Scofield Bible

ChurchChurch HistoryHistory ChurchChurch HistoryHistory

IntroductionIntroduction toto ChurchChurch HistoryHistory st rd TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch AD 11st-3-3rd centuriescenturies th th TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom AD 44th-5-5th centuriescenturies th th TheThe EarlyEarly MiddleMiddle AgesAges AD 66th-10-10th centuriescenturies th th TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades AD 1111th-13-13th centuriescenturies th th TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance AD 1414th-15-15th centuriescenturies th ConquestConquest andand ReformationReformation AD 1616th centurycentury th th TheThe AgeAge ofof EnlightenmentEnlightenment AD 1717th-18-18th centuriescenturies th TheThe AgeAge ofof RevolutionRevolution AD 1919th centurycentury th TheThe ModernModern AgeAge AD 2020th centurycentury Modern Empire-Building (part 2) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— RememberRemember what'swhat's beenbeen goinggoing onon inin thethe worldworld overover thethe pastpast couplecouple ofof years...years... TheThe Spanish-AmericanSpanish-American War,War, whenwhen wewe tooktook thethe PhilippinesPhilippines awayaway fromfrom thethe SpanishSpanish TheThe Philippine-AmericanPhilippine-American War,War, whenwhen wewe tooktook thethe PhilippinesPhilippines awayaway fromfrom thethe FilipinosFilipinos TheThe SamoanSamoan CivilCivil War,War, whenwhen wewe tooktook SamoaSamoa awayaway fromfrom thethe SamoansSamoans (and(and halfhalf ofof itit fromfrom Germany)Germany) TheThe SecondSecond BoerBoer War,War, whenwhen BritainBritain tooktook SouthSouth AfricaAfrica awayaway fromfrom thethe SouthSouth AfricansAfricans (killing(killing 6,0006,000 soldiers...soldiers... andand 50,00050,000 civilians...)civilians...) TheThe BoxerBoxer Rebellion,Rebellion, whenwhen thethe EuropeanEuropean powerspowers triedtried toto carvecarve upup ChinaChina TheThe PerdicarisPerdicaris Incident,Incident, whenwhen thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates stretchedstretched itsits “police“police thethe world”world” musclesmuscles inin MoroccoMorocco In short, there's been a lot of Western people doing a lot of nasty things to conquer a lot of non-Western people... TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe bookbook waswas writtenwritten byby LutheranLutheran theologiantheologian AlbertAlbert Schweitzer,Schweitzer, whowho originallyoriginally mademade aa namename forfor himselfhimself asas aa musician,musician, playingplaying thethe organorgan But Schweitzer's theological studies led him to realize that Jesus had done all that He'd done specifically because He'd thought that the end of the world was truly near Thus, since the world obviously didn't end back inin thethe day,day, thenthen JesusJesus hadhad clearlyclearly beenbeen wrong... which means that He wasn't actually infallibleinfallible... which means that He obviously wasn't Divine, but rather just a really nice guy who loved God, lovedloved people,people, andand waswas willingwilling toto givegive ofof HimselfHimself to serve others Therefore, that's what being a “Christian” must be all about TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe bookbook waswas writtenwritten byby LutheranLutheran theologiantheologian AlbertAlbert Schweitzer,Schweitzer, whowho originallyoriginally mademade aa namename forfor himselfhimself asas aa musician,musician, playingplaying thethe organorgan But Schweitzer's theological studies led him to realize that Jesus had done all that He'd done specifically because He'd thought that the end of the world was truly near Therefore, everything that the modern church believes about Jesus being some sort of a “Messiah” who died for sins and who instituted God's Kingdom on Earth is clearly a total fabrication, built up over the centuries Theologians have mixed the real, historical Jesus with the later mysticism of guys like Paul, and then added whatever else they felt like adding to retroactively “prove” their own, personal doctrinal points and priorities TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe bookbook waswas writtenwritten byby LutheranLutheran theologiantheologian AlbertAlbert Schweitzer,Schweitzer, whowho originallyoriginally mademade aa namename forfor himselfhimself asas aa musician,musician, playingplaying thethe organorgan So,So, ifif wewe reallyreally wantwant toto bebe goodgood ChristiansChristians—i.e.;—i.e.; followersfollowers ofof thethe ministryministry ofof thethe historicalhistorical JesusJesus Christ—thenChrist—then wewe needneed toto livelive likelike HeHe diddid We need to forget what Jesus taught (wrongly) about Himself, and we need to ignore most of the specifics of His other teachings (since they were mostly wrong, too), and instead we should just be really nice people who love God, love people, and are willing to give our lives to serve our fellow human beings, just like Jesus was TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— WithWith thatthat inin mind,mind, SchweitzerSchweitzer threwthrew himselfhimself intointo studyingstudying medicinemedicine soso thatthat hehe couldcould gogo toto AfricaAfrica andand helphelp thethe nativesnatives therethere OnOn oneone hand,hand, hishis motivesmotives werewere noblenoble (if(if hishis theologytheology waswas nonethelessnonetheless off)off) “If all this oppression and all this sin and shame are perpetrated under the eye of the German God, or the American God, or the British God, and if our states do not feel obliged first to lay aside their claim to be 'Christian'—then'Christian'—then thethe namename ofof JesusJesus isis blasphemedblasphemed and made a mockery. And the Christianity of our states is blasphemed and made a mockery before those poor people. The name of Jesus has become a curse, and our Christianity—yours and mine—has become a falsehood and a disgrace, if the crimes are not atoned for in the very place where they were instigated. For every person who committed an atrocity in Jesus' name, someone must step in to help in Jesus' name; for every person who robbed, someone must bring a replacement; for everyone who cursed, someone