Transcript Marks of the Church

Marks of the Church
One, Holy, Catholic, & Apostolic
One
• Rooted in the unity of the Trinity
– Unity is not threatened by diversity but marked by true
peace
– Disturbing true peace and unity = distance from Christ
• Must be one b/c Jesus came to restore unity b/t men
and men w/ God
• The true Church subsists in the Catholic Church
which is governed by the pope and the bishops
true Church – the same one est. by Jesus and
entrusted to Peter
governed by pope, etc… - successors of Peter (to
whom the Church was entrusted) and the apostles
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Role of Formal structures in “One”
• Existence underscores the importance of
unity
• Makes unity visible in our daily lives
• Enables us to be united by common
profession of faith
• Common worship – especially in
sacraments
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Unity
Conformity
• Catholic  encompasses wide variety of
cultures and ways of being Catholic
– 7 non-Roman ecclesial traditions in union with Rome:
Armenian
Byzantine
Coptic
Ethiopian
East Syrian (Chaldean) West Syrian
Maronite
• Essence is the same, form is different
• Does not cause us to lose our identity  calls us
to develop our individuality while maintaining
our commitment to unity
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Wounds to Unity
1. Heresy- any belief that opposes, deviates
from, or rejects established tradition or
dogma. Example: Arianism
2. Schisms- the rupture of ecclesiastical union
and unity. Example: Great Schism (11. c.)
3. Apostasy-A complete and voluntary rejection
or abandonment of the religion or faith.
Example: Julian the Apostate
Towards Unity
Ecumenism – refers to the desire and initiatives
to reestablish communion amongst the different
sects of Christianity.
-Christ deeply wants his disciples to be
unified.
-The fullness of Christ’s Church subsists in
the Catholic Church and hopes for a
reconciling of all Christian sects.
Holy
Why?
• The body of Christ  HOLY! (the holy one of
God/ Israel)
• The HSp dwells within
• OT concept: God’s holiness was only made
known to those who drew close enough to be
made holy (sanctified)  not a barrier
– Those who were sanctified were changed, set a part
for the task of expressing the holiness of God
– Early on: Christianity understands itself as Judaism
fulfilled.
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Role of the Church
• Assembly est. by Christ to continue Christ’s
presence and work now that he is not
physically present
• Partner (bride) of Christ in bringing the K o’G to
birth
• Reveal to the world that everything was
changed by the incarnation and continues to
be different b/c he is present in the HSp
• Reveal the God of love  soul of holiness =
love
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Holy
perfect
We have and will continue to obscure holiness
but that doesn’t change what we’re meant to be!
• Some people have done horrible things in the
name of the Church/ with Church support
• We as individuals have failed
Fortunately….
• In every age there have been people in the
Church who showed tremendous love – they’re
what we’re called to be
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Kingdom of God
Perfect
Kingdom of God
Church
Church
Church
Perfect
Sign and reality of
the Kingdom of God
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Relationship of
Church to Kingdom
• Kingdom of God broke into history through
the Incarnation
– Barrier between human and divine destroyed –
forever united
• Jesus established the Church and proclaimed
the coming of the kingdom
• Church is the focal point of the kingdom on
earth but NOT its fullness
– We are in an “already but not yet” reality
How does the Church Support
Holiness?
#1 Moral teachings of the Church
practical directions on how we ought to live as a
community set apart by our call to be the body of
Christ
#2 Evangelical counsels and those who live them
Vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience
Lived by those who seek to belong completely to God
in service of the Kingdom because they are how Christ
lived.
#3 Sacraments (most important!!!!!)
All make present the action of Christ and make him
present. A concrete expression of holiness. Have the
power to change people and build the Church
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Catholic
A little Greek…
– “Universal”
– “In totality”
– “In keeping with the whole”
A little English: used as a proper noun to
refer to the Church in union with the
pope, the bishop of Rome.
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Interesting Fact
The Church started calling itself Catholic in
order to distinguish itself from heretical
groups – especially Gnostics.
Gnostics claimed to have secret knowledge
and as a result denied the goodness of
creation and the humanity of Christ.
