The Pilgrim Church [Paperback]

 

 

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This book is a classic and a MUST-READ for all students of church history. Deviating from the tradtional path of organised ecclesiastical denominationalism it reveals the thread of those who from the early New TEstament church have striven to maintain the church principals of the first century.

Not jsut an exposure of persecution from pagan, but also from Catholic and reformed Protestant corners against those you do not conform to the accepted norm.

Nicely divided into chronologiocal blocks and geographic areas enables the book to be used as a reference for dipping in and out of, as well as a gripping read from start to finish.

Writen over 70years ago, so some of the writing style not particularly contempory.

Many who follow this idea of a Pilgrim Church use as their base text a book written by E.H. Broadbent. Broadbent was an Evangelical Christian of the Plymouth Brethren persuasion. Dave Hunt wrote the forward to the new edition of Broadbent's "classic". Dave Hunt is man I once admired as a stern defender of the "faith once delivered". He also has historical ties with this group.

On a positive note, and before I begin the main body of the review, the book is still fairly good for historical reference even though you will have to be careful to separate his opinion from the facts. This man did spend many years travelling the world collecting this information, and for that at least he must be commended. Therefore I have given it three stars.

The Pilgrim Church doctrine or philosophy is the idea that the real (spiritual) Church has existed outside of the established Church for most of the last 2000 years. Most people put the date of this divergence at the time Constantine converted to the faith. Some call this marriage between the Church and State the Constantinian Hybrid. There is also the idea then that most, if not all, within the Catholic Church are lost in sin and idolatry, and that this Church has been nothing but a cause for evil ever since.

The Pilgrim Church idea is an attempt to piece together the puzzle of where the real (spiritual) Church of Jesus Christ has been for the last 2000 years. The man who gave some real meat to this was E.H. Broadbent in his book the Pilgrim Church. In it he explores various sects of Christianity. He starts with the Church that Jesus and His Apostles established and later moves onto the various schisms that were at variance with the Church. These schisms were related to various issues within the Church. Some had nothing to do with doctrine but more to do Christian practice and others to do with politics.

The most worrying thing I find with this idea of the Pilgrim Church, especially in Broadbent's book, is his inclusion of heretical cults such as the Paulicians, Bogomils and Cathars. All these groups had there foundation in Gnosticism, and are a far cry from Evangelical Protestantism, which is the main group who tries to use them. I have pointed this out to certain "fundamentalist" Christians only to be accused of being judgemental. Yet these same people would have no qualms about condemning other Christian groups, whom they perceive as heretical, to be going to hell. This is patently illogical and inconsistent.

The Church from the very beginning believed in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. This can be seen as early as c.250 when a bishop of the Church of Rome named Novatian broke away from the Catholic Church. His reason was that the Church had grown lax. The Church said that the reason was he was full of pride. We may never know the true reasons. But what we do know is that this man was in all points as orthodox as the Church. His contention was that the Church should not offer ecclesiastical forgiveness to those who had denied Jesus under torture. He said that if God wanted to forgive them that was His prerogative, but that the Church had no authority to do so. The Church thought otherwise and said that a person who had committed such a sin should be barred from the Eucharist for 10 years. For this reason Novatian split from the Church and began the first "Pilgrim Church" (or Kingdom Movement). This episode of Church history is pre-Constantinian and the Novatian schismatic church cannot be shown to be in heresy on any points with the Church that preceded it. It's only difference was that it had a harsher discipline.

Again, this book uses the Paulicians and the Bogomils (both Gnostic cults) as "evidence" of the True Church! If this doesn't infuriate you as a truth seeking Christian I don't know what will. As sincere believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, we must be willing to go where the evidence leads, even if that means rejecting stances we once vehemently stood by, or embracing doctrines we once thought abhorrent. If it is true then we have nothing to fear. If it is false then we have everything to fear. We must be bold in our search for truth.

The Bible is a reliable source, but the problem is someone still has to interpret it, and 38000 denominations should prove that has not been easy. Like it or not Protestants do hold to tradition, their own tradition. It is a tradition called the Pilgrim Church. You can't find it in the Bible. But it basically says that down through history you can find little groups of Christians dotted around the world who held tenaciously onto the Bible as their only rule of faith. These simple believers basically all believed the same thing, and took the Bible literally. This is a tradition which has no basis on history, but is simply fanciful and wishful thinking.