must bless. And now, when you speak about missions, let this be your message: We must make atonement for all the terrible crimes we read of in the newspapers...” TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— WithWith thatthat inin mind,mind, SchweitzerSchweitzer threwthrew himselfhimself intointo studyingstudying medicinemedicine soso thatthat hehe couldcould gogo toto AfricaAfrica andand helphelp thethe nativesnatives therethere OnOn oneone hand,hand, hishis motivesmotives werewere noblenoble (if(if hishis theologytheology waswas nonethelessnonetheless off)off) “If all this oppression and all this sin and shame are perpetrated under the eye of the German God, or the American God, or the British God, and if our states do not feel obliged first to lay aside their claim to be 'Christian'—then'Christian'—then thethe namename ofof JesusJesus isis blasphemedblasphemed and made a mockery. And the Christianity of our states is blasphemed and made a mockery before those poor people...” (given what we've seen even just today, you can see why he might think that was important in the world as it stood in his day) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— WithWith thatthat inin mind,mind, SchweitzerSchweitzer threwthrew himselfhimself intointo studyingstudying medicinemedicine soso thatthat hehe couldcould gogo toto AfricaAfrica andand helphelp thethe nativesnatives therethere OnOn oneone hand,hand, hishis motivesmotives werewere noblenoble (if(if hishis theologytheology waswas nonethelessnonetheless off)off) OnOn thethe otherother hand,hand, hishis basicbasic argumentargument waswas thatthat itit waswas thethe dutyduty ofof EuropeanEuropean ChristiansChristians toto savesave AfricaAfrica fromfrom thethe Africans,Africans, andand thethe primitiveprimitive AfricansAfricans fromfrom themselvesthemselves “I let the Africans pick all the fruit they want. You see, the Good Lord has protected the trees. He made the Africans too lazy to pick them bare.” (he did care for the African people, but as part of his core, “reverence for life” philosophy—he considered them the most in need of his help because he saw them as the most savage of people, barely a step above the jungle animals) “The negro is a child, and with children, nothing can be done without the use of authority. We must, therefore, so arrange the circumstances of daily life that my natural authority can find expression. With regard to the negroes, therefore, I have coined the formula: “I am your brother, it is true, but your elder brother...” TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— WithWith thatthat inin mind,mind, SchweitzerSchweitzer threwthrew himselfhimself intointo studyingstudying medicinemedicine soso thatthat hehe couldcould gogo toto AfricaAfrica andand helphelp thethe nativesnatives therethere OnOn oneone hand,hand, hishis motivesmotives werewere noblenoble (if(if hishis theologytheology waswas nonethelessnonetheless off)off) OnOn thethe otherother hand,hand, hishis basicbasic argumentargument waswas thatthat itit waswas thethe dutyduty ofof EuropeanEuropean ChristiansChristians toto savesave AfricaAfrica fromfrom thethe Africans,Africans, andand thethe primitiveprimitive AfricansAfricans fromfrom themselvesthemselves Nonetheless,Nonetheless, inin thethe namename ofof livingliving outout thethe selflessselfless lovelove ofof Christ,Christ, SchweitzerSchweitzer spentspent sixsix decadesdecades activelyactively workingworking toto bringbring aboutabout physicalphysical healthhealth andand socialsocial peacepeace notnot onlyonly inin Africa,Africa, butbut aroundaround thethe world—forworld—for whichwhich hehe waswas awardedawarded thethe NobelNobel PrizePrize inin 19521952 In his later years, he used his notoriety to speak out against colonialism, warfare (particularly nuclear), the eating of meat, and even against Gandhi (arguing that even passive resistance against evil is still resistance, and thus functionally equivalent to active resistance) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe bookbook waswas writtenwritten byby LutheranLutheran theologiantheologian AlbertAlbert Schweitzer,Schweitzer, whowho originallyoriginally mademade aa namename forfor himselfhimself asas aa musician,musician, playingplaying thethe organorgan So,So, ifif wewe reallyreally wantwant toto bebe goodgood ChristiansChristians—i.e.;—i.e.; followersfollowers ofof thethe historicalhistorical JesusJesus Christ—thenChrist—then wewe needneed toto livelive likelike HeHe diddid BetweenBetween hishis writingswritings andand hishis life'slife's workwork ofof helpinghelping others,others, SchweitzerSchweitzer influencedinfluenced thethe pastpast 100100 yearsyears ofof goodgood people,people, encouragingencouraging themthem thatthat beingbeing goodgood isis itselfitself whatwhat ChristianityChristianity isis allall about..about.. How do we see that in modern America's perception of the church (both by Christians and non-Christians)—and what are the ripple effects of that perspective? TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan WilliamWilliam SeymourSeymour waswas bornborn inin LouisianaLouisiana andand baptizedbaptized asas aa CatholicCatholic there,there, butbut thenthen movedmoved withwith hishis familyfamily upup northnorth andand gavegave hishis heartheart toto thethe LordLord inin IndianapolisIndianapolis He became a pastor, and studied (briefly) with other pastors like Charles P. Jones in Mississippi and Charles Parham in Houston, Texas TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ParhamParham waswas aa bitbit ofof anan oddodd duckduck HeHe preachedpreached inin thethe MethodistMethodist EpiscopalEpiscopal ChurchChurch andand believedbelieved thatthat thethe bestbest wayway toto prepareprepare forfor aa sermonsermon waswas toto praypray quietlyquietly andand letlet GodGod directlydirectly inspireinspire (rather(rather thanthan toto dodo peskypesky thingsthings likelike study)study) He also believed that the British were, in fact, a lost tribe of Israel, wandering since the Assyrian exile and that white people were created on the eighth day, after God had rested once He'd created everyone else back on that