My Sandbox, My Rules

Fundamentalist Christian leaders have a habit of taking a separatist stance. Basically, they say something to the effect that the universal church has become corrupt, even apostate, and most likely can not be restored. That being the case, only those brethren meeting in Scriptural simplicity and doctrinal purity can be in their fellowship. Church history tells us there have been many with the same attitude. I am reading The First Seven Ecumenical Councils by Leo D. Davis. Uff da! I have watched politics in church groups, corporations, and governmental offices. Imagine that happening all at once to the Nth degree in the same global organization. Now you have a picture of the patristic world from Constantine's reign through the 8th century.

You have to admire leaders in their zeal and desire for the truth. The difficulty lies in their insistence that anyone else who does not quite understand the creedal formulae or has not yet moved to a completely orthodox position is automatically bound for hell by council decree. Too often the ploy was to exert political pressure on rulers, be they emperor, city bishops, or local civil officials. Yet, through all the posturing, tortures, and executions, the word of God was preached and doctrine firmly established to the orthodox teachings we have today.

I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

There is no other explanation.