The Call to North Africa
7. A Call to Learn Why the Churches Died
- Clericalism:
The churches of the third and fourth centuries developed an educated priestly caste which
alone had the right to teach, offer sacrements and make decisions, and which left the
laity passive. The local churches failed to resist the centralized organizational
control, which stifled local initiative and leadership.
- Worldliness:
The churches tolerated immorality, many who called themselves Christian had no intention
of denying self, taking up their cross and following Christ. Outsiders laughed at them.
- Division:
The churches were distracted and demoralized by internal controversy, which led to the
establishment of rival groups, harsh feelings, bitter words and sometimes violence.
Churches sank rapidly from the heights of vigorous outreach to the depts of
denominational survival.
- Politicization:
The churches entangled themselves in social and political issues that had nothing to
do with the gospel of Christ. Initially, the Donatists' alliance, which arose
during the Diocletian Persecution of 303-311, with rebel groups, brought visible
succeess - a mass movement with wide popular support. Ultimately, however, it led to
bloodshed and military reprisals.
- Scriptureless:
The churches failed to make Scripture available and understandable to the ordinary
people. Using only the language of the educated, they could reach only the
educated who lived in urban centers and whose parents could afford to send them
to Latin school.
- Visionless:
The churches lost their vision, their God-given aim, and their spirit of self-sacrifice.
With freedom, royal favor and the resources to reach all of Africa with the gospel,
the fourth and fifth century churches failed even to get as far as the Sahara.
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11/18/99
