It Is The Decision of the Holy Spirit and Us - A Teaching on the Catholicity of the Early Church

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 05-14-20 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

Posted on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 by Msgr. Charles Pope

It Is The Decision of the Holy Spirit and Us – A Teaching on the Catholicity of the Early Church

The first readings at daily Mass this week recount the Council of Jerusalem, which scholars generally date to around 50 A.D. It was a pivotal moment in the history of the Church, because it would set forth an identity for Her that was independent of the culture of Judaism per se and would open wide the door of inculturation to the Gentiles. This surely had a significant effect on evangelization in the early Church.

Catholic ecclesiology is evident in this first council in that we have a very Catholic model of how a matter of significant pastoral practice and doctrine is properly dealt with. What we see here is the same model that the Catholic Church has continued to use right up to the present day. In this and all subsequent ecumenical councils, there is a gathering of the bishops, presided over by the Pope, that considers and may even debate a matter. In the event that consensus cannot be reached, the Pope resolves the debate. Once a decision is reached, it is considered binding and a letter is issued to the whole Church.

All of these elements are seen in this first council of the Church in Jerusalem, although in seminal form. Let’s consider this council, beginning with some background.

1. Bring in the Gentiles! Just prior to ascending, the Lord gave the Apostles the great commission: Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19). The Gentiles were now to be summoned and included in the ranks of discipleship and of the Church.
2. The Church was mighty slow in beginning any outreach to the Gentiles. While it is true that on the day of Pentecost people from every nation heard Peter’s sermon, and more than 3000 converted, they were all Jews (Acts 2). In fact, there seems little evidence of the Church moving far from Jerusalem let alone to all the nations.
3. Perhaps as a swift kick in the pants, the Lord allowed a persecution to break out in Jerusalem after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7). This caused the gospel to begin a northward trek, into Samaria at least. Samaritans, however, are not usually considered Gentiles, because they were a group that had intermarried with Jews in the 8th century B.C. There was also the baptism of an Ethiopian official, but he, too, was a Jew.
4. Fifteen Years? The timeline of Acts is a bit speculative. However, if we study it carefully and compare it to some of what Paul says (especially in Galatians), it would seem that it was between 12 and 15 years before the baptism of the first Gentile took place! If this is true, then another nudge or push from the Lord was surely needed. There was strong racial animosity between Jews and Gentiles, which may explain the slow response to Jesus’ commission. Although it may explain it, it does not excuse it. However, the Lord does not fail to guide His Church.
5. Time for another kick in the pants. This time the Lord goes to Peter, who was praying on a rooftop in Joppa, and by means of a vision teaches him that he should not call unclean what God calls clean. The Lord then sends to Peter an entourage from Cornelius, a high Roman military official seeking baptism. Cornelius, of course, is a Gentile. The entourage requests that Peter accompany them to meet Cornelius at Cesarea. At first, he is reluctant, but then recalling the vision (the kick in the pants) that God gave him, Peter decides to go. In Cesarea, he does something unthinkable: Peter, a Jew, enters the house of a Gentile. He has learned his lesson and as the first Pope has been guided by God to do what is right and just. After a conversation with Cornelius and the whole household as well as signs from the Holy Spirit, Peter baptizes them. Praise the Lord! It was about time. (All of this is detailed in Acts 10.)
6. Many are not happy with what Peter has done and they confront him about it. Peter explains his vision and also the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, insisting that this is how it is going to be. While it is true that these early Christians felt freer to question Peter than we would the Pope today, it is also a fact that what Peter has done is binding even if some of them don’t like it; what Peter has done will stand. Once Peter has answered them definitively, they reluctantly assent and declare somewhat cynically, “God has granted life giving repentance even to the Gentiles!” (Acts 11:18)
7. Trouble is brewing. The mission to the Gentiles is finally open, but that does not mean that the trouble is over. As Paul, Barnabas, and others begin to bring in large numbers of Gentile converts, some among the Jewish Christians begin to object that they are not like Jews and insist that the Gentiles must be circumcised and follow the whole of Jewish Law—not just the moral precepts but also the cultural norms, kosher diet, purification rites, etc. (That is where we picked up the story in yesterday’s Mass.)
8. The Council of Jerusalem – Luke, a master of understatement, says, “Because there arose no little dissension and debate …” (Acts 15:2) it was decided to ask the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem to gather and consider the matter. So the Apostles and some presbyters (priests) with them meet. Of course Peter is there as is James, who was especially prominent in Jerusalem among the Apostles and would later become bishop there. Once again, Luke rather humorously understates the matter by saying, “After much debate, Peter arose” (Acts 15:7).

Peter arises to settle the matter because, it would seem, the Apostles themselves were divided. Had not Peter received this charge from the Lord? The Lord had prophesied, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you all like wheat but I have prayed for you Peter, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:31-32). Peter now fulfills this text, as he will again in the future and as will every Pope after him. Peter clearly dismisses any notion that the Gentiles should be made to take up the whole burden of Jewish customs. Paul and Barnabas rise to support this. Then James (who it seems may have felt otherwise) rises to assent to the decision and asks that a letter be sent forth to all the Churches explaining the decision. He also asks for and obtains a few concessions.

