Brother,
I have read many book on Church history from many persepectives. My end thinking is that either God has not allowed for extra biblical additions and traditions that men make in the Church. This in the end is the controlling of the work of God and not working according to the Spirit. Of course many brethren can be found in all different church structures, yet we should seek to be found desiring to be in what God is doing by the Spirit of God. The people of God are the Church, not buildings or organisations. Cults also try and control the people of God by making their organisation "the Church".
Toward the Bible, the early Assemblies (churches) which met in homes and were believers used and knew chiefly what scriptures were from the Holy Spirit, after 300 AD some established church leaders wanted to make this certain which was already being practiced, some spurious documents were accepted by very few assemblies so they wanted to codify the canon of Scripture.
Stephen the early brother in the Lord, full of the Holy Spirit declared this truth in his martyrdom.
Acts 7:44-60
44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; 45 which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says, 49 ‘heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord; ‘or what is the place of my rest? 50 Didn’t my hand make all these things?’ [12] 51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52 Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 53 You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”
The Stoning of Stephen
54 Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. 58 They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
One of the best small volumes on an overview of church history is the Pilgrim Church:
The Pilgrim Church: E. H. Broadbent http://thejesusway.info/pdf/PilgrimChurch/PilgrimChurch.html _________________ SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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