Fundamental Ecclesial Themes in the New Testament and Vatican II (Essay Sample)

Fundamental ecclesial themes in the New Testament and Vatican II
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Fundamental ecclesial themes in the New Testament and Vatican II
Introduction
The New Testament provides numerous imageries of the Christian community. The church is a flock, the bride, a temple, a body of Christ, God’s people, a field, and a holy priesthood. Each and every image articulates something concerning the church community and no single image says everything. At dissimilar points in the ancient centuries, one or an additional of these images looked like a kind of key, an effort to assimilate all the numerous insights presented by this variety of images and hence provide a synthetic vision of church, an ecclesiology. Ecclesiology derives from the words ecclesia (assembly/church) and ology (study of), which are Greek words and it denotes to the study of the church. In the Christian methodical theology, ecclesiology is among the major fields of study and examines what the Bible imparts about the church both locally and universally. Some common fields of study within ecclesiology consist of: the definitions of the church; the purpose of the church; the rituals of the church; the responsibility of church government/church leadership; and the role of church members.
There is a boundless need in the present day to apprehend the indispensable nature of the church from what the Scripture communicates and not primarily from the responsibility some claim it plays in the society. We cannot carry on defining the church existentially, that is, by the way, the church interacts with the globe and the resultant alterations it goes through. We should start with the word of God so as to develop a sense of the kind of entity the church is, and from where we can choose the kind of roles that it should be engaged in. The Greek term ekklesia was used in the New Testament in around 114 times. Whereas some uses of the term denote to an assembly of individuals apart from a spiritual emphasis, numerous occurrences identify either the local churches (local assembly of Christian believers) or universal church (all Christian believers). What is of significant meaning is the point that the church in the Bible refers to individuals and not building as it is known to many individuals in the present days. Moreover, in the New Testament, Christians did not go to the church, since it was believed that they were the church.[Dulles, Avery. Models of the Church. Image, 2002.]
THE ECCLESIOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Catholic Church grips no certified position on the evolution and creation theory, leaving the particulars of either literal creationism or theistic evolution to the person within specific parameters created by the church. Catholicism holds the idea that God started and continued the process of his evolutionary creation. The present day churches do support theistic evolution also termed as evolutionary creation though the Catholics are at liberty not to believe ant portion of the evolutionary theory. The impression that the church is the body of Christ emanates from the ancient replications on Christian community, Paul’s letters "now you are Christ’s body and independently parts of it”. The roles of the church in the New Testament are many, and some of these roles are exemplified in the image of the first church that is at the book of Acts 2:42-47. These roles comprised of outreach, service, prayer, fellowship, teaching, and worship. Ecclesiology also contemplates what rites are suitable for the Christian church. Protestants embrace only the rituals of the Bible itemized in the New Testament, as well as communion and baptism. Baptism in specific is debated hotly among dissimilar Christian traditions, usually regarding the style of baptism and if it must include infants or must be restricted to believers. The notion that baptism is essential is not compulsory for salvation is confirmed by Paul’s concept that says Christ did not direct him to baptize but to preach the gospel. If baptism were a necessary element, then Paul could not have misplaced it. Paul in the New Testament separates baptism from preaching the gospel since it is not a necessary part of the gospel. Finally, if baptism was necessary to saving faith, then the thief on the cross might not have gone into the hope of heaven as promised by Jesus. Therefore, baptism represents the union of a believer with Christ in his or her death to sin and the revivals to new life. Communion is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Supper. Besides, the Lord’s Supper is seen by all the Christian traditions, although its meaning is known differently amongst the different branches of the Christian churches in the present day.[McBrien, Richard P. The church: The evolution of Catholicism. Harper Collins, 2008.]
The Eucharist or Lord’s Supper is a continuing rite that signifies the ongoing communal with Christ and our continuous declaration of the message concerning the death of Christ. There are dissimilarities of views among honest Christians as to how frequently the Lord’s Supper must be perceived. The synoptic do not record Jesus stating how frequent it should be celebrated, however, the idea that the Lord’s Supper recounts to the new bond and signifies the blood of Jesus that was shed for us, seems to show that Jesus observed it from the start as relating to all his followers till the time he will sit down with us physically and drink it afresh in his father’s kingdom. It also looks like the nature Lord’s Supper as a reminder to celebrate it fairly and frequently is a good thing as long as it is done in a way that encourages all the present individuals and also honor God. Roman Catholicism contends a view known as transubstantiation where it is said that the wine and the bread are mysteriously changed into the literal blood and body of the Lord so that his body presents the elements. Finally, the Lord’s Supper is only for believers; however, it is not to be limited to only the baptized individuals. Furthermore, much weight in ecclesiology is placed on the thoughtfulness of church leadership. Particular traditions claim elders much be the primary leaders in the church, whereas others give emphasis to the deacons role more. Additionally, the women’s role in the church leadership gets more attention. Moreover, how decisions in the church are made and how church leaders are selected are discussed at length within ecclesiology. For instance, some prefer congregation-led churches whereas others argue that numerous decisions should be made by the appointed pastors or elders. As the Bible educates on the significance of every individual in Christ and every believer’s priesthood, ecclesiology seeks to understand the teachings of the Bible on the role of church associates and membership.[Collins, Raymond F. The Many Faces of the Church: A Study in New Testament Ecclesiology. Crossroad Publishing Company, 2003.] [Doyle, Dennis M. Communion ecclesiology: vision and versions. Orbis Books, 2000.]
The New Testament appears to support most effusively the notion of a variety of elders at any single location, but not the notion of an advanced hierarchical organization beyond this. The apostles authority is communicated through the writing they left to educate us; however, there is no need for general assemblies or presbyteries to which we are to be answerable. In summary, ecclesiology is necessary for all Christians as it directs then towards and understanding of the Bible and how Christians should relate with one another, to unbelievers, and to God. A solid understanding of ecclesiology helps us personally as individuals get to learn how to offer a healthy growth of the church and at the same time honor God.
THE ECCLESIOLOGY OF VATICAN II
The phrase by Romano Guardini "The church is developing within souls" has been formulated wisely since at last it experienced and recognized the church as something within us and not as an organization outside. The church is the organism of the Holy Spirit, something takes hold of our inmost being. This understanding found voiced expression with the idea of the mystical body of Christ. This phrase denotes to a liberating and new understanding of the church. Also, Guardini added that the church is an institution built and devised by men, however, it is a living reality and like all the living, the church changes and also develops. Nev...