Hooper Debate 7 - Questions About Ministry

BISHOPS & PRIESTS GIVEN CHARGE OVER SACRAMENTS

2 Corinthians 5:18-20: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

HOOPER: Where do you see this gives Roman Catholic Bishops and Priests charge over "sacraments?" You are giving private interpretation again. Paul is addressing CHRISTIANS. All Christians are ambassadors for Christ.

Paul addresses his words to the Corinthian church. A few verses earlier, he said, "We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast of us, so that you may have something to say to those who boast of external appearance rather than the heart. For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are rational, it is for you." Notice that he makes a distinction between the ministry that he and others have and the believers to whom he is speaking.

The principal way that God's mercy was given in the early Church was through repentance, acceptance of the faith and baptism. Afterwards a person was expected to be earnest in his or her discipleship. As Christ delayed his second coming, the Church by necessity instituted second penance and later regular confession.

HOOPER: 1 Corinthians 4:1: This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."

Actually, the very beginning of the letter shows us that there is a structure of leadership already present in the early Church: "Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God . . . ." 1 Corinthians 4:1 comes after a chapter three has spoken about the role of God's ministers. We read in 1 Corinthians 3: "What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. . . . For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building." This is picked up in chapter 4: "Thus should one regard us, as ervants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. It does not concern me in the least that I BE JUDGED BY YOU or any human tribunal . . . ."

Again, it is clear, placed in context, that Paul is making a distinction between callings or gifts. Not everyone has the same role to play in the Church.

HOOPER: There are seven mysteries mentioned in the Bible (1 Tim. 3:16; Col. 1:27; Eph. 5:32; Rom. 11:5, 1 Cor. 15:51; 2 Thess. 2:7-8; Rev. 17:5) all of which the Roman Catholic Church doesn't understand, much less be stewards of them.

I guess you used a concordance to list these verses, a Greek lexicon would be better. These verses speak about many of the mysteries of God like the resurrection of Christ and our participation in his life. Distinct from your list, the early Church spoke of many mysteries which would later be called sacraments and narrowed down to seven.

John 20:21: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so send I you."

Bishops and priests are the ministers of Christ in our world. They represent him and, in the sacraments, make him actively present. This is a most serious calling. A poor priest does not, in itself, repudiate this high calling. As living signs of contradiction, in the footsteps of the Master, they are mocked and slandered by a world that still does not understand Jesus or the Gospel.

HOOPER: No where in the Bible does God say only Roman Catholic bishops and priests are the ministers of Christ in our world. This is private interpretation all the way! I also don't need a Roman Catholic Priest to make Christ actively present in my life. His presence is never away from me. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory:" -Col. 1:27 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." -Gal. 2:20

There are many forms of ministry and even the laity are called to various apostulates and forms of service in the Church. However, the bishops are the successors to the apostles. What was said of the apostles would in turn be said about the bishops and those to whom they gave something of their ministerial authority-- deacons and priests.

You are correct that the work of evangelization and discipleship does not belong only to the clergy. The Catholic Church, despite your negation, would say the same. The only private interpretation, or rather misinterpretation here, is from you. The ministers of the Church, priests and bishops, make Christ present in the blessed sacrament. But, you have forsaken the Eucharist. However, in your ignorance, if not poisoned by your hatred of all things Catholic, you might indeed have something of Christ present in your life. Only you can know this. Catholics speak of the presence of Jesus inside of them as the indwelling of divine grace. This and the citation you make are elements of the Church's incarnational belief and the need for transformation in Christ.

Notice what Paul says to the Colossians: "It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I LABOR AND STRUGGLE, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me" (Colossains 1:28-29).

As a priest I also labor and struggle toward those same ends.