The Unity of the Church

This past week, I went to a Bible study held by architecture students. I believe, though am not entirely sure, that I was the only Catholic in attendance. This was an interesting situation; as my frame of reference for scripture is so different than a non-Catholic's. We are studying St. Paul's letter to the Philippians. We got to chapter 1, verse 27, which reads (emphases mine):

"Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for the faith of the gospel."

The discussion soon turned to Paul's exhortation that the Philippians remain in one mind and one spirit, and we were reminded of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper that all of his followers might be one. The group then began saying how all Christians should be united in the gospel. I couldn't help but notice the irony in their statements. There are thousands of Protestant denominations throughout the world, with no one denomination teaching exactly the same thing as another. This is the great tragedy of Protestantism: once one has removed the Pope, one becomes a pope unto oneself. That is, if one person is allowed to interpret the gospel as he sees it, he will naturally come into conflict with someone else who disagrees with his interpretation. This leads to disunity, not unity. This is not what Jesus wanted. He wanted (and Paul reminds us) his followers to be in one spirit and one mind. There is only one body of Christ.

The early Fathers of the Church understood this fact well. Here follow some of their statements on the unity of the Church, and its nature throughout the whole world.

"As I have already observed, the Church, having received this preaching and this faith, although scattered throughout the whole world, yet, as if occupying but one house, carefully preserves it. She also believes these points [of doctrine] just as if she had but one soul, and one and the same heart, and she proclaims them, and teaches them, and hands them down, with perfect harmony, as if she possessed only one mouth. For, although the languages of the world are dissimilar, yet the import of the tradition is one and the same. For the Churches which have been planted in Germany do not believe or hand down anything different, nor do those in Spain, nor those in Gaul, nor those in the East, nor those in Egypt, nor those in Libya, nor those which have been established in the central regions of the world. But as the sun, that creature of God, is one and the same throughout the whole world, so also the preaching of the truth shines everywhere, and enlightens all men that are willing to come to a knowledge of the truth. Nor will any one of the rulers in the Churches, however highlygifted he may be in point of eloquence, teach doctrines different from these (for no one is greater than the Master); nor, on the other hand, will he who is deficient in power of expression inflict injury on the tradition. For the faith being ever one and the same, neither does one who is able at great length to discourse regarding it, make any addition to it, nor does one, who can say but little diminish it." - St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1.10:2

"It is called Catholic then because it extends over all the world, from one end of the earth to the other; and because it teaches universally and completely one and all the doctrines which ought to come to men's knowledge, concerning things both visible and invisible,heavenly and earthly ; and because it brings into subjection to godliness the whole race of mankind, governors and governed, learned and unlearned; and because it universally treats and heals the whole class of sins, which are committed by soul or body, and possesses in itself every form of virtue which is named, both in deeds and words, and in every kind of spiritual gifts." - St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 18:23

"It follows after commendation of the Trinity, The Holy Church. God is pointed out, and His temple. For the temple of God is holy,says the Apostle, which (temple) are you. This same is the holy Church, the one Church, the true Church, the catholic Church, fighting against all heresies: fight, it can: be fought down, it cannot. As for heresies, they went all out of it, like as unprofitable branches pruned from the vine: but itself abides in its root, in its Vine, in its charity. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - St. Augustine, Sermon to Catechumens on the Creed, 14

It seems to me that in these three examples, the leaders of the early Church understood unity well. They knew that Jesus desired all of his followers to remain in the Church that he established, "So that from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is a sacrifice and there is a clean oblation offered to my name; for my name is great among the Gentiles, says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 1:11)