November 4, 2004
We believe in one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.
The word “catholic” means universal. So what we’re saying in the Creed is that we believe in a universal church, established by Jesus Christ and handed on through the Apostles.
In today’s first reading, Paul, the Apostle is writing to the Philippians about a problem that was causing a lot of controversy in the early church. One school of thought was that if you wanted to become a Christian, you first had to become a Jew. The other side of the argument was that anyone could become a Christian. Judaism wasn’t part of the deal. It was a very divisive issue, not unlike some of the issues that divide the church today.
It was an especially big deal for men because one of the requirements of Judaism was circumcision. Most of you know that I was an adult convert. I have to tell you that baptism was one thing, but if being circumcised at twenty years old had been part of the deal, I’m not sure I’d have been so quick to sign up.
Surprisingly enough, Paul was on the side that thought it wasn’t necessary to become a Jew first, even though he was Jewish himself. He writes that “if anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I. Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law a Pharisee, in zeal I persecuted the Church, in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.”
Paul was a good Jew. Had been since he was a child. He had been a Pharisee, so zealous that he had been a persecutor of Christians. From a Jewish perspective, no one could have lived a better life. But he has come to realize that his background, his qualifications, his achievements mean nothing. All that matters now is that he knows Christ.
The controversy got so out of hand that the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem to work something out. The arguments would probably be familiar to us today. “Nobody can tell me what to do with my body.” “ Who are these Apostles to tell me what to do? “ “I don’t need the church. God is everywhere. I don’t need to go to a building to worship Him.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Fortunately, the original Apostles were wise men, guided by the Holy Spirit. They reached an agreement. It would not be necessary to become Jewish before becoming Christian. They didn’t leave it up to the local churches. It wasn’t up to individual Bishops. A decision was made. It was universal, and it was Apostolic.
And the decision remains in force even today. Just like all the decisions of the early church. That’s what sets our church apart from our Protestant brothers and sisters. Once something is decided, it stays decided. Imagine if some bishop, somewhere, was to decide that Catholic men needed to be circumcised after all. Imagine the problems that would cause. But it can’t happen. The things our church teaches don’t change. It’s one thing in this world that we can count on. Thanks are to God.
The word “catholic” means universal. So what we’re saying in the Creed is that we believe in a universal church, established by Jesus Christ and handed on through the Apostles.
In today’s first reading, Paul, the Apostle is writing to the Philippians about a problem that was causing a lot of controversy in the early church. One school of thought was that if you wanted to become a Christian, you first had to become a Jew. The other side of the argument was that anyone could become a Christian. Judaism wasn’t part of the deal. It was a very divisive issue, not unlike some of the issues that divide the church today.
It was an especially big deal for men because one of the requirements of Judaism was circumcision. Most of you know that I was an adult convert. I have to tell you that baptism was one thing, but if being circumcised at twenty years old had been part of the deal, I’m not sure I’d have been so quick to sign up.
Surprisingly enough, Paul was on the side that thought it wasn’t necessary to become a Jew first, even though he was Jewish himself. He writes that “if anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I. Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law a Pharisee, in zeal I persecuted the Church, in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.”
Paul was a good Jew. Had been since he was a child. He had been a Pharisee, so zealous that he had been a persecutor of Christians. From a Jewish perspective, no one could have lived a better life. But he has come to realize that his background, his qualifications, his achievements mean nothing. All that matters now is that he knows Christ.
The controversy got so out of hand that the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem to work something out. The arguments would probably be familiar to us today. “Nobody can tell me what to do with my body.” “ Who are these Apostles to tell me what to do? “ “I don’t need the church. God is everywhere. I don’t need to go to a building to worship Him.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Fortunately, the original Apostles were wise men, guided by the Holy Spirit. They reached an agreement. It would not be necessary to become Jewish before becoming Christian. They didn’t leave it up to the local churches. It wasn’t up to individual Bishops. A decision was made. It was universal, and it was Apostolic.
And the decision remains in force even today. Just like all the decisions of the early church. That’s what sets our church apart from our Protestant brothers and sisters. Once something is decided, it stays decided. Imagine if some bishop, somewhere, was to decide that Catholic men needed to be circumcised after all. Imagine the problems that would cause. But it can’t happen. The things our church teaches don’t change. It’s one thing in this world that we can count on. Thanks are to God.
posted by Mike at 7:41 PM
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