The following is my response to a guy on Facebook who made a post about appealing to what’s commonly called the “Early Church Fathers”. These early writers make up the time period from roughly AD 100 to AD 800. I’ve done some studying of these guys however, my appeal is always to God’s word and God’s word alone. This guy who made the post is from Australia – hence the Australia joke. Here’s my comment (edited and expanded)…

I’m a Reformed type of Scripture Only guy – while being very thankful to Jesus for genuine Christians throughout the past 2000 years. There was obviously some error and there was obviously some things correct early on. This doesn’t make the Church (Ekklesia, Bride, Wife, Body) turn into the Catholic Church or the Orthodox Church early on.

I’m very thankful to God for the 16th century Protestant Reformation, but even then there was some error and some correct things. And even this doesn’t make the Church become Lutheran, Anglican, Wesleyan, Methodist, Anabaptist, etc. Men love to make programs, rules, laws, codes, structure, formulas, etc.

I think of Paul in Colossians 2:23, “Which things indeed have a show of wisdom in [self] will worship and humility and neglecting of the body – but not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.” The flesh can never be satisfied in this setting. The flesh in people LOVES the rules, codes, programs, formulas, etc! And in the system and structure of rules, codes, programs, laws, formulas, etc., the flesh is never satisfied but must be fed more and more and more! It’s in the legalism of these systems and structures that the flesh is puffed up – and people measure themselves accordingly – thinking they’re doing pretty “good” by adhering to the rules, programs, laws, formulas, and codes the best they can.

After the 16th Century Protestant Reformation, there’s the whole Restoration Movement in the 1800s. People were saying “I’m giving up on religion, schisms, denominationalism, creeds, and confessions, and I’m going to discover what the Bible really has to say! I’m going to rediscover the book of Acts Church!” This was a noble cause, but a bunch of weird denominations and even religions (cults) came out of this attempt – most notably the “Stone-Campbell churches of Christ Movement”. The saying “No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible” was popularized at this time.

So did God maintain HIS Ekklesia throughout all of this? I say absolutely yes.

What Should I expect out of the Ekklesia in the second and third centuries? What should I expect out of the Ekklesia in the 10th century? How about the 12th century or the 16th century? What should I expect out of the Ekklesia in the 20th and 21st century?

The Ekklesia are persons who are saved by God and called out from the world to have a relationship with Jesus and do God’s work in the world. The Ekklesia is alive and well on Earth in every nation – except maybe dry and barren Australia. Just kidding! Yes even Australia! The Ekklesia is very structured on Earth and led by God the Holy Spirit – as saved persons walk in the Spirit. A Holy Nation. Royal Priesthood. Peculiar People. Anyone who is genuinely baptized with the Holy Spirit by God is a member of THE Ekklesia that Jesus is the head of. I’m sure that some members of the Ekklesia will get murdered today in certain nations – and if not today, tomorrow or the day after. They’re paying the ultimate cost for being a genuine Christian. Jesus sees it all!

There’s an actual governance of saved persons on the whole Earth who are dealing with demonic powers and rulers of darkness in the world – as well as encouraging, admonishing, exhorting, and rebuking people in one way or another. It’s God the Holy Spirit who bears witness with your personal spirit that both 1. you belong to Jesus and 2. somebody else you meet belongs to Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit dwelling in somebody can do this. Human reasoning and intellect alone can’t do this.

Imagine a city council where persons are called out from the general population to rule and judge over matters pertaining to the city that you live in. This is what an ekklesia is. God has his members of his Church (Ekklesia, Bride, Wife, Body) all around the world – every nation! What many think and believe is the Church getting together in buildings on Sunday mornings, Saturday nights, or whenever is a far cry from the actual Church that Jesus governs and is the head of. Again… Men love to make programs, rules, laws, codes, structure, etc. And sadly, people like to join up with such structure and legalism for a variety of reasons – especially to feed their flesh.

Truth must be found in God’s word. Not in what some man outside of the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and God breathed 66 books of the Bible has to say. I happen to take the Protestant Reformation 66 books of the Bible as God’s word. Genuine Christians must study to show themselves approved TO GOD. And genuine Christians must be like the Bereans in Acts 17 – who gladly heard what Paul was saying to them at that time – but then searched God’s Old Testament scriptures to see if what Paul was saying lined up with it. A genuine Christian can gladly listen to what somebody has to say, but they better go to the Bible – and especially the New Testament – to find out if what’s being said is truth! A genuine Christian will never hand over this personal responsibility to a “leader” that tells them what to do and what to believe! The idea that people MUST submit to leadership that they choose to put in their life is a really bad idea! This is where cults come from. This is where a bunch of undiscerning ignorant fake Christians in America come from.

Martin Luther said it best when he was pressed to recant his writings before the “Holy Roman Emperor” Charles V at the Diet (Council/Assembly) of Worms in 1521. It’s worth noting that Martin Luther is the man who is generally believed to be the guy who sparked the Protestant Reformation – though he had plenty of error himself. Martin came to see that personal salvation was by grace through faith and not by any works of any kind – and this personal salvation and faith in Jesus and what Jesus accomplished on the cross was entirely a gift from God. This is what Paul teaches so clearly in his New Testament letters. I personally believe that Martin Luther was majorly used by God for that time – though he retained some error from his upbringing and experience. Here’s what Martin Luther said at the Assembly or Worms, Germany…

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.”