Jesus Christ said that He would build His Church and that it would never die out. 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. 16:18) He obviously had some purpose in mind. 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. When Jesus established His Church, He received instructions from Heavenly Father. People cannot simply build a building and call it the church, as so many try to do. 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? People have often asked whether Jesus intended to found a church. He affirmed that his people and his presence were the only necessary ingredients. coming of the kingdom of God. Acts 5:42- "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." On its own, this view is no longer the dominant understanding because the church is more than an institution. ● 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. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Day 1, 18 January), Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Day 2, 19 January), Letter from the Prelate (28 October 2020), Saint Josemaria and the Role of Saint Joseph in Christian Life. ► Through their apostolic ministry they left behind them a structured community, under the guidance of recognised pastors, who built and sustained it in communion with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, in which all people are called to experience the salvation offered by the Father. Denominations as we know them did not exist till centuries later. There, Jesus called Peter to be the rock of the Church. The gospel of Jesus records that He built one church and that all saved people were in that church. Jesus in Matthew 16, “I will build my church.” Jesus in Matthew 28, “Go and make disciples.” Both are true. Some cultures are good and some bad. This scene complements the one in Matthew. Each time Jesus commissioned him to feed his lambs and sheep, that is, the members of the Church. This is very different to the way the world behaves. Did Jesus Intend to Found a Church? ● It is not possible to meet Jesus without the reality which He created and in which he is communicated. ” 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. 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. Acts 8:4- "Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." Jesus sent the Spirit, and the Christian community called the church was born. There are two statements in Matthew’s Gospel that seem to suggest that he did. ► 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. ► 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. 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. ● 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). A church building, church house, or simply church, is a building used for Christian worship services and other Christian religious activities. A true Christian is a person God has selected and “called out.” 3:1) surely applies to … 2. ► “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). Unlike other thinkers and founders, Jesus left nothing in writing; what we do find is a stated intention to establish a church. Related articles: What did Jesus say about obeying God? 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). When Jesus builds His church, He does the building by using disciples just like you. Is today's Christianity, with its hundreds of denominations with widely differing beliefs and practices, the Church Jesus promised that He would build? Sign up for The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. No. Jesus’ vision is that we will be one with each other and one with God. ► Between Jesus and his Church there is a profound continuity, inseparable and mysterious, and through which Christ is made present today in his people. While they are obviously connected, the link between Jesus and the church as we know it today isn’t exactly clear. ► They are inseparable, despite the sins of the people who make up the Church. 1. 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. 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). Jesus Christ proclaimed, almost 2,000 years ago, "I will build My church." This is question 22: "Did Jesus really mean to found a Church?". These are still the two main categories of people who afflict the church. Simon was on an … At the end of His life, Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of everyone who has lived or who will live on earth. A clear sign, in fulfilment of the promises made to his people, is the institution of the Twelve apostles, with Peter at the head. 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. ► 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. ● A new sign of this intention of Jesus is that during the Last Supper he entrusted to them the power to celebrate the Eucharist, which he instituted on that occasion (see the question, What went on at the last supper?). By Daniel Nessim. Simon Magus fell into this category (Acts 8:18). The only answer is they were built by men, so men could "attend the church of their choice", and not God's choice. 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? Externally, the purpose of the church is to fulfill the Great Commission as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:18-20. So how is our church the same one that Jesus founded? . If Yeshua (Jesus) intended to create a new religion, He went about it all wrong: He aroused the suspicion, and then the hostility, of the religious establishment. Their aim was that the mission entrusted to them should continue after their death, as witnessed in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. 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 … 76, No. . Matthew's Gospel records Jesus saying to Peter, in front of the other disciples, "I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Copyright © 2021 US Catholic. Jesus taught His followers that revelation from God was the rock on which He would build His Church. Matthew 16:18-20 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church and all … Here, Christ summoned Peter to be a shepherd who loves Jesus and the Church’s people. Isn't this "building on another man's foundation?" Traditionally, Roman Catholicism has understood the church to be instituted by Christ. On the night before He died, Jesus earnestly prayed to His Father to keep all His future believers one and united. 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 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 Jesus proclaimed the good news that man is a child of God, and the resultant truth that all men are brethren. Instead, Wright argues that… “Jesus did not intend to found a church because there already was one, namely the people of Israel itself. 