The Church Is Apostolic Series

Ephesians 2:14-22

The entire Christian church agrees that the church is, or is supposed to be "apostolic" in nature. And yet as you might expect, there are several different explanations of just what it means to be a part of the apostolic church.

THE APOSTOLIC POSITION

Some people say the apostolic power lies in the church itself. They think first of all of the Apostles themselves, and say that the church is apostolic because there is an unbroken line of authority handed down from St. Peter to the present time.

This view says that Jesus gave authority to these men, particularly to Peter; these men then passed that authority along in an unbroken line of bishops to the present. The Church that has this unbroken line of authority (meaning the RC church) is the sole repository of grace and thus of salvation.

This represents the old Augustinian/ Catholic view of the church as "apostolic" [which has moderated a great deal, particularly since Vatican II.]

This is an historical impossibility to prove. The church HAS come down across the centuries. It IS an unbroken witness, but not because of the unbroken line of bishops.

Other people say apostolic authority is the authority of the scriptures. This view looks at the pure Gospel that was preached by the Apostles, and says the church is apostolic when there is faithful adherence to this message. This view says the "ROCK" on which Jesus was to build His church was the confession, "Thou art the Christ!" and not Peter himself.

We believe that the witness of these men HAS been handed down to us in the Scriptures. Their testimony, which most of the apostles sealed with their own blood, has been passed along unbroken, and is with us in the Bible today.

This represents the Lutheran/Reformation view of the church, or more broadly, the classical position of all Protestantism.

Once again, however, caution is needed. It is possible to be militant in defending what we believe to be the "true infallibility" of the Bible, and be out of touch with the Spirit of Jesus. British theologian Daniel Jenkins warns:

"The crude appeal to the letter of the Scriptures, with no attention to the experience of the Spirit-guided Church, means not only a woeful impoverishment of the Church's life and worship; it frequently means also a crabbed and narrow interpretation of the Scriptures." (44)

No church can be apostolic without faithfulness to the scriptures, there is no question about that. But it takes more than the letter of the Word to make a church an apostolic church.

A third view sees the apostolic foundation of the church in the righteous living of the saints. This view claims that somehow an apostolic church has to recapture the EXPERIENCE AND THE MIRACLES OF THE APOSTLES, which, of course, the people who take this position are sure they have re-discovered.

In this view apostolic succession is totally discounted; and theological preaching and the sacraments diminished in comparison to individual experience and rigid interpretation of bible discipline. What matters is personal experience, how the individual "feels" about his or her relationship to God. But this is always dangerous: Emil Brunner once wrote (Philosophy of Religion)

"When once the main interest is fastened on subjective experience, the objective element, the Word, dwindles to a mere means of stimulus— for what matters is the "inward working." (41) (cited by Jenkins)

Again at the risk of over-simplification, this is an extreme Anabaptist position, that of an independent church; the role of the apostle is taken by the sect or the strong personality. The Church becomes a mere association of Christians gathering for mutual edification.

In summary, some people think the apostolic authority is in the institution of the church, in its bishops; some think it lies solely in the Bible and correct theological understanding; and some believe it belongs in the individual experience "rightly" interpreted.

If I had to choose between an unbroken line of authority; an undiluted Gospel of the apostles; or finding the experience and lifestyle of the apostles, my choice would be closer to the second, or Reformation position than any other.

But before we obligate ourselves to any one position, think with me about the function or role or calling of an apostle.

THE APOSTOLIC OFFICE

The text says that Jesus Christ Himself is the cornerstone of the church which is being built on the apostolic foundation. Any view of what it means to be apostolic is only valid as it rests firmly and squarely on a relationship with Jesus Christ. Look with me at the calling of the original apostles:

There are some things that an apostle was not!

To be an apostle definitely was NOT a matter of obvious greatness or brilliance or intellect. No doubt all these men became truly great men; but it was a greatness that developed out of their dedication to their Master. It was a greatness that even then was not apparent to the world; a greatness that I believe is available to you and me even today.