The Roman church seemed to have a dual personality. Following its better “saints,” it added ministries and orders that specialized in charity, health care, and education. Intertwined with those, it became violently oppressive toward non-believers and dissenting believers. Following Constantine’s example, it used government arms to enforce its decrees called “canon law.”
“WARFARE… NOT OF THE FLESH”
Those familiar with the story of Jesus know that Peter cut off a man’s ear while trying to protect Jesus. “Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And He touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51). Jesus told Pilate, “If My kingdom were of his world, My servants would have been fighting” (John 18:36 cf. Luke 6:27-31). The apostles confirmed Christ’s non-violence (Romans 12:14, 18-19; James 5:6; 1 Peter 2:21-23; 3:9, 11).
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Roman Catholicism chose the opposite direction. As it gained political and secular power, it increasingly wielded worldly weapons. Previously, pagan Rome had committed many atrocities as it persecuted Christians over two centuries. ‘Christian’ Rome did the same and worse for more than ten centuries. During the Middle Ages—Catholicism’s “golden age”—the Roman church dispossessed, imprisoned, tormented, and executed many more victims than the Caesars had. It often worked through its agents, like the Dominican order, and secular rulers like Charlemagne. The “Inquisition” hunted down believers and unbelievers alike. Rival popes and their allied kingdoms waged bloody “holy wars.” Their “Crusades”— infamous for crimes and atrocities—killed millions and left scars to this day. Brave explorers like Columbus waved the cross over enslavement, torture and murder in the Americas and beyond.
That is not to suggest that there was any lack of sincere faith. But Jesus had shown that sincerity may turn violent. “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). Knowing little of the Bible, the people were caught up in the superstitions of their time. They tended to believe what they were told. As the Council of Florence stated in 1439. “The Roman Pontiff, hold[s] the primacy throughout the entire world and… is the head of the entire Church.” Therefore, to resist the pope amounted to resisting God.
But, even for many of the Roman Catholic faithful, the evils flowing out of Rome became undeniable. Where was the crystal clear, thirst-quenching stream that first flowed from Jesus? Too often, what people experienced was more like the Nile turned to blood (Exodus 7:20). Even plenty of good deeds and great sacrifices became tainted; church officials turned them into currencies to buy God’s forgiveness. Something had to change. And it did, as we shall see.