The Story of the Church … in 10 minutes
What’s the difference between a Baptist an Anglican and a Catholic?
It’s not a joke (although it could have been) — what IS the difference between Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans, Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox church … etc? How on earth did we end up with so many different churches when the Bible only has one?
From 1st century to 21st century, here is the story of the worldwide church — and the reason we ended up with SO MANY different practices and denominations. Church history in 10 minutes!
Thanks for this Chris! Wonderful tour through the centuries — I did a degree in Theology and History so covered this in an obviously more detailed way. However, I’m not sure that I agree with you that God withdrew his Holy Spirit — I’m certain the Spirit was ‘grieved’ and saddened by the sad disunion of the ‘Bride of Christ’ but I believe His Presence has ‘hovered’ over the Earth including the Church since Pentecost and before that over the earth as it was being formed and created by God as expressed in Genesis. The Church has taken many forms… Read more »
Thanks Tina — interesting comments. My comment on God withdrawing the Spirit of course relates to that specific period of time and specific geography. I also feel that when churches are in disunity that is what happens — but I don’t suggest it’s ever permanent. Sorry if that wasn’t clear!
Agree that any ecumenical attempts to increase understanding across our churches and denominations are worthwhile and to be encouraged — I suspect most Christians are “too busy” discussing in our churches, which is sad but often the case.
Thank you, Chris, for this very comprehensible introduction to church history. The question that is worrying me is, what is happening to our denominational churches? We moved to this town 4 years ago and have recently felt that we could no longer worship in the church in which we originally settled. We have visited 9 churches of mainstream denominations in the past 6 months. Only 2 had any children present, and in 5 of the churches the average age of the congregation was well over 60. Only one had any real spiritual depth, and only 2 appeared to be forward thinking. Yet I can think of… Read more »
Gosh that’s a really hard question Helen. But I see your point — my recollection from around 4 or 5 years ago (that’s the last time I looked at this in any detail at all) was that all mainstream denominational churches in the UK were shrinking (except Baptist churches which had grown but only by a minuscule amount — so “almost shrinking”). On the other hand, churches that are somehow outside the usual denominations often seem to be growing incl BME churches, the “newer” denominations such as the ones you list, and some fresh expressions of churches. The only denominational… Read more »
I read a book on Scottish Church history ( sorry the name of the author escapes me). It had a family tree of the development of all the Scottish churches and almost every time any two denominations tried to combine the result was 3 denominations, because the combined church didn’t suit everyone, so you got the X church continuing and the Y church continuing as well as the new Z church… That is why there are so many varieties of reformed, Presbyterian (that should have a small p but it keeps self correcting to an upper case when I don’t want… Read more »
Goodness me – if only we produced new followers of Jesus at anything like the rate we produce new churches and denominations!
Hi Chris,
This is excellent. I’ve shared with my family in Romania and my brother is asking if we can have permission to put subtitles in Romanian.
If you agree, could you share the transcript as it would make it much easier to translate the text.
Blessings,
Daniel
Thanks Danny — and script shared by email
Filioque…one word how sad.…straining out gnats and swallowing camels ?
Yes we have been good at finding gnats haven’t we .… thanks for reading
Just watched “the story of the church “. Brilliant! Really helpful!!
Maybe another on “the difference between a denomination and a heresy” again based on Nicene / Apostles Creed might be helpful?
Well I never knew that!
Thanks again Mate
Very good Chris , well reasoned and well thought out
People go on a journey and go through seasons and perhaps need a different expression of the church over time ( I /we have personal experience of that don’t we )
The most important thing is that Jesus Christ is Lord . The church should be missional and collaborative, recognising the culture in the community around . In doing so , making disciples and growing the kingdom of God .
Phil 2 v2
Hi Mike — yee lots of experience — and, in the end, all good!
Nice one Chris.
I am literally trying to discern which step to take in service at the minute, between service in my current Church and a more ecumenical calling — is your message a Godincidence I wonder.
Joe
Hi Joe — great to hear from you. I wonder too! I do think we have so much work to do in just getting our own churches to think “a bit less critically” of all other churches! My new role at the airport goes way beyond ecumenism as I will be working with Muslim, Sikh, Jewish etc chaplain Thats a different thing of course but I hope whichever role you choose God blesses you in it and others thru it.