Guest Blogger Tim Steele II: Sanctorum Communionem

Last updated on: October 28, 2010 at 12:13 am by Billy Kangas

Guest Blogger Tim Steele II: Sanctorum Communionem 2010-10-28T00:13:00-04:00 Billy Kangas

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today’s post comes from sassy Lutheran theo-blogger Tim Steele. If you don’t know Tim check out his blog Prodigal Son where he comments on hermeneutics, patristics, and all things Christ. Enjoy!

All Hallow’s Eve- better known as Halloween- is the feast day before All Saints (Nov 1), within the Western tradition. Seeing as it is that season, I believe it is appropriate to discuss what the Communion of Saints is, and how this relates to the life of the Christian.

“Credo in Spiritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem…”
This statement, taken from the Apostle’s Creed, roughly translates as:
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints…”

What does the Communion of Saints have to do with anything? Isn’t that just some theological jargon that crusty old seminarians use, that was cooked up during the dark days after the legalization of Christianity within the Roman Empire? And, isn’t it just something that we recite in the Apostle’s Creed, that is mentioned in Catechism class, and doesn’t really affect me?
The answer to all these questions: WRONG.

The Communion of Saints is integral to the Christian faith. It is the confession that Chirst has defeated death, and the He truly is the “Life of all the living”. The living in this case, referring to those who live in, with, and through Him.
It is the confession that for the Christian death does not seperate those in Heaven from those on Earth; all are part of the same Body, whose Head is Christ.

“But, where is THAT in the Bible”, you may be asking. “The phrase ‘communion of saints’ isn’t in the Bible!” Yeah- neither is the Trinity, and most Christians still profess that our God is Three in One, and One in Three. The fact of the matter is, the doctrine of the Communion of Saints is in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament.

In particular, there are three particular pieces of Holy Writ that I would like to examine:

1) Luke 20: 38– “Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”
Jesus Himself says it. God is not the God of the dead. This because God is Life, and in Him there can only be life. To be “dead to God” is to seperated from Him. This leads directly into the next verse.

2) John 15: 4-6– “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

God is the God of the Living. Sin places a rupture and break in humanity’s communion with the Trinity. And moreover, our continual sin divorces ourselves from God. But when Christ abides in us, and we in Christ, that rupture is repaired. Those whom are “dead to God” are “raised with Christ”. We only live in, with, and through Christ. Apart from Him, we can do nothing, for we are dead in our trespasses. “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

3) Hebrews 12: 1-3 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

All those united to Christ are truly alive, and are one Body. Therefore, just as we are in Christ, they too are in us. They are the “great cloud of witnesses” who have run the race and gone before us. They serve as examples to us on how we are to live. From the Apostles, to the Virgin Mary, to the Martyrs, to countless Christians. They point us to the Way- Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

These fathers and mothers are not merely just exemplars of Christian living. They are still engaged in activity. Theses Saints are not idle; on the contrary, they are extremely active. Doing what, you may ask? The very thing we as humans are created to do- to worship. When we on Earth gather together in Christ’s name, our worship unites with the unending worship of the Saints in glory. This is why in some Liturgies we proclaim-
“With Angels and Archangels and all the Company of Heaven, we praise You and sing….”
Remember- our worship mirrors and is an image of the worship of Heaven.

It also says that the Saints in heaven pray. All throughout Revelation is the mention of a “golden bowl” or “censer”, which was offered up before God, and was the prayer of the Saints. Now, you may say, this represents our prayers. Rightly so. However, do not be deceived- those in Heaven still pray. Again in Revelation, it states that martyrs are beneath an altar, beseeching God to bring justice and avenge them.

What does all this have to do with anything? Simple- belief in the Communion of Saints is a belief that Jesus did what He came to do. He has reconciled all to God through the forgiveness of sins. He has ransomed us to from the Devil. And He has slain death. To confess that those in Heaven are just as alive as we on Earth, and that we are united to them in Jesus, is to fly in the face of what the world teaches us concering death. For the Christian, death has truly lost its sting.

Next time you are thinking you’re alone in your walk: YOU’RE WRONG.
Next time you think that it “just me and Jesus”: YOU’RE WRONG.
Next time you think that death seperates you from those asleep in Christ: YOU’RE WRONG.

As one theologian put it- “Being is communion”. We are created to be in communion. And when we are in communion with Almighty God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- we are enternally and inseparably united to all others in communion with Him as well. We are One Body in Christ. Death holds no sway over us, for “Christ has trampled down Death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life”.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 27, 2010

Must Read: Introduction to Athanasius’ On The Incarnation by C.S. Lewis

Next Post

October 29, 2010 Saint of the week: Tabitha

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Bible Books CCC Prayer Christmas Current Events Family Film Free Photo Fridays Humor hunger liturgical calendar liturgy Music Photos pope Prayer Prayerful Leader questions Quotes Review Saints Satire Scripture SYNOD SYNOD FOR THE FAMILY teaching Uncategorized video Weekly Round Up

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 April 2026 February 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 February 2025 January 2025 September 2024 June 2024 May 2024 February 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 February 2023 November 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 September 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 August 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 October 2008 August 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

The night of the Passover what did Israel have to do so their firstborn wouldn't die?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Put blood around the door of their homes Take a Bath Change Clothes Go to Sleep