The Dark Ages
Someone recently asked a question about the 400-year period of silence between the writing of the books of Malachi and Matthew, and asked if we thought those could also be considered Ôthe Dark Ages.Õ Now, we are sure that most will agree this isnÕt what people refer to when theyÕre speaking about Ôthe Dark Ages.Õ
Rather,
our understanding of the ÔDark AgesÕ is itÕs the period that began shortly
after the Apostles died late in the First Century, for thatÕs when men
started teaching things that systematized menÕs thoughts and led them away from
the reality of the presence of God within themselves. And this robbed them of
their ability to hear and discern His voice for themselves.
For a
brief period, the early Christian Congregation was a vibrant and powerful
living organism. The Holy Ones in that day were manifesting the Christ through
great signs and wonders, which followed on the heels of the Word that they
preached. However, that didnÕt last long, for Christianity soon entered a
breach periodÉ a period of darkened understandings. ItÕs a time when
ÔChristianityÕ became a systematized
religion with institutions, man-made organizations, and paid
priesthoods.
Yet,
although we usually refer to the ÔDark AgesÕ as a period of long ago, itÕs one
that weÕve never completely recovered from, for it has lasted more than 1900
years now.
Paul
(the Apostle) knew that there were dark times coming for the Christian Congregation.
For he wrote a letter to Timothy (in 1 Timothy 4:1, 2) where he
warned, Ôwicked spirits and the teachings of demons [which are the result of]
the hypocrisy of men who are liars and whose consciences are seared as
with branding irons,Õ were already at work in the Christian
Congregation.
So, he
was essentially telling Timothy, ÔYouÕd better be careful, because even
within our own ranks there are those who are teaching wrong things. They are
lying, deceiving spirits who are using men with knowledge of God to teach
and speak things that lead Christians away from the truth.Õ
Here
Paul was giving a prophetic warning that many teachings and doctrines would
soon infiltrate the Christian Congregation and pervert the true good news.
They would introduce doctrines that would seduce and systematize the
thinking of men and alienate them from the truth and from the power of
spirit life that is in Jesus. And, as this was happening in PaulÕs time, we
find that itÕs still happening today.
As
history clearly shows, men soon embraced those carnal religious
doctrines rather than listening to the voice of God for themselves; and this
led Christianity into gross darkness, both in their understanding and in
their behavior. Consider the Crusades and Inquisitions for example;
why, Christians who were truly listening to God were tortured or
burned alive at the stake as heretics at the hands of those who
claimed to be the representatives of LOVE!
This
certainly was a dark time.
Then,
through the care of God, there was a slight reprieve early in the 16th century,
when some light began to shine in the darkness, starting
with Martin Luther. That was the beginning of the reformation, and
itÕs still in the works today.
Then
again, more light was provided at the turn of the 20th Century, but even
this was just another step of reformation that is needed to get
the Christian Congregation back to where it was. For the latter Christian
Congregation must go far beyond the former!
Now,
with even a little knowledge of history, it isnÕt difficult to see that
Christianity slipped into gross darkness many centuries ago, and we
havenÕt fully emerge from that darkness yet. Sure, Christians may not be
torturing or burning other Christians at the stake as they did in the medieval
times, but they are still certainly killing each other in their
wars and ethnic cleansingsÉ and also in their words, thoughts, and intentions
of their hearts. Why, whenever someone tries to shine some light on the
misconceptions that are found in the traditional teachings of Christendom
today, certainly finds out what it means to be ÔmurderedÕ in the true Biblical
sense of the word.
So,
Holy Ones, we certainly have a long way to go. And the sooner
that we understand this, the sooner weÕll get to be what we should
be, genuine manifestations of the Christ.
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