As I observed the comings and goings of families to a gathering of the church we call worship it seemed all hurried in from some early morning herding of the young sheep into vehicles and in just an hour herded them out into the parking lot of the world.
Where were all the sheep going?
Inside, scheduled fellowship included just two places for worshipers to join – neither appropriate for me (by definition of these limited communities of saints seeking fellowship and teaching in scripture).
Has the world won over the church or just provided better marketing of how ‘christians’ should invest our time on Sundays?
All that said, it’s a continuing issue for many churches and I have addressed it previously, including most recently in a 2020 series, In Case You Missed It…
“For you set aside the mitzvah of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men — the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
Words of the Messiah from the Gospel of Mark 7:8Hebrew Names Bible
History of Faithvs Traditions of History
In our previous Summer Rerun, I mentioned the Great Schism of the Christian Church & later divisions of the Protestant Reformation.
Before then, however, Christianity originates from the faith of Judaism.
In a prior Summer Scriptural Rerun we quote Jesus telling the Jews,
“You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Now in this introduction to our next Summer Scriptural Rerun we will reintroduce the faith of Abraham.
ByfaithAbraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going
And what does this have to do with traditions of the Catholic Church?
In fact, Jesus makes the point to the Jews that FAITH through Scripture far outweighs the TRADITIONS of man.
Jewish traditions, Roman Catholic traditions, Orthodox traditions — even Anglican, Lutheran and other traditions of the Protestant Reformation must give way to Holy Scripture.
In part 1 we examined the history of the Bible and specifically how it relates to King James and pre-colonial America. Next we will go back to a time when the church divided into various branches.
Take a look at the graphic from the early church to the Reformation and you will see a continual division of the Church.
History 100 Quiz – Answer Key
How did you do on the three question pop-quiz from church history?
Why did the British Empire ban Roger Williams from its colony August 8, 1635 AD?
What does the date of 24 July, 1567 have to do with the Bible?
And in 1525-26, what did William Tyndale do to oppose Papal authority that led to impact the Colonies and all the British Empire?
The answers found within the context of the original post:
Roger Williams was sentenced to banishment by the British colony of Massachusetts for his differing religious views. In exile he founded Rhode Island on principles of freedom of conscience.
Prince James became King of Scotland on 24 July, 1567, at the age of 13 months, after his mother Mary, Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate… When Elizabeth I died childless, James inherited the throne.
William Tyndale’s New Testament, 1525-26, was defiance of protest against Papal authority. It was printed in Germany, where Martin Luther’s New Testament was first printed in 1529. One risked death by burning if caught in mere possession of Tyndale’s forbidden books.
Scriptures
Once again this particular series is NOT scriptural exposition, but focused on the Church itself. Most colonists from England came to America with their King James Bible and many to escape the absolute religious oppression imposed on them by their local church authorities. Others had brought an earlier Tyndale Bible, while German Language Bibles of Luther also crossed the Atlantic.
Tyndale Bible
Empires Fallen
My linked post (part 2), originally from August 9, 2013, contains many secure links to events in pre-colonial church history which may interest you. All links open in another tab so that you may study the event or term and continue in my talkofJesus.com post.
Historical Dates:
Part II History Quiz – What event or timeline do these dates describe?
AD 753 – AD 1806
9 August, in the year of our Lord 1378
1378 A.D to 1417 A.D.
AD 1453
Food for thought
“Monarchy is the greatest thing on earth. Kings are rightly called gods since just like God they have power of life and death over all their subjects in all things. They are accountable to God only … so it is a crime for anyone to argue about what a king can do.”
King James of England
If people were able to read the Bible in their own tongue, the church’s income and power would crumble.
Commentary on William Tyndale’s English language Bible
The Reformers & Church History
See link below.
Biographical Sketches of the Translators & Reformers
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