Can some one tell me how to make a title for a post?

I have so many books to read! I am so excited about this. Right now I am reading A History of Christianity, by Paul Johnson. Extremely interesting book, especially since it is written by a sympathetic non-believer. He is not hostile to Christianity as a social force the way many historians are. However, he is still hostile to Christianity in its purity, and does not understand the root of it all. It is fascinating to me how a true understanding of Jesus comes only by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

He mainly examines Christianity in political, social, and economic terms. He sees no hand of God moving and shaping the course of the church's history. Nonetheless, the sovereignty of God shines through. He is rather negative towards Augustine (Johnson's ideal church would be Pelagian), which is surprising, and rather negative towards the Catholic church, which is not surprising. The Roman Church does not come off well. All of its major heresies are shown to have developed pragmatically--towards the centralizing of authority and the concentration of power in the hands of a few corrupt men. It is really sickening to see how the exploited superstition. The union of the church with the Carolingian kings is particularly cynical.

In fact, I think it would be fair to assume that the true church of God has always been far smaller then demographics suggests. The medieval church was enslaved to dead rituals and craven superstition, especially the cult of the relics and the worship of Mary and the saints. There are always pockets of men swimming against the prevailing currents of the times. These men and women are always persecuted, sometimes to extinction, but they continue to appear. It reminds me of the woman in revelation who is taken by the Spirit to a safe haven when the dragon tries to kill her.

In fact, much of church history seems to tentatively align with some of the larger themes in Revelation. Christ is vindicated. The true church is always oppressed. There are constantly men attacking and plotting against her, but she is always defended. Thus, the true faith of the church is identical to what it has always been throughout history.

And the two great beasts of revelation, the one which propagates false religion, the other which enforces it--this is tentative--but could they not represent the Roman church and its secular enforcer?

It gives pause. It also shows the folly of any type of Christian fellowship with the Roman church (not individual members, who may be truly saved, though ignorant of their church's teachings).

Anyways, just some thoughts. Sorry I haven't written in a while.