"The Church is Not the Organization" is a content analysis of certain Biblical revelations, religious doctrines, precepts and traditions pertinent to the Biblical Church that Jesus Christ has so declared to build in refutation of the general misconception that it is the organization and organism which Christ founded to continue His work of sanctifying, ruling and teaching all men. For the past many generations, the Church continues to exist in two parallel realities: one, as the Church which Christ proclaimed He will build; and two, as the organization which wise and prudent men of this world propose He had founded. At a glance, there is a very subtle possibility that the Church Jesus Christ will build could very well be the same organization which He allegedly founded. And sure enough, the religious world readily accepted the proposition and generally acknowledged the Church as the organization and organism which Christ founded. The proposition is forwarded by the teachers of the Roman Catholic Church organization in their long-winded official definition of the Church. It says in part: "The Church is the organization and organism which Christ founded to continue His work of sanctifying, ruling and teaching all men, bringing to them the fruits of the Redemption. Christ commissioned the apostles, under the primacy of Peter, to rule and teach His Church; and He instituted the Mass and the sacraments by means of which they were to sanctify all men. Finally, He assured them of His continuing presence, saying, 'I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world' (Matthew 28:20). The Church is thus the union of Christ with humanity in a hierarchically organized society. "Since it is a society which has Christ as its founder and its head, and since its members have their life in Him, it is most fittingly described as the mystical body of Christ. It includes all those who are baptized, profess the true faith, and are in lawful communion with the pope. Actual and visible membership in the Church is the normal means established by Christ for saving men. The attributes of the Church are: visibility, perpetuity, indefectibility, and infallibility. "During more than 1,900 years, more than 260 popes have succeeded to the see of Peter. And during this period, the Church's doctrine and discipline have withstood countless persecutions, heresies, and other perils to which any but a divinely instituted society must have succumbed." - Definition of Church. "A Practical Dictionary of Biblical and General Catholic Information," p. 51, appended to The Holy Bible/Holy Angels Edition - The Catholic Press Inc., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. 1960. Imprimatur: Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Cardinal of Chicago. August 2, 1952. The Catholic definition is a mere proposition in logic. A proposition, according to the English dictionary, is what is being offered to be considered. To propose means to put forward for consideration, discussion, acceptance, or trial; suggest. A proposition in logic is one which must be proven true or false. It is always wise and prudent to accept any given proposition only on the basis of its proven truth. However, it is a fact that men accept or reject propositions for various reasons other than its truth or fallacy. On the other hand, the acceptance of the Catholic proposition, even by the whole world, does not establish it in truth nor will its rejection make it false. The Catholic definition of the Church must have to be proven true or false. "The Church is Not the Organization" is a scrupulous consideration, discussion and trial carried out to prove the truth of the Catholic proposition once and for all. And it has indeed proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Church Jesus Christ declared He will build is not, has not been and can never be the organization and organism which He allegedly founded.
About the Author: My name is Martin Cruz, Jr. I was born on July 22, 1942, the youngest of five children. We were poor but were quite lucky to go through elementary and high school for free as working students in a Catholic school run by the Maryknoll sisters from the United States. We were taught catechism, religion and the basic Catholic doctrines and precepts on top of the standard school curriculum by a very competent, serious and strict faculty. My elementary and high school experience in such a wonderful Catholic institution has always been my fondest memories in life. I was not able to go to college. After graduating from high school, I found work right away in a government corporation where my sister also worked. I was a casual employee. But I have a salary and that is good enough for me. Financially, I was of little help to my parents but I was not a burden either. It was a happy go lucky life. And then I got married at 22. I wanted to give my children a life better than I had. I became adventurous and daring, trying this and that, failing here and succeeding there, always finding ways and means to earn more in every which way possible. I went out into the world to seek my fortune. At the age of 40, I made my first millions. I thought then that I had it made. But I got mixed up with the wrong persons and individuals that I trusted. And it did not take that long before I lost those millions. From rags to riches to rags again has been my life's story. I was 50 years old when I began to seek truthful answers to my questions about my faith, about God, about His words and promises that I learned from school during my youth. And then I began to read the Bible with an interest that kept on growing as the revelations were made manifest in my mind and in my heart. I wrote about the light that I have glimpsed from the Book of God. Now at 72, I felt it strongly that it is my duty to share that light to my fellow men just as our dear national hero said: "I do not aspire to equal others whose conditions, faculties, and circumstances may be and are in reality different from mine; my only desire is to do what is possible, what is within my power, what is most necessary. I have glimpsed a little light, and I believe I ought to show it to my countrymen. Others more fortunate, Sarda or anybody else, let them mount there on the heights." - Dr. Jose P. Rizal