How do we as Christians relate our own personal journey to holiness with the wider Church life. I attempt in this article to engage with these issues in some depth. I want to explore how the work of the Spirit becomes the holiness of the saints. Also how this life of the spirit in the saints; furnishes the body of Christ with both kanons (in her institutional form) and instruments (in her organic form). Finally I want to look at how the Christian soul should relate to both. I also want to look at the relationship between kanons and instruments. This article is going to appeal to the Christian nerd, who wants to get into the minutia of the Christian life.
So first lets just define some terms; a kanon is a standard or norm with the Church’s institutional forms. Each denomination has its kanons that govern the norms of the life of the Church. Ephesians 2: 18 – 20 contains the description of the Church as a household of the Lord;
18For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
The Church is described as a household; and just like every well run home; their needs to be standards of behaviour which the Church calls Kanons. Kanons tend to be Church specific; so each major denomination will have their own kanons; that will be developed to a greater or lesser degree. For instance; if your church says only women can preach or that fire exits must not be blocked – these are kanons – if they have created a ‘child protection’ officer; they have created a kanon. Clearly some kanons come from scripture, others from necessity or reaction to a need; and some come from outside pressure. The Church has the authority to create these Kanons – because Christ gave her this authority:
17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.… Mathew 18
The idea of instruments is a little less formal; and permeates churches across denominations; as they are the private endeavours of individual saints; which have either become popular organically; or they have been elevated by the church through popularisation or have been made kanons of the Church. So for instance all the following are instruments: the Christian Calendar, the liturgy of hours, the lectionary, the writings of the Church Fathers and Mothers, the Catechism, commentaries on scripture, musical notation, the serenity and sinners prayers, hymn books, Christian Schools and Universities, the spiritual practices of Saint Ignatius of Layola, the liturgies of the Churches.
Some of these as you can see – left a permanent imprint on culture – like musical notation; and the Christian calendar; some are barely used by the Christian; when they probably should – like the catechisms or church father writings. Some have a quasi kanonical status, like Calvin’s Institutes and other writings within the Calvinist movement; or the use of the Rosary within the Catholic Church. Others – give rise to their own internal ‘rules’ like Christian schools and universities; or religious orders. The list of books of the New Testament found in all Bibles, but never the Bible itself – is an example of a catholic instrument with the status of universal kanon.
We have both of these things in scripture; so for instance the letter in Acts 15: 22 – 29 or 1 Peter 4: 9 are a kanons of the earliest Church:
Be hospitable to one another without complaint. (its not an option; its a norm of Christian behaviour)
We also see instruments in scripture; such as the Carmen Christi Hymn in Philippians 2 or the Creed of 1 Corinthians 15. These were written by someone other than St Paul; but he then used them as part of his writings.
Which draws us to a very pertinent point the relationship between kanons, instruments and scripture; all of which – the Apostles simply described as part of their tradition 2 Thessalonians 2: 15; along with their proclamation of the Gospel. The scriptures, all scriptures, are the inspired word of GOD in the authors present; speaking of the work and activity of GOD in the past. So – it would be proper to speak of the scriptures as instruments; designed to help people become holy, which are elevated to the place of kanon; Luke was after all writing for one person; see Luke 1: 1 – 4; and it was then popularised and adopted by the whole Church; as was John see chapter 20: 31. The scriptures themselves contain examples of both; as noted above; which become kanon for all Christians; because scripture is its self kanonical for Christians. One can see how this cuts into the debate of Solo Scriptura, and whilst it is tempting to go that route; its not the purpose of the article; and will take us off our theme.
What complicates matters further, is that different parts of the body of Christ have fractured off institutionally, as their particular kanons and instruments became consolidated; in their different regions for different reasons to create distinct Christian identities.
