New Testament.

Why Are There So Many Churches? (Part 1)

Change in Authority

From This… To This…

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Figure 2-A

Rise of Councils When problems and questions would arise, the bishops and elders from different churches would meet and discuss them. Early in these meetings, the elders would all have an equal voice and they understood that the conclusions were not binding on all of the churches (Mosheim 39- 40). Soon, however, the occasional gatherings became regular meetings called synods (Greek) and councils (Latin) that did have legislative powers. The bishops from the chief cities (Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Constantinople), were called patriarchs, or chief fathers and presided over the councils. The metropolitans, another name for the patriarchs, chose a president of the council (Cox 27-28). The bishops recognized the Bishop of Rome as having greater authority than the other bishops (Latourette 133). The Bishop of Rome, as their overseer, eventually assumed the name papa, or pope. The most well known council was the Council of Nicea (325 A.D). The council met to discuss various controversies over doctrine. The 318 bishops in the council, under Emperor Cons tantine’s ove rs ight, adopted a formal statement of faith called “The Nicene Creed” (Cox 30-31). We read of no creeds in the New Testament yet they have defined the divisions between the denominations throughout the centuries. We can see the change from the simple church government of the New Testament churches to the complex hierarchy of what we know as the Catholic Church (Figure 2-A). Similar governments exist in other religious bodies as well. This form of government consists of many offices that are unknown to the Scriptures. The worldwide councils united churches that were supposed to be independent. Change in Practice In the past two thousand years, men have added practices to the worship and new doctrines that are foreign to God’s word. Look at the chart of practices that bishops introduced into the Catholic Church. You will find no scripture authorizing these practices for they are the inventions of men

Why Are There So Many Churches? (Part 1)

Strange Doctrines

Date

150 Infant Baptism Advocated Confess to the Priest for Forgiveness 400 Total Hereditary Depravity Mass as a Sacrifice of Christ 400 Once Saved, Always Saved Priest’s Power of Absolution 431 Worship of Mary Sprinkling for Baptism Authorized 788 Adoration of Saints, Images, and Relics Laity Forbidden to Drink Cup in Mass 933 Prayer to Saints 1438 Purgatory 1009 Holy Water 1545 Tradition Equal to Bible 1160 Canonization of Saints 1831 Mourner’s Bench 1215 Transubstantiation 1870 Infallibility of the Pope *Dates reflect formal acceptance. May have been Adapted from Burton W. Barber practiced/taught many years before formally accepted.

Questions for Discussion & Study

1. What is meant by the term autonomous as it relates to the church?

2. List some passages where Paul warned the churches of false teaching.

3. What are some inherent dangers, besides scriptural objections, to churches unifying in councils or a single worldwide government?

4. What did Jesus say about the traditions of men (Matt. 15:9)?