So there it is, the first council of the Church. That council, like all the Church-wide councils that would follow, was a gathering of the bishops in the presence of Peter, who worked to unite them. At a council a decision is made and a decree binding on the whole Church is sent out—very Catholic, actually. We have kept this biblical model ever since that first council. Our Protestant brethren have departed from it because they have no pope to settle things when there is disagreement. They have split into tens of thousands of denominations and factions. When no one is pope, everyone is pope.

A final thought: Notice how the decree to the Churches is worded: It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us (Acts 15:28). In the end, we trust the Holy Spirit to guide the Church in matters of faith and morals. We trust that decrees and doctrines that issue forth from councils of the bishops with the Pope are inspired by and authored by the Holy Spirit Himself. There it is right in Scripture, the affirmation that when the Church speaks solemnly in this way, it is not just the bishops and the Pope speaking as men, it is the Holy Spirit speaking with them.

The Church—Catholic from the start!

[smvoice]

You are so right. Christ referred to His followers as the “LITTLE FLOCK”, NOT “The Big Honking Horde”.

[cloudmountain]

You’re bragging about the size of your church? Paul said “we dare not make of ourselves a number”. Do you think numbers mean correctness? How do you square with muslims?

Well, you choose to think the worst of me. That tells me something about you. Is all fact bragging if YOU don't like it? Hmmmm. I feel sorry for you. What a terrible way to live.

Numbers of Christians/Catholics IS large because it's such an old faith. I was explaining about Father Martin...the Catholic priest who turned his back on his faith. SUCH a shame. As I said, I thought he was probably a very good man. He HAD been.

How do I "square" with muslims? Lol. Whatever that means.
Islam didn't start until the 7th century. Mohammad originally TRIED to become a Christian. The Koran is a "knockoff" the of our Bible, mostly the Old Testament.

I think he was a wanna be but got burned.

PAX TIBI!

[cloudmountain]

One just reads Roman Catholic writings on the topic.

Are you one of those "ones"? If so, good for you.
Some people won't read ANY of the "enemy" literature, but that is nonsense. It never hurts to read the other side.

[ealgeone]

I’ve probably read more on that topic than the majority of Roman Catholics.

[cloudmountain]

23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NASB

As I wrote to another FReeper, not all sins are the same. Or do you equate MURDER with taking your brother's dessert off his plate as the same?

One is a MORTAL sin; one is a venial sin. According to the Catholic Church one merits hell if not forgiven. The other doesn't merit hell.

Or do you think that all sin is the same?

[smvoice]

Re: Advancing Mary narrative: Where does MARY was conceived SINLESS, Mary was bodily assumed into heaven at her death, Mary is a co-redemtris along with Christ, rosary prayers to Mary, Mary is our mediator, Mary is the Queen of the Universe, Mary is the throat between Christ, the Head and the Body of Christ, the believers, etc.

THIS is how “ONE ADVANCES A NARRATIVE ABOUT MARY”. Traditions and doctrines OF MEN.

[ealgeone]

Your post illustrates yet another false teaching of Rome.

[cloudmountain]

I’ve probably read more on that topic than the majority of Roman Catholics.

Lol, now you're a mind reader OR you know the majority of Roman Catholics. That would be a stretch since there are, according to Google, 2013, 1.2 billion Catholics in the world.

Do you know ALL of them? If so, I AM impressed.
If not then you are simply insulting the "majority of Catholics." I wonder why you would do that. Do they merit your insults? Are you in the position to judge them?

I wonder what Jesus would say to your comment.

[ealgeone]

IF the RCs on Free Republic are representative of Roman Catholicism, then yes, I’ve probably read more than most Roman Catholics on the topic.

[smvoice]

I tell you what Jesus would say: He would say “Vipers and Thieves” and He would slam down the religious leaders, who BTW, relished in their numbers.

Please don’t feel sorry for me. My beliefs are simple. They are all found in God’s word. Not a worldwide archive of traditions and doctrines of men. EVER LEARNING AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

[cloudmountain]

Your post illustrates yet another false teaching of Rome.

Why do you pay SO MUCH attention to the teachings of Rome? Why do you care? You protest TOO much and pay WAY too much attention to the Catholics.

What is YOUR branch of Protestantism? Lol. You won't tell me but WILL start in again on bashing MY faith. I've asked other Protestants what faith they were and NONE would tell me. THEY also turned back to bashing MY faith.

If you were REALLY secure in YOUR OWN FAITH you wouldn't have the time or inclination to denigrate other faiths. So, I guess you are insecure about your own faith, your own Protestant denomination, whichever it might be.

Then I would ask you to define the tenets of your faith, how you "square up" with Mary, the Sacraments, the priesthood, papacy...etc. You WOULD NOT be able to define your own brand of Protestantism because you don't know those tenets and find MUCH MORE COMFORT in bashing Catholics.
How Christian is it to denigrate others' faiths? Hmmmm? What would Jesus say to you about that? Again, I won't get an answer from you because Jesus would probably not approve of your malevolence.

