The Entire Entire Story of the Story of the Church in Church in Fifty Minutes x With the birth of the church, do all these problems disappear?

TheThe

EntireEntire Story of theStory of the

ChurchChurch in in

Fifty MinutesFifty Minutesx

With the With the birth of the birth of the

church, church, do all these do all these problems problems

disappear?disappear?

The The Entire StoryEntire Story of the of the ChurchChurch in in

Fifty Fifty MinutesMinutes

““History repeats History repeats itself.itself.

Has to.Has to.

No-one listens.”No-one listens.”

What “What “spectaclesspectacles” are we ” are we looking throughlooking through??

the selectivity of those who made records

generations of church history interpretation

what I think is important! – including the understanding of the cross, and the working of the Holy Spirit, the work of the church

We have to understand the CONTEXT WHEN THESE EVENTS OCCURED

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200200660 500 1000 1500 2000

Key Key eventsevents , , issuesissues and and peoplepeople

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StatisticsStatistics, geographical , geographical spreadspread


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The The supernaturalsupernatural work of the work of the Holy Holy SpiritSpirit

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The The supernaturalsupernatural work of the work of the Holy Holy SpiritSpiritUnderstanding of Understanding of whywhy Jesus Jesus dieddied

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What’s What’s happeninghappening in the in the UKUK

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What’s What’s happeninghappening in the in the UKUK

What we can What we can learnlearn

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The Spreading Fire …The Spreading Fire …

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The Spreading Fire The Spreading Fire ……

enabled by effective transport, communication, and “Pax Romana”

overseen by apostles

early persecution prompts widening circle – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and beyond

The The Rapid SpreadingRapid Spreading of the of the Good Good NewsNews

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49 AD49 AD 54 AD54 AD 58 AD58 AD


“Council of Jerusalem” AD 44 (no need for convert to become a Jew to be a Chrsitain)

Council of Jamnia c AD 90 (Christians excluded from synagogues as heretics)

Understanding the place of Understanding the place of Jewish Jewish faithfaith

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Jesus hasn’t returned!

the apostles have all died

Challenges of Challenges of changechange as as time passestime passes

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x


destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70)

scatters Christians

ongoing danger under Roman rule varied – worst offenders

Nero (60s) and Domitian (90s)

PersecutionPersecution

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destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70)

scatters Christians

ongoing danger under Roman rule varied – worst offenders

Nero (60s) and Domitian (90s)

PersecutionPersecution

recognising martyrs. (emergence of god-parents)

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Gnosticism Special knowledge; physical = evil

Docetism Jesus only appeared to suffer

Justin Martyr c 100 – c 165 Faith & reason

Irenaeus c 130 – c 200 First great theologian

Tertullian c 160 – c 225

Most of Bible accepted by AD 200

Defining Defining faith faith & combating& combating heresy heresy

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in Egypt – Antony (?251-356) pursues disciplines & holiness in desert

foundations of Coptic church

Emergence of Christian Emergence of Christian monasticismmonasticism

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By this time …By this time … Aided by easy travel in the Roman

Empire, Christian faith in the near East, much of Europe, parts of N. and Central Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan

12% of the world is Christian of these 66% non-white, 34% white world 36% evangelised “There is no nation indeed that is not

Christian” Tertullian, AD 197

scriptures in 13 languages

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“The prophetical gifts remain with us …” Justin Martyr (c 100 – c 165)

“Some do certainly and truly drive out devils … others have foreknowledge of things to come … others still, heal the sick … the dead even have been raised up …” (Irenaeus 140 – 203)

“How many … have been delivered from devils, and healed of diseases!” (Tertullian, c 160 – c 215)

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understanding rooted in experience and the examination of (Old Testament) scripture

victory over powers of death and sin

sacrifice the death of God’s servant in our

place (but as representative rather than substitute)

Origen (c185 – c254) death of Jesus = ransom paid to Satan

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Christian faith first reaches Britain around AD 61 through Roman soldiers & merchants

origin of Celtic churches

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important task of defining faith how much can be done without

church buildings! (first permanent church buildings c. AD200)

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God uses persecution and suffering

Respectability!Respectability!

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RespectabilitRespectability!y!

