The Church 2
But you have come to
mount Sion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an
innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the
firstborn, who are written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits
of just men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the
blood of sprinkling, which speaks better things than that of Abel.
See that you do not refuse
Him that speaks, for if they did not escape, who refused Him that spake on
earth; much more, we shall not escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks
from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He has promised, saying,
“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
And this word, “Yet
once more,” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, things that
are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Wherefore, we receiving
a kingdom, which cannot be moved. Let us
have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
for our God is a consuming fire.[3]
This Is The Definition of The Church.
This single passage defines, not
only the constitution of The Church, but also its worship, which must be “with reverence and godly fear.” Now we have no desire to offend anyone with
this passage, but our words must be strong words, so we hope that they will not
sting too much and that you will eventually grow accustomed to them because Hebrews 12:22-29 is the Word of God, and it is not subject to
private human interpretation or negotiation.
It says what it says; and what it says bears the Absolute Authority of
Almighty God.
We Regret All Offenses Out of Love.
Nevertheless, we are deeply sorry if
we offend anyone. We want you to know
that what we write is out of deep and abiding love for The Church as Hebrews
defines it, and the earnest desire for Her fullness and wholeness here on
earth. Fortunately, we can have no
doubts about the status of The Church in heaven. But, “Christ is risen from the dead,
trampling down death by death:” so, no matter how pathetic our earthly human
behavior may be, we have an “anchor for the soul,”[4] and to this anchor we must all cling. Better yet, we have the assurance that this
anchor is fastened to us with a threefold cord, which cannot be broken. We love The Church because we love Jesus, the
Father, and the Holy Ghost; and we are striving to be as obedient to them as we
know how to be. We hope that this mutual
love of our God will eventually win the day and draw us together in complete
unity.
We want you to know that we write
out of love for you as well, so that we may embrace you in the bonds of
Christian fellowship for what you are, brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus
Christ. We are not offering to embrace
the widespread apostasy of the post-Christian era, or the anything-goes
theology that approves every sort of abomination and corruption known to man:
these things we openly condemn. If we
offend it is out of concern that this fracturing of Christianity be ended, and
the divisions between us be peacefully resolved. Nevertheless, when we perceive the Blood of
Christ active in your life, we have no concern that you are called Catholic,
Orthodox, Protestant, or anything else.
The pure Blood of Christ and the evidence of your sincere faith already assures
us that you are our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what our
differences are.
Here Is The Nature of Human Organizations.
Human organizations, like human
individuals, fall into sin. This is
frequently due to the sin of a prominent leader. However, God is fully capable of punishing
such sin, and bringing about the gift or repentance, both to individuals, and
to great nations.
We have only to remember the history
of the Israelites to prove the certainty and universality of this truth. The history of the Israelites does not hang
upon their evil behavior alone, for God is faithful, and His rich mercy is
everlasting. How many times did the
Israelites fail in the wilderness, even under the leadership of such saints as
Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb. Yet, no
sooner had these faithful leaders fallen asleep in God, than the Israelites
fell repeatedly into gross sin: Chushan–rishathaim; Eglon; Jabin and Sisera; Oreb
and Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna, the four princes of the Midianites; Abimelech;
the Ammonites; and the Philistines all conquered and oppressed the
Israelites. They fell in at least six
cycles of gross sin. Yet, each time God
showed mercy and raised up deliverers: Othniel; Ehud and Shamgar; Deborah,
Barak, and Jael; Gideon; Jotham, Tola, and Jair; Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and
Abdon; Samson, Eli, and Samuel. Finally,
after the failure of Saul, God raised up David, and Solomon and the Ark of the
Covenant was restored.
But even then, after Solomon there
were many kings: some good, some extremely wicked. The kingdom was divided. Israel was dispersed throughout the Assyrian
Empire. Judah was displaced to Babylon,
when God deserted them.
Yet even in their despair and punishment
they learned to stop serving idols. And
after the Glory of God had departed, he sent them comforters: Ezekiel, Daniel,
Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Then finally, in the fullness of time the
Christ came to save His people from their sins.
So, in the nature of earthly
churches, we shall not be surprised to see them fail in sin, yet rise in
repentance, for God is rich in His great mercy.
Nor will we be surprised to see these earthly churches fall in the
clutches of evil leaders: false popes, false apostles, false bishops and corrupt
archbishops, wicked deacons, antichrists, and Satanists. Wherever tares are sowed among the wheat;
wherever the Church is in the world, but not of it; there evil will creep
in. It is naïve to think otherwise. The cost of freedom is eternal
vigilance. Yet, even though a church has
fallen into sin, does not mean that it is lost.