Broadbent uses the Albigenses as an example of Bible believing Christians. He calls the Albigenses "brethren". He says of Pierre de Brueys, one of their preachers, that he drew "multitudes from the superstitions in which they had been brought up, back to the teachings of Scripture." He then goes on to give a summary of what he preached, yet he gives no references. I cannot seem to find any references, but I may not be looking properly and am open to being corrected on that. (p.107 onwards). Did you know that the Albigenses believed in 2 gods? A good god and a bad god? This is gnosticism. They also required vegetarianism among their members and made their cathecumens swear never to eat meat again. Paul warned that wolves would teach such a doctrine. These facts regarding the Albigenses are easily found on the internet from primary sources of their own extant writings.

Do you seriously want to claim these people as your spiritual forbears? The J.W.'s don't have such bad theology as these wolves. But who knows maybe in a thousand years from now Evangelicals (or some other comparable "reform group") will use them too as part of their "Pilgrim Church". I mean they use the Bible as their sole authority, they evangelize a lot, they are a holiness separatist group. They are non-violent and have been persecuted in many countries, willing to die rather than renounce their faith. So yeah, I can definitely see something like that happening. If you want to claim the Albigenses as Bible believing Christians that's fine. They fit in nicely among the other 38000 other interpretations of the Bible.

This Pilgrim Church idea is also known sometimes as the "Pure Church". This idea is based primarily on two Scriptures: Mat 16:18 "...and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." & Mat 13:31-32 "Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

There really are only two Church models on the market at the moment:

1. Historic Church with links to the Apostles through Apostolic Succession. This would include the RCC and the Orthodox Churches among some others perhaps. This group of Churches is far from perfect, and in fact suffers much from coldness and corruption.

2. Pilgrim Church that has broken away from the historic Churches for one reason or another and claims to be the pure Church of the NT. (That is of course until someone disagrees and breaks away again claiming to be the REAL Pure Church of the NT). These groups can vary from extremely similar to the historic Churches in doctrine of practice or very dissimilar. They go from groups like Protestants to Jehovah's Witnesses to Mormons and the list goes on.

Latest update 31/10/2011 (Reformation Day!) My own personal study into Church history has led me to the firm conclusion that the Orthodox Church holds the best credentials for claiming to be the Church of the first century, though I am just as convinced that all the other Apostolic Churches also hold to that claim quite validly. I am seeking entrance into the EOC at this time and I believe it will not be long before it happens. That is not to say Protestant Christians are not true Christians. Many are, and I found my first taste of the Lord in a Pentecostal church. After that I went to a Calvary Chapel and then an Anabaptist church which I am currently attending. I have met many sincere and on-fire Christians in these movements, but my conscience has forced me to accept the EOC as the purest expression of the Church that Christ established on the earth 2000 years ago.

E.H. Broadbent's book "The Pilgrim Church" was originally published in 1931 and is considered a modern classic, especially by those who are interested in the way God has worked in history to bring his church back to its apostolic roots. I have often referenced it in my own articles and books. There are several strengths to this work. First, it provides a sweeping review of church history from the times of the apostles to the twentieth century. Second, it tells the other side of the story, focusing often on many of the forgotten and alternative movements that sprung up at diverse times and in diverse places who challenged the biblical validity of the theology and practice of the established church of the day, whether Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, or Protestant. Third, it provides helpful insights into the personalities and circumstances of many key figures who helped shape these grassroots movements. Fourth, there are some appendices like maps and timelines that help the reader better grasp the contexts discussed. Fifth, it is written by a man who himself has participated first hand in establishing and encouraging similar Christian movements in his own day. Finally, the last chapter deals with an analysis and assessment of the lessons his readers can learn from church history. My main criticism of this work is its lack of "symmetry." Some individuals and movements are described in too much detail, while others are given only passing reference, even though they may have contributed greatly to the cause of Christ in their day. It would have been a stronger work had equal attention and detail be given to each of these people and groups. My curiosity was triggered, but not satisfied, requiring me to do my own further research on some of these movements. Moreover, some of the sources Broadbent used to gather his history may not necessarily be the most reliable. Overall, however, I think anyone who reads this book will be challenged to look at church history from a different perspective and get back to more apostolic New Testament beliefs and practices in their own contexts, than is often practiced in many of the established churches today. A classic and important work!

RAD ZDERO, author of LETTERS TO THE HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT and THE GLOBAL HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT

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