The point of these kanons and instruments – is that they are supposed to cultivate our holiness before the Father, who through His Son and Spirit has commanded His people to be perfect as He is perfect; which is a life lived out of because of and permeated by; the love of GOD; which is the expression of a life of faith; see Galatians 5: 6. This however, tells us something; that when they do not serve that purpose of cultivating the life of faith expressed in love – which is holiness; then they need to be set aside; the kanons or religious rules, are norms of behaviour in a house; not laws of a state. We should follow the kanons of the Church we belong to; unless their is a compelling reason not to. The normative authority over the application of the standards of the house of God are ‘episcopes’ these overseers; along with the ‘deacons & presbyters’ who work under them; have the right; to relax, develop, create, or to apply in a lax or rigorous way and abandon, any kanon of the Church that no longer serves the oikus of the Church. See: Acts 20: 28, Titus 1: 9; Hebrews 13: 7; 1 Thess 5: 12 – 13. For instance the order of Deacons, was created out of an administrative need; and as such was a ‘kanonical – instrument’ – that because it was later recorded in scripture; and later still that scripture accepted as kanonical became a catholic standard of church life. You can see therefore, that Church leadership is supposed to be a real government over the life of the Church; and not some curator of a weekly program. Also, that Church life is not supposed to be directed towards becoming an NGO; or simply a keeper of civic ritual. The kanons are to be used or not used to help the universal Church live a corporate holy and apostolic life that completes the great commission of discipling the nations.
The instruments are merely resources; equipment for the purpose of helping us on our pilgrimage home; the spiritual journey. They (the instruments) need to be woven into our life – as our private kanons – if you will; so that we ‘continue in the faith’. We can discuss with our spiritual father or mother, how to compose our Christian life, and bring into it, any of the instruments that might help us to live out the Christian life. The instruments are the real evidence of the guidance of the Holy Spirit; which our Lord promised would guide His people into all truth see John 16: 13. The spirit of GOD works through the saints – they are to be examples to us see: 1 Tim 4: 12; Titus 2: 7.- that is what we believe was happening when the Apostle Paul was correcting the Galatians in his epistle see: Gal 5: 4 – 10. Thus; since the spirit works through the saints, to bring about the Kingdom of GOD; which works in the world to make it better – (likewise making the Church better).
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
- Mathew 13: 33
Therefore since; the spirit works through the saints, we should imitate the saints; as the Spirit encourages us to do so in the very words He inspired to ‘equip us for every good work’.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
- Philippians 3: 17
This imitation is facilitated by the instruments that they create; see again the list above; which then the Spirit causes some to become universal; and some still to become kanons; whilst others remain mainly a popular resource. The aim of all this is to win for the Lord a holy / separated people see 1 Pet 1: 15 – 16; that ‘shine like the stars’ in a world of darkness; under the yoke of the principalities and powers of the god of this world that is Satan. It is an act of trust to believe that the Spirit is at work in these things; and can work through them upon us; to strengthen us in our spiritual journey. The wise thing to do – is to retrospectively – look back at the tried and the true instruments; that have stood the test of time; and that the community of faith has kept hold of; like a household might keep things in the house, some for decoration, some for more practical use. The church can elevate any instrument to the level of a kanon; but should do so wisely; and most are popular long before they become such; like the scriptures. Thus instruments can be any social, economic, spiritual, or cultural practice, movement, institution or writing that the Church in her Bishops and leaders, recognises as being useful to her life and calling.
All of this forces, us to end with a note on the importance of discernment. Different Churches (and church leaders) work with kanons and instruments at different levels of self awareness, competence and sophistication. Some wolves in sheep’s clothing do so for their own personal gain; or to capture the church for the purposes of a non Christian agenda; and some, just out of sheer incompetence mis-handle them. Therefore, the fact that the Church in her leaders has this authority to use kanons, does not excuse us from blind following. We need to discern, when, where and how to engage with the instruments permeating the body of Christ; and the kanons of our Church institutions; or the rules of our Orders. We must make a judgement (done with grace and compassion and above all humility) as to competence of the elders. If applying things to your spiritual walk – stifles your ability to love; its probably not that helpful to you; if it helps your ability to love; then it probably is a good instrument. If your church is following kanons rigorously – even when – there are obvious needs being compounded because of them; then these kanons probably need changing. Likewise, if your church has no use or practice of either of these things, then some awareness and discipleship need to occur.