These failures are part and parcel of our earthly testing. And such churches may still rise in renewed repentance
and forgiveness.
We have nothing but respect for the
Roman Catholic Church. Yet, she has
stumbled many times: what of it. She is
our sister: we pray for her, we seek her best interests, and she continues to
show flashes of God’s Glory in her. She
has been faithful, where other churches have failed.
We have nothing but respect for the
Orthodox Church. Yet, to suppose that
her hands are perfectly clean is absurd.
All the abominations of the West abide in her: what of it. She is our sister: we pray for her, we seek
her best interests, and we freely hope for God’s absolution. We do not continue to oppress her with
railing accusations, and hard-hearted, obstinate failure to forgive.
We have respect for Protestant
churches, as well. However, the universe
does not have sufficient words to describe their failures: what of it. These are our sisters: we pray for them, even
for the ones that have fallen in great evil, we seek their best interests, and
we eagerly hope for their restitution.
Is The Church Flawless and Perfect?
Yes, absolutely, The Church in
heaven, even with her earthly membership is perfect and flawless. She is perfect and flawless only because
Christ makes her so.[6] There is only one
perfect Church.
There are no perfect earthly
churches. No earthly church can claim
uninterrupted purity. All have sinned
and fall short of God’s Glory. Every
member of every earthly church is a sinner.
The solution to this entangled web of deception is not to erase one
another from our diptychs. The solution
is repentance, forgiveness, absolution, and restoration to fellowship. We must learn to wash each other’s feet.[7]
We provide a link to a brief
overview of Church history.[8] Many such studies are
available. We agree with the basic historical
construct of this study, but we disagree with its conclusion.
This particular study emphasizes the
failures of the Roman Catholic Church, which are many. Rome is an easy target. Yet, we cannot conceive of The Church in the
absence of the See of Paul and Peter.
However, the same study implies that
Eastern skirts are clean. Nothing could
be further from the truth. This study
draws the conclusion that the East is The Church in all its purity. With this we disagree.
All churches on earth have been
soiled by corruption; the solution is repentance, and forgiveness. There is no room for this, we’re The Church,
sort of arrogance here: this sort of hubris and pride solves nothing. We
reject the megalomania of both East and West wherever it is found. In the words of Bilbo Baggins, “This is
Madness.” The corrupted church on earth
today abides by Thorin’s rubric, “Your kind will never understand war, hobbit. This is WAR!”[9]
Is The Church Dependent On Apostolic Succession?
Yes, Apostolic Succession is
essential: but the only reliable records are kept in heaven.
Others assert that some churches are
no churches because they have inadequate credentials. The book of Judges is filled with the stories
of illegitimate children, outcasts, and unwanted, who God raised up to save
Israel from all his troubles. An
illegitimate child is still a child, in God’s eyes. The early church is noted as picking up
deserted, orphaned babies from fields; raising them up in the fear and
admonition of the Lord, when their
human parents abandoned them, leaving them to die.
A baptised person, without a
certificate of baptism, is still a baptized person, in God’s eyes. God is able to raise up children for Abraham
from rocks.[10] Those who pride
themselves in their titles and credentials may be surprised to find themselves
cut off, and unwanted, illegitimate outcasts grafted in.[11] Titles and
credentials do not a Christian church make, but an assembly of circumcised
hearts.[12]
The Church on Earth Has Its Membership in Heaven.
The definition of The Church is
given quite clearly in Hebrews 12:22-29.
No one whom Christ includes in this group may be excluded by mere
earthly authority. No single earthly
body, no matter how large constitutes the fullness of this Church as Hebrews
defines it. Nor can this Church be
explained away as the heavenly Church Triumphant, for Hebrews 12:22 clearly
says, “you have come.” Since, indeed, we
have come, Hebrews makes no distinction whatsoever between the Church
Triumphant and the Church Militant, for both are One. Hence we have the true and absolute
definition of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and that written in
letters so large that no one can mistake their meaning. This is the truth. This we proclaim. This we shout from the mountaintops. This is the Church.
This
is the Catholic Church.
This is the Orthodox Church.
There is no other Church.
This is the Orthodox Church.
There is no other Church.
We Regret the Prefixing of Adjectives to The Church.
