I have struggled with the doctrine of apostolic succession lately. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians would claim legitimacy as the "One, True Church" simply because the pope can trace his role as the Vicar of Christ all the way back to St. Peter. The "keys of the kingdom," they argue, have been passed down from pope-to-pope -- regardless of how good or corrupt -- throughout the first 2,000 years of the church.
Apostolic succession, rather, seems more about passing along the doctrines of the early church, and the Gospel message itself, from generation to generation.
It is amazing how the message of the Gospel has remained intact for two millennia despite our best efforts to dilute and silence it. The Word of God has remained a bedrock while the world has been led back-and-forth by every wind of teaching.
Like the long line of popes before us, the Church has sometimes proclaimed this message in its fullness; at other times not so much. We sometimes preach the Christian message "in spirit and in truth"; at other times we are absorbed into the culture around us or we swing toward harsh legalism.
To the degree that we receive and pass along the true teachings of the Church -- proclaiming it in word and deed, in spirit and in truth -- we stand in the line of apostolic succession and stand as the One, True Church.
It does not depend upon which tradition or denomination we come from. It does not depend upon how historic our church building is, or if we meet in a shopping center or gymnasium. It does not depend upon whether we worship God with praise music instruments or the organ. It does not depend upon whether we use liturgy in our worship or gravitate toward a bulletin-less service.
Apostolic succession is all about the message that we proclaim (as a community of faith) with our words and our lives.
O Lord, help us to be more apostolic.
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