I had a conversation with a very important person in my life concerning the importance of the church and whether or not the church was necessary for the salvation of modern man. Unknowingly, this person was influenced by a postmodern weltschaung. This person’s conclusion about salvation was that “it is Jesus, and myself naked. Everything else is man-made and possibly beneficial but unnecessary.” I found this disturbing and therefore wish to flesh-out, over a series of posts, my thoughts on the church its purpose and its necessity.
First, what does one meant by “church?” Of course the origin of our word as English speakers is German: kirche. One should note that this word communicates “that which belongs to the Lord” and is derived from the Greek κψριάκε. However, since the earliest Christianity consisted of a Jewish core, the term for church came from the Septuagint, or the Greek translation of The Old Testament. This is the ever-familiar εκκαλέιν. This was the term used to describe the gathering of God’s chosen people assembled for His purposes.
The Christian use of the term church describes a liturgical assembly. (I Cor. 11:18, 14:19, 28, 34-35) In I Corinthians Saint Paul used this term to communicate meetings, community, and church. It is obvious in St. Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians that there were liturgical practices in the church that were being disrupted (in this case by women). One of the earliest, biblically recorded, liturgies in the church was the breaking of bread or the Eucharist. (Acts 2:42) The Apostles, including Saint Paul, emphasized the church as a community—note the centrality of unity and communion. The church draws her life from Christ’s body, blood, and gospel. Therefore, the church constantly unites herself to Him. She is both the bride and body of Christ. (Eph. 1:22-3) As a result, to be in communion with the church is to be in communion with Christ.
In addition, the Church is a sheepfold to which Christ is the shepherd. Scripture dictates that the Church, as the Body of Christ and a sheepfold, is the necessary gateway to Christ. Christ is the shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. (St. John 10:1-16, St. Peter 5:4, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:11-31) In each of these passages, membership with the “flock” is equivalent to both safety and salvation. Christ is the gate to this sheepfold and even says that anyone who tries to enter the sheepfold without passing through the gate is a thief. What clearer picture of Christ’s church is there? Notice, that there is no image of the Shepherd and a single sheep sharing some existential sublimity on the other side of the pasture. One might quickly reference the parable of the lost sheep…now that is existential, right? Wrong! Truly, Christ leaves the flock to save the individual lost lamb. However, He saves them by bringing them back into the flock and the sheepfold.
One might also argue that the sheepfold mentioned here is the proverbial “invisible church” and not a organizational or physical as well as spiritual church. Therefore, being that a Christian is member of a holy priesthood and can interperate scripture for oneself and find salvation through ones own studies, one has no need for communities of believers or apostolic organization. If this is so, we are all clamoring in the darkness. The fact is that Jesus Christ established a church that would expand from the top-down. Most are familiar with Saint Peter’s ordination as the possessor of the keys to the kingdom. However, Jesus, before his ascension, also gave special instructions to the Apostles to go out, baptize, and forgive or retain sins. The Apostles, by the virtue of the Holy Spirit, led the church in practice, doctrine, and evangelism, bringing the church into existence. Around 80 AD, one generation removed from Christ's earthly ministry, Saint Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth:
First, what does one meant by “church?” Of course the origin of our word as English speakers is German: kirche. One should note that this word communicates “that which belongs to the Lord” and is derived from the Greek κψριάκε. However, since the earliest Christianity consisted of a Jewish core, the term for church came from the Septuagint, or the Greek translation of The Old Testament. This is the ever-familiar εκκαλέιν. This was the term used to describe the gathering of God’s chosen people assembled for His purposes.
The Christian use of the term church describes a liturgical assembly. (I Cor. 11:18, 14:19, 28, 34-35) In I Corinthians Saint Paul used this term to communicate meetings, community, and church. It is obvious in St. Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians that there were liturgical practices in the church that were being disrupted (in this case by women). One of the earliest, biblically recorded, liturgies in the church was the breaking of bread or the Eucharist. (Acts 2:42) The Apostles, including Saint Paul, emphasized the church as a community—note the centrality of unity and communion. The church draws her life from Christ’s body, blood, and gospel. Therefore, the church constantly unites herself to Him. She is both the bride and body of Christ. (Eph. 1:22-3) As a result, to be in communion with the church is to be in communion with Christ.