We Regret the Prefixing of
Adjectives to The Church with one exception.
We are not ashamed to call The Church, the One Holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church: for indeed, She is built on such a foundation, as it stands
written:
“Now therefore you are
no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of
the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in Whom all the
building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord: in Whom you
also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”[13]
Strong Medicine is Hard to Swallow.
Again, we do not wish to offend. However, it should be obvious to all, that as
soon as we have appended words like: Independent, Orthodox, Protestant, Roman,
or any number of other adjectives in common use, that we have tampered with and
destroyed the definition of The Church.
Let me repeat this because it is
strong medicine and hard to swallow. Nor
is there any way to sugar coat this lesson.
A wise professor once
said, “Any organization that claims to be The Church, probably isn’t.”
Independent churches are not the One
Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: they are seriously divided into roughly
30,000 denominations, and ought to be considering how they might come together
as loving brothers and sisters to confess “One Lord, One faith, One baptism.”[15]
Orthodox churches are not the One
Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: they assert that they are The Church, but
this assertion is preposterous, since the promise to Abraham was “to all the
families of the earth.”[16]
Protestant churches are not the One
Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: they don’t usually make assertions; instead,
they hide behind some false idea of spiritual unity.[17]
Roman Catholic churches are not the
One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: they assert that they are The Church,
but this assertion is equally preposterous, since the prophecies of Daniel to
fill the whole earth cannot be denied.[18]
Indeed, all these churches put
together cannot hope to fulfill the glorious totality defined by The
Church. It should be clear from this
that we have a lot of work left to do, The Church is not yet complete, and we
would be a lot better off if we could do this work together.
Is The Church Hierarchical?
Well yes, as a matter of fact, she
is. However, her hierarchy is one of
humility and not of dominance.[19] Every Christian has
received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
The highest-ranking church office on earth is the priesthood of the
Laity. The fundamental structure of
church organization is the Collegiality of the Laity: Congregational structure. However, such churches have every right to
choose the details of their form of government.
Nevertheless, all such earthly forms must bow to the Lord Jesus Christ, their
King, and build their structure on the only foundation of Apostles and
Prophets.
Is The Church Liturgical?
Certainly, The Church is
liturgical. The details of that liturgy
are fully specified in Revelation.
Christ opens the Book, Christ preaches the sermon, Christ conducts the
baptism, Christ wages war with His enemies casting fire down upon them. Blessed are they who are burned a little, and
thereby find repentance. We need to give
more serious thought to Revelation.
Is The Church a Physical or Spiritual Union?
Assuredly, The Church is fastened
together by an invisible spiritual bond.
Nevertheless, it is corrupt to maintain that the result is not
physical. The Church of Hebrews 12:22-29
is both visible and audible. The Church
of Revelation is both visible and audible.
Her Savior took on real, literal human flesh and was Crucified on a real,
literal wooden cross with nails. He is
the One Whom we have touched.[20] Saint Thomas based
his faith on hard evidence.[21] There is no room for
Existentialism in The Church. The Apostles
and Prophets were real, literal people.
I am my real, literal brother’s keeper.
I am not free to say, “Depart, be warmed and filled.”[22] When I leave the
Communion Table, my obligation of love to The Church is not fulfilled: it is
not ended, it has just begun. I am bound
in brotherly and sisterly love to every sincere Orthodox, Protestant, Roman,
and other Christian person on earth and in heaven. The effects of this bond are real, literal
and mandatory.
To assert and hide behind the idea that
The Church is an invisible, spiritual unity is a hopeless obfuscation, a cop out,
a subterfuge, the avoidance of a real, literal responsibility within The
Church. They will know that we are
Christians by the real, literal and tangible love we have for each other.[23] The raw, honest kind
of love that does not know how to pull punches, or to hide truth.
Compromise Only Leads to Annihilation.
I am not suggesting, not for a
single moment, that we need to make compromises to get this done. Many churches continue to use the word
Christian, but are so compromised that they have in fact left the faith. There is good reason for churches to cling to
historic dogma. There is good reason for
Roman Catholics to adhere to the Magisterium.
These things protect us from gross heresy, but these things are far less
than perfect.
In some respect or other, all of us
are out of step with The Church in heaven, and it behooves us to hunt down our
own errors and destroy them. If we do
this diligently and faithfully we will eventually come together because all of
us will have taken seriously, our duty to draw closer to, and get in step with
heaven.
