This scene complements the one in Matthew. Sign up for The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. 1. There are two statements in Matthew’s Gospel that seem to suggest that he did. God did intend for there to be one united Church led by leadership that Christ set forward before and after His death and resurrection. Did He envision a continuous line of “successors of the apostles” who would govern the institution and issue infallible decrees on matters of faith and morals for all the faithful? Perhaps he did wish to form a church but the church that he formed would not have been that of Caesar which is after all the Roman church. He then instructed His disciples. Here, Christ summoned Peter to be a shepherd who loves Jesus and the Church’s people. So how is our church the same one that Jesus founded? In this continuation of a study of His church, we will now study what the Bible teaches about why His church came into existence, what function and place it is to serve in this world. We do this in part by making sure we faithfully represent Him and become who He has called us to be. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment. Isn't this "building on another man's foundation?" In St Paul’s letters, the members of the Church are considered as “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone.” (Eph 2:19-20). As difficult as it is to believe, Jesus wasn't starting institutional churches, nor was he creating a new religion. Acts 8:4- "Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." All Rights Reserved |, In times of suffering, choose hope to find Christ’s healing, Jeannie Gaffigan: Faith, motherhood inform my vote. Yet today hundreds of denominations exist in the name of Christianity, claiming to be Christian. Solomon’s well known statement, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Eccl. God never intended for any of us to live the Christian life alone. Denominations as we know them did not exist till centuries later. The pope today claims universal ecclesial authority, and because the Vatican is a nation-state, he is a head of state and even has diplomats. Jesus in Matthew 16, “I will build my church.” Jesus in Matthew 28, “Go and make disciples.” Both are true. ► “The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him” (Matt 10:2-4; cf Mark 3:13-16; Luke 6:12-16). A clear sign, in fulfilment of the promises made to his people, is the institution of the Twelve apostles, with Peter at the head. Unlike other thinkers and founders, Jesus left nothing in writing; what we do find is a stated intention to establish a church. Answer. Acts 5:42- "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." ► However, this call to personal conversion was not conceived in an individualistic context; rather, he was continually looking to reunite a scattered humanity into the People of God whom he had come to save. Every church and/or organization has a corporate culture with norms, rules and expectations that pressure participants to conform. He affirmed that his people and his presence were the only necessary ingredients. When Jesus said, “I will build My church ...” (Matt. No. Christ is only the saviour of His one body, His one church. He picked an oddball assortment of disciples, deliberately allowed Himself to fall into harm’s way, left no writings of his own (an essential if you ever want to start your own religion! He did indeed found it on the rock of Peter, but Peter and the apostles are to be always guided by, strengthened by, and accountable to the Holy Spirit of Jesus the Christ. Copyright © 2021 US Catholic. Simon Magus fell into this category (Acts 8:18). Jesus Christ said that He would build His Church and that it would never die out. Jesus sent the Spirit, and the Christian community called the church was born. ” The church is not identical with the kingdom of God, but its purpose is to announce the kingdom while also making it present, albeit in fragments. ), and after making a good start, generally … On the night before He died, Jesus earnestly prayed to His Father to keep all His future believers one and united. But if we build according to Christ’s principles, we get what God can build—a church that the gates of hades will not prevail against. Each time Jesus commissioned him to feed his lambs and sheep, that is, the members of the Church. He had just left Magdala, which was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, where he had just debated with the Pharisees and Sadducees who wanted him to produce a sign from heaven to verify So while the church may live on in a much different form than its early beginnings, the Spirit remains the glue between Jesus and his church. Jesus left no instructions about organizing our churches or church activities. Motivated by a lust for power, he understood so little about the church that he attempted to buy the power of God. On a number of occasions over the last few years, I have heard the complaint and critique against the Christian church of the history books, who with abusive liberty took the moral teachings of Jesus and created a separate church in his name. But from the beginning of his active life he invited everyone to conversion: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). This is question 22: "Did Jesus really mean to found a Church?". Is today's Christianity, with its hundreds of denominations with widely differing beliefs and practices, the Church Jesus promised that He would build? And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 