HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST*

INTRODUCTION (Commentary)

            In Colossians (1:24), St. Paul speaks of Christ’s “body the church”. The Church then exists as the Body of Christ. When we look at twenty centuries of its existence, we need this perspective. This Church is an organic unity. The image of a massive redwood tree comes to mind. This one, organic mass is a unity of billions of cells. Over the centuries it has continued to grow. It has survived internal and external attacks. Still it produces new growth.

            Forces outside the Church (the secular world, external cults, heresies, other churches) have burned and chopped the bark but have not destroyed the tree from the outside. Internal forces (corruption of clergy, internal heresies, schisms, reformations) have not destroyed the tree from the inside. Some critics will point to the popes as an indication of the corruption of the church. There have been about 10 to 15 corrupt popes out of 265, a better average than the Judas and the 12 Apostles of Jesus. A total of 97 have been canonized (78 Saints and 9 Blessed), again a better average than the 11 out 12 of Jesus. Indeed, the Office of the Pope has the highest percentage of sanctity of any profession.  In Matthew (16:18), Jesus says, And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Jesus protects the Church from all attacks, even corrupt popes. Internal corruption is surrounded, isolated, and destroyed. Historically, we can view that corruption which has been contained and eliminated, just as we can view burls on the outside of an ancient redwood, where internal damage was isolated and prevented from spreading to the rest of the tree. The Church continues to dramatically produce new saints each century despite external and internal attacks. After all, this is the Church founded by Jesus to be our way to salvation.

            This brief history presents the growth of this Church throughout the centuries as well as an overview of internal and external attacks. These attacks are presented in a listing of heresies: numerous branches, denominations, cults and sects which have developed over the centuries. It will also expose their false teachings. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24: 5: For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ’, and will deceive many; and Matthew 24:24: For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect.

            The history of each century also provides a list of saints who have benefited from its way of life despite an internal or external corruption in that century. This is the greatest testimony to the ongoing health and vibrancy of the Church, no matter what the challenge.

            This is the story of the one Church which Jesus founded for the salvation of all. As Jesus stated in the gospel of John (10:16): There will be only one flock, one shepherd. Jesus founded only ONE Church, not thousands which maintain contradictory teachings about faith and morals. He also established only one shepherd, the Pope, who is the leader of the Church.

*Text revised extensively from an article at: http://biblia.com/history/ by J. Dominguez, M.D, and his sources, as well as on the history of the papacy from www.historyworld.net.