Page 546 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas as missionaries, persecutors, and in many cases only scant record of
the church at Antioch ordained them and sent them out; their existence has survived.
they didn’t need to seek authority from any church or “During the Dark Ages, when, from the union of
person outside of the assembly (Acts 13:1-4). This church and state, Christianity became generally
biblical system of the autonomy of the assembly was corrupt, there still remained in obscure places,
gradually replaced with the multiplication of realms of churches and sects which maintained the pure
ecclesiastical authority over which bishops ruled. This doctrines and ordinances of Christ, and, hence, it is
developed into five major areas of authority, which certain that these churches and sects held,
finally resulted in the division of the churches into the substantially, the same principles which are now held
jurisdiction of two centers of authority—East and West. as the distinctive views of the Baptists. The Roman
Catholic Church claims to be the oldest and the only
We must not forget, though, that throughout this apostolic church; but without a shadow of proof. The
period there were independent N.T. churches that Papal Church is very old, indeed, but so is Judaism,
maintained apostolic doctrine and pattern. These and so are many of the heathen religions. Age alone
refused to submit to the unbiblical hierarchical cannot establish her claim to be recognized as the true
ecclesiastical system that was being developed by power church of Christ. It must be shown that in doctrine and
hungry church leaders. practice she is the same as the primitive church. But
The bishops of Rome and Constantinople fought one this cannot be done. It is a very perverted and corrupt
form of Christianity, with a mixture of Jewish ritualism
another for many years, making a basic break in the 5th and heathen rites, but also with sufficient gospel truth
century and a final break in the 9th when “Nicolas, the to give it some resemblance to the true religion. When
bishop of Rome, excommunicated Photius, Patriarch of the Church of Rome departed from the doctrines of the
Constantinople, who in turn excommunicated Nicolas.” apostles, it ceased to be an apostolic church, and
Thus we see the origin of the split between the Roman became a political organization. The Baptists claim that
Catholic and the Greek Orthodox Churches. [See their principles are older than the Church of Rome, and
Eastern Orthodox.] they base their claim to being the true church of Christ,
8. Leo I (440-461 a.d.) became the first pope in Rome. not on their age, nor on apostolic succession, traced
through the centuries, but mainly on the identity of
This was the initiation of the Roman Catholic Church. their doctrines and practices with those of the apostolic
“He proclaimed himself Lord of the whole church; churches” (Thomas Armitage, A History of the Baptists).
advocated exclusive universal Papacy; said that “Baptist churches have the most slender ties of
resistance to his authority was a sure way to hell; organization, and a strong government is not
advocated the death penalty for heresy” (Halley). Some according to their polity. They are like the river Rhone,
identify Gregory I (590-604 A.D.) as the first pope which sometimes flows as a river broad and deep, but
rather than Leo. We see, though, in the claims of Leo I at other times is hidden in the sands. It, however, never
all of the important characteristics of popery. loses its continuity or existence. It is simply hidden for
Roman Catholic Dominion 500-1500 A.D. a period. Baptist churches may disappear and reappear
in the most unaccountable manner. Persecuted
With the Roman bishop claiming to be the pope everywhere by sword and by fire, their principles
(father) of all churches and seeking to exercise absolute would appear to be almost extinct, when in a most
authority over all Christians and even over civil wondrous way God would raise up some man, or some
governments, we see the beginning of the Roman company of martyrs, to proclaim the truth. The
Catholic Church and its dominion of Europe and parts of footsteps of the Baptists of the ages can more easily be
other continents. In Europe this dominion was almost traced by blood than by baptism. It is a lineage of
complete and lasted approximately 1,000 years. These suffering rather than a succession of bishops; a
centuries were dark because an apostate church had martyrdom of principle, rather than a dogmatic decree
of councils; a golden chord of love, rather than an iron
arisen to a position of awesome power and made every chain of succession, which, while attempting to rattle
effort to keep truth and salvation from the people. its links back to the apostles, has been of more service
Catholic tradition usurped the place of Scripture. The in chaining some protesting Baptist to the stake than in
pope, Mary, the “saints,” and the priests usurped the proclaiming the truth of the New Testament. It is,
place of Christ. nevertheless, a right royal succession, that in every age
Did N.T. Churches Exist During the Period of Roman the Baptists have been advocates of liberty for all, and
Catholic Dominion? have held that the gospel of the Son of God makes
every man a free man in Christ Jesus” (John Christian,
The following are some statements describing the A History of the Baptists).
existence of N.T. churches throughout the church age, “The Waldensian’s traditions invariably point to an
though bitterly persecuted by Rome. They were called unbroken descent from the earliest times, as regards
by many names, usually those chosen by their their religious belief. The Nobla Leycon [Noble Lesson],

546 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity