Did Christ institute One (Apostolic) Church? Part I
Verifying the claims of the Catholic Church
And the Lord went before them to shew the way by day in a pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire: that he might be the guide of their journey at both times.
[Exodus 13:21]
People in general whether Catholic or not find the concept of a visible, One True Church a little hard to digest. They are easily offended if a Catholic were to say to them that Jesus Christ instituted His Church, which is known as the Catholic Church. This essay is not meant to offend anyone, but to verify the claims of Catholics. Did Christ institute a Church and where is that Church today? This is important, because, it was Christ who instituted this Church for your salvation and why should you miss anything that Christ wants to give you?
An Apostolic Church:
The scriptural references for the claim (that Christ intended to and did institute a Church) exist, but people and even Catholics sometimes choose to ignore Sacred Scripture for one reason or another. Scripture tells us that Jesus Christ says to Simon,
“And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” [Matthew 16:18]
Here, there is a name change, just as Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, Sarai’s name changed to Sarah, Jacob’s name changed to Israel, so here Simon’s name is changed to Peter, indicating something important is going to happen. Even today, when elected, the cardinal elected to be pope takes a new name. When a woman takes her final vows of profession, her congregation gives her a new name. When women marry, in some cultures (like in India) they change even their first name, in fact, it is their husband who selects the name during the marriage ceremony. A change in name being a sign for a change in designation, a new role, an office. In this incident, Christ is electing Peter to lead His flock, to be the visible head of the Church, of which Christ is the True and invisible Head. 1
But, why does Christ use the word rock, why this name for Peter, when in the Old Testament, David refers to God, with the words, “The Lord is my rock” [2 Kings (2 Samuel) 22:2]. It’s because Peter is only a visible head, it is Christ who is the real Rock upon which the Church is built. And, Christ who instructed others in [Matthew 7:25] to build their house on a rock, would He not follow His own advice? Christ therefore, (Who is the real Rock) make Simon into a rock and thus builds the Church, “the House of God” [1 Timothy 3:15] on Rock.
Why did Christ chose Apostles and disciples?
For some 500 years now, people have begun to think that the Church is a group of “believers” and that anyone can simply read the Bible and start a church. However, these are Sacred things and we need to be careful when dealing with the things of God. Remember Oza (Uzzah)? “The Lord was angry with Oza, and struck him, because he had touched the ark; and he died there before the Lord.” [1 Paralipomenon (1 Chronicles) 13:10].
Therefore, a thorough reading of the Holy Bible reveals that God takes things seriously and expects us to do so as well. If Christ, Who is God incarnate, said that He would build His Church on a rock, then let’s look at what He meant on just the surface of this statement. It seems pretty straightforward that Peter was to be the leader in some way of this Church. We see evidence of this again, when Christ prays for Peter in a special way, implying the special role that Peter would play in confirming and keeping united the believers of Jesus Christ:
And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren [Luke 22:31-32]
It seems from the words of Scripture, and as Christ says, “scripture cannot be broken;” [John 10:35] that St. Peter was chosen to perform an office of chief shepherd to the flock of Christ.
In the Old Testament, we read, “I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.”[Ezechiel 34:15] and then in the New Testament, we read: “He said to him: Feed my sheep.” [John 21:17]. Thus, it seems pretty straightforward, that Christ intended to build a Church and He set about it in an orderly manner, like an architect, laying down the foundation stone for a grand edifice. Christ sets up one of His chosen apostles to feed His sheep.
It is for the sheep, that Christ forms His Church, He sends the seventy-two disciples, out to preach, with the words: “He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me” [Luke 10:16]. Thus, it is Christ doing the sending, and the teaching; that which is accepted or rejected is of Christ —it cannot be taken up by oneself, because the salvation of souls depends on it. Thus, the importance of the words, “And how shall they preach unless they be sent…” [Romans 10:15]. And this work is so important, that in rejecting the teaching of the disciples, Christ says, these people have rejected the One who sent Christ! No one can claim to start a new church and say that it was God’s will that such a church should exist, because God Himself has already established One Church, set up on the pillars of the apostles.
This work of Christ, was such that the bishops and popes2 can trace their lineage to the original 12 apostles. The Church has her records in place to show proof of her origins and the continuity of the Church is as the Pharisee, named Gamaliel says,
And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. [Acts Of Apostles 5:38-39]
All Bible quotes are from the Douay Rheims Online 3
References:
https://classicalliberalarts.com/library/baltimore-catechism-ii/#h-on-the-church
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
https://www.drbo.org/index.htm