Did the Early Christians Believe in Transubstantiation?
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The use of artificial contraception technologies is not a very controversial moral issue in our culture these days. It is widely accepted. It was not very controversial 100 years ago either; it was outlawed. In the U.S., it was only in 1965 that the Supreme Court ruled that artificial birth control would be legal for married couples (Griswold v. Connecticut) and in 1972 that it would be legal for all Americans (Eisenstadt v. Baird).
Among Christian groups, there was total consensus in condemning artificial contraception, century after century (see here for Church Father references http://www.staycatholic.com/ecf_contraception.htm ) ...until 1930. Here is the earthquake that opened the door, just a crack, courtesy of the Anglican Communion, Lambeth Conference of 1930, Resolution 15:
The Life and Witness of the Christian Community - Marriage and Sex
Where there is clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse (as far as may be necessary) in a life of discipline and self-control lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless in those cases where there is such a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles. The Conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception control from motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience.
The tidal wave of change through the Protestant world on this issue is obvious to all. The Catholic Church, meanwhile, has affirmed the constant teaching of the Church against artificial contraception, most famously in the 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae. Pope Francis has recently called this encyclical "prophetic." So much for those who expect the Catholic Church to change her teachings on moral issues. It is worth remembering how unpopular the Church's moral teachings were in the first century Roman Empire as well.
Now, let's stop and reflect here for a minute. Can God's moral laws change or are they always the same? Can a Church claiming divine teaching authority, such as the Catholic Church, change teachings without undermining that very claim?
The more basic question is, can objective truth change over time? This question is basically an oxymoron. Any truth that is objective cannot depend upon time, place, or any other conditional factor; that is exactly what makes it objective as opposed to subjective or relative. As Christians, our faith is based upon objective truths about God, the Bible, events in salvation history, and morality as well.
God does not change (Malachi 3:6, Psalm 102:27) and neither do His moral laws which He has revealed to us. So, dear Protestant friends, this is your choice: Was every Christian group somehow unenlightened and wrong about this key moral issue from the time of Christ until 1930 when it was universally condemned ... or is every Christian group, besides the Catholic Church, wrong about it today? Take your pick.