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“conversion” of Constantine Christian faith first legalised, (313)

then compelled (394)


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Constantine’s mother, Helena, starts building churches over Holy Land sites

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem




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Constantine’s mother, Helena, starts building churches over Holy Land sites

Arian heresy (Jesus = the Son but not truly

divine) rejected at Council of Nicea (325) Capital of Roman Empire moved to

ByzantiumConstantinople Istanbul (foundations of East/West divide)


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RomeRome ••

ConstantinopleConstantinople ••


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canon of New Testament agreed (367)

creeds developed to define faith (Nicene ?381)

Vulgate (Latin translation of Bible)

completed by Jerome (404)

Augustine of Hippo completes “City of God” (426) “Believe in order to understand”

conversion by community (c 450)

end of Roman Empire in West (476)


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By this time …By this time … Christian faith now further into

Africa (Ethiopia?, Sudan), widely into central Asia

22% of the world is Christian of these 62% non-white, 38% white 80% of Roman Empire is Christian world 42% evangelised scriptures in 13 languages “From India to Britain, all nations

resound with the death and resurrection of Christ” (Jerome, 378)


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“It is sometimes objected that the miracles, which Christians claim to have occurred, no longer happen …

The truth is that even today miracles are being wrought in the name of

Christ, sometimes through His sacraments and sometimes through the intercession of the relics of his

saints”. (Augustine, 354-430)

This account, in “The City of God”, continues to give many specific examples of healing and raising from

death


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In this era, the theological focus is on Jesus being fully God, and the nature of the

Trinity – there is no significant development of understanding about why

Jesus died for us


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evidence of organised church in England – bishops attend council! (314)

first Christians (monks from Crete) reach Hibernia (= Ireland) (350)

Patrick evangelises Ireland (432)


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evidence of organised church in England – bishops attend council! (314)

first Christians (monks from Crete) reach Hibernia (= Ireland) (350)

Patrick evangelises Ireland (432)

first Christians on the Isle of Man (442)


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advantages and disadvantages of linking church and state

essential to defend Jesus and the Holy Spirit as fully God (e.g.in answering cults)

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DisintegratioDisintegrationn

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the “Dark Ages” no Emperor in West urban life virtually disappears

Disintegration in societyDisintegration in society

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the rise of an institutional church in the West, political power for the Pope

rivalry between Rome & Constantinople

forced baptisms: c 540 - Emperor Justinian – 70,000 – Asia Minor

c 780 - Charlemagne – Saxon race. Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne as first “Holy Roman Emperor” in 780

c 870 – Boris, King of the Bulgars - Serbs

The abuse of powerThe abuse of power


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622 Muhammad’s flight Mecca Medina

638 Jerusalem falls to Muslims

660 mass conversions to Islam in Egypt

697 North Africa under Muslim control

837 Prohibitions for Christians in Egypt

949 50% of former Christendom now under Muslim control

The rise of IslamThe rise of Islam


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rise of Western monasticism Benedict, 529; Odo at Cluny 927-942

continuing geographical spread of gospel

vigour of Celtic Christianity

Some positive dimensions …Some positive dimensions …

++ DisintegratioDisintegrationn

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By this time …By this time … Christian faith has reached

untouched parts of Europe (Netherlands, East Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Czechoslovakia); Mongolia, Indonesia, Burma, Pakistan, Iceland. In parts of China, it is becoming the dominant religion

… but now only 19% of world Christian

… of which 58% white, 42% non white

world 26% evangelised scriptures in 17 languages


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Records of supernatural works of the Holy Spirit in this era are

sparse, but they are there … for example in the

ministry of Gregory of Tours (c 538-594: healing, deliverance,

raising the dead) and Gregory the Great (540-604:

visions, prophecy & miracles)


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No significant developmentNo significant development


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c 510 for next 400 years, Irish “Peregrini”

c 550 Christianity reaches Channel Islands

563 Scotland evangelised by Columba (from Ireland)


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596 Augustine sent by Pope to England; baptises King (597) & 10,000 Saxons; parliament adopts Christian faith


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596 Augustine sent by Pope to England; baptises King (597) & 10,000 Saxons; parliament adopts Christian faith

c 670 songs of Caedmon

730 Bede’s “Church History of the English People”


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the inheritance left by each generation

the dangers of civil power and compulsion regarding Christian values

how Islam looks compared to Christian faith


the values of the Celtic church

Chapel at the Northumbria Community

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A Golden Age A Golden Age of of

Spirituality Spirituality (and (and Holy War)Holy War)

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Spirituality Spirituality (and Holy War)(and Holy War)

Renewal-focussed monasticismRenewal-focussed monasticism

Christian mysticism – St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Cluny – return to “pure” Benedictine (but integrated to society)

St Francis of Assisi (1186-1226) Franciscans

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Renewal-focussed monasticismRenewal-focussed monasticism

Christian mysticism – St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Cluny – return to “pure” Benedictine (but integrated to society)

St Francis of Assisi (1186-1226) Franciscans

Dominic (1170-1221) Dominicans

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Challenge to the Institutional Challenge to the Institutional churchchurch Peter Valdes (d. c 1210) - movement of

preaching, voluntary poverty; rejecting worldliness, church clericalism, hierarchy, saints & relics Waldensians

Church treats as heresy … then friars adopt many of their values regarding simplicity!

