Validly Apostolic Part III

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

What really is an Apostolic Church, and what validates it? Is it a Church started by an Apostle that is well known? Is it a Church that has physical lines of Apostolic Succession?

 

According to the old and earliest Church Fathers, the Church was to teach the Apostle's doctrine. Physical ordination from a well known Apostle, Bishop, or denomination does not necessarily mean that you are walking correctly according to the faith once delivered unto the saint. For example, the Roman Catholic Church has lines that can trace it's Papacy and Episcopacy all the way back to Apostles Peter and Paul. However, their latter days were full of heresy, and caused a great split within the Church. Both the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Church can trace their lines back to the rest of the first generation of Apostles (John, Barnabas, James, Paul, Thomas, etc.), yet even they strayed away in some areas. The Anglican Communion is yet another with claims of valid Apostolic Succession, however, some will argue that their beginning was heretical due to their beginnings being based upon a split caused by their King. In all the error within them, they claim to be judges of what is truly "Orthodox" and "Apostolic", using one of the most respected Apostolic Fathers' words to judge other Church as valid or invalid. One hallmark of an Apostolic Church is true unity within the faith, as stated by Apostle St. Jude:

 

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

– St. Jude 1:3

 

 

St. Jude tells us that he is addressing all Churches who held to the faith, instructing them that first salvation amongst them was "common". This was not to insult salvation. On the contrary, it is very precious. By saying the "common salvation", this statement is to help the believer to keep in mind that salvation is for all. To belong to the Church of the living God is belong to a people vast and wide and spread apart, yet united. Therefore, because of the vastness of the Church, unity must be worked on continuously. St. Ignatius, 3rd Bishop of Antioch used statements within his epistle that is often used to justify Apostolic Succession. However, Bishop Ignatius’s words should not be taken piece by piece, but as a whole.

 

“Wherever the Bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.”

 – St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, Chapter VIII

 

The unity of the faith is a Church governmental issue. Ecumenicalism, therefore, is the responsibility of the Apostles and the Bishops of the Lord’s Church. If you find a Prelate who cares little to nothing about addressing such issues, you have found a Prelate not worthy of their position, and most likely a hireling. If such a person says ‘I love the Church’ he is a liar. A lover of the Church is a lover of the Catholic Church, not just their own section. To ignore the unity of the Church is to ignore the God of unity. Our Lord Jesus of Nazareth exposed this as being the heart of God, and the apparent strength of the Blessed Trinity. Christ told us to pray that the Lord send laborers into the field, but He Himself prayed that we continue to stay together.:

 

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

-The Gospel of John 17:20-23

 

Schismatics and heretics have always been advised by the Apostles and Prophets to be avoided at all costs. Efforts for Ecumenicalism are therefore just as vital, if not more so, than efforts for Evangelism.

 

"Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."

-Psalms 1:1

 

"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time"

-1st Peter 5:1-6

 

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

-2nd Timothy 4:1-5

 

"But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper."

-1st Corinthians 11:16-20

 

Apostleship, and Apostolic Succession is more than just being ordained by a valid Apostle or Bishop, it is you walking as a valid Apostle and/or Bishop, and unity is apart of that walk. Your Apostolic validity is known by your fruits, not your roots.

 

be blessed, speak blessed...

to be a blessing, & speak a blessing...

 

your brother,

††Trevor T. Greene

Senior Apostle, Patriarch, & Int'l Bishop,

T.T.A.K.

[Joseph Gill]

Brother Trevor, the series is extremely thought-provoking.

 

Regarding the scripture references you used to illustrate that "efforts for Ecumenicalism are... just as vital [as]... efforts for Evangelism," 1 Corinthians 11:16-20 raised some questions in my mind. What do you make of Paul's words that "there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you"? If heresies rise up in our ranks, I would have said that's an argument for the relative benefit of separation. But is Paul reasoning in this passage that schism is a worse threat to the church than heresy, strictly speaking?

 

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Schism is the result of 1) heresy developed and accepted, and 2) heresy not dealt with properly. The PROPER way to deal with Schism is excommunication of the Schismatic, not separation of an entire body of believers. Think of it like this: Christ said to cut off that part that is offending you, lest you go into the Lake of Fire whole. Now two Churches may differ on ONE PART ONLY. Are they to have a schism, or to iron out that heresy?