Ecclesiology

The Problem of Christian Immorality

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One of the most common arguments made against Christianity is the argument from Christian immorality: the frequent failure of Christians to live according to their own moral teachings makes it hard to believe that Christianity is true. Throughout history, and down to the present day, many Christians have lived in ways that are seriously incompatible … Read more

The Ethics of Church Discipline

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Church Discipline and Individualism Along with the preaching of God’s word and the administration of the sacraments, church discipline is one of the three marks of the church.  Without it, there cannot be a genuine community of Christian disciples.  Both Jesus (Matt 15:18-20) and the apostle Paul (I Cor 5:1-13, 2 Thess 3:6-14) clearly teach … Read more

The Visibility of the Church

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According to the New Testament, the church is God’s holy covenant people.  It is the family of God.  It is the community of Jesus’s disciples.  It is the body of Christ.  It is the redeemed and renewed humanity, the firstfruits of God’s new creation.   When we look at the church as it exists today and … Read more

Is Apostolic Succession Necessary?

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This entry is part 2 of 6 in the series Catholic or Protestant?

What is the Church?  This is one of the biggest issues dividing the Protestant and Catholic traditions.  According to the Protestant tradition, the Church exists wherever a disciplined community of Jesus’s disciples gathers around the preaching of God’s word and the administration of the sacraments (baptism and the Lord’s Supper).  According to the Catholic tradition, … Read more