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What I believe
To the Editor:
I believe that there are a few things that are in the Bible that we read and then pass over and the proper emphases are lost. One of these statements by Christ is in John 20:21: “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I now send you.” This tells us that the Father sent Christ to us for more than one purpose. We think of our salvation, and kind of let it drop there, as if that was the end all. Christ didn’t send the disciples to die on the cross, as he was, so there must have been other reasons.
I believe that the main reason was to bring salvation to God’s people, but slightly less important, but by very little, was the second reason. That reason was to build God’s church and provide the many blessings found therein.
Christ began by gathering faith builders — “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” This church that was to be built was a church for which he would be the cornerstone. Next, a foundation, that takes its direction from the cornerstone. Matthew 16:17-19: Here Peter is declared to be the rock (foundation) that the church was to be built upon.
Over a period of three years, Jesus had many followers, but all could not believe the things that he said, and so they fell away until there were 12 left. Out of those 12 mortal men, one doubted him, one denied him and one betrayed him. After the crucifixion, 11 came to Christ stronger in faith. The 12th, Judas, out of guilt, killed himself.
Before Christ’s ascension into heaven, he commissioned the 11 to go into the world and build his church of faith (Matthew 28:16-20). Jesus said, “Full authority has been given to me, both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world.”
Thus we know that this church is a work in progress and will never be finished, and cannot be destroyed for Christ will always be with it.
What is this indestructible church? What does it have that gives it its lasting strength? The answer is in the things that Jesus left in and with the church.
First, he gave us a leader that was given the power to bind things of faith both here on earth and in heaven. This was Peter, and whoever sits in the chair of Peter is the pope. To the disciples (leaders) of the church, he gave the power to forgive sins. “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I so send you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound” (John 20:21-23).
Moses led the Israelites as they roamed in the desert for 40 years and God provided them with “manna” so they wouldn’t starve. But this food came with conditions: they were to gather it daily and only in the amount needed for their family; none was to be saved for the next day (Exodus 16:15).
During the last meal, before Christ’s crucifixion (Matthew 26:26-28), during the meal, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it, this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. “All of you must drink from it, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, to be poured out in behalf of many, for the forgiveness of sins.” Then in John 6:49-58, we learn that Christ is the bread of life. Christ said that he was the bread of life and unless you eat of his body and drink of his blood, you don’t have life in you. Jesus informed them that the Israelites received manna from heaven and they died, but this is bread from heaven; when you eat it, you will never die. This food also has conditions, for we must judge ourselves to be in a state of grace and follow the rules of fasting.
When we are baptized into the church, we also become one of the carpenters of the faith, in this ever-growing church. We pick up our cross and follow him. We try to make ourselves available to answer his call when he needs something of us. God doesn’t ask us to save the world, but little things, like using the talents he gave us, ushering in church, reading, cantoring, teaching, serving on committees, or maybe just helping someone in need. No one is without talent of some description, which we can use for God.
The process, of building Christ’s church has given us a great tradition that is carried throughout the world. Because we have structure, we worship the same in all our churches. We may sing different songs, use different instruments, but the same readings, and the same body and blood of Christ. The same creed recited as to our belief.
When we remove structure, we are left with chaos. With the breaking away from the church by Martin Luther, chaos began. Each time someone wanted something different, they started another church, until today we have thousands of churches, proclaiming to be Christians. God knew this would happen. I believe that is the reason in Mark 9:38-41, when John came to Jesus and said, “We saw a man using your name to expel demons and we tried to stop him because he is not of our company.” Jesus said, “Do not try to stop him. No man who performs a miracle in my name, can at the same time speak ill of me. Anyone who is not against us, is for us.” Christ also said, “but it would be better if anyone who leads astray one of these simple believers were plunged into the sea with a millstone fastened around his neck.”
God knew that this break would happen and he also knew that the church would have 1,500 years to spread throughout the world before it would happen. When the break happened, Mark 9:38-41 told us what to do.
About 45 years ago, I became a Catholic. I became a Catholic because of the things I have written here. These are the things that I want Catholics and non-Catholics to know. Knowledge of our faith gives us strength to resist those that try to pull us away, and knowledge gives non-Catholics reason and strength to come and help build the church that Christ started.
Burel Tyner
Elwood