sixth day of Creation and that only 144,000 people would survive the Tribulation—those who had been “sealed” to God through glossolalia (the rest will just be destroyed) (“γλωσσολαλία” meaning, “to speak with your tongue”—i.e.; the miracle attested to in Scripture when people spoke other languages under the power of the Holy Spirit) (NOTE: Parham believed that speaking in tongues “sealed” your salvation and made it firm in God's eyes) (NOTE2: Other groups such as the Quakers and the Moravians had been practicing glossolalia for centuries already) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ParhamParham waswas aa bitbit ofof anan oddodd duckduck HeHe preachedpreached inin thethe MethodistMethodist EpiscopalEpiscopal ChurchChurch andand believedbelieved thatthat thethe bestbest wayway toto prepareprepare forfor aa sermonsermon waswas toto praypray quietlyquietly andand letlet GodGod directlydirectly inspireinspire (rather(rather thanthan toto dodo peskypesky thingsthings likelike study)study) He also believed that the British were, in fact, a lost tribe of Israel, wandering since the Assyrian exile and that white people were created on the eighth day, after God had rested once He'd created everyone else back on that sixth day of Creation and that only 144,000 people would survive the Tribulation—those who had been “sealed” to God through glossolalia Seymour discarded most of Parham's wackier ideas but latched onto the idea of speaking in tongues, because he saw it so clearly in Scripture Both men taught that the Holy Spirit can break over a Christian and fill them to overflowing— supersaturating them, so to speak According to Seymour, the initial manifestation of being so “filled” was speaking in tongues Taking a nod from Acts 1:5, he called the moment when the Holy Spirit first “fills” someone like this “baptism in the Spirit” TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan WilliamWilliam SeymourSeymour waswas bornborn inin LouisianaLouisiana andand baptizedbaptized asas aa CatholicCatholic there,there, butbut thenthen movedmoved withwith hishis familyfamily upup northnorth andand gavegave hishis heartheart toto thethe LordLord inin IndianapolisIndianapolis SeymourSeymour beganbegan preachingpreaching hishis beliefs,beliefs, andand waswas overheardoverheard byby aa womanwoman namednamed NeelyNeely Terry,Terry, whowho waswas visitingvisiting thethe areaarea fromfrom CaliforniaCalifornia Terry convinced her pastor back home to pay for Seymour to travel west to preach at their church for a month, so Seymour packed up and went out After his first Sunday message in California, the church padlocked the door to prevent him from preaching there again So Seymour began preaching at a family's home nearby, and of people from every ethnicity and social stratum started listening After a month of these daily services—and a three-day fast—Edward S. Lee finally spoke in tongues... and then others did... and then Seymour did... TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan WilliamWilliam SeymourSeymour waswas bornborn inin LouisianaLouisiana andand baptizedbaptized asas aa CatholicCatholic there,there, butbut thenthen movedmoved withwith hishis familyfamily upup northnorth andand gavegave hishis heartheart toto thethe LordLord inin IndianapolisIndianapolis SeymourSeymour beganbegan preachingpreaching hishis beliefs,beliefs, andand waswas overheardoverheard byby aa womanwoman namednamed NeelyNeely Terry,Terry, whowho waswas visitingvisiting thethe areaarea fromfrom CaliforniaCalifornia Terry convinced her pastor back home to pay for Seymour to travel west to preach at their church for a month, so Seymour packed up and went out After his first Sunday message in California, the church padlocked the door to prevent him from preaching there again So Seymour began preaching at a family's home nearby, and of people from every ethnicity and social stratum started listening Soon, they rented a nearby building on Azusa Street, and throngs of people began coming to the services, being “baptized in the Spirit” and speaking in tongues TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan WilliamWilliam SeymourSeymour waswas bornborn inin LouisianaLouisiana andand baptizedbaptized asas aa CatholicCatholic there,there, butbut thenthen movedmoved withwith hishis familyfamily upup northnorth andand gavegave hishis heartheart toto thethe LordLord inin IndianapolisIndianapolis SeymourSeymour beganbegan preachingpreaching hishis beliefs,beliefs, andand waswas overheardoverheard byby aa womanwoman namednamed NeelyNeely Terry,Terry, whowho waswas visitingvisiting thethe areaarea fromfrom CaliforniaCalifornia LocalLocal paperspapers suchsuch asas thethe L.A.L.A. DailyDaily TimesTimes dismisseddismissed thethe servicesservices asas chaoticchaotic nonsensenonsense Other papers were more concerned, noting the “disgraceful intermingling of the races” (since the movement continued to cross racial, gender, and economic boundaries) and concluded that the congregation were all “mad, mentally deranged, or under a spell” Local churches called for the police to shut the group down, denouncing Seymour as an illiterate lunatic TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan WilliamWilliam SeymourSeymour waswas bornborn inin LouisianaLouisiana andand baptizedbaptized asas aa CatholicCatholic there,there, butbut thenthen movedmoved withwith hishis familyfamily upup northnorth andand gavegave hishis heartheart toto thethe LordLord inin IndianapolisIndianapolis SeymourSeymour beganbegan preachingpreaching hishis beliefs,beliefs, andand waswas overheardoverheard byby aa womanwoman namednamed NeelyNeely Terry,Terry, whowho waswas visitingvisiting thethe areaarea fromfrom CaliforniaCalifornia LocalLocal paperspapers suchsuch asas thethe L.A.L.A. DailyDaily TimesTimes dismisseddismissed thethe servicesservices asas chaoticchaotic nonsensenonsense WithinWithin aa fewfew years,years, thethe revivalrevival itselfitself justjust kindkind ofof fizzled,fizzled, asas revivalsrevivals oftenoften dodo But by then, the phenomenon had caught on, both inin sendingsending outout PentecostalPentecostal missionariesmissionaries ofof