16:18) He obviously had some purpose in mind. 23 Questions & answers about Jesus Christ, prepared by a team of catholic theologians of the University of Navarre. That being said, there are particular attributes that characterize false religions or become the norm during religious decline in a true faith such as Christianity. ► The Church is born, then, with the complete self-giving of Christ for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and consummated on the Cross. Let me show you some Scriptural proof for these statements, which are very much in favor of the Catholic position. This is based on Matthew’s gospel (16:18) where Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” He not only establishes his church but gives primacy to Peter among all the apostles. Some cultures are good and some bad. Did Jesus Intend to Found a Church? B. When Jesus builds His church, He does the building by using disciples just like you. Jesus Christ proclaimed, almost 2,000 years ago, "I will build My church." Traditionally, Roman Catholicism has understood the church to be instituted by Christ. ● In St Paul’s letters, the members of the Church are considered as “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone.” (Eph 2:19-20). ● The Twelve apostles are the most evident sign of the will of Jesus as regards the existence and mission of his Church, the guarantee that between Christ and the Church there is no opposition. This is based on Matthew’s gospel (16:18) where Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” He not only establishes his church but gives primacy to Peter among all the apostles. The gospel of Jesus records that He built one church and that all saved people were in that church. ● Open to all of humanity, Jesus intended to reunite the people of the Covenant. 2. People have often asked whether Jesus intended to found a church. coming of the kingdom of God. . These are still the two main categories of people who afflict the church. In Ephesians 4:7-16, Paul teaches specifics about God’s plan to build his church so we can get involved and do our part—but also so that we don’t build … Jesus’ vision is that we will be one with each other and one with God. When Jesus said, “I will build my church,” and promised that His church would not be destroyed (Matthew 16:18), was He thinking of an ecclesiastical institution, such as the Roman Catholic Church? It is a must if the whole world is to believe in Him. This is the basis for the old maxim, “no salvation outside the church.” In this view, Jesus directly founded the institution, the offices, and procedures within the church. A true Christian is a person God has selected and “called out.” Jesus wasn’t fooled by their outward show of religiosity. After nineteen centuries, things haven’t changed much. At the mere mention of the word community, people often eye you as if you had dropped in from another world, smile tolerantly, and hope you change the subject.Good, sensible, Christian people. People cannot simply build a building and call it the church, as so many try to do. ► His self-giving on the cross, anticipated sacramentally in this supper, and made present every time the Church celebrates the Eucharist, creates a community united in communion with Him, a Church called to be sign and instrument of the task begun by Him. While they are obviously connected, the link between Jesus and the church as we know it today isn’t exactly clear. He prayed for unity and rebuked division. When Jesus established His Church, He received instructions from Heavenly Father. It shows the significance of this initiative to gather together the holy people of God, the ekklesia Theou. Three basic motives: ego, money, and power. He didn’t leave building instructions or establish an organizational structure or provide liturgical templates. Still, Jesus did not found a mere bureaucratic institution but a life-giving community that is sustained by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it is used as an analogy for the buildings of other religions. It is God, through Jesus Christ, who adds to His Church (John 6:44). The Spirit is the ongoing presence of Jesus on earth and is the mover, sustainer, teacher, and guide of the church. . In John’s gospel, where Jesus speaks of the coming of the Paraclete in many places, the Holy Spirit takes a leading role in founding and sustaining the church. Traditionally, Roman Catholicism has understood the church to be instituted by Christ. This is a good point. They fear that you're going to tell them they have to sell all they own, move to a farm, wear bib overalls, and raise peanuts. Rather a person is called by God and answers that call, like a person answers a call on the phone. The term is used to refer to the physical buildings where Christians worship and also to refer to the community of Christians. Questions about Jesus Christ and the Church, © Prelatura del Opus Dei, Fundación Studium, Scriptor, Stronger Families: Key to Recovering from the Pandemic, New eBook – Vocation: Something Great that is Love, Year of Saint Joseph Begins: "With a Father's Heart", Romana, Bulletin of the Opus Dei Prelature. On the one hand, we have the wolves who were never converted—never “one of us.” It is implied that their motives were wrong from the start. Paul did not found the church in Rome, so why did he intend to go there to preach, and why did he write them such a lengthy letter? And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 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