1199 Pope Innocent III & Inquisition Conflict between Popes & Kings

Pope to France in 1305

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Serious & Systematic thinkingSerious & Systematic thinking

Anselm of Canterbury (c 1033 – 1109)

Peter Abelard (1079 – 1102)

Thomas Aquinas (c 1225 – 1274) “Summa Theologica” “Five Ways” (In 1879, Pope declares Aquinas’s theology eternally valid)

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Serious & Systematic thinkingSerious & Systematic thinking

Anselm of Canterbury (c 1033 – 1109)

Peter Abelard (1079 – 1102)

Thomas Aquinas (c 1225 – 1274) “Summa Theologica” “Five Ways” (In 1879, Pope declares Aquinas’s theology eternally valid)

William of Ockham (c 1290-1349)

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… … but also some less helpful things but also some less helpful things ……

1054 “Great Schism” between West (Rome) and East (Constantinople)

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1095 start of Crusades 1099 Jerusalem taken 1187 Jerusalem lost 1228 Jerusalem regained (by negotiation) 1244 Jerusalem recaptured by Muslims 1291 final fall of Crusader states

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1347 Black Death sweeps across Europe: 33%

killed

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By this time By this time …… Christian faith has reached Poland,

Greenland, Finland, Gibraltar, Ukraine; but the church in North Africa is almost extinguished. 1266: missed opportunity: Kubla Khan: Russia, Persian

x

“Send me 100 men skilled in your religion … and so I shall be baptised, and then all my barons and great men, and then their subjects. And so there will be more Christians here than there are in your parts …”

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By this time By this time …… Christian faith has reached Poland,

Greenland, Finland, Gibraltar, Ukraine; but the church in North Africa is almost extinguished. 1266: missed opportunity: Kubla Khan: Russia, Persian … 24% of world Christian …

… 67% white, 33% non white

the world is 28% evangelised

scripture in 28 languages

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“… concerning this anointing of the sick, we hold it as an article of faith, and profess sincerely from the heart that sick persons, when

they ask it, may lawfully be anointed with the anointing oil by

one who joins them in praying that it may be efficacious to the healing

of the body …”The Waldensians

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Anselm c1033-1109

Archbishop of Canterbury

1093

first developed doctrine of why Jesus died

“Cur Deus Homo”

based on mediaeval honour

What could repay the debt of honour owed to God by human rebellion?

(“objective” theory of atonement)

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Peter Abailard

1070-1142

love affair with Heloise

effect of Calvary is through the response of love that it evokes in the sinner (“subjective” theory of atonement)

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much church-building (romanesque & gothic)

issues of state and church: Henry II sought superiority for the state over the church’s courts

murder of Thomas Becket (?1118-1170)

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rhythms of monastic life

value of systematic theology

issue of Holy War

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Confusion & Confusion & CorruptionCorruption

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Spiritual ground lostSpiritual ground lost

1378 The (second) Great Schism (choice of Popes)

1415 Jan Hus martyred for seeking reform

1478 The Spanish Inquisition

1480sChurch grows in wealth; Popes grow in corruption (Borgias); St Peter’s & Sistine chapel built; start of shift from “universal” to “national” church

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More geographical territory More geographical territory lostlostMongols take China, India, Asia, parts of Mediterranean

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Some Some positivespositives

++

Growth of Christian mysticism Catherine of Siena, “The Cloud of Unknowing”, Julian of Norwich

Thomas à Kempis (c1380-1471) The Imitation of Christ

First printing (1450) leads to more Bibles

Mission (Franciscan & Dominican) to Muslims & to Central Asia; start of Portugese & Spanish exploration to the West

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Christian faith has reached Senegal, Zaire, Nigeria, Kenya, Haiti, Dominican Republic but virtually extinct in

Central Asia

19% of world is Christian

… of which 92% white

world 21% evangelised

printed scriptures available in 12 languages

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Colette of Corbi known for miraculous

works

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No significant development

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1350- 1350- 15001500


John Wyclif c 1329-1384. Opposed corrupt clergy, transubstantiation. First English Bible. Followers=“Lollards”

