[narses]

Of course.

Since that Authority comes from God and since He gave that authority — what we can call governing authority - over the Church He founded - ONE Church, Universal and Apostolic, that we are all called to belong to, why do so many choose instead to rebel?

[rickomatic]

Since that Authority comes from God and since He gave that authority — what we can call governing authority - over the Church He founded - ONE Church, Universal and Apostolic, that we are all called to belong to, why do so many choose instead to rebel?

I guess it all comes back to the chicken or egg arguement. Was Jesus saying that His Church would be built upon the rock of Peter? Or was He saying that His Church would be built upon Peter's understanding of the truth he had just claimed?

15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[a] the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it.[d]

My contention is that Jesus was talking about Peter's belief, not Peter himself. A simple yet consice proof of this is found in John 3:16. How much more plain can it be? My faith and hope remains in God's one and only Son. Not in some hierarchical framework of authority.