Welcome to Apologetics with Carl Kerby!
Today, we’re talking about church atrocities throughout history.
Critics of Christianity point to historical atrocities, such as the Inquisitions of the Middle Ages, to justify their animosity towards today’s Church. But is this characterization fair?
Historically, early Christians were known for their love and self-sacrifice. As time passed, however, the institutional Church became corrupted as religious ritual replaced authentic faith in Christ. The medieval Church was far from biblical Christianity, with many of that era’s atrocities stemming from the Church’s distorted view of faith. But the Reformation brought renewal to the Church, emphasizing a personal relationship with Christ and obedience to Scripture. The Church began to be the Church again! As it did, it again demonstrated God’s love by preaching the Gospel and caring for the needy.
As John MacArthur said, when the Church is being the Church, the “people are marked by lowliness, gentleness, patience, and love.” And what about the Salem Witch Trials? We’ll discuss them another time.
For additional resources, go to www.hopetools.net. Stay bold!
Carl Kerby is the founder of Reasons for Hope and co-creator of the DeBunked apologetic video series. His radio feature, Fast Facts, is heard weekly on VCY America, Saturdays at 9:25 AM Central.
