“What We Believe - Part 11"
“Not-so-Holy, Not-so-catholic Church”
Text:
Thesis:
Matthew 16:13-20 and 1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10
The church is Christ’s body in the world – a human and divine body that is
called out by Christ and held together by the Holy Spirit. With all our
flaws we are holy and catholic and God will not let us fail in showing the
kingdom of God to the world.
“I believe in the holy catholic church...” Let’s face it – sometimes this is not the
easiest thing to believe. When we look at it spiritually as the body of Christ, perhaps
we believe it. But when you bring the church down to earth and look at it in real
places – when you get to know the history of its failures and compromises with evil –
when you recognize all its conflicts and divisions – when you get involved in the
institution with budgets and committees – when you look around and see that it’s filled
with folks like us – sinners – doesn’t it stretch your imagination a bit to say this is the
holy catholic church? Perhaps we’d be better to say we believe in the “not-so-holy,
not-so-catholic church.”
A colleague of mine from seminary tells this story of the first church he served – a
small church in West Virginia. Two couples wanted to join the church. They’d been
attending for several months. It was a happy occasion – they didn’t get new members
very often. They met with this pastor several times. He reminded them about the
Presbyterian Church USA in general. There wasn’t a whole lot to learn about how
this particular church worked – but he passed on some history. The Sunday came
when they were to be received in worship – but only one couple was present. My
friend decided to stop by after worship to see if everything was OK with the absent
folks. They were at home and graciously invited him in. He said that they had
missed them at church. Was everything OK? Why weren’t they there? Well, it
seems they had had a visit from an older woman in the church – the matriarch. She
told them – “You don’t belong here. You aren’t like us.”
But Jesus didn’t call together people who were all alike. He called fishermen, a tax
collector, a Zealot – men who would not choose to associate with one another. He
called the uneducated and the educated, the rich and the poor. He called rural
Galileans and urban Judeans. He called Jews and Samaritans. He called men and
women of all ages. And then he commissioned them to go into the whole world to
make disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus used the image of a vine
with branches. He was the vine and they were the branches. And together they
were the church. As long as they remained connected in him, they would bear fruit in
his kingdom.
Well, in spite of all its weaknesses, I believe in the holy catholic church. Remember,
the church is Christ’s body in the world today. Just like Jesus Christ, it is both human
and divine; composed of fallible human beings – but brought together by Jesus
2
and kept together by the Holy Spirit.
I’ve read the history of the church – or at least a lot of it. I’ve read about the Crusades
–against Orthodox Christians and Muslims. I know about the selling of indulgences
that sparked the Reformation and separated us from the Roman Church – about the
burning of Servetus by John Calvin’s congregation in Geneva – about the church’s
support of slavery and apartheid. I know of the problems of the Presbyterian Church
USA and our presbytery and this congregation. At times, we have all compromised
the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, I still believe in the Church – and I still believe that it
is holy and catholic.
Holy... There’s a word we don’t use often today – not in it’s true sense. If Holy Spirit
is a reference to God, what is Holy Cow??? When we say someone is “holier than
thou,” it’s not a compliment. We sing “take time to be holy” but who takes it seriously
anymore? Biblically, the word “holy” simply describes something or someone who is
set apart for the purpose of God. In the Old Testament, the Temple was holy
because it was set apart for the worship of God. Israel was to be a holy nation – the
phrase that Peter picks up in his letter. It means they had a special calling to fulfill
God’s purposes – to be different from the nations around them so they could be a
blessing to the world. In the New Testament, the GR word for church is “ecclesia” =
“those who are called out.” Jesus only spoke of the church once – this morning’s
gospel reading – but Paul spoke about it a lot!
To say that the church is “holy” is not to say that it is pure or perfect but it is blessed.
The church is holy because ordinary people like us have been called out by Jesus to
be different from the rest of the world. The church is holy because the presence of
the Holy Spirit makes us holy. We have been chosen and blessed not for privilege
but so we can serve and bless the world. We are a living model of the kingdom of
God on earth.
