Cathar Church, General Conference: Online Publications

A HISTORIC PEACE CHURCH

Jesus said, "If two make peace with each other in a single house, they will say to the mountain, 'Move!' and it will move." Gospel of Thomas 48, Mark 11:22

The commonly acknowledged historic Peace Churches are the the Amish, Mennonites, Friends (Quakers), Brethren and Brethren in Christ. Since 1935 these churches have been in the public eye of those who share a witness against war.

Equally, the history of the good Christians, especially during the Inquisition is proof positive of our biblical position and non-resistant views.

Despite a severe and cruel persecution, one which virtually wiped out our members and adherents, good Christians never physically fought back against the Roman Catholic Church, accepting the fiery death at the stake for their beliefs.

OUR HISTORY

The good Christians are descendants of the so-called "Cathars", the fore-runners of the Reformation. While keeping with the ancient order of the New Testament Church we date our distinctive history as an organized body to the year 1002, with our first Council. We are neither Roman Catholic, Orthodox nor Protestant. We are not a denomination.

WHAT WE STAND FOR THROUGHOUT TIME

It is not difficult to understand the origin of our stern opposition to violence when one recalls the horrible background of experiences during the Inquisition and successive waves of persecution.

Throughout our entire history there has been one consistent teaching within the Church of GOD - that war and violence is contrary to the spirit and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Good Christians believe that there is a higher authority than that of the state. This higher authority is expressed in the New Testament and rooted in the Sayings and Teachings of Jesus.

The Church of GOD requests that its members live according to the teachings of Jesus recorded in the Sermon on the Mount.

WHY HAVE WE KEPT SILENT?

After the last major massacre in 1245 at Montségur, France, good Christians were dispersed throughout Europe, settling in small, unorganized communities from the Balkans to Iceland. Eventually some crossed to North America in the search for religious tolerance.

Our communities are small, largely autonomous and unstructured following the New Testament pattern of house churches. We enjoy a unity of testimony and witness.

In recent years, several groups have come together for the purpose of fostering support programs for members and ministries for evangelictic outreach, especially on the street and in the prisons.

WHAT MUST WE DO?

The goal of every good Christian is to bring the System back to the aim of Jesus: to respond to the human needs of people and establish a just order within society.

We accept that as a small church we lack the power to force the System to change by ourselves. Indeed, in the past twelve years, and even to this very moment, some have been relentless in attempting to discredit or close us down. When people get the facts, they recognize both our imperfection and our basic honesty.

We maintain and affirm our historic beliefs and seek to expand the scope of that message in this present time by working with all people of good will who share these convictions, even if we have doctrinal differences.

WHY ARE WE SPEAKING UP TODAY?

Good Christians believe that modern society is poised on the brink of major disorder as a result of the inability of the System to be straight - up and honest in its attempts to address the problems we face, now and in the future.

History has shown that when governments are confronted by the people and asked for an accounting their traditional response is to lash out with the power of the police and the military.

Following the way of Jesus puts us on a collision course with both government and the courts, which will resort to any means necessary to totally discredit and smash those who oppose them so that they won't gain in numbers.