CATHOLICITY VERSUS PLURIFORMITY 3

Confessions

This kind of unity is already found in the oldest confessional writings that we as churches possess: the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. There it is spoken of a holy catholic Christian church, the communion of saints. The word “catholic” is equal to the communion of saints. In the text of the Apostle’s Creed there is a comma between the church and the communion, not a semicolon. According to the Nicene Creed we believe one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. It also speaks of one Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord’s Day 21 of the Heidelberg Catechism explains the words of the Apostles’ Creed. Of the communion it is said, first, that believers, all together and each individually as members of Christ, have fellowship with Him and share in all His treasures and gifts. Second, that everyone is duty-bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the benefit and well-being of the other members.

Our Belgic Confession of Faith speaks much more extensively about the catholic church. In Articles 27–29 we only read about this catholic church of Christ, which holds fast the truth of God’s Word in doctrine, sacraments, and discipline, and rejects everything that is contrary to God’s Word. These are the marks of the true church (Art. 29 BC). It is then added in summary that in this way the church acknowledges Jesus Christ as the only Head.

That has consequences for the unity of the true church. For the one Head has only one church, and requires unity in His church— a unity that is perfect in Him. In Article 27 that catholicity is immediately applied to the churches throughout the whole world. We read this especially at the end, where it states: “This holy church is not confined or limited to a certain place or certain persons, but  is spread and dispersed throughout the entire world. Yet it is joined and united with heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith.”

Communion of Saints

Article 27 speaks of the catholic church throughout the whole world. That same catholic church is the subject of Article 28 (“this holy assembly and congregagtion”). In this article the unity in the truth of the one catholic church is further elaborated, with a very urgent call to join oneself to it. Your salvation is connected with it, and it is God’s command.

Everyone must join himself to her and unite with her. Why? Not because this suits you best, but because Christ is gathering there; because salvation is proclaimed there; because unity is preserved there; and because you then submit to her instruction and discipline. If you do not do this, you go against the command of the LORD, to your own harm. Only by joining yourself to the church that belongs to the one catholic church are you truly obedient to Christ; only in this way do you follow Him under His yoke.

The yoke of Christ is His guidance, instruction, admonition, and discipline. Mutual service belongs to this, but also mutual edification, admonition, and discipline. Christ makes use of the gifts that God grants to all as members of one and the same body. That yoke is intended for your redemption, for your salvation.

What article 29 further adds is that, for unity in the truth, you must also carefully and sharply discern to which church you ought to join yourself. There are many assemblies that claim to be church, but are not. It is clear that our confession agrees with the words of our Savior as the only Head of His church. Let us therefore take them very seriously! If you have consciously given your “yes” to being bound to this confession, it remains necessary to continually test your own church membership against it: “Am I still a member of a true church? Does it meet the marks”? Along with that belongs the question: “Is this still the catholic church?” Is in this church, alongside the pursuit of truth, also an ecumenical desire to be truly one with all churches that are true churches?
That means is there an endeavor to become one federation of true churches in the same region, the same country, and also, as far as possible, an endeavor to enter into sister-church relations with churches abroad.

Dynamics

It is a continuing task to be actively engaged in this issue as a command of Christ the head of His Church. On the one hand, practicing fellowship with all whom we recognize as the true church of Christ. On the other hand testing ourselves and the fellow churches as to whether we and they still meet the criteria of the true church. And in addition to that, examining with whom we as a church ought to enter into a new bond.  The work of Christ is dynamic: He may work reformation in churches that were previously unfaithful to God’s Word or had kept themselves aloof.

It can also happen over time that true churches become distorted or engage incorrect associations so that they no longer belong to the one catholic church of Christ. From such ecclesiastical relationships we must free ourselves if no repentance takes place.

To my conviction this is the way that Christ indicates in His Word for individual believers, for local churches and for national federations of local churches. It is not just something the authors of the confessions adviced as best for their time. In reality, it is following Christ in faith in all times, wherever He goes, in submission to Him as the one Head of the church, and to the glorification of Him as God the Son, and in Him also of God the Father. Precisely as our Lord Jesus has indicated in His High Priestly Prayer.

(to be continued)