Jesus and the Church

It has become common to hear people proudly announce, ” I believe in Jesus but not in any church or religion.” or “I am a follower of Jesus but reject religion.” There exists other similar exhortations, which proclaim a belief in Jesus Christ, but a rejection of any religion or church. Thus a person who states a preference for Jesus can create his or her own system of beliefs on what and who Jesus is and taught. Consequently in addition to approximately 40, 000 christian denominations in the world, there are any number of one off belief systems developed by individuals. In this instance there is a church for each person. It is difficult to imagine that this is the condition Jesus envisioned when he created the Church….yes Jesus created His church, not your church or my church.

While it understandable that there are many individuals who are upset, even very angry, at some of the actions of the representatives and members of the church, it is not valid to cast aside the church, while at the same time proclaiming an allegiance to Jesus. It is very clear that Jesus intended to found a church….a church which he fully supported and continues to act within. In Chapter 16 of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus strongly proclaimed, ” And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” There was no equivocation in Jesus’ command to Peter. Peter and the apostles were ordered to found and lead the church, with His help and guidance. Their successors would follow in the footsteps of Peter and the apostles.The personal failures and limitations of the church’s representatives and members throughout the centuries would not diminish the role or importance of the Church. It is the Catholic Church that traces its root to Jesus through Peter , the apostles and their successors.

Jesus noted that He is the body of the Church and each member is part of that body, not to be separated from Him. In the famous scene in the Acts of the Apostles when Saul, later known as Paul, encounters Jesus on the road to Damacus as Saul is hurrying to persecute the Church, Jesus asks, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” Note Jesus is unequivocally identifying himself with the members of the church when he asks, “Why are you persecuting me?” Jesus and the Church are one.

If one truly believes that Jesus Christ is who he says he is, that is, the Son of God and that He founded the Catholic Church, then to reject the Church is to reject Him.