R*o
发帖数: 3781 | 1 Lessons To Be Learned
The so-called Reformation synods and councils and the confessions and decree
s they generated, which all evangelicals today are supposed to honor as stat
ing the true doctrine of Christ, were promoted by an established state churc
h in partnership with the civil rulers - contrary to the Word of God.
Always the overriding concern was for unity, and those who did not agree wit
h the majority position were silenced, persecuted, imprisoned, banished and
sometimes executed.
Just as the Roman Catholic Church had persecuted and killed those who did no
t agree with her down through the centuries, so the newly established Protes
tant churches began to do the same. Anabaptists, for example, were persecute
d and killed by both Catholics and Protestants because the latter still beli
eved in Augustine's baptism of infants with its magical powers of regenerati
on into the family of God.
These were the men and the motives behind the established creeds and confess
ions. Unquestionably, their modus operandi followed in the footsteps of Cons
tantine. Not a true Christian and thus not interested in truth but in the "u
nity" of the empire, Constantine used "Christianity" to that end. Under him,
the church, once persecuted by the world, became the persecutor.
True Christians were still the ones being persecuted. The only change was th
at a false church had joined the world to persecute those not subscribing to
its dogmas. |
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