theirtheir own, and in influencing and inspiring those who visited from other churches across the country and Pentecostalism remains the fastest-growing segment of Christianity to this day—with well over 500 million Pentecostals in the world today TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded Actually,Actually, toto bebe honest,honest, that'sthat's notnot entirelyentirely accurateaccurate becausebecause thethe churchchurch itselfitself hadhad beenbeen foundedfounded backback inin 18971897 byby MississippiMississippi pastorspastors CharlesCharles H.H. MasonMason andand CharlesCharles P.P. Jones—bothJones—both membersmembers ofof thethe HolinessHoliness MovementMovement TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— IfIf you'llyou'll remember,remember, thethe HolinessHoliness MovementMovement hadhad comecome outout ofof allall ofof thosethose “open-air”“open-air” MethodistMethodist revivalsrevivals inin thethe 1818th andand 1919th centuriescenturies EvangelistsEvangelists suchsuch asas CharlesCharles FinneyFinney emphasizedemphasized thethe kindkind ofof perfectionismperfectionism thatthat wewe sawsaw growinggrowing inin AmericaAmerica duringduring thethe SecondSecond GreatGreat AwakeningAwakening That is, that if you're really, truly saved, you should get to the point where you will no longer sin He thus embraced the doctrine within the Methodist Church's “Holiness Movement” of a “second work of grace” that cements salvation (which Augustus Toplady had written about in his first draft of Rock of Ages) (i.e.; the idea that there's a “double cure” that first saves you from God's wrath, but then, secondly, saves you from sin itself, ultimately leading Christians to “entire sanctification”—or being “completely holy”) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— IfIf you'llyou'll remember,remember, thethe HolinessHoliness MovementMovement hadhad comecome outout ofof allall ofof thosethose “open-air”“open-air” MethodistMethodist revivalsrevivals inin thethe 1818th andand 1919th centuriescenturies AA modernmodern exampleexample ofof aa HolinessHoliness churchchurch wouldwould bebe thethe ChurchChurch ofof thethe Nazarene,Nazarene, foundedfounded inin 19081908 whenwhen PastorPastor C.W.C.W. RuthRuth helpedhelped organizeorganize thethe mergermerger ofof 1515 smallersmaller HolinessHoliness churcheschurches intointo oneone denominationdenomination primarilyprimarily ledled byby PastorPastor PhineasPhineas F.F. Bresee—whoBresee—who leftleft aa highhigh positionposition withwith thethe MethodistMethodist EpiscopalEpiscopal ChurchChurch toto leadlead anan outreachoutreach toto thethe homelesshomeless ofof LosLos AngelesAngeles TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— IfIf you'llyou'll remember,remember, thethe HolinessHoliness MovementMovement hadhad comecome outout ofof allall ofof thosethose “open-air”“open-air” MethodistMethodist revivalsrevivals inin thethe 1818th andand 1919th centuriescenturies AA modernmodern exampleexample ofof aa HolinessHoliness churchchurch wouldwould bebe thethe ChurchChurch ofof thethe Nazarene,Nazarene, foundedfounded inin 19081908 whenwhen PastorPastor C.W.C.W. RuthRuth helpedhelped organizeorganize thethe mergermerger ofof 1515 smallersmaller HolinessHoliness churcheschurches intointo oneone denominationdenomination primarilyprimarily ledled byby PastorPastor PhineasPhineas F.F. Bresee—whoBresee—who leftleft aa highhigh positionposition withwith thethe MethodistMethodist EpiscopalEpiscopal ChurchChurch toto leadlead anan outreachoutreach toto thethe homelesshomeless ofof LosLos AngelesAngeles FamousFamous membersmembers (and(and formerformer members)members) ofof thethe ChurchChurch ofof thethe NazareneNazarene includeinclude Dr.Dr. JamesJames Dobson,Dobson, GospelGospel singersinger BillBill Gaither,Gaither, BobBob Pierce,Pierce, andand CharlesCharles TempletonTempleton (evangelist and founder of Youth for Christ) (who later went to liberal Princeton Theological Seminary and ultimately lost his faith) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded Actually,Actually, toto bebe honest,honest, that'sthat's notnot entirelyentirely accurateaccurate becausebecause thethe churchchurch itselfitself hadhad beenbeen foundedfounded backback inin 18971897 byby MississippiMississippi pastorspastors CharlesCharles H.H. MasonMason andand CharlesCharles P.P. JonesJones inin MississippiMississippi MasonMason andand JonesJones werewere soso dedicateddedicated toto teachingteaching thethe doctrinesdoctrines ofof “entire“entire sanctification”sanctification” andand aa “second“second workwork ofof grace”grace” thatthat theythey werewere expelledexpelled fromfrom thethe BaptistsBaptists andand startedstarted theirtheir ownown churchchurch In 1906, Jones sent Mason to Azusa Street to investigateinvestigate whatwhat waswas goinggoing onon withwith SeymourSeymour and Mason was baptized in the Holy Spirit which Jones didn't actually appreciate The two amicably went their separate ways, with Mason keeping the name “Church of God” and turning the group into a Pentecostal church —making the Church of God in Christ thus the first legally chartered Pentecostal body incorporatedincorporated inin thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded Actually,Actually, toto bebe honest,honest, that'sthat's notnot entirelyentirely accurateaccurate becausebecause thethe churchchurch itselfitself hadhad beenbeen foundedfounded backback inin 18971897 byby MississippiMississippi pastorspastors CharlesCharles H.H. MasonMason andand CharlesCharles P.P. JonesJones inin MississippiMississippi MasonMason andand JonesJones werewere soso dedicateddedicated toto teachingteaching thethe doctrinesdoctrines ofof “entire“entire sanctification”sanctification” andand aa “second“second workwork ofof grace”grace” thatthat theythey werewere expelledexpelled fromfrom thethe BaptistsBaptists andand startedstarted theirtheir ownown churchchurch MasonMason remainedremained activelyactively involvedinvolved withwith thethe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist (COGIC)(COGIC) untiluntil hishis deathdeath inin 1961,1961, atat thethe ageage ofof 9797 TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— TheThe churchchurch hasn'thasn't beenbeen withoutwithout itsits controversiescontroversies ForFor instance,instance, MasonMason becamebecame knownknown forfor diggingdigging upup andand examiningexamining gnarledgnarled rootsroots asas aa meansmeans ofof discerningdiscerning God'sGod's will—whichwill—which waswas onlyonly partpart ofof howhow hehe intertwinedintertwined hishis PentecostalPentecostal theologytheology withwith hishis family'sfamily's earlierearlier voodoovoodoo mysticismmysticism (an intertwining applauded by former Church of God inin ChristChrist minister—nowminister—now UnitarianUnitarian minister—Carltonminister—Carlton Pearson, who recently preached alongside Rev. Al Sharpton and affirms Mason's syncretism as a valid means of upholding African identity within a dominant white religion) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— TheThe churchchurch hasn'thasn't beenbeen withoutwithout itsits controversiescontroversies ForFor instance,instance, MasonMason becamebecame knownknown forfor diggingdigging upup andand examiningexamining gnarledgnarled rootsroots asas aa meansmeans ofof discerningdiscerning God'sGod's will—whichwill—which waswas onlyonly partpart ofof howhow hehe intertwinedintertwined hishis PentecostalPentecostal theologytheology withwith hishis family'sfamily's earlierearlier voodoovoodoo mysticismmysticism AnotherAnother controversycontroversy eruptederupted inin 2014,2014, whenwhen COGICCOGIC SuperintendentSuperintendent EarlEarl CarterCarter gavegave aa messagemessage wherewhere hehe decrieddecried gaygay menmen asas “sissies”“sissies” andand declared,declared, “You want to feel like a girl? I wish God would give you the monthly of a girl. I wish He had you bleeding out of your butt.” Carter was censured by current Bishop Charles E. Blake, but categorically refused to apologize for his words In fact, he started his own YouTube channel so that he could give weekly updates about widescale corruption within the COGIC—even though he's still a Superintendent in the denomination TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— InIn relatedrelated news,news, ItalianItalian missionarymissionary LuigiLuigi ((AKA Louis,Louis, AKA Luis)Luis) FrancesconFrancescon (who had become a Pentecostal through the ministry of William Durham, pastor of the North Avenue Full Gospel Mission in Chicago) (NOTE: Durham is worth noting because he actively disagreed with the three-stage salvation process that was being preached by most Pentecostals— i.e.;i.e.; thatthat we'rewe're savedsaved fromfrom God'sGod's wrath,wrath, thenthen saved saved from sinning, then saved saved saved through baptism in the Holy Spirit—and instead taught that baptism in the Holy Spirit comes after one has been given the Holy Spirit as part of one's genuine, complete, punctiliar conversion which has become the orthodox view among most modern Pentecostals) (NOTE2: For instance, when the Assemblies of God was founded later on in 1914, they used Durham's theological model, even though many of the pastors were coming out of the Church of God in Christ...) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— InIn relatedrelated news,news, ItalianItalian missionarymissionary LuigiLuigi ((AKA Louis,Louis, AKA Luis)Luis) FrancesconFrancescon feltfelt calledcalled byby GodGod toto foundfound PentecostalPentecostal churcheschurches acrossacross thethe UnitedUnited States,States, butbut alsoalso inin EuropeEurope andand SouthSouth AmericaAmerica Thus,Thus, inin 1910,1910, hehe startedstarted thethe CongregaçãoCongregação CristãCristã nono BrasilBrasil (the(the ChristianChristian CongregationCongregation inin Brazil),Brazil), thusthus foundingfounding thethe firstfirst PentecostalPentecostal churchchurch inin SouthSouth AmericaAmerica (in the spirit of full disclosure, their main church building in São Paulo here has always reminded me of the Hall of Justice from the old Superfriends cartoon) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned TheThe ideaidea ofof aa ChristianChristian flagflag firstfirst occurredoccurred toto BrightonBrighton ChapelChapel SundaySunday SchoolSchool SuperintendentSuperintendent CharlesCharles OvertonOverton backback inin 1897,1897, whenwhen hehe hadhad toto comecome upup withwith aa lessonlesson onon thethe flyfly afterafter aa scheduledscheduled speakerspeaker hadhad failedfailed toto showshow upup HeHe ledled thethe childrenchildren ofof hishis SundaySunday SchoolSchool classclass onon aa parade,parade, carryingcarrying littlelittle AmericanAmerican flagsflags butbut thenthen laterlater sawsaw liquorliquor dealersdealers usingusing thethe samesame AmericanAmerican flagsflags asas wellwell “He was at once struck by the thought that a distinctive emblem was needed which might be symbolic of Christianity... An army without its colors is inconceivable: then why not equip the army of the Lord with a flag appropriate to its mission?” (from an article in the De Ruyter Gleaner) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned TheThe ideaidea ofof aa ChristianChristian flagflag firstfirst occurredoccurred toto BrightonBrighton ChapelChapel SundaySunday SchoolSchool SuperintendentSuperintendent CharlesCharles OvertonOverton backback inin 18971897 AA decadedecade later,later, inin 1907,1907, hehe finallyfinally workedworked withwith Missions-mindedMissions-minded RalphRalph DiffendorferDiffendorfer toto putput togethertogether aa finalfinal designdesign forfor thethe flagflag AccordingAccording toto thethe 19091909 ChristianChristian Advocate,Advocate, “The ground is white, representing peace, purity and innocence. In the upper corner is a blue square, the color of the unclouded sky, emblematic of heaven, the home of the Christian; also a symbol of faith and trust. In the center of the blue is the cross, the ensign and chosen symbol of Christianity: the cross is red, typical of Christ's blood.” Fanny Crosby even wrote a hymn to the flag, called “The Christian Flag” TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned TheThe ideaidea ofof aa ChristianChristian flagflag firstfirst occurredoccurred toto BrightonBrighton