The Apostles Creed | The Holy Catholic Church and The Communion of Saints
I believe in the Holy Catholic Church and the Communion of Saints
At this point in the Apostles’ Creed there appears to be almost a rapid and sudden shift from discussion the proclamations of God to a statement on the church. Yet, when you consider the nature of the church, this shift makes sense. The nature of the church roots itself first and foremost in God in the person of Jesus Christ and His mission in this world, for the glory of the Father, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We cannot rightfully consider the nature of the church without first understanding God as the source of the church’s identity and mission. The unity of the church directly reflects the nature of God being fully united as one God in three persons. The church, which spans location and time, united together under the banner of Jesus Christ as His beloved bride to proclaim the one message of the Gospel to the world we live in.
As we read through the various creeds, even beyond the Apostles’ Creed, we see the church as the response of and witness to the glory of God in the world. Many see the words of the creed and immediately get stalled out on the word “catholic” think it means the church still submits to the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and the teachings of the Pope. It would do us well to note the distinction between catholic (little c) and Catholic (big C). The word catholic simply means that there is a universal church that transcends all location and time and united us together. The church exists to glorify God in the world and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that the world may know that message that Jesus saves and all who profess faith in Him will have eternal life.
The Foundation of the Church
As Jesus and the disciples looking on Caesarea Philippi, a place marked by pluralistic beliefs with shrines and altars to various gods, Jesus asked Peter who Peter said Jesus was. Peter’s answer revealed the foundation of the church. “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 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.” (Matthew 16:16-18, ESV) The foundation of the church rests on the proclamation of the truth of Jesus Christ in the face of the opposition of the world’s message. The church represents God to the world as a witness of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Only by the blood of Jesus Christ poured out on the cross can people be rescued and redeemed from their sins. Thus the church consists of those who proclaim that “Jesus is Lord!” We may at times disagree on the details and specifics of faith (as we wrestling with looking to understand an infinite God) but we, nonetheless remain bound by our mission to praise God together as a body of believers.
There is a subtle distinction in the mission of the church as an institution and the church as the body of Christ. The church as an institution and as a building or organization can only truly thrive when it puts its identity aside to proclaim the glory of God alone. With the church as a witness to the glory of God, it is crucial for the church to bow before the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The church does not exist to make the name of the church known or the specific body of gathering but instead exists to make the name of Jesus Christ known among the nations. While we could delve further into the specifics of what the church does, everything centers on the church representing God to the world empowered by the Holy Spirit. The missions directly relates to the foundation of the church, that everyone would know that Jesus is Lord and grow with Him in every aspect of their life.
The Unity of the Church
Nothing will hinder the mission of the church more than a lack of unity among its believers. Furthermore, this problem is not new to the body of Christ. “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, ESV) As members of the body of Christ, we join the sainthood of all believers spanning all of time and place. The unity goes beyond merely a spatial unity that united us with the church across the globe, but extends to eternal witness of the church from the birth of humanity and continues on through eternity. One day we will stand next to the saints of the Old Testament, the disciples of the New Testament, the Apostlic Fathers of the early church, the reformers, the evangelicals of history, and the current theologians. We will stand shoulder to shoulder and worship the same God in one voice as equals with one another. Everyone will sing “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty” all as saints and the bride of Christ.
We cannot allow for divisions to stand within the church. Everyone who professes Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior joins the universal church as a member of the Communion of the Saints. Our cultural inclination pressures us to be hyper vigilant of the differences between us. Then we separate according to our preferences pointing out the theological flaws in the other group rather than seeking to correct our own inconsistencies and imbalances. We ignore the call of Jesus Christ to all peoples and nations. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29, ESV) For our modern context, there is not a black church and a white church, an American Church or a European church or an Easter Church. First and foremost, we are united in the bond and blood of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins regardless of our nationality, language, or background. We are Christians not “Christians and…” To see unity among the church that has not been seen in hundreds of years, we must be willing to put the qualifiers down, treat each other with grace, and stand in the unity of God expressed through His witness in the church.
