Akok Amer
Mokokchung
St Augustine greatest treatise was his City of God, begun in 412, in the dark days after the capture of Rome by Alaric, and finished about 426. It was his philosophy of history, and his defense of Christianity against the heathen gods under whom Rome had grown great. He showed that the worship of the old gods had neither given strength, virtue, nor assurance of salvific life. The loss of the old gods, that the worship of the one true God should come was his faith. Augustine discusses the creation and the origin and consequences of evil. That brings him to his great theory of history. Since the first rebellion against God “two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self (City of God, 14:28).” These has their representatives in Cain and Abel. In a world of sin though having love of self as its principle, it limits disorders and secures to each his own. But it must pass away as the City of God grows. Those who make up the City of God are the elect who God has chosen to salvation. These are now in the visible church, though not all in that church are elected. Therefore, the visible church, hierarchically organized church, that the City of God must witness the rule on this earth. With respect to the heavenly city many fall prey to the earthly love of self.
By the sixth century the beginnings of the parish system were to be found in France. There it rapidly grew, and it was deepened by the custom of the foundations of churches by large landowners. The founders and their heirs retained the right to nominate the incumbent. The churchly status was further strengthened by the full legal establishment of the tithes. Likewise, the early Church became wealthy enough to hold land through large-scale through purchases, donations, compulsory tithes, tax exemptions, and its political stability during the Middle Ages. At its peak influence, the Church controlled an estimated one-third of the land in Europe. It is said that the church became the single largest landowner on the continent, with much of its land held by monasteries. Above all, religious institutions grew to their pinnacle. However, this did not last long. In fact, the schism and the preceding Avignon Papacy weakened the Popes’ control over their existing land.
Some of the aspects that witnessed the State of the Church during Medieval period were:
1. Social and administrative role
• Community Life: The local church was the focal point of medieval life. It hosted community gatherings, festivals, and administered charity. By being central to daily life, the Church guided social behavior and reinforced its local autonomy doctrines.
• Education and knowledge: With the collapse of Roman administrative systems, the Church became the primary center of learning. Monasteries preserved ancient manuscripts, and church schools trained future clergy, who were often the only literate people in a community.
• Art and architecture: The Church’s wealth was visibly displayed through the construction of grand cathedrals and other religious art. These buildings inspired awe and showcased the Church’s power to an illiterate populace through stained glass windows and religious imagery.
Political Advantages for the Church
• The Powerlessness of the Roman Empire: After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, the Church was the only dependable institution left standing across Europe. It filled a powerlessness, providing social structure and administrative services that formerly belonged to the state.
• Advisors: Bishops and abbots acted as advisors to kings and emperors andtook religious advantageous by emotionally blackmailing’s at the expense of the scripture.
• Law at his own Hands: taking the advantageous as local autonomy religious body, the Church had its own legal system, that held jurisdiction over issues like marriage, bigamy, and heresy.
Economic Factor
• Tithes and offerings: The Church collected fees for essential services and ceremonies such as baptisms, marriages, and burials. Pious donors, especially those on their deathbeds, also frequently left land, money, or other property to the Church to secure prayers for their soul.
• Indulgences: In later medieval times, the Church raised vast sums by selling indulgences, which were documents that promised to reduce punishment for sins.
Such was the historical evidence of the church standards during medieval age. Numerous Christian reformers spoke out against the wealth and perceived corruption of the Church, believing it had strayed from the values of apostolic poverty exemplified by Christ and his apostles. This was a major factor leading to the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. John Wycliffe (c. 1328–1384): In his work De civilidominio, he argued that the Church had fallen into sin by accumulating wealth. He asserted that ungodly clergy forfeited their right to exercise authority and that the state could confiscate church property. Jan Hus (c. 1369–1415): He criticized the avarice and moral failings of the clergy and opposed the sale of indulgences, a key source of Church revenue. Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536): he advocated for a return to a simpler, purer form of Christianity based on the Gospels, which he viewed as the opposite of the institutional Church’s excesses. Martin Luther (1483–1546): He argued that salvation could only be attained through faith (sola fide) and could not be bought with money. He viewed the love of money (mammon) as an idol. He also helped formulate the idea that poor relief should be a public, secular responsibility rather than one controlled by potentially corrupt ecclesiastical organizations. John Calvin (1509–1564): Calvin taught that the generation of wealth was inseparable from care for the poor. He organized charitable services in Geneva and exhorted the wealthy to be generous to those in need. While he viewed hard work and a frugal lifestyle as virtuous, he warned against the accumulation of material wealth for its own sake.Henry VIII (1491–1547): Though not a theologian, the English monarch spoke out against accumulated monastic wealth for political and financial gain. Healso seized immense wealth and land from the church impacting the English history.
Conclusion the Bible is clear that while the church is a Holy institution established by God, its human leaders and members are susceptible to corruption. Scripture addresses corruption among God’s people in both Old and New Testaments. Warning against false teaching, greed and abusive authority. The Bible strongly condemns greed and the love of money, calling it a “root of all kinds of evils” that can lead people astray from faith.
The church is going empty, the envelopes and donations slips are stacking, the doners list and tithing list are piling in every house. As such, Augustine dream of entering the heavenly city which is the city of God come to my mind, “who else will walk the path of the City of God?” “How many confirmed believers will join hands to walk the street of God denying the self, all for the sake of the Love of God.” What will happen to the unchurch people and what will happen to the church people who both dwells here in the city of earth. The church is divinely entrusted to search for the unchurch people who are earthly and heathen and not for accumulations of wealth and power. Rome did experience the fall of his earthly kingdom. The dominant wealthy and authoritative church will come to seizure with the rise of a new king Henry perhaps Jesus of Nazareth at his Parousia. The church, therefore, is reminded to remain true, honest, loyal and earn for soul and not material resources as if there will be no manna tomorrow.
