On Hating the “Institution” of the Church

Gospel reading for today.

ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 4:7-13 BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (in saying, “He ascended, ” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

There are many who say they love God or Jesus but hate the institution of the church. They fail to realize that Jesus Himself set up that institution. Jesus gave the people and gifts to the Church to raise up the Church. They think they can pick or choose what things they like from various churches.

I was one of them for many years. I thought I could pick bits and pieces from the various books in the Bible, various teachers in the contemporary churches, and even the Fathers of the Church, at least far as they agreed with my reason. That is wrong thinking since it makes me the measure of the Church and not the Church the measure of me.

This is not a mission that ended with the completion of the New Testament books. This is a mission that continues until the end of time. The “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” is known as theosis in the Orthodox Church. As Paul also wrote:

1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

It is a great error to think that passage is about the completion of the New Testament. The very fact that the church does not yet “measure up” shows this mission is not yet completed.