C: I'm not sure of the answer. But we perhaps know enough to say that the beliefs of the Cathars and Paulicians were not the same as the beliefs of, say, modern Baptists.
I'm not trying to claim one continuous line of modern Baptists. I'm illustrating that documents/writings that conflicted with the dominant church were destroyed. The result is it is very hard to put together complete pictures of these Christians that were outside of that church.
It is often put forward that the RCC was the only church and what the "church fathers" thought was always the case. It is clear that this is not true. Those that disagreed often had their writings destroyed "to protect the church".
Christ promised the Church would endure till the end of time.
This is really the key point. Is the church a physical institution, or is it the body of believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit? I think the latter, I believe you think the former.
It therefore is repugnant to Christian sensibilities (and contrary to Scripture) that the *entire* Church for hundreds of years be wrong about a theologically crucial issue.
If the church is the body of indwelt believers there is no reason to believe they would all be wrong on a theological issue such as Baptism. The Anabaptists believed in adult baptism after a profession of faith, which is the clear model found in Scripture.
The only way the entire body of the church could end up wrong on a theological issue is if all authority were invested in a man, or group of men. Humans are fallible, even if they claim not to be.
And as to what was destroyed, well, I dunno. You would think that the church would have destroyed Origen by that account, or Tertullian, who held some heterodox opinions. Or suppressed the condemnation of Honorius I, which certainly doesn't look good for the Roman See.
This is really the key point. Is the church a physical institution, or is it the body of believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit? I think the latter, I believe you think the former.
Exactly, although I'd mix what you said and say the Church is a visible institution filled with believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit! :)
If the church is the body of indwelt believers there is no reason to believe they would all be wrong on a theological issue such as Baptism.
Right! But why is there any reason to believe the "indwelt believers" who presumably made up the Church in the first place (including the Fathers) would have gone so far astray on this? I think your sensibility on this is 100% correct. :)
The only way the entire body of the church could end up wrong on a theological issue is if all authority were invested in a man, or group of men. Humans are fallible, even if they claim not to be.
But yet, the Apostles certainly taught infallibly, and the Scriptures written by men are certainly infallible. It appears God can, in certain limited circumstances, give even to men the power to teach with a charism that He alone has.