Certificate of Pastoral TheologyChurch History

Lecture 18 The Medieval Church

Lecture 19 Crusades and Cathedrals

Absolute Rulership

1 Sam 9:14-16, 1 Pet 2:13-17, Matt 20:20-27, 22:17-21, Rom 13:1-7, 1 Tim 2:2.

Charlemagne becomes the new Emperor in the West and modern Europe begins with the “Holy Roman Empire”, that is not holy, nor really roman, nor is truly and empire! Europeans longed for the “Pax Romana” and were ready to seek a strong figure to lead them. The ultimate man will be the Anti-Christ – who will lead Europe – the old Roman Empire. Dan 2, 7, 9, 11-12.

732 AD – Battle at Tours

This was the battle that turned back the Moslem armies for the first time from their conquests of Europe. Charles Martel, his son Pepin the Short, and his son Charlemagne all worked with the papacy and gained respectability and land through that. 756 the Pope received a gift of land from Pepin that begins the Papal States. The Franks were a blood thirsty group, and nominally Christian, but they won battles and were more devious than their pagan enemies.

Feudalism – the Peace of God

The Papacy tried to moderate the warfare of the times, but the only thing not done was the encouragement to teach the simple people the Word of God and so Europe nearly fell into chaos again. Reform began from the abbeys, where St Benedict began a reforming order to clean up the church from the worst abuses, and teach the Bible again to the people. 1059 the College of cardinals was elected to govern the church. Gregory VII (1073-1085) seizes great power for the papacy. Inquisition, celibacy of the clergy, crusades, and serious acquisition of money and political power became the norm.

Ministers

1. Used for political leaders, Rom 13:4 2. Pastors of the local church, Eph

3:7, 6:21, Col 1:23-25, 4:7. 3. Used for all believers, 2 Cor 3:6,

4:1, 6:4 4. Word means “under rower” on a

ship; a slave under slaves to work harder than the rest. Matt 20:25-28, 23:8-12, Jn 13:5-17, 2 Cor 11:18 – 12:9.

Nations and Races

1. God has set boundaries between peoples to limit the spread of any evil, Gen 10:25, Deut 32:8, Acts 17:26.

2. All people are members of the one human family, Gen 9:19, 11:9.

3. Internationalism is not of God; God’s Word identifies national independence as mankind’s best plan for freedom of the will. 1 Tim 2:1-2.

4. Blessing or cursing within a nation depends upon the believers within it, Gen 18:17-33, Deut 11:26-28, Matt 5:13

5. Nations that become totally evil are removed from history, Gen 15:16, Deut 7:2, Dan 5.

6. All the three sons of Noah are blessed in Jesus; Saul, Acts 9:1-16, Ethiopean, Roman, Acts 10:1-48.

Crusaders and Cathedrals

Jer 7:1-15, Matt 10:37-39, 16:24-26. The grander the scheme and the larger

the building, the less sure the life may be upon the rock of Christ.

The low point spiritually was this period where great evil was done in Jesus name that still hinders believers work. Buildings are neutral, but what goes on within them is not!

Pope Innocent III

This man was anything but “innocent”, and believed the Pope was the absolute ruler under God and kings were the moons to his sun! He would use Excommunication and, the Interdict to control princes. Magna Carta in the UK was one result of use of this. He was prepared to see thousands slain, as long as the power of Rome expanded. The Crusades opened up a new era of carnage and hypocrisy! Jerusalem was captured in a sea of blood in 1099 and until 1291 they held their crusader kingdoms in Palestine. More Christians were killed by them than Moslems!

Military Forces

1. War will continue until Jesus returns, Matt 24:6, Mk 13:7, Lk 21:9.

2. A nation not ready to fight for its freedom against evil will not last long in the devil’s world, Eccles 3:8, Num 21:14, Lk 14:31.

3. The Lord fought for Israel, Josh 5:13- 6:2, Is 1:24.

4. Armies fight to extinguish freedom or uphold it, Jer 34:7, 40:1. Soldiers must have true character to uphold freedom, Num 31:1-5.