A Defense of The Christian Church

 A Defense of The Christian Church


There is no institution more hated and despised in all the world, than that of the Christian Church.  Satan himself is the church's most passionate loather; and he (the devil) has done everything he can--or, is allowed to do, by God--to cast the church into the most hideous colors and shades. . . . And yet, the true church--even that of the "visible" "true" church--is perfectly and fully and beautifully loved by the One True and Only Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

This little paper will be designed to defend not only the "invisible" church of all the elect/redeemed souls who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit; but also it will seek to be a "champion" of all those literal, physical, tangible congregations which self-consciously own Jesus Christ, His gospel of grace, the proper administration of the sacraments, and church discipline.  Along with this, these bodies would heartily embrace the church's two most-historic Creeds: The Apostles' Creed, and The Nicene Creed.

 

One of the reasons I wish to come to the true church's aid and defense, is because God Himself does this, rather incessantly, throughout all of Holy Scripture--the Old Testament and the New.  Here are two examples; one from each Testament. . . . In Isaiah 54:17, we read these amazing words: " . . . no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD," (ESV).  And, in Matthew 16:18, we find our Lord Jesus saying this: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," (ESV).

 

Another of the reasons I personally, pastorally, and professionally "stand with" the true church, is because Jesus Christ does.  There is nothing on earth more treasured and valuable to the Members of The Holy Trinity than the redeemed body of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  All the promises in the Old Testament or the New are all centered in and fulfilled by our Lord Christ; and they all apply to the beloved ecclesia or church that has been purchased by Jesus' blood and resurrection.  Because of this, all the authentic saints of God are not only willing to be "members" of this church; we are also prepared to give our lives for our fellow members.  Jesus died for His own people; and we live to serve His people--His church--first and foremost.  In doing this, we serve our Master and Lord.

 

There is now "no Jew or Gentile"; there is no "church" and "Israel."  In Jesus Christ's finished work there is one body of elect and atoned for people; one family of forgiven and re-created humanity; one community baptized into One Christ.  This blessed communion is the church of Jesus, made up of sinners saved by grace.

 

Are there plenty of ugly imitations of this grand and spectacular beauty and glory?  Of course there are.  Satan would be an idiot, if he did not try his "hand" at deceiving sinners through false representations of the real thing.  Have some outwardly-properly-professing "ministers" and "members" of the true (and visible) church been frauds all along?  Of course there have been.  Have they done much damage to the Name of Jesus and His body of true believers on earth?  Yes, they have.  But, still, does the church rise up against and above all of her opponents, and triumph over them in Jesus' cross?  Yes, we do.

 

In all the world, only one institution ultimately matters; and that is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of this, we should not be surprised that she (Christ's bride) has been assailed, hated, attacked, imitated, and vilified.  Though this is all true, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have always loved the church (even before the creation of anything).  The church is the only assemblage of people that God loves with His perfect covenant love in Jesus His Son.  No wonder the true members of the faithful church love her (the church) so much!  We do this out of and in harmony with our love for our Savior Jesus.

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #130

21 August 2026

 

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com

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