The effect of this “church formation” is that the people are no longer the church but are made to feel dependent on the church (institution). If this organization is to exist, it must position itself as providing a need/blessing to people, who would then feel a dependency for it and support it. This practice is…
In the absence of the apostles, the church began to drift toward the organizational patterns of the surrounding culture. Part of this influence came from Judaism and the Synagogues, but the most damaging influence came from Roman imperialism. We believe these influenced the existence of the “church” as we know it today and it offers…
While exposing developments about things the Bible had forewarned, and proposing that “the church organization” is the product of men who “drew away disciples after them,” it is not the purpose of this writing to stereotype everyone led away by that apostasy as having evil motives. Further, no one should question the sincerity of men…
1 Timothy 6:3-5 – “If any man teaches a different doctrine, and consents not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,…
Aside from the formation of an institution, many innovations were introduced. Once any man or group of men lift themselves up as authority figures with the final authority reserved for the Pope, we can expect many human inventions. Further, it makes little difference what the Bible teaches to a man who claims apostolic succession. Worse…
This gives specific mention of two practices – forbidding marrying and abstaining from meats, both of which are practiced by Roman Catholics. Of whom Paul is speaking has been a point of contention for many years. It would be difficult to know if he refers to any specific movement that later developed. That should not…
Notice the lengthy warnings below from Paul given to Timothy and Titus, men whom he had entrusted to appoint spiritual shepherds to be among God’s people. These were the last letters written by Paul and they warn of a time following his death that would affect the work and lives of Timothy and Titus. The…
An observation from the apostolic predictions of apostasy leaves a suspicion in the claims of Greek Orthodoxy and Catholics who claim that the church tradition has been flawlessly followed through the centuries. It opens up the possibility that their old tradition, which historically follows the apostles’ teaching in time, is the product of that apostasy. …
Not as many are familiar with the history of the Restoration Movement in America where men like Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and others persuaded people to go back to the Bible. Those who are from this heritage are familiar with the slogan, “speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is…
Not only are we are being told to blindly accept the church tradition because they have the first and oldest traditions, we are given other false claims. To make a more convincing and uniform package, the Roman papacy rested in the authority that declared the Pope as the “sole vicor” of Christ on earth. In…