1 Session 6.2

Life’s BIG Questions

Week 6

Session 2

2 Session 6.2

Has Christianity Caused Wars?

3 Session 6.2

Fact of History

• Different factions of Christianity have caused:– Trouble

– War

– Suffering

However we shall see that the Bible is However we shall see that the Bible is not to be blamednot to be blamed

4 Session 6.2

OverviewWe will show

• First few centuries of Christianity:1. Politicians replaced

Bible as authority in church

2. Belief & practice were guided by politicians - not the Bible

The suffering caused by Christianity is a The suffering caused by Christianity is a result of politics NOT the Bible messageresult of politics NOT the Bible message

5 Session 6.2

The Teaching of JesusYou have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Matthew 5 v 38 and 39

6 Session 6.2

The Teaching of JesusYou have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Matthew 5 v 43,44

7 Session 6.2

The Teaching of the Apostles

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath;

Romans 12 v 17

8 Session 6.2

The Teaching of the Apostles

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone,but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

1 Thessalonians 5:15

9 Session 6.2

The Teaching of the Apostles

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tender hearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing

1 Peter 3:8,9

10 Session 6.2

SummaryJesus Christ said that his

followers should:

• Show love to all

• Live as peacefully as is possible

• Not resist aggressors

As the church developed, this principle was As the church developed, this principle was taught by the founders of Christianitytaught by the founders of Christianity

11 Session 6.2

The Origin of ChristianityAnd Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" And they cried out again, "Crucify him." And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Mark 15:12,13

12 Session 6.2

1st Century Persecution

And they arrested them [Peter & John] and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

Acts 4:3

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 5:40

13 Session 6.2

1st Century Persecution

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

Acts 14:19

Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live."

Acts 22:22

14 Session 6.2

Bible Teaching

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is Love

1 John 4:8

Why then has Christianity Why then has Christianity Caused so much Trouble ?Caused so much Trouble ?

15 Session 6.2

Church and State… “Constantine accepted the new Faith. Emperor worship may now have ceased, but even a Christian emperor could not shed the concept that he was the fountain of religion. He declared himself to be the thirteenth apostle and sat as chairman of the Council of Nicea, which established Christian doctrine. This set a precedent for the control of the church by the state.”

‘World History’ Geddes & Grosset

16 Session 6.2

Church and State

… “The emperor maintained Constantine’s position at the head of the church. Patriarchs, bishops and priests lay under his power. Emperors decided doctrine and mercilessly persecuted many of their subjects who held ‘heretical’ beliefs..”

‘World History’ Geddes & Grosset

17 Session 6.2

Beliefs Guided by Politicians

…Meanwhile important decisions, particularly the definition of doctrine, were made by the assembled clergy. Theoretically these councils represented the voice of the Church, but in practice Christianity as the state religion was often subject to imperial constraint.

Times Atlas of World History

18 Session 6.2

Beliefs Guided by Politicians

Constantine and his successors discovered that religious unity was difficult to achieve. They were repeatedly drawn by personal conviction and by political necessity to try to preserve the unity of Catholic Christianity, especially when serious disputes broke out in the fourth and fifth centuries concerning the nature of Christ and the nature of the Trinity.

The Medieval Church – a brief history

Personal conviction & political necessity Personal conviction & political necessity became more important than Bible teachingbecame more important than Bible teaching

19 Session 6.2

Christian Doctrine Changed

“Origen, an early 3rd-century theologian, argued that the millennium (I.e. Christ’s reign on earth as King for 1000 years) should be interpreted allegorically; others attempted to eliminate Revelation from the canon altogether (the Eastern church succeeded)… …When Christianity became the official state religion, millenarianism was pushed to the very margins of acceptable Christian thought.” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online

20 Session 6.2

Pope Gregory VII

Rome April 1075

• Pope Gregory VII published Dictatus Papae

• He believed he had ultimate authority:– That he [the pope] alone may use the imperial

insignia

– That he may depose emperors

– That he himself may be judged by no one…

In Gregory’s view the papacy was a In Gregory’s view the papacy was a governmental institution backed by lawsgovernmental institution backed by laws

21 Session 6.2

The CrusadesThe Pope declared that Christian kings had a right to conquer heathen lands. Some Catholic friars and, later, Jesuits did identify with the cause of the native people, but even their mission stations were instruments of colonial control...

… In 1095 the Byzantine emperor appealed to the pope for assistance against the Turks. The pope answered the call by preaching a Holy War.

Geddes & Grosset ‘World History’

Bible principle of non aggression not very Bible principle of non aggression not very much in evidencemuch in evidence

22 Session 6.2

Trouble Caused by “Christianity”

• The Crusades 1095 - 1242• Reformation

– Persecution of “heretics”

• Henry VIII 1509 – 1547– Church of England split from

Rome

• Catholics v Protestants– Spanish Armada – Gunpowder Plot

• Present day troubles in Ireland

Factions of the church which had left true Factions of the church which had left true Christianity behindChristianity behind

23 Session 6.2

Translation of the Bible

24 Session 6.2

William Tyndale 1494 - 1536

• Common Bible in Latin

• Tyndale was a scholar– Translated Bible into English

• Persecuted, hunted down

• Burnt at stake as a heretic

Trouble caused again by mainstream Trouble caused again by mainstream ChristianityChristianity

25 Session 6.2

Where we are today

The Bible has remained unchangedThe Bible has remained unchanged

Roman

EastWestRoman Catholic

Protestant Greek Orthodox

Russian Orthodox

Constantinople

RC

26 Session 6.2

True Christianity• True Christians should

show love to all people

• Today true believers worldwide– Still accept Bible

teaching

– Try to follow teachings of Jesus as best as they can

The suffering caused by popular “Christianity” The suffering caused by popular “Christianity” must not be blamed on the Biblemust not be blamed on the Bible

27 Session 6.2

Conclusion

• Thank you for being here this week

• Review the notes from this session

• We look forward to your company

next week - God willing