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You know, I happen to like this current Pope, for the most part. I've applauded what he's had to say on many subjects, and even though he is dreadfully wrong this time, I have to applaud his chutzpah for returning to the old view of things. Meaning, he has returned to the idea that no other church or denomination is in truth a church, because none has the Pope, and none can claim succession from the apostles. Now frankly, this is a load of serious crap. Like I said, I like the Pope, but anyone who spends any amount of time whatsoever in the Bible can blow holes the size of volkswagons in such a statement.
First of all, even if you take apostolic succession as a given, which I do not, it means exactly dick when it comes to whether a church is legitimate. Having just read account after account in the old testament (not to mention you can learn this from learning any bit of history in the world), I can honestly point out that succession does not make for legitimacy, especially in the eyes of God (save for prophecy regarding lineage). A good King can be succeeded by the most loathsome, despicable, and cretinous individual. The history of the catholic church itself shows many corrupt and completely ungodly Popes (some are no longer regarded as Popes, but some quite bad ones still are). Secondly, if a church does not count as a church unless it can trace its roots back to an apostle, than even the catholic church cannot count as a church, for it came about from the church in Rome, and Peter was one of the elders of the churches in Jerusalem, not Rome. On the other hand, one can equally well point out that every last christian who has read his bible is part of a proper church because he has had the words directly from the apostles (not to mention God himself).
Frankly though, the Pope, as well as the catholic church (and many denominations anymore) seem to have fallen into the idea that a church is more than they seem to think. I mean by this that the word "church" comes from the greek word "ekklesia", which means to assemble or gather together in a group. Jesus himself said that where two or more are gathered in his name, there he is among them. A church is not about a Pope, nor is it about having any kind of bishop/preacher/pastor/priest/whatever. It is about people coming together in Christ's name, regardless of where, when, or for what purpose. This can be seen in the letters that Paul, Peter, John, etc. all wrote. They write to a place calling it the Church at Ephesus, or the Church at so-and-so. While all christians are indeed one body of christ, the church should not be said to be only this or that group.
More importantly, it is essential we remember what Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Rome. He pointed out that we are all ingrafted branches, and that if the original branches did not produce fruit and were thus replaced by us, then we must be doubly careful to be not removed ourselves. The catholic church falsely says that it cannot be removed, and this is clearly false, by the very words of Paul. And you'll notice, he sent this message specifically to the church in Rome, for it was the most likely to fall away and be ungrafted. It is exceedingly important that we remember what Jesus rebuked the pharisees for: following the traditions of man rather than of God. We must make certain not to do this, for those who lead and teach are doubly responsible and doubly guilty for their misdeeds.
First of all, even if you take apostolic succession as a given, which I do not, it means exactly dick when it comes to whether a church is legitimate. Having just read account after account in the old testament (not to mention you can learn this from learning any bit of history in the world), I can honestly point out that succession does not make for legitimacy, especially in the eyes of God (save for prophecy regarding lineage). A good King can be succeeded by the most loathsome, despicable, and cretinous individual. The history of the catholic church itself shows many corrupt and completely ungodly Popes (some are no longer regarded as Popes, but some quite bad ones still are). Secondly, if a church does not count as a church unless it can trace its roots back to an apostle, than even the catholic church cannot count as a church, for it came about from the church in Rome, and Peter was one of the elders of the churches in Jerusalem, not Rome. On the other hand, one can equally well point out that every last christian who has read his bible is part of a proper church because he has had the words directly from the apostles (not to mention God himself).
Frankly though, the Pope, as well as the catholic church (and many denominations anymore) seem to have fallen into the idea that a church is more than they seem to think. I mean by this that the word "church" comes from the greek word "ekklesia", which means to assemble or gather together in a group. Jesus himself said that where two or more are gathered in his name, there he is among them. A church is not about a Pope, nor is it about having any kind of bishop/preacher/pastor/priest/whatever. It is about people coming together in Christ's name, regardless of where, when, or for what purpose. This can be seen in the letters that Paul, Peter, John, etc. all wrote. They write to a place calling it the Church at Ephesus, or the Church at so-and-so. While all christians are indeed one body of christ, the church should not be said to be only this or that group.
More importantly, it is essential we remember what Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Rome. He pointed out that we are all ingrafted branches, and that if the original branches did not produce fruit and were thus replaced by us, then we must be doubly careful to be not removed ourselves. The catholic church falsely says that it cannot be removed, and this is clearly false, by the very words of Paul. And you'll notice, he sent this message specifically to the church in Rome, for it was the most likely to fall away and be ungrafted. It is exceedingly important that we remember what Jesus rebuked the pharisees for: following the traditions of man rather than of God. We must make certain not to do this, for those who lead and teach are doubly responsible and doubly guilty for their misdeeds.
