What Is The Church As A Sacrament?

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Introduction

The original Greek meaning for church is thing belonging to the Lord. However, the secular meaning describes the church as an assembly. Additionally, church in the Septuagint also represents an assembly or congregation. However, in the New Testament, the church described as a local Christian community or the Whole Christian community and sometimes it is represented by symbols (i.e., body, bride, temple, etc.). Moreover, in memory of the apostles the church is called Apostolic. It is apparent that the nature of the church evolves with the times. I will discuss the similarities and differences regarding the nature and calling of the church in the modern world.
Church like a Sacrament
Throughout the history of the church, …show more content…

Henri de Labac believed that, “the church is a sacrament because it makes God present for us”. In other words, for Labac the church make the invisible Christ real in the world. While Karl Rahner agreed with Labac, he also noted that the church makes Christ present historically, and in the visible and embodied form. In Rahner’s view, “Christ’s presence is visible through God’s saving grace and His everlasting presence in the world”. On the other hand, Otto Semmelroth, described the church as a “Primordial Sacrament”. He believed that the church is the original sacrament because it is where the divine works of Jesus are realized. In his description, “The ability of God to use the material order to bear witness to the spiritual makes the church like a sacrament”. Still, in Leonardo Boff’s writing on “the Nature of Local Churches” he views the church as a universal sacrament of salvation that continues the mission of …show more content…

D. E. Schleiermacher viewed the Christian Church and the fellowship of believers as one. Schleiermacher’s theory was that there is an inner and outer fellowship. The inner fellowship includes sanctified believers while the outer fellowship includes those preparing for sanctification. As reborn members move to the inner fellowship circle grows. Similarly, Ludwig von Hertling wrote that, “The church is a fellowship where members either share a common life of the Trinity or the common life of believers”. Like Schleiermacher, Hertling’s theory had two characteristics. In his view, there is a vertical fellowship between the believer and God and a horizontal fellowship between individual believers. In addition, Leonard Boff described the local church as a community that is founded on the common faith. However, he added that, “The community is united in the pursuit of social objectives of liberation”. Moreover, Vatican II described the church as “the community of faith, hope and charity where God communicates truth and grace to all. At the same time, the council defined the local church as “That portion of God’s people, which is entrusted to a bishop to be shepherded by

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