I’ve shared with the Deacons and Session a vision I had after my first 8-day silent
retreat the summer of 2004. The vision was to create a place called “Taste and See.”
You might call it a restaurant but it’s much more. “Taste and See” comes from Psalm
34 – “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (v.8) The mission statement is this –
“We believe that God provides enough for everyone. So, take what you need and
give what you can.” I envision a place not of individual tables but of long tables where
folks can sit together. It’s a place where families come and actually talk together
while enjoying the food. If you’re alone, you can find companionship. It’s a place of
community inspired by Jesus Christ even if his name is not directly mentioned. I
envision a place where everyone can come for the evening meal; where teens can
gather safely for a coffeehouse on Friday and Saturday nights; where latchkey children
can come after school for a snack and tutoring; where the noon meal on Sunday could
be followed by worship. No one will go hungry and those who eat will pay what they
3
are able to give. I’ve discovered since 2004 that there are other similar places around
the country. But I envision a place where we can be a taste of the kingdom of
heaven...holy.
Catholic... One of the most common questions I hear about the Apostles’ Creed is
“why do we say holy catholic church? I thought we were Protestant?” The answer is
simple – there are 2 ways to use the word “catholic.” First, Catholic with a capital “C.”
This refers to the Roman Catholic Church, a particular part of the body of Christ based
in Rome. The pope is a special bishop elevated above all others. They trace this
structure back to our gospel reading. Roman Catholics believe that “upon this rock I
will build my church” refers to Peter. Traditionally Peter was the first bishop of Rome.
Therefore, the bishop of Rome is elevated above all others – the pope. By the way,
we as Protestants believe that Jesus is referring to the “rock of faith” not Peter himself.
James and Paul were more prominent as leaders in the early church.
Second, there is catholic with a small “c” which means “universal.” All who bear
witness to Jesus Christ, everywhere, are the small “c” catholic Church. To use the
word “Christian” instead of “catholic” simply doesn’t capture the scope of the body of
Christ. Despite all the bickering among all the distant cousins, the Church of Jesus
Christ is still one, universal family.
The Church at its best is catholic – transcending all boundaries of nationality, race,
language, culture, and political or economic systems. The catholicity of the church
becomes real when we have opportunities for the different members to work together
especially in mission. The CROP Walk today is a good example. Different
congregations will walk together to raise money for Church World Service and
specifically the Apollo Food Bank. All Christians are called to be “rocks” – “living
stones” that are built into a spiritual house – Christ’s church, holy and catholic.
I believe in the holy, catholic church. Perhaps it is easy to be a bit cynical about the
“holy, catholic” church. We have a tendency to remember the warts on the body of
Christ. But, Jesus’ words to Peter and the disciples are words of hope when we’re
discouraged about the Church.
First, “on this rock I will build my church.” “My church” is not Lea Austin’s church or
Amy Shupe’s church or the Piper’s church or the Owens church or anyone’s church.
It is Jesus Christ’s church. It belongs to him – he is the head. He should be at the
center of its activity and the focus of its worship. It is good for us to eat together. It is
good for us to learn together. It is good for us to bring in new members. It is good
for us to serve together – to make plans and have meetings. It is good for us to be
active in the community. But, it needs to be evident to everyone that the center of all
this activity is Jesus Christ. If we are faithful, we can trust the Apollo United
Presbyterian Church to his care.
4
Next, “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Jesus promises that one day evil
will be defeated. Until then the church’s task, our task, is to go on fighting evil
wherever it’s found – in an individual life or in society. We have the promise of
eventual victory.
Finally, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.” Note that we are not
given the kingdom directly. But we are given the means to enter in. Through the
church people can see and experience the kingdom of heaven now. Sometimes, we
do get it right in the church. Sometimes, the people who go to church really become
the church. Sometimes, someone really will hear the good news and it will turn their
life around. Sometimes a local church will begin a project that really makes a
difference in their community.
On this World Communion Sunday, we have the opportunity to remember our part in
the holy, catholic church as we gather at the Lord’s Table. The church may not be
perfect. But I still believe in the holy, catholic church. Amen