CATHOLICITY VERSUS PLURIFORMITY 1

Introduction
Nowadays you hear various opinions about the church. For example: in the church you should feel at home. And with so much division among churches that call themselves Reformed, you simply choose one in which you feel comfortable. Or a church that is not too small, or more or less conservative.
Or precisely a church where your grandparents and parents were or are also members.  Or a church that is close by.

Of course, the church must be a true church. But who determines that? All those Reformed or reformational or Presbyterian churches, after all, serve the same God and the same Christ—provided they do not admit criticism of Scripture.

Yes, the Dutch Confession of Faith says that you must be a member of the true church. But that term comes from the time of the Great Reformation, does it not? Yes, at that time it was clear that the Roman church was the false church, and the Reformed church the true church. Back then there was not such division as there is now. How can you apply that to our time, if people nevertheless maintain God’s Word?

Moreover, if you think that your church is the true church, is that not arrogant?Do you then write off all the others? And if you speak about ecclesiastical unity, can you not, as members of different churches, at least establish that you are one in Christ? With all those different opinions, is that not a good thing?

Moreover, as churches alongside one another, you can still do many things together. For example, share matters for encouragement or warning together in an interchurch conference. Or going further: why no pulpit exchange, or joint evangelism, and/or a joint training of ministers? In that way you also show the unity in Christ, do you not?

Thus you can resign yourself to a situation of division. Perhaps even with the thought that it is regrettable that you are not completely one, but it cannot be otherwise. Be glad with what you still share together. That also makes it easy to change denominations occasionally, for example when you move.

Such a line of thinking is often encountered. But the question is: is this now how God wills it and how Christ wants to see His church? Or is this reasoned from man?

Christ and His Church
|Let us therefore first examine what Scripture and confession say about this. For we may find something acceptable ourselves, but how does the Lord see it? Moreover, He often asks of us things that go against our feelings, and besides, with Him things are possible which we consider impossible.

We first establish that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is His work. He gathers for Himself a church—He does it, and He does it for Himself! He does this through His Spirit and Word in the unity of the true faith. Thus we confess it in Lord’s Day 21 of the Heidelberg Catechism.

The gathering of Christ is in unity of the true faith. That unity is therefore a unity in the truth. That is, briefly and powerfully, the definition of “catholicity.” It is therefore important what truth is and what that unity entails. Then not all emphasis lies on unity such as exists in false ecumenism, which does not fully adhere to God’s Word, such as the World Council of Churches.

Nor is it only truth, as might perhaps still be found in a schismatic church, or in a church where preaching is still sound, but where within the federation the truth is at stake, while that local church does not seek connection with a true federation of churches.

Catholicity
No—catholic is both: unity and truth. Literally, catholic (“kata holos”) means: according to the whole.
According to the full number of all places and times, and according to the full truth. A church that is truly catholic also knows ongoing reformation in order to hold fast to the truth of God’s Word. Again and again the truth must be defended against false doctrine. Sometimes even a liberation (separation) is necessary if false doctrine is maintained despite objections that have been raised. But that same church also continually keeps seeking other churches where the truth of God’s Word is likewise maintained.

The truth of God’s Word takes precedence, but inseparably unity belongs to it. That also indicates that the work of gathering the church is dynamic. Catholicity therefore proceeds from the commission of Christ, that He, as the only Head of His church, demands that one continue to hold fast to the truth of God’s Word and from there continue to look around for other true believers. For both—truth and unity—Christ gives His Spirit and Word.

Christ is the One who calls us to His house, and we must obey that calling by going there where He calls. That is not a matter of feeling at home, but of serving and honoring Christ in a manner pleasing to Him. Think of Hebrews 12:22–29. And we do this together with all others who, by the call of Christ, come onto our path.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 (to be continued)