In addition, the Church is a sheepfold to which Christ is the shepherd. Scripture dictates that the Church, as the Body of Christ and a sheepfold, is the necessary gateway to Christ. Christ is the shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. (St. John 10:1-16, St. Peter 5:4, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:11-31) In each of these passages, membership with the “flock” is equivalent to both safety and salvation. Christ is the gate to this sheepfold and even says that anyone who tries to enter the sheepfold without passing through the gate is a thief. What clearer picture of Christ’s church is there? Notice, that there is no image of the Shepherd and a single sheep sharing some existential sublimity on the other side of the pasture. One might quickly reference the parable of the lost sheep…now that is existential, right? Wrong! Truly, Christ leaves the flock to save the individual lost lamb. However, He saves them by bringing them back into the flock and the sheepfold.
One might also argue that the sheepfold mentioned here is the proverbial “invisible church” and not a organizational or physical as well as spiritual church. Therefore, being that a Christian is member of a holy priesthood and can interperate scripture for oneself and find salvation through ones own studies, one has no need for communities of believers or apostolic organization. If this is so, we are all clamoring in the darkness. The fact is that Jesus Christ established a church that would expand from the top-down. Most are familiar with Saint Peter’s ordination as the possessor of the keys to the kingdom. However, Jesus, before his ascension, also gave special instructions to the Apostles to go out, baptize, and forgive or retain sins. The Apostles, by the virtue of the Holy Spirit, led the church in practice, doctrine, and evangelism, bringing the church into existence. Around 80 AD, one generation removed from Christ's earthly ministry, Saint Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth:
The apostles have preached the Gospel to us
from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ [has done so] from God. Christ
therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these
appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God.
Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with
full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom
of God was at hand. And thus preaching through countries and cities, they
appointed the first-fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the
Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe. Nor
was this any new thing, since indeed many ages before it was written concerning
bishops and deacons. For thus says the Scripture a certain place, "I will
appoint their bishops s in righteousness, and their deacons in faith." ... Our
apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there would be strife on
account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as
they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed those
[ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when these
should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We
are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by them, or afterwards by other
eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and who have blame-lessly
served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and
have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly
dismissed from the ministry. For our sin will not be small, if we eject from the
episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties. Blessed
are those presbyters who, having finished their course before now, have obtained
a fruitful and perfect departure [from this world]; for they have no fear lest
any one deprive them of the place now appointed them. But we see that you have
removed some men of excellent behaviour from the ministry, which they fulfilled
blamelessly and with honour.
One should consider things historically. First, for the first 400 years of Christianity there was no established canon of Holy Scripture to interpret. During this time, the Church was led through the bishops and lesser clergy, it is a historical fact! There were those who wanted an interpretation of scripture and the gospel outside the pale of the sheepfold and account for the numerous heresies that plagued the church in the first centuries. Without the Holy Spirit's preservation through the Apostles, the Early Church Fathers, and their acolytes the gospel as recorded in Holy Scripture would not be. If we doubt this apostolic succession and/or the holy people who transmitted the gospel through the ages, we haven’t a foot on which to stand and must doubt the whole of scripture! These Saints wrote the scripture, taught the gospel to their disciples, and put into motion the chain of apostolic succession that remains to the present. Christ sent these men of faith into the world to establish His Church on earth and spread the kingdom. The Apostles passed their leadership on to their disciples. (Timothy for example) In addition, in the first century the church was organized to the point that Saint Paul was compelled to discuss the necessary characteristics of bishops and deacons. These clergymen passed-on the faith through their successors by virtue of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it was through this apostolic leadership that the Holy Scriptures were adopted and Christian doctrine established. The Church is the only avenue and authority of the gospel established by Christ for mankind and thus, the Christian church is the vessel of God’s plan of Salvation and continuing revelation of himself to the world.
One should note that God, being omnipotent and fully just, merciful, and holy, can do all that He wills. Thusly, God can show mercy upon whomever He chooses. It is arrogance to think that we can definitely know the limits of His mercy. However, the church is God’s vessel of the gospel and salvation. The church is, by virtue of her communion with Christ and her place as the sheepfold, the Body and Bride of Christ. Therefore, the church is the necessary pathway to Christ and Salvation.
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