As a starting place, we might start
to listen to each other’s complaints. If
my brother has a complaint against me, maybe it has some credibility. Maybe I have sinned against my brother in
some subtle way that I don’t yet understand.
As a starting place, we might stop throwing rocks at each other. The amount of gross disrespect floating
around popular Christianity is truly amazing.
I have been blunt with you in the
quest for truth. Nevertheless, I hope
you never think that I do not respect you.
The only reason I write is because of my deep love and respect for you. The only reason I write is to seek the One
Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. This
is my Holy Grail. Compromise can never
find it.
Sowers of Discord Do Exist Among Us.
It is sad to observe, but there are
elements within the churches who would not seek peace under any
circumstances. There are elements so
bent on maintaining division that they would not repent if the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself stood in our midst, and said to their face, “You are wrong.” Such obstinacy is hard to comprehend and even
harder to deal with. Nevertheless, if we
let it go unaddressed, like any other weed it will continue to grow, until it
has taken over the whole garden.
Conclusion
But you have come to
mount Sion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an
innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the
firstborn, who are written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits
of just men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the
blood of sprinkling, which speaks better things than that of Abel.
See that you do not
refuse Him that speaks, for if they did not escape, who refused Him that spake
on earth; much more, we shall not escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks
from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He has promised, saying,
“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
And this word, “Yet
once more,” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, things that
are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Wherefore, we receiving
a kingdom, which cannot be moved. Let us
have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
for our God is a consuming fire.[24]
This is the truth. This we proclaim. This we shout from the mountaintops. This is the Church.
This
is the Catholic Church.
This is the Orthodox Church.
There is no other Church.
This Church is without flaw or blemish.[25]
This is the Orthodox Church.
There is no other Church.
This Church is without flaw or blemish.[25]
[1]
The word Catholic simply means Universal.
Hebrews 12:22-29 describes the Universal Church. We must not give up a perfectly good word,
like Catholic, simply because it carries distasteful connotations for some
people.
[2]
The word Orthodox simply means Right Glory, Honor, or Worship. Hebrews 12:22-29 describes the Glory of God
as it is Rightly expressed in The Church.
Again, we do not intend to give up a perfectly useful word, like
Orthodox.
[3]
Hebrews 12:22-29 KJV Paraphrased: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A22-29&version=KJV
[4]
Hebrews 6:19
[5]
Romans 11
[6]
Ephesians 5:27
[7]
John 13:14 — Foot washing is a continual renewal of the Sacrament of
Baptism. It signifies the cleansing that
proceeds from confession and absolution.
The Apostles are to remain accountable to one another, by maintaining
the unbroken bond of forgiveness.
Earthly churches that insist on a broken bond, are playing with fire,
and will be burned. Ironically, many
tracts portray The Church with all her branches severed, save one: this is an
abomination. Christ severs. Christ grafts in again. It is not for man to determine. The goal of all church discipline is
forgiveness and restitution; severance is an abject and bitter failure. Yes, Judas was severed.
[8]
http://www.orthodoxchristianbooks.com/articles/401/romanides,-romanity-fall-old-rome/
[9]
http://www.quotefully.com/movie/The+Hobbit/Bilbo+Baggins — J. R. R. Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien
[10]
Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8; 19:40
[11]
Romans 11:23
[12]
Romans 2:29
[13]
Ephesians 2:19-22
[14]
Ephesians 2:14, 15, 16, and 18
[15]
Ephesians 4:5
[16]
Genesis 12:3
[17]
Isn’t it clear from the fact that “we” are included and subject to judgement by
“consuming fire” that The Church is a bodily organization, with far more than
merely spiritual ties. The resurrection
of the body should tell us that even The Church in heaven is both a physical
and spiritual organization. I am my
brother’s keeper on this earth, as well as in heaven, and I have no authority
whatsoever to explain away my brotherly or sisterly duties using the words
spiritual unity. It is inescapable that
The Church is a physical, visible entity, not merely a spiritual one.
[18]
Daniel 2:35, 44
[19]
Matthew 23:11
[20]
John 1:14; 1 John 1:1-3
[21]
John 20:28
[22]
James 2:16
[23]
John 13:35 — The hymn “They'll Know We Are Christians” was written by a Roman
Catholic priest, Fr. Peter R.
Scholtes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They'll_Know_We_Are_Christians
[24]
Hebrews 12:22-29 KJV Paraphrased: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A22-29&version=KJV
[25]
Ephesians 5:27
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