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. In this way he transmitted to the whole Church, in the person of those Twelve who were at her head, the responsibility of being a sign and instrument of the meeting begun by Him, which is to be offered up to the end times. We do this in part by making sure we faithfully represent Him and become who He has called us to be. He prayed for unity and rebuked division. In The Urantia Book, we learn that Jesus' mission on Earth was one of revelation—revelation to mankind of the loving character of God, the goodness of God, and the love and mercy of God as spiritual Father. ● The preaching of Jesus was directed in the first place to Israel, as he himself said to his followers: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 15:24). ► The number 12 is a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel. Three basic motives: ego, money, and power. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment. It shows the significance of this initiative to gather together the holy people of God, the ekklesia Theou. Jesus was certainly not a head of state and did not have diplomats (and neither did his disciple Peter). ), and after making a good start, generally … This article appeared in the February 2011 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. Motivated by a lust for power, he understood so little about the church that he attempted to buy the power of God. 1 Peter 2:5 ESV / 129 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. He accused them of making faith harder than it had to be. He then instructed His disciples. What creates such men? ● The apostles were aware that their mission had to be perpetuated, because this was what they had been told by Jesus. Yet today hundreds of denominations exist in the name of Christianity, claiming to be Christian. The term is used to refer to the physical buildings where Christians worship and also to refer to the community of Christians. Jesus’ tells us that members of his church community should love God and love each other. To say the least, there are considerable difference between the original Jesus movement and the Catholic Church in the 21st century. Answer. After nineteen centuries, things haven’t changed much. The problem with the question, “Did Jesus intend to found a ‘church’?” is that it cannot be answered with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. Traditionally, Roman Catholicism has understood the church to be instituted by Christ. The Jesus movement of the first century was a group of mostly Jewish followers who were of little social importance and who often met in homes—a far cry from the cathedrals we know and love today. Let me show you some Scriptural proof for these statements, which are very much in favor of the Catholic position. They are the foundations of the new Jerusalem. God did intend for there to be one united Church led by leadership that Christ set forward before and after His death and resurrection. 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. That is why Jesus established only one church in 30 AD with Peter as first Pope. 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. Still, Jesus did not found a mere bureaucratic institution but a life-giving community that is sustained by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is a good point. ● Open to all of humanity, Jesus intended to reunite the people of the Covenant. 23 Questions & answers about Jesus Christ, prepared by a team of catholic theologians of the University of Navarre. Jesus left no instructions about organizing our churches or church activities. 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? 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. Christ is only the saviour of His one body, His one 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. 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. Every church and/or organization has a corporate culture with norms, rules and expectations that pressure participants to conform. As difficult as it is to believe, Jesus wasn't starting institutional churches, nor was he creating a new religion. There is no nobler purpose for the church than to introduce others to Christ. ► So they made it their concern to find successors. 3. Roman Catholics have tended to understand the church as institution under the primacy of Peter’s successor as synonymous with the “kingdom of God” proclaimed by Jesus. The Spirit is the ongoing presence of Jesus on earth and is the mover, sustainer, teacher, and guide of the church. Can non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians belong to Opus Dei? The answer is yes. Solomon’s well known statement, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Eccl. B. The church in the first century was an evangelistic church. All Rights Reserved |, In times of suffering, choose hope to find Christ’s healing, Jeannie Gaffigan: Faith, motherhood inform my vote. We read in Ephesians 5:23, "Christ is the head of the church, and he is the savior of the body. " 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. 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. Some scholars see his statement in 15:20 as a fixed policy and also have trouble with his plans to preach at the church in Rome. 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. 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. It is a must if the whole world is to believe in Him. It’s also, according to the Second Vatican Council, a sacramental community announced by Jesus who “inaugurated his church by preaching the . When Jesus said, “I will build My church ...” (Matt. 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. As Luke’s gospel shows, Jesus begins proclaiming the Good News of God’s kingdom by reading Isaiah’s words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Luke 4:18). He didn’t leave building instructions or establish an organizational structure or provide liturgical templates. Jesus had just arrived with the disciples at Caesarea Philippi, about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Rather a person is called by God and answers that call, like a person answers a call on the phone. Jesus wasn’t fooled by their outward show of religiosity. Sometimes it is used as an analogy for the buildings of other religions. This is Emmanuel “God with us.” Jesus never promises that with size or organization that there would be more of His presence. From these proofs, it is easy to see that Jesus did not say He would build His church on Peter, a mere man, but on Himself, and because of that, the church would endure and prevail. 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. God never intended for any of us to live the Christian life alone. It is God, through Jesus Christ, who adds to His Church (John 6:44). 2, page 46). 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