Where does the Catholic Church get its authority?
From Jesus Christ. He gave his apostle Peter, or Rock, that authority to bind and loose while instituting the Church in the gospel of Matthew:
“And so I say to you, you are Rock, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The Church is later described as the body of Christ, with Christ as the head, meaning one cannot exist separate from the other. Trying to be a follower of Jesus apart from the Church is essentially spiritual decapitation, as he promised to be with His bride for all time.
Listen to Jesus, confirming this promise while sending his Apostles out as the newly formed Church:
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Let’s pray – Jesus our Redeemer – you created the Church on the rock of Saint Peter. May we trust the necessity of authority in preserving the unity of the Church as the body of Christ, with you as the head. Amen.
This is Mike Kelly with Prayfor2. Listen to them anytime at Prayfor2.com, or on the Redeemer Radio app.