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The dangers of church wealth and political power

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ReformReform (and reactions to it) (and reactions to it)

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Reform (and reactions to it)Reform (and reactions to it)

Martin Luther Martin Luther 1483 -1546

1517 Academic paper by obscure monk Rejected theology based solely on tradition; and “indulgences”. Sought personal understanding & experience of God’s word

1520 Excommunicated 1521 Diet of Worms

1545 “Against the Roman Papacy, instituted by the Devil”

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x““Should the Should the

devil come to me devil come to me by night and by night and harass me, I harass me, I

drive him away drive him away with a f**t”with a f**t”

xx

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Reformation principlesReformation principles

Church founded on scriptureChurch founded on scripture Reject authority of Pope, good works, indulgences, mediation of Mary, transubstantiation, mass=sacrifice, prayers for dead, celibacy of clergy, private confession to priest, Latin, associated paraphenalia

Salvation by grace aloneSalvation by grace alone

Priesthood of all believersPriesthood of all believers

John Calvin John Calvin (1509-1564) “Institutes”

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Reformation principlesReformation principles

Church founded on scriptureChurch founded on scripture Reject authority of Pope, good works, indulgences, mediation of Mary, transubstantiation, mass=sacrifice, prayers for dead, celibacy of clergy, private confession to priest, Latin, associated paraphenalia

Salvation by grace aloneSalvation by grace alone

Priesthood of all believersPriesthood of all believers

John Calvin John Calvin (1509-1564) “Institutes”

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Reaction to the ReformationReaction to the Reformation

Anabaptists Anabaptists Most radical reformers; adult baptism

Council of TrentCouncil of Trent (1545-1563) Dealt with most flagrant abuses, but reaffirmed mediaeval orthodoxy

Birth of non-conformity in EnglandBirth of non-conformity in England

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Christian faith reaches much of South America, much of southern Africa, the Far East, the USA (1526), Canada (1534), Japan

world is 21% Christian


printed scriptures in 45 languages

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Luther instructs on deliverance & prophecy

Ignatius of Loyola speaks of the freedom of the Spirit to distribute gifts as He wills

Teresa of Avila talks of a language of the Spirit used in prayer

Quakers shake

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Luther rejects “satisfaction”, teaches voluntary substitution

Calvin advocates “Penal” theory

Law inherently requires that punishment must be made Is forgiveness real? Difficult implications for trinity?

Father who cannot look on sin, Son who is friend of sinners

Father’s wrath must be satisfied, Son appeases Him

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1534 Henry VIII proclaims himself Head of Church of England

1555/6 “Martyrdom” of Ridley, Latimer, Cranmer (Queen Mary)

The StateThe State

1560 Act of Uniformity

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Puritans latter 16th century

Congregationalists from 1581

Birth of nonconformityBirth of nonconformity

Baptists from 1608

Quakers from c 1650

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personal faith

rejection of meaningless tradition

centrality of Scripture

grace not works

“Mercy is when God does not give us what we deserve; Grace is when He gives us

what we do not deserve”

priesthood of all believers

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1650- 1650- 18151815

Reason & Revival Reason & Revival

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1650- 1650- 18151815

Reason & Reason & RevivalRevival

Changing world-view: the place of Changing world-view: the place of “Reason” “Reason” (The Enlightenment)(The Enlightenment)

Descartes (1596-1650) Doubt. “Cogito ergo sum”

Spinoza (1632-1677) God = nature

Locke (1632-1704) “tabula rasa”

Hume (1711-1776) miracles against nature

Kant (1724-1804) impossible to think coherently about God

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1650- 1650- 18151815


A season of revivalA season of revival

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards from 1734, New England USA (1792)

Howell Harris Howell Harris from 1739, Wales (1785, 1786, 1791, 1805,

1810)

John Wesley John Wesley from 1739, England Methodists

George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield from 1741, England & Wales

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1650- 1650- 18151815


A bigger picture of missionA bigger picture of mission

Evangelicals 1783 Charles Simeon, evangelical student movement; 1807 Wilberforce: slave trade; later (from 1840s),Lord Shaftesbury, social reform

Church Missionary Society 1799

(British & Foreign) Bible Society 1804

Baptist Missionary Society 1792

Sunday Schools Robert Raikes 1780

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Christian faith has reached Gambia, Nepal, Falkland Islands, New Zealand, Australia




printed Bible in 44 languages (portions in 86)

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1650- 1650- 18151815


Supernatural manifestations in revival:

Jonathan Edwards, Wesley

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1650- 1650- 18151815


No significant development in theory; dread of hell & judgement in revival

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1650- 1650- 18151815


From 1800, awakenings in Scotland

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1650- 1650- 18151815


God’s sovereign hand in revival

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1815-1815-19141914

Industrialisation, Empires Industrialisation, Empires & Institutions& Institutions

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1815-1815-19141914

Industrialisation, Empires & Industrialisation, Empires & InstitutionsInstitutions

Many changes!Many changes!

