Our Own Church

One of the struggles we experience within ‘American Individualism’ is a sense that nobody has the right to tell us what to believe or how to live. In fact, this has led to more than 45,000 denominations of Christianity in the world. As the name suggests, Protestantism features an individual or group that protests the faith and life of other Christians by creating a new denomination. Some call this group of denominations “The Church” but that is not the Orthodox perspective.

Brethren, to me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him. So l ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fulness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3.8-21

How can the Church make known the wisdom of God if the Church doesn’t agree on what the wisdom is? Saint Paul goes on to say the Church is “according to the eternal purpose.” Since the Church is eternal established by Christ, we have an obligation to follow the teachings and way of life of the Church.

The Lord said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been founded upon the rock. But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” After he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people he entered Capernaum.

Luke 6.46-49, 7.1

When we combine Saint Paul’s instructions with Christ’s chastisement we are faced with a dilemma. Do we follow the Church as established by Christ and His Apostles, taught to us by Saint Paul? Or, do we follow our own interpretation of Christ’s Church, and establish our own? This is where ‘American Individualism’ gets in the way. Christ invited us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. (Mark 8.34) We cannot deny ourselves when we insist on establishing our own church.

I had a discussion the other day about the teachings of the Church. When I mentioned Holy Communion and fasting, I was asked, “What book is that in?” I referenced the “Teachings of the Holy Apostles to the Nations” commonly known as Didache. I had to explain not everything was in the Bible. That led to a much longer conversation. In short, I said, “We can trust the Apostles because Christ promised the Holy Spirit would guide them into all the truth.” (see John 16.13)

Let’s put it all together. Saint Paul said the Church was supposed to make known the wisdom of God. Christ promised the Holy Spirit would guide the Church into all truth. Our duty is to follow the Christ teachings in the Church and make known His teachings to the world. We can’t do that insisting on establishing our own church.