ChapelChapel SundaySunday SchoolSchool SuperintendentSuperintendent CharlesCharles OvertonOverton backback inin 18971897 AA decadedecade later,later, inin 1907,1907, hehe finallyfinally workedworked withwith Missions-mindedMissions-minded RalphRalph DiffendorferDiffendorfer toto putput togethertogether aa finalfinal designdesign forfor thethe flagflag Today,Today, thethe ChristianChristian flagflag isis flownflown inin churcheschurches acrossacross thethe countrycountry (and(and increasingly,increasingly, overseas),overseas), usuallyusually nextnext toto thethe nation'snation's flagflag However, most Catholic churches are usually uncomfortable making use of a flag that they see as basically just a Protestant invention though the Eastern Orthodox Church has come up with their own version of the Christian flag to fly in their sanctuaries... TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned 19081908 TheThe ChicagoChicago CubsCubs wonwon theirtheir lastlast WorldWorld SeriesSeries InIn 1908,1908, thethe CubsCubs werewere onon firefire TheyThey hadhad setset thethe recordrecord forfor mostmost consecutiveconsecutive WorldWorld SeriesSeries playedplayed (1906,(1906, 1907,1907, andand 1908)1908) andand setset thethe recordrecord forfor mostmost WorldWorld SeriesSeries victoriesvictories (in(in 19071907 andand 1908)1908) TheyThey camecame backback toto thethe SeriesSeries againagain inin 19101910 andand thenthen inin 1918,1918, 1929,1929, 1932,1932, 1935,1935, 1938,1938, andand finallyfinally inin 1945,1945, butbut couldn'tcouldn't getget anotheranother victoryvictory untiluntil 20162016 TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— TheThe currentcurrent mediamedia hooplahoopla thisthis weekweek isis thusthus totallytotally understandableunderstandable (and(and yes,yes, thethe SeriesSeries andand thethe finalfinal gamegame itselfitself werewere justjust aboutabout thethe mostmost thrillingthrilling baseballbaseball ofof allall time)time) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— TheThe currentcurrent mediamedia hooplahoopla thisthis weekweek isis thusthus totallytotally understandableunderstandable ButBut considerconsider this—thethis—the teamteam thatthat heldheld thethe recordsrecords forfor mostmost winswins andand mostmost consecutiveconsecutive appearancesappearances laterlater heldheld thethe recordsrecords forfor longestlongest droughtdrought betweenbetween appearancesappearances andand winswins (like(like BabeBabe RuthRuth heldheld thethe recordrecord forfor mostmost homehome runs...runs... andand forfor mostmost strike-outs)strike-outs) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— TheThe currentcurrent mediamedia hooplahoopla thisthis weekweek isis thusthus totallytotally understandableunderstandable ButBut considerconsider this—thethis—the teamteam thatthat heldheld thethe recordsrecords forfor mostmost winswins andand mostmost consecutiveconsecutive appearancesappearances laterlater heldheld thethe recordsrecords forfor longestlongest droughtdrought betweenbetween appearancesappearances andand winswins SoSo taketake aa lessonlesson fromfrom ancientancient RomeRome andand remindremind yourselfyourself (pretty(pretty muchmuch inin everyevery aspectaspect ofof life)life) thatthat “This“This tootoo shallshall pass...”—don'tpass...”—don't everever loselose hope,hope, butbut don'tdon't everever getget cockycocky (and recognize the absolutely crucial importance of the “base hits” of life, instead of always judging by the home runs and strike-outs...) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned 19081908 TheThe ChicagoChicago CubsCubs wonwon theirtheir lastlast WorldWorld SeriesSeries 19091909 TheThe ScofieldScofield ReferenceReference BibleBible waswas publishedpublished AsAs aa youth,youth, Michigan-bornMichigan-born butbut Tennessee-raisedTennessee-raised CyrusCyrus I.I. ScofieldScofield waswas colorfulcolorful HeHe enlistedenlisted inin thethe ConfederateConfederate Army,Army, thenthen petitionedpetitioned toto bebe releasedreleased afterafter beingbeing injuredinjured thenthen waswas conscriptedconscripted backback intointo thethe Army,Army, thenthen deserteddeserted toto movemove toto St.St. Louis,Louis, wherewhere hehe marriedmarried aa richrich womanwoman andand hadhad twotwo daughtersdaughters ——whomwhom hehe deserteddeserted asas well,well, becausebecause hehe waswas aa ragingraging alcoholic,alcoholic, aa corruptcorrupt lawyerlawyer arrestedarrested onon multiplemultiple countscounts ofof financialfinancial fraud,fraud, andand generallygenerally kindkind ofof aa jerkjerk TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned 19081908 TheThe ChicagoChicago CubsCubs wonwon theirtheir lastlast WorldWorld SeriesSeries 19091909 TheThe ScofieldScofield ReferenceReference BibleBible waswas publishedpublished AsAs aa youth,youth, Michigan-bornMichigan-born butbut Tennessee-raisedTennessee-raised CyrusCyrus I.I. ScofieldScofield waswas colorfulcolorful ButBut onceonce aa fellowfellow lawyerlawyer ledled himhim toto Christ,Christ, ScofieldScofield becamebecame anan entirelyentirely differentdifferent manman (even(even becomingbecoming PresidentPresident ofof thethe locallocal YMCAYMCA andand helpinghelping withwith D.L.D.L. Moody'sMoody's evangelisticevangelistic crusadecrusade whenwhen itit camecame toto town)town) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned 19081908 TheThe ChicagoChicago CubsCubs wonwon theirtheir lastlast WorldWorld SeriesSeries 19091909 TheThe ScofieldScofield ReferenceReference BibleBible waswas publishedpublished AsAs aa youth,youth, Michigan-bornMichigan-born butbut Tennessee-raisedTennessee-raised CyrusCyrus I.I. ScofieldScofield waswas colorfulcolorful ButBut onceonce aa fellowfellow lawyerlawyer ledled himhim toto Christ,Christ, ScofieldScofield becamebecame anan entirelyentirely differentdifferent man,man, becomingbecoming anan ordainedordained minister—eventuallyminister—eventually pastoringpastoring Moody'sMoody's ownown churchchurch inin MassachusettsMassachusetts ——andand foundingfounding bothboth thethe CentralCentral AmericanAmerican MissionMission andand LakeLake CharlesCharles CollegeCollege ButBut