The Apostles' Creed (part eleven)

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, `Here it is,' or `There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21).

In the Apostles’ Creed we state, "I believe in the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints." But if an unbeliever asked you what you meant by these words, what would you tell him? Many people do not understand what the Church really is. Some regard it as a social club for people who share the same convictions. Some think of the Church as an activist group, bringing about social change through organized political action. Karl Marx called it the ‘opiate of the masses’; he compared religion to a drug that numbs the mind, providing psychological comfort in a harsh world in exchange for the ability to think for yourself. Such views of the Church miss the mark.

The Pharisees also misunderstood what type of organization Jesus was building through His earthly ministry. He claimed to be their king, but as far as they could see, no kingdom was being established. Where was His army? When would He drive the Roman occupation forces out of their land? And so they asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come.

Jesus’ answer must have surprised them. He said: The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation. Earthly kingdoms are visible. They have capitals, palaces, military forces and heaps of weapons. But Jesus said that the kingdom of God cannot be observed no matter how carefully you look for it—it is invisible. I can prove to you that I am a citizen of the United States by showing you the proper documents. I can prove to you that I am a member of the Church by showing you my baptismal and confirmation certificates. But I can not prove to you that I have citizenship in the kingdom of God. Why not? Because the kingdom of God is within you.

Being a member of Christ’s kingdom is not a matter of external things like being confirmed, attending church, reading the Bible or holding family devotions. Certainly these are all important in a Christian’s life, but they do not prove that you are a Christian or belong to God’s kingdom. The kingdom is within you. Your membership depends on who rules your heart. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was crucified for your sins? If you do, you have faith—faith that saves you from sin and death and eternal condemnation. When you have this faith, Jesus rules your heart and you are a member of His kingdom. But while faith shows itself through the things we do and say, faith itself is invisible. No one except God can look into your heart and see whether you really believe in Jesus as your Savior. That’s why Jesus says you can’t see His kingdom.

What then is the holy Christian Church? It is the sum of all people who believe in Jesus. It is the kingdom of God, because each member’s heart is ruled by love for the Savior. There are no posers or phonies in the invisible Church. And the Church is not limited by national or cultural boundaries—its members are found in America, Canada, Mexico, Iran, Korea and every place in-between. They cannot be counted, but they are there; Jesus knows each of them by name and welcomes them as citizens in His kingdom.

We say that the invisible, world-wide Church is holy. But since we who believe are the Church, and we are sinners, how can the Church be holy? Paul writes in Ephesians chapter five, Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. The Church is holy because Jesus made it so. You are holy because Jesus has made you so. Jesus cleansed you when He filled you with faith through baptism and His Word. You have sinned. You have done evil things and let opportunities to serve God pass you by. Instead of trusting in Jesus, you have let worry consume your thoughts. You have hurt others with thoughtless words and have desired things that can hurt you. Yet in spite of all this, you are holy—holy because Jesus has shared His holiness with you. That is what forgiveness brings us—the gift of holiness. Even though you look dirty, in Jesus you are clean. Even though you are sinful, in Jesus you are forgiven. Even though you are a sinner, in Christ you are a saint.

When you are a member of the invisible Church, You are part of a privileged group—Peter says you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9). You share Christ’s holiness. So let it show. Sing His praises. Use your waking hours to serve Him with gladness. When you lie down for rest, sleep peacefully. Waking or sleeping, He makes you holy.

The Church is holy only because it is Christian. Some years ago in Texas, two men were at the gas station filling their tanks. One man greeted the other, then said: "I hope you won’t mind my asking, but since I lost a friend in an accident, I ask everyone a certain question. Are you a Christian?" Taken by surprise, the other man stuttered: "Well, I suppose I am." With a gentle smile, the first man asked again: "Are you a Christian?" The other man replied, "Well, I go to church quite regularly and try to do the best I can." "That’s not what I asked", the first man said as he hung his hose on the gas pump. "Unless you believe that Jesus Christ died for you, you are not a Christian." That’s the essential thing. Without faith in Christ there is no salvation; without faith in Christ, a church cannot be holy.

During the first days after Jesus returned to heaven, His followers referred to the Church as ‘The Way.’ But after only a few years, believers started identifying themselves as ‘Christian’, because their allegiance was to Christ. When Peter was told to stop preaching that Jesus as the only way to God and paradise, Peter replied Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). When Paul wrote to the Corinthians about building the Church, he said no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Jesus is the foundation, cornerstone, and head of the Church; because of this, no one will ever be successful in destroying it. Jesus Himself said, the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18). The devil has certainly tried to crush the Church, and he has had many allies in this project; kings, philosophers, entire nations have tried to shut the Churches’ doors forever. King Ahab, Emperor Nero, Muhammad, Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, Joseph Stalin, and Madeline Murray O’Hare are just some of the many people that have tried to silence the Church—and failed. In addition, there have always been enemies within our churches, enemies who have denied the truth or twisted Jesus’ words to suit their own agendas. In Jesus’ day, this included the Pharisees; in our day this includes liberals who pick and choose which parts of the Bible to accept as authentic, and legalists who insist that we must earn our holiness by our deeds. But whether the attacks come from without or within, no one will ever destroy Christ’s Church—it will continue forever.

If you want security, a place of permanent safety, then commit to being a member of the Church. St. Paul says, Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). There is no better time than now. Are you in the faith? Do you realize that you anger God every day? Do you seek forgiveness from Jesus? The Savior calls you—He says, Open your eyes! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20). Jesus wants to enter your life and be your most important friend.

Since Jesus is the foundation of the Church, the Church is built only where Christ is proclaimed as Savior. We hear a great deal about methods for growing the Church. Of course we want to see the Church grow—but we must realize that this only happens when parents, members, Sunday School teachers and the pastor speak of man’s sin and God’s grace. Concerts, bazaars and various kinds of programs all have their place, but no heart is ever changed or comforted until the Gospel is used. As Paul writes, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Do you want the Church to grow? Speak of Jesus to others!

The Church is the communion of saints. A saint is any person who believes in Jesus. Some saints—like you—are here on earth for now. Many others are in heaven, and Jesus promises to unite us with them when we die, so long as we keep believing and do not give up. On the Day of Judgment, all will be raised from the dead and restored to bodily form; we who have died as saints will inherit a new earth, a world completely free of sin, a paradise where we will live together forever, basking in God’s unfiltered love. This is the destiny of the Church; Christ built it to last forever. The communion of saints will never end.

How does a local congregation fit into all this? While membership in the invisible Church is of the utmost importance, your membership in a local group of believers also has value. Without a local congregation, where would you get baptized, instructed in God’s Word, and confirmed? Without a local congregation, how would you receive the Lord’s Supper, where would you go to get married, and who would oversee your burial? Each Christian benefits greatly by holding membership in a congregation. But to receive the greatest blessings possible, a person must be selective. When Jesus left for heaven, His command was this: go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19:20). When choosing a congregation, we listen carefully to make sure they neither add anything to God’s word nor leave anything out. To be sure, people are saved wherever they hear the Word of Christ, but congregations that distort the Bible put people at risk for being hurt or even being eternally lost. According to Jesus, it is the truth that sets you free (John 8:32). Make sure that the congregation you belong to is one that speaks the truth clearly and purely—not just for your sake, but for the sake of your children as well.

The relationship between the local congregation and the invisible Church is like the relationship between doctor’s office and the doctor himself. By entering, you come into the presence of the owner. So the local congregation is very important and deserving of your continued support. It is through you and saints like you that congregations exist, the Gospel is preached, and the doors of the holy Christian Church are thrown wide to welcome all who are willing to join Christ in paradise.