If the passing of the last of the first apostles brought about a crisis, we have no clear record of this. These same apostles presented all that God had provided in Christ, also preparing us for their departure. We would continue in the presence of Christ alongside their spirit. Neither was there question of survival; even as the Master had spoken of His ekklesia, "the gates of Hades shall not overpower." God in Christ both building and sustaining.
[Matthew 16:18]
"Self-policing"? "Massive problem"? "...desperate to weed out the fakes"? This is the language of fear. Such is not the example set, nor the teaching of the first century saints.Men had indeed been put out for destructive behavior lacking repentance. Neither is disagreement or opinion described as contextual with "mutiny". Different understandings would arise, and as Paul would answer potential contention with, "we have no other practice." No viable test of wills, as we are not our own where the death-to-life and authority of Christ prevails.
Clement of Rome writes to Corinth of those who in arrogance and unruliness have set themselves up as leaders in abominable jealousy. And also, For Christ is with them that are lowly of mind, not with them that exalt themselves over the flock. And also, It is shameful, dearly beloved, yes, utterly shameful and unworthy of your conduct in Christ, that it should be reported that the very steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians, for the sake of one or two persons, makes sedition against its presbyters. And further, let us entreat that we may obtain forgiveness. Yes and they also, who set themselves up as leaders of faction and division, ought to look to the common ground of hope.
Apostolic succession? Clement of Rome doesn't depend for it. Christ being The Truth, alive, reliable and able to bring His Life of faithfulness from above. We need not prepare to elect any other. For if or where we lack consensus in the Spirit, even there we have His --- upon Him alone we wait.
Defining Truth
Ignatius of Antioch
To consider the letters of Ignatius (some of which have been long regarded as of forgery),do we acknowledge tradition regarding the life & writingsascribed to him? He suddenly appears from history without former confession or testimony. The anxious pen of Ignatius bleeding with instructions for a hierarchical system alien to the Shepherd's flock; an order such as is contrary to the teachings of Christ among His disciples [Matthew 23:8-12].Are we to assume that the saints in Ephesus, Smyrna, Magnesia, Philadelphia, Tralles, Rome, and with the one named Polycarp, conformed to these appeals of Ignatius, thereby without help importing a control structure more comparable to the Roman world surrounding them? Yet, history does tell of a more gradual development toward control, as still favored from Rome to this day.
Is (or was) Docetism a serious threat to faith? Hardly. Those alive today who are in Christ, also are acknowledged to be His body; partakers in His flesh & blood.To this, the proposed 'Jesus without flesh' concept is maimed as an assertion, inconsequential; envisioned beneath an imperfection or infirmity of faith. The essence or presence of spurious ideas does not turnabout our unity of faith. Undisciplined children need not be granted authority by passions to divide the household. Rather, shortfalls and the counterfeit trailing behind, help to confirm Christ's abiding prayer of unity for us.We fear Yahweh. Can we ourselves hold any man to abide Christ? John has written,They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.[I John 2:19]
The faithful "logic" simpler still: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in [you/us] all. [Ephesians 4:4-6] Being found in Christ is not an identity crisis. What matters we do agree about cannot serve to define our True identity, even as Christ is our [new] identity. If you want to know who He is and what He teaches, you go to Him, thereto finding the Father in and thru Him. Christ is the Source;the Head.[Ephesians 4:15] In Christ, where can there be space for some other to conform the people of God?
They Built For Fear of Men
Nothing truly of God is built upon the fear of men or message. Various sects, ancient or modern, continue to press forward and may multiply. Yet, what Christ has long been building was never truly in danger of being lost. Neither does His Bride nor His assembly have need of lofty efforts; anxious or frightened men, for Her to become much more thana survivor.[I Corinthians 1:11-13; 2:2, 5]
How may we lay claim to be universal or in accord with the whole? There is but One Bridegroom; and One Bride to be.
The Authority of Christ
What Scrolling Cannot Replace
Scripture may be quoted by someone, with nothing to follow by the Spirit of God. The authority of Christ does not abide in the text itself.As where the Adversary may quote from Scripture, such does not bring the same in authority as where Christ or the saints are moved by the Holy Spiritto quote it.
Emerging from fear, the ancient Roman Excuse: 'We Didn't Do This To Add Power, We Did This So That The Church Would Survive."
Installing branches of authority & rule; lording itself was not itself undertaken within the authority of Christ; instead, it comes by way of men presuming; trying to 'save the Church' with authority structures, establishing a religious order which did of itself, in time, turn about to chase & attack saints and run afoul of the Kingdom of God.
