When we say the Nicene Creed, we confess we believe “one holy catholic and apostolic Church”. From this we get what we call the “attributes” of the church: unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity. (These are sometimes called the “marks” of the church, but it is better to use that phrase to refer to those things by which the true church may be recognized: preaching, sacraments, and discipline.) Since we have been looking at the doctrine of the church in the Book of Ephesians, it is helpful to ponder each of these attributes.

Unity

The Lord Jesus Christ has only one Bride. While there are millions of local churches, all of God's people are joined together in one body. Note the seven uses of the word “one” in Ephesians 4:4-6:

There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

When Jesus prayed in John 17, the church's unity was at the forefront of his mind:

That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21)

Now, it is not possible that Jesus' prayer would be left unanswered. The Church really is one. We can still strive for unity, but the attributes of the Church concern the underlying reality. Sometimes it may be hard to see – that is why we say, “I believe... one holy catholic and apostolic Church”.

Both these verses are spoken in the context of Jews and Gentiles being united together in Christ, but it applies in many other ways: in the church we have people from all different racial, national, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds. Our union with Christ transcends all those differences. This leads on to...

Catholicity

The Church is made up of people from all ethnic groups and language groups:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages…. (Revelation 7:9)

“Catholic” does not, of course, mean being in communion with the Pope in Rome. It means “universal”: spread out over all the earth. (It's from the Greek kata, “according to”, and holos, “whole”.) Even though we live in different countries and come from different cultures, we all believe the same thing. (This is the problem with constructions like “Scottish theology”, “Pacific theology”, or “Black theology”.) What is it that the Church believes? That's the next attribute:

Apostolicity

Ephesians 2:20 says the Church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets”. This refers to those who wrote the New Testament. It is the Word that forms the Church, rather than the Church that forms the Word. So “apostolicity” does not mean having bishops ordained in a succession from the apostles, but founded on the teaching of the apostles.

The building imagery in Ephesians is particularly that of a temple, which leads us to:

Holiness

Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:20-21)

This is also something Jesus refers to in John 17, when he prays:

Sanctify them (= make them holy) in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)

We are God's special people, called out of the world to be his.

Conclusion

These four attributes describe the Church as she really is now. The true Church – the church that the Nicene Creed is talking about – is one; she is holy; she is catholic; she is apostolic. Yes, we pursue unity and holiness. Yes, we hold fast to the truth of Scripture that all Christians everywhere have always believed. But the oneness, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity of the Church are not things we can change.

With massive rising unemployment in our country as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, it is worth reflecting on our theology of work. What is so important about work? Why is unemployment a bad thing? It is not just that by working we earn money to pay for the things we need and want; it is that work is an integral part of our creation in the image of God, and something to which we are called. Thus, we should pursue excellence and contentment. We can discuss the Christian view of work by following the three great categories of biblical theology: Creation, Fall, and Redemption.

Work begins in Scripture with God’s work of creation. The emphasis in Genesis 1 is on God being in total control: unlike Babylonian creation myths, there is no struggle, but God merely speaks the universe into existence. It is also full of joy and delight as God looks at his handiwork and pronounces it “good”. And yet this is is still called work: “on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done” (Genesis 2:2).

Although God’s work is unique, it remains a model for human work, for in Genesis 1:27 we are told that God created mankind (both male and female) in his image. The following verse explains what this involves: God commands them to rule the earth on his behalf. Not only are people to “have dominion over” the animals, but they are also to “subdue” the earth, and bring it under control. This involves work. Genesis 2 provides a specific illustration of this. The man is placed in the garden to “work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Work is thus instituted before the Fall. It is part of what it means to be human. Work is not something one does to live, but what one lives to do.

There are a number of implications of this:

As far as possible, we should engage in work most suited to the way God has made us. This means discerning one’s talents, and choosing a suitable occupation based on what one is able to do best.
As far as possible, we should engage in work that is worth doing.
Since God is the rightful owner of human work, Christians should aim for excellence in their work.

The doctrine of the Fall is also of relevance in the formulation of a Christian work ethic, since in Genesis 3:17-19 the Fall is explicitly stated as affecting man’s work. Work now becomes painful, the ground is cursed for man’s sake, and instead of being a gardener, Adam becomes a farmer. It is because of the Fall that we need a work ethic: work has become subject to the abuses of idleness on the one hand, and overwork on the other. We need to avoid being lazy, as well as being workaholics.

Thirdly, the doctrine of Redemption is the final component in building a Christian work ethic. This impacts the Christian in terms of motivation – we are working together with God, serving in his Kingdom – but we can particularly consider the concept of being called. The call of God to a particular occupation (from which we get the word vocation) is a reflection of the gospel call. Just as we are called to live godly lives, so God calls us to serve him in particular settings.

This means we should be content and patient in our work: it is part of the redemption that Christian vocation brings to the drudgery of work. It should lead to vocational loyalty: people change careers more now than ever before, but the idea of a call means that our work is more than just a job. We ought not to change occupations lightly: “Each one should remain in the calling in which he was called” (1 Corinthians 7:20).

The Attributes of the Church

A Christian view of work