PAX TIBI!

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But, I like responding to your posts. They keep my mind active and amused. THANK YOU.

[cloudmountain]

IF the RCs on Free Republic are representative of Roman Catholicism, then yes, I’ve probably read more than most Roman Catholics on the topic.

Careful, your ego is showing.

[ealgeone]

Just calling it like I see it.

[cloudmountain]

I tell you what Jesus would say: He would say “Vipers and Thieves” and He would slam down the religious leaders, who BTW, relished in their numbers. Please don’t feel sorry for me. My beliefs are simple. They are all found in God’s word. Not a worldwide archive of traditions and doctrines of men. EVER LEARNING AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

YAWN.
Pul-eeeeeeze, you're puttin' me to sleep.

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smbrain

[ealgeone]

Why do you pay SO MUCH attention to the teachings of Rome? Why do you care? You protest TOO much and pay WAY too much attention to the Catholics.

False doctrine is always a concern.

There's another thread with a discussion with a Mormon.

What is YOUR branch of Protestantism? Lol. You won't tell me but WILL start in again on bashing MY faith.

Probably because we identify with the Savior...not a denomination. Jesus said to, "come follow Me"....not become a member of a denomination.

If you were REALLY secure in YOUR OWN FAITH you wouldn't have the time or inclination to denigrate other faiths. So, I guess you are insecure about your own faith, your own Protestant denomination, whichever it might be.

I guess by your argument Paul wasn't really secure in his faith as he preached the Gospel around the Mediterranean.

Then I would ask you to define the tenets of your faith, how you "square up" with Mary, the Sacraments, the priesthood, papacy...etc. You WOULD NOT be able to define your own brand of Protestantism because you don't know those tenets and find MUCH MORE COMFORT in bashing Catholics.

A false assumption on your part as already demonstrated.

[smvoice]

I’m sure I am. Sleep while you can. You’ve got an eternity to realize the result of the TRUTH you were told from the LIE you believed.

[cloudmountain]

I’m sure I am. Sleep while you can. You’ve got an eternity to realize the result of the TRUTH you were told from the LIE you believed.

Lol. You know The Truth and you KNOW that I don't. Now THAT is some kind of arrogance.
Not being rude but MAYBE your call sign should be smbrain, sm = smug
I had thought "small" but that might be untrue, so SMUG works for me.
But it COULD be smelly or smarmy as well....all in good fun.

[smvoice]

Lol! This is the best you’ve got? Get your head out of the CLOUD mountain.
God’s word is the TRUTH. Not God’s word plus traditions and doctrines of men that add to or take away from His TRUTH in order to create a false religious system. Full of paganism, superstition, contradictions and secrecy. Have another cracker and sip of wine and think you’re impressing God. While ignoring His plea for reconciliation. 2 Corinthians.

[cloudmountain]

Lol! This is the best you’ve got? Get your head out of the CLOUD mountain. God’s word is the TRUTH. Not God’s word plus traditions and doctrines of men that add to or take away from His TRUTH in order to create a false religious system. Full of paganism, superstition, contradictions and secrecy. Have another cracker and sip of wine and think you’re impressing God. While ignoring His plea for reconciliation. 2 Corinthians.

Well, my head may be in the clouds but yours is in the sand.

*If the Catholic Church were bogus it wouldn't still be around. Jesus didn't make mistakes.

**If the Catholic Church were bogus there wouldn't be 1.2 BILLION Catholics in the world. How many followers does your own particular Protestant denomination have?

***GOOGLE: In 2017, there were a total of 414,582 priests. While the total number of priests worldwide has therefore remained about the same since 1970, the Catholic population has nearly doubled, growing from 653.6 million in 1970 to 1.229 billion in 2012.

Apparently Jesus' Catholic Church is doing very well.
New denominations keep popping up like new malls. Yet, Jesus' Catholic Church is still around and growing. There is your proof of what works.

How odd it is that you NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER talk about your own faith, your own Protestant denomination. Are you embarrassed? Are you ashamed of it?

Your ONLY opinions on this site are for ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE ONLY: to denigrate the Catholic Church, founded by Jesus 2000 years ago and carried on today through the Apostolic Tradition.
How SAD that your contribution to this site is only negative and deprecating towards the Church that Jesus founded 2000 years ago.

Give us some of your own positive thoughts about YOUR OWN Protestant denomination. Or are you afraid to?

PAX TIBI!

[ealgeone]

*If the Catholic Church were bogus it wouldn't still be around. Jesus didn't make mistakes.

False argument. Islam is still around as is Judaism.

**If the Catholic Church were bogus there wouldn't be 1.2 BILLION Catholics in the world. How many followers does your own particular Protestant denomination have?

Another false argument. Numbers do not impress God. If one reads the Scriptures one will find the true followers of God are few in number.

In your 1.2 billion Roman Catholics....are Nancy Pelosi, Biden, the Kennedy's, etc included??

You really have to get your talking points from somewhere other than Catholicanswers.