today,today, ScofieldScofield isis bestbest knownknown forfor hishis workwork inin developingdeveloping aa referencereference BibleBible forfor thethe everydayeveryday Christian...Christian... TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— AA KingKing JamesJames BibleBible editededited solelysolely byby Scofield,Scofield, thisthis volumevolume providedprovided thethe firstfirst on-pageon-page commentarycommentary notesnotes inin aa BibleBible sincesince thethe 15601560 GenevaGeneva Bible,Bible, cross-cross- referencingreferencing betweenbetween relatedrelated verses,verses, andand providingproviding aa chronologychronology ofof BiblicalBiblical eventsevents TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— AA KingKing JamesJames BibleBible editededited solelysolely byby Scofield,Scofield, thisthis volumevolume providedprovided thethe firstfirst on-pageon-page commentarycommentary notesnotes inin aa BibleBible sincesince thethe 15601560 GenevaGeneva Bible,Bible, cross-cross- referencingreferencing betweenbetween relatedrelated verses,verses, andand providingproviding aa chronologychronology ofof BiblicalBiblical events—makingevents—making useuse ofof BishopBishop JamesJames Ussher'sUssher's 16481648 timelinetimeline ofof thethe worldworld thatthat arguedargued thatthat thethe EarthEarth waswas createdcreated onon OctoberOctober 22,22, 40044004 BC AnAn entireentire generationgeneration ofof AmericansAmericans suddenlysuddenly feltfelt likelike theythey finallyfinally understoodunderstood thethe BibleBible forfor thethe firstfirst timetime (or(or atat leastleast howhow ScofieldScofield explainedexplained itit toto them)them) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment2—— ThatThat chronologychronology alsoalso mademade useuse ofof thethe DispensationalDispensational interpretationinterpretation ofof ScriptureScripture pioneeredpioneered byby JohnJohn DarbyDarby wherein—muchwherein—much likelike inin CovenantCovenant theology—historytheology—history isis divideddivided upup intointo differentdifferent blocksblocks ofof time,time, withinwithin whichwhich GodGod dealtdealt withwith HisHis peoplepeople inin differentdifferent waysways UnlikeUnlike CovenantCovenant theology,theology, eeachach DispensationDispensation effectivelyeffectively supplantedsupplanted thethe oneone beforebefore itit (so in the current “Church Age,” the Church has officially supplanted physical Israel as the genuine people of God) (though in “Progressive Dispensationalism,” the Church has simply been added to the faithful people of God, along with physical Israel) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment2—— ThatThat chronologychronology alsoalso mademade useuse ofof thethe DispensationalDispensational interpretationinterpretation ofof ScriptureScripture pioneeredpioneered byby JohnJohn DarbyDarby wherein—muchwherein—much likelike inin CovenantCovenant theology—historytheology—history isis divideddivided upup intointo differentdifferent blocksblocks ofof time,time, withinwithin whichwhich GodGod dealtdealt withwith HisHis peoplepeople inin differentdifferent waysways UnlikeUnlike CovenantCovenant theology,theology, eeachach DispensationDispensation effectivelyeffectively supplantedsupplanted thethe oneone beforebefore itit AndAnd thethe finalfinal “Dispensation”“Dispensation” willwill bebe whenwhen ChristChrist returnsreturns andand establishesestablishes HisHis rulerule forfor aa MillenniumMillennium (so before the beginning of a perfect, eternal life with the Lord, there will be a Tribulation, a final rebellion by Satan, etc., when God will fulfill all of the remaining Biblical prophecies) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment2—— ThatThat chronologychronology alsoalso mademade useuse ofof thethe DispensationalDispensational interpretationinterpretation ofof ScriptureScripture pioneeredpioneered byby JohnJohn DarbyDarby wherein—muchwherein—much likelike inin CovenantCovenant theology—historytheology—history isis divideddivided upup intointo differentdifferent blocksblocks ofof time,time, withinwithin whichwhich GodGod dealtdealt withwith HisHis peoplepeople inin differentdifferent waysways PriorPrior toto thethe publicationpublication ofof thethe ScofieldScofield BibleBible,, allall ofof thatthat justjust soundedsounded toto mostmost peoplepeople likelike gobble-de-gookgobble-de-gook believedbelieved byby fringefringe groupsgroups likelike thethe PlymouthPlymouth BrethrenBrethren ButBut afterafter itsits publication,publication, DispensationalismDispensationalism becamebecame almostalmost literallyliterally GospelGospel toto mostmost Bible-believingBible-believing AmericanAmerican ChristiansChristians Soon,Soon, therethere waswas aa growinggrowing divide—evendivide—even amongstamongst laypeople—betweenlaypeople—between thosethose whowho sawsaw ChristianityChristianity asas devoutlydevoutly followingfollowing thethe BibleBible (i.e.;(i.e.; thethe Scofieldians)Scofieldians) andand thosethose whowho sawsaw itit asas essentiallyessentially justjust beingbeing reallyreally nicenice toto oneone anotheranother (i.e.;(i.e.; thethe Schweitzerians)Schweitzerians) Suddenly, being “Biblical” (i.e.; conservative) was being equated with agreeing with the only Bible that most common folk really knew—Scofield's Dispensational Study Bible TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned 19081908 TheThe ChicagoChicago CubsCubs wonwon theirtheir lastlast WorldWorld SeriesSeries 19091909 TheThe ScofieldScofield ReferenceReference BibleBible waswas publishedpublished 19101910 TheThe EcumenicalEcumenical MovementMovement beganbegan

