One True Church?

 

I. What Is the Unity of the Church?
1. The unity of Father or Son or Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-13, Gal. 3:28)

Abuse: Unitarian homogeneity/totalitarianism

2. The unity of Father and Son and Holy Spirit (John 17:20-23)

Abuse: Tritheistic pluralism/anarchy

Either way, the Church's unity is God's unity, a divine gift and reflection

 

II. How Is Unity Mediated?
1. By communion with the apostles' successors

(Catholics: and ultimately the Bishop of Rome)

Effect: Unity is institutional

2. By obedience to Scripture

Effect: Unity is "invisible," doctrinal

Effect: Confessions and statements of faith proliferate

3. By the presence of God through the Holy Spirit

Effect: Spiritual gifts are the only final evidence

Effect: Unity is spiritual or ethical

 

III. All of the Above?

Lesslie Newbigin: These types are each insufficient
Bishops, Word, sacraments are media of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit's action takes concrete forms (implying Holy Tradition)
Christ always has two mediators: Holy Spirit and Church
Disunity compromises the Church's witness, injures the body of Christ

"The Church's One Foundation"