In defense of the orthodox teaching we relied
on a broad base to refute the
teaching…hence in keeping with the whole
Later we used the name in a broader sense to
talk about the universality.
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The Universal Element
• Christ came for salvation for all
• Christ established the Church to be the universal sacrament of
salvation.
• The Church is the means to salvation for all people and for all
time!
– Salvation is found in the truth
– Hence… the Church’s missionary mandate to “make disciples of all
nations” making salvation through truth accessible to all people.
• Continues the mission of Christ as his body while being lead by the HSp.
• Salvation is found in the Church  the Church is necessary for
salvation
– All who recognize and understand this are obligated to live within the
Church. To knowingly reject the body of Christ is to knowingly reject
God – apostasy (bad!!!!!)
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What about non-members of the
Church?!
The Catholic Church maintains that Baptism is
necessary for salvation.
Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ,
the Church. Therefore only baptized members of
the Church can have salvation.
HOWEVER
Undoubtedly, God in His infinite mercy and power
can extend salvation to those not baptized (i.e.
infants before baptism, those who have not heard
the Gospel.)
Are Non-Catholics Saved?
• Again we must remember God’s unlimited
mercy and power.
• God is Truth, the Roman Catholic Church
subsists in the fullness of that Truth, other
religions in some and certain ways come to
know Truth (aka God) and therefore are a part
of the Church!
Church: Necessary for Salvation
• Salvation is comes to the world through Jesus
• Jesus began and remains present in the Church
• Therefore…the Church is necessary
“outside the Church there is no salvation”
extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
• Harsh?
– All who recognize that the Church = the Body of Christ are
called to be a part
• To reject the Church is to reject the Body of Christ is to reject
salvation (Bad idea!)
– People who do not know Jesus or the Church are NOT
rejecting him
In Keeping with the whole…
Of Revelation
• Scripture – the written word of God in human
words
• Tradition – the teachings of the apostles and
the understanding and witness of Christianity
– Like a relationship … develops with time
– The RCC says the way our understanding has
deepend of what God has revealed throughout all
generations is important because the Holy Spirit has
been active throughout and we’re not free to
disregard him.
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Apostolic
• Greek: apostolos “one who is sent”
Jesus was sent from God,
Jesus sent the apostles to transform the world
• Our identity and purpose exist in our mission.
• The nature of the Church is apostolic – if we
cease being apostolic, we cease to be the
Church…we’d just be a group of people
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Ways we are faithful to our apostolic
Nature
#1 Recognizing that the Church is built on the
foundation of the apostles sent by Christ  we
point to Jesus as the source and point of
everything we do!
#2 Living in a manner that follows the guidance
of the HSp and remains faithful to the
foundation est. by the apostles and scripture.
#3 Accepting guidance through the successors
of the apostles (bishops)
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Apostolic Succession
• Grew in importance as Christianity rapidly
grew and spread
• A “quality control” of sorts as:
1. The original apostles died and the work
became to great
2. Less than orthodox teaching spread – it
answered the question of who spoke with
the authority of Jesus and who would
decide who was right.
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Apostolic Succession Today
• Bishops can trace their succession
• Practically speaking: no bishop may teach
anything contrary to what has been passed
down by his successors.
• A form of protection – keeps us from being too
swayed by what is less than holy
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So why the pope?
• He is the “perpetual and visible source
and foundation of the unity of the
bishops and the faithful”
• Keeps us strong and independent
• Maintains unity
• Continually reminds us of what/who we
are called to be
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The Great Commission
As Disciples of Christ, members of the Church, under the
guidance of the Pope and Holy Spirit we must respond to
Jesus’ call:
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 [a]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and
the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to
the end of the age.” Matthew28:18-20
Church as culmination of
Salvation History
• Salvation History – story of God’s action in human
history
• Original plan from the beginning: humans able to
share in the divine life
• Through Church
– Invited into relationship with the father – he won’t
abandon us…contrary to his plan!
– We are co-creators through use of talents
– Live the covenant
– We are the body of Christ on Earth