NOTE: The term “Ecumenical” comes from the Greek phrase, “οἰκουμένη γῆ” (“oikouménē gē” or “the inhabited world”), which was used by the Romans in much the same way that we would use the phrase, “the whole civilized world” The early church councils between Rome and Constantinople used the term to mean “all the churches coming together from everywhere” and the bishops in Constantinople began calling themselves the “Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople” to reflect their universality (which annoyed the heck out of Rome, so the Pope demanded that they stop it, since only Rome is truly Ecumenical) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned 19081908 TheThe ChicagoChicago CubsCubs wonwon theirtheir lastlast WorldWorld SeriesSeries 19091909 TheThe ScofieldScofield ReferenceReference BibleBible waswas publishedpublished 19101910 TheThe EcumenicalEcumenical MovementMovement beganbegan InIn 1910,1910, representativesrepresentatives fromfrom ProtestantProtestant churcheschurches fromfrom aroundaround thethe worldworld camecame togethertogether inin ScotlandScotland forfor thethe WorldWorld MissionaryMissionary ConferenceConference The Conference pulled together all of the combined experiences and research done over the past century of missionary work across the globe, presenting documented, extensive studies in eight special sessions Not only did this help to systematize and organize missions work worldwide, but it also was the first major attempt for multiple Protestant denominations to come together inin aa commoncommon religiousreligious efforteffort TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned 19081908 TheThe ChicagoChicago CubsCubs wonwon theirtheir lastlast WorldWorld SeriesSeries 19091909 TheThe ScofieldScofield ReferenceReference BibleBible waswas publishedpublished 19101910 TheThe EcumenicalEcumenical MovementMovement beganbegan InIn 1910,1910, representativesrepresentatives fromfrom ProtestantProtestant churcheschurches fromfrom aroundaround thethe worldworld camecame togethertogether inin ScotlandScotland forfor thethe WorldWorld MissionaryMissionary ConferenceConference AA decadedecade later,later, EcumenicalEcumenical PatriarchPatriarch GermanosGermanos VV ofof ConstantinopleConstantinople issuedissued anan encyclicalencyclical callingcalling allall churcheschurches toto comecome togethertogether toto formform aa confederacyconfederacy thatthat cancan workwork andand worshipworship togethertogether InIn 1925,1925, SwedishSwedish ArchbishopArchbishop NathanNathan SöderblomSöderblom convenedconvened thethe WorldWorld ConferenceConference ofof LifeLife andand Work,Work, focusedfocused onon churcheschurches comingcoming togethertogether toto workwork onon socialsocial issuesissues aroundaround thethe worldworld InIn 1948,1948, thethe WorldWorld CouncilCouncil ofof ChurchesChurches convenedconvened inin GenevaGeneva (and this is their adopted logo) TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut notnot everyoneeveryone waswas excitedexcited aboutabout thethe newnew “Ecumenicalism”“Ecumenicalism” TheThe CatholicCatholic ChurchChurch foughtfought againstagainst beingbeing partpart ofof anythinganything forfor anan extendedextended periodperiod ofof time,time, sincesince toto Rome,Rome, thethe onlyonly truetrue EcumenicalismEcumenicalism wouldwould bebe forfor allall ofof thethe world'sworld's churcheschurches toto becomebecome CatholicCatholic EasternEastern OrthodoxOrthodox ChurchesChurches werewere slowslow toto joinjoin becausebecause toto them,them, thethe mostmost importantimportant thingthing waswas forfor everyoneeveryone toto bebe onon thethe samesame pagepage theologically—theologically— particularlyparticularly withwith regardregard toto thethe sacramentssacraments DevoutlyDevoutly BiblicalBiblical ProtestantProtestant denominationsdenominations (Baptists,(Baptists, Pentecostals,Pentecostals, etc.)etc.) werewere uncomfortableuncomfortable withwith thethe leanlean towardtoward liberalismliberalism andand socialsocial GospelGospel ministriesministries insteadinstead ofof basingbasing activitiesactivities squarelysquarely onon conservativeconservative ProtestantProtestant doctrinedoctrine TheThe ModernModern AgeAge FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut notnot everyoneeveryone waswas excitedexcited aboutabout thethe newnew “Ecumenicalism”“Ecumenicalism” TheThe WorldWorld CouncilCouncil ofof ChurchesChurches attemptedattempted toto helphelp everyoneeveryone toto workwork togethertogether byby roundingrounding offoff thethe edgesedges ofof doctrine,doctrine, focusingfocusing onon beingbeing “Christian”“Christian” inin itsits leastleast offensive,offensive, mostmost ambiguous,ambiguous, andand mostmost socially-orientedsocially-oriented sense,sense, andand workwork primarilyprimarily onon socio-politicalsocio-political issuesissues CatholicsCatholics werewere happyhappy toto bebe partpart ofof havinghaving aa politicalpolitical voicevoice onon thethe worldworld scenescene again,again, post-warpost-war EasternEastern OrthodoxOrthodox ChurchesChurches werewere finefine withwith that,that, soso longlong asas deep,deep, theologicaltheological issuesissues werewere neitherneither discusseddiscussed nornor assumedassumed DevoutlyDevoutly BiblicalBiblical ProtestantProtestant denominationsdenominations (Baptists,(Baptists, Pentecostals,Pentecostals, etc.)etc.) becamebecame eveneven moremore uncomfortableuncomfortable withwith allall ofof thisthis andand refusedrefused toto attendattend leavingleaving thethe onlyonly AmericanAmerican representationrepresentation upup toto thethe “mainline”“mainline” denominationsdenominations suchsuch asas thethe Lutherans,Lutherans, Presbyterians,Presbyterians, Methodists,Methodists, etc.etc. This created an widening gulf between perceivably liberalliberal mainlinemainline churcheschurches andand increasinglyincreasingly conservative newer churches TheThe ModernModern AgeAge WorldWorld super-powerssuper-powers builtbuilt upup empiresempires 19061906 TheThe QuestQuest ofof thethe HistoricalHistorical JesusJesus publishedpublished TheThe AzusaAzusa StreetStreet RevivalRevival beganbegan 19071907 TheThe ChurchChurch ofof GodGod inin ChristChrist waswas foundedfounded TheThe “Christian“Christian Flag”Flag” waswas designeddesigned 19081908 TheThe ChicagoChicago CubsCubs wonwon theirtheir lastlast WorldWorld SeriesSeries 19091909 TheThe ScofieldScofield ReferenceReference BibleBible waswas publishedpublished 19101910 TheThe EcumenicalEcumenical MovementMovement beganbegan TheThe FundamentalsFundamentals seriesseries waswas published,published, focusingfocusing onon thethe doctrinaldoctrinal rootsroots ofof conservativeconservative Christianity...Christianity...