In recent times the study of comparative religions has become of
interest. It seems that Christianity is the most fragmented religion of all.
Consulting Mead’s Handbook of Denominations, the mainline
denominations and their major splinter groups now number around 600!
Plus there is a wide variety in their doctrines and rituals. Some meet
in grand cathedrals others in living rooms. Surprisingly some do not even use
the bible as their rule of Faith. Some have very long technical sermons to no
message at all -only some peppy music. I have visited churches that were
nothing but fundraisers while others had no collections at all. You would think
if we were living in the first century it would be easy to pick the correct
church to go to- but nothing is further from the truth. Consider the book of Revelation, for
all its prophetic mysteries, almost overlooked; is the fact it is a letter to
seven churches relatively close together in Asia. We see a description of seven
groups- all Christian in name, yet quite diverse in makeup. Earlier, Paul’s letters to the
various churches seem to address a variety of problems. It seems early on there
was an effort to destroy the fabric of the fledgling new religion.
In his monumental book, Primitive
Christianity in Crisis, author Alan Knight documents the internal attacks
on the early church. From the
believing Pharisees imposing the letter of the law to the mystery cults
converts desiring the licentiousness of Hellenism. Other forces were the
Gnostics, Mithraicism, Stoics, and the Nicolaitans. Everyone had a peculiar
doctrine from his or her heritage to push. Part of the confusion arose from the
fact that Jesus gave little details on church services, and basically the only
doctrine Jesus stressed was love for God and your neighbor as yourself. We
sometimes forget that Jesus was ALSO the God of the Old Testament- and that He
kept the Law that He had given to Israel ages before. The first century church
in turn, followed suit and kept those same laws. A major break point arose over
circumcision, which was addressed at the first church council recorded in Acts
15. Another huge issue began to develop that we see hints of in Paul’s
letters- and much written about in the extra biblical “church
Fathers”, which was the Sabbath day question. Biblically, we see Jesus, all of His
disciples and new converts keeping the seventh- day according to
scripture. In the latter part of
the first century there was an effort to get the day of the sun {Sunday}
observed rather than the 7th day. This issue has been a major cause
for divisions in the Christian church even to this very day. There is a Directory of Sabbath
Keeping Groups {The Bible Sabbath Association, Fairview OK 73737} which
catalogs the hundreds of
7th day observing groups!
The
search for primitive Christianity is rather elusive because ALL churches today
were formed by men according to the dictates of their respective founders. That
is not bad in itself but men are fallible after all. Believers in Jesus Christ should always remember that it is
their own responsibility to search out the True Path for themselves in the
pages of their Bible rather than find a church that seems right and expect that
to be the vehicle to take them to the Kingdom of God. Jesus warned of many false ways- but only one will lead to
Life. Sorry to say that there are
no shortcuts in the quest for salvation- STUDY to show yourself approved unto
God.
by Wayne Schatzle
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