Apostolic Succession

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    Brother Thorn wrote in response to my article on Pure Lineage saying
that he believes in a Holy Priesthood, or a chosen people, who have been
ordained by God throughout human history to carry His forth His message.

    The specific doctrinal belief Brother Thorn is reffering to is called
Apostolic Succession.  This is how The New Catholic Encylclopedia,1976,
defines the doctrine:
    The sequence of Apostolic succession follows from the Apostles
themselves down to the bishops of the present time.  This is marked by (1)
lawful, valid ordination conferred on bishops of the Church; (2)  the giving
over or delegating directly entrusted to the Apostles of ordaining, ruling,
and teaching, which were given by Christ to the Apostles;  (3)  the historic
and scriptural truth that the Apostles in all ages did confer this power on
others;  (4)  the intrinsic truth that the Church in all ages could not have
preserved its identity and unity as Christ intended ...unless there were a
giving over of such powers to others who carry on the work of Christ's
Church;  (5)  the pope, who is the successor of St. Peter in Rome.
    As with many Roman Catholic beliefs, this doctrine is not based upon
Holy Scripture.  It is also not confirmed by human history. Because of their
belief in Apostolic Succession The Roman Catholic Chuirch has attempted to
demonstrate a Pure Lineage for such doctrines as the assumption of Mary,
purgatory, confession, the male priesthood, absolution, and the
infallibility of the pope.  Contemporay Roman Catholic Scholars have
acknowledged that no Pure Lineage for these doctrines can be demonstrated.
Yet these doctrines continue to be believed because it has been decreed by
the Church, which, according to the doctrine of Apostolic Succession, is the
only true source of Christian truth in the world.    The doctrine of
Apostolic Succession has resulted in the formation of an extremely
hierarchial Church which developes and promulgates extra biblical doctrines
and creates a separation of the laity form the ministry.
    The doctrine of Apostolic succession was one of the focal points of the
Protestant Reformation.  The reformers rejected the idea that the human
institution of the Church was in sole possession of God's truth.  Their
exeperience had taught them that the human institution of the church could
be, and indeed was, fallible and corrupt. The reformers believed in the
Priesthood of all believers.  Simply put this means that there is no Holy
Priesthood which separates the believer from Christ, who have special access
to God's truth, or who guarantee the continued existence of God's truth in
the world.
    Apostolics have demonstrated an essential continuity with the
Reformation since the inception of their movement.  I believe Brother Thorn
would rigorously argue against a Priesthood which is the sole mediator of
Christ to people and which is the divinely appointed interpretor of
Scripture.  Yet this is what the doctrine of Apostolic Succession leads to
and why Protestants have reacted so vigorously against it.
    The scary thing is that while Apostolics give voice to the concept of
the Priesthood
of all believers sometimes they deny it in practice.  We do not have Popes
but we have General Superintendents.  We do not have Cardinals, but we have
General Presbyters.  We do not have Bishops, but we have District
Superintendents.  We do not have Priests, but we have ordained mininsters.
These officials are considered guardians of the truth and traditions of the
Church.   Their interpretations are considered authoritative and often may
not be questioned.
     Brother Thorn is entitled to his belief.  He acknowledges that it
cannot
be proven from history.  The difficulty is that in Apostolic circles we
often judge the correctness of a belief by the intensity of our personal
conviction.  When we seek to present such convictions to others, inside and
outside the Apostolic movement, we have very little basis for discussion or
credibility.
    The question of a Prure Lineage is normally raised as an attempt to
understand how the Church is Maintained in Truth throughout the centuries. I
hope to answer that question in another post.