SocietySociety: industry > urban concentration

ScienceScience: Darwin’s theory of evolution

StudyStudy: Biblical criticism

ThinkingThinking: Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche

Empires:Empires:Russian, British, Belgian, Dutch, French, US, German …

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1815-1815-19141914


Papal infallibility 1870

France secularised 1870

growth of evangelical influence pulpit power authority of scripture; Finney,

Moody, Sankey, C.H. Spurgeon. USA: inter-denominational city wide mission

structured mission through empire Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone

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1815-1815-19141914


Azuza Street revival (1906 USA) pentecostalism

foundations of ecumenical movement

beginnings of “cults” Mormons 1830, Christadelphians 1844, Jehovah’s witness 1870, Christian Scientists 1879, Spiritualists 1893

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1815-1815-19141914


Christian faith continues to reach into Africa, Hong Kong, isolated islands

world 34% Christian



printed scriptures in 676 languages

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1815-1815-19141914


Resurgence of gifts of tongues, prophecy, healing; manifestations

in revivals in Wales.

“Second blessing” theology emerges

Little impact in “mainstream” of church

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1815-1815-19141914


Exploration of dimension of penitence (“penitentiaries” in USA)

leads to growth in “subjective” theories about why

Jesus died

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1815-1815-19141914


growth of non-conformity church/chapel divide

Brethren 1827

repealed laws re nonconformists & RCs 1828 >

awakening in Scottish Highlands 1839-43

the Oxford Movement 1845 250 clergy enter church of Rome by 1862

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1815-1815-19141914


revival in England, Scotland &Wales 1859

Cornish revivals 1861

Salvation Army 1865

Keswick Covention 1875

revival in Wales 1904/5 Evan Roberts > world

disestablishment: Ireland 1869 Wales 1914

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city mission

the whole church of Jesus

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1914 -1914 -

Anxiety, Adaptation & Anxiety, Adaptation & AnticipationAnticipation

horror of WW I & II despair; nuclear threat

Communist purges in USSR from 1917 Persecution of church in soviet bloc, China

refugees from 1945

emerging recognition of female leadership

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1914 -1914 -

Anxiety, Adaptation & AnticipationAnxiety, Adaptation & Anticipation

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1914 -1914 -


growth of Messianic believers World Council of Churches 1948 147

churches mass evangelism 1950 Billy Graham

international radio 1954

Albania first Atheist state 1966

failure of economic promise in West rise of interest in West in other

faiths / new age

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1914 -1914 -


decline of church in West growth of church in Africa from 1950s,

South America from 1970s

Rise of Pentecostals / charismatics

more appropriate recognition of indigenous churches

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1914 -1914 -


Pope & Patriarch meet 1964 first time in 900 yrs!

expansion of evangelicalism Church of North India 1970

Liberation Theology South America 1970s, Palestine

City-wide movements Korea (prayer mountains, world’s largest church) South America (power of unity)

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1914 -1914 -


March for Jesus United world-wide witness by millions

emergence of deeper intimacy in worship

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1914 -1914 -


only most isolated regions not touched


… 50% white

world 75-85% evangelised 93% have church in own culture; 98% has resident national or expatriot witness

printed scriptures in 2708 languages {405 whole Bible; 1034 NT; 864 some scripture}

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1914 -1914 -


growth of charismatic belief 345 million

renewal movements

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1914 -1914 -


themes of healing of relationship,

reconciliation, return of prodigal

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1914 -1914 -


The whole churchThe whole church

challenge of multi-faith society movements towards structural

unity United Reformed Church

unity as foundation for mission partly as a response to massive numerical decline

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1914 -1914 -


charismatic renewal 1960 > C of E 1962 > RCs 1967

RenewalRenewal

Toronto from 1994

Smith Wigglesworth 1947: Word and Spirit prophecy

John Wimber from 1980s

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1914 -1914 -


partnership & reconciliation in church

recognise we don’t have right to be heard!

honesty in “renewal”

accept that the Holy Spirit may surprise us again!

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The Entire Entire Story of the Story of the Church in Church in Fifty Minutes x With the birth of the church, do all these problems disappear?

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