Learning from the Medieval Church’s History
Russell Dykstra provides a historical overview of the Medieval Church (AD 590-1517) as context for understanding the Reformation, examining the period's educational decline, widespread faith and church participation, power struggles between ecclesiastical and secular authorities, and deep apostasy and corruption. The article introduces eight lessons that Reformed believers should learn from this history, beginning with the danger of false doctrine that permeated the medieval church. This resource serves as a helpful historical and theological primer for understanding the conditions that necessitated the church's reformation and what modern believers can learn from this tumultuous era.
Since this issue of the Standard Bearer concerns itself with church reformers in the medieval church, it will be helpful to gather a bit of information about the period. The Middle Ages covers the period from Pope Gregory I (AD 590) to the Reformation (AD 1517). Let us recall the character of this age. This era is often described as the dark ages due to the decline in education and culture. While it is true that education and the knowledge of the classics declined considerably, it is also true...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org