Who is the head of the Church?

Beloved in Christ, the question above is an important question which must be answered biblically, lest we will fall into error. Who is the true head of the church biblically speaking? Is it the Man Jesus Christ or the Roman Catholic Pope? Some people are of the view, that Jesus Christ is the true head of the church, whereas, others holds a contrary view that the Pope is the head of the church here on earth? The only way we can distinguish between truth and error is to dig deep into what the bible has to say, concerning this important subject matter. 

What is the Church?

The church biblically speaking refers to the body of believers. The church refers to all those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. If you are in Christ, then you are a member of the church. The apostle wrote: Also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia (Romans 15; 6). The apostle referred to believers as the church. The church has got nothing to do with physical building, rather, the physical building is the place where the Church meets. The church comprises of people whom the Lord has redeemed with his precious blood, and their faith rests in him alone for salvation. As a church we have a head and is our head the Man Jesus Christ or the Roman Catholic Pope? 

Is the Pope of Rome the Head of the Church?

The 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered”. They believe the Pope has supreme and universal power over the whole church, but such power and authority belongs not to the Pope, but rightly belongs to the Man Jesus Christ. A Roman Catholic theologian wrote: “A true power, a universal power, a supreme power, and a full power is possessed by any pope who can thereby rule independently on any matter without the consent of anyone else, he himself is judged by nobody because there is no higher judge on earth than he (Ludwig Ott). Of a truth, the Roman Catholic Pope is not the head of the church, it is awful blasphemy to ascribe such power to a mere Man. Though the Roman Catholics may believe their Pope is the head of the church, yet the scriptures does not recognize him as the supreme head of the whole church.

I love the reasoning of that excellent Preacher of the gospel by the name Charles Haddon Surgeon who wrote this: “Of all the dreams that ever deluded men and probably of all blasphemies that ever were uttered, there has never been one which is more absurd and which is more fruitful in all manner of mischief than the idea that the bishop of Rome is the head of the church. “No, these popes die and how could the church live if its head were dead? “The true head ever lives and the church lives in Him". Christ did not redeem His church with His blood that the pope might come in and steal away the glory. He never came from heaven to earth and poured out his very heart that He might purchase His people that a poor sinner, a mere man should be set up on high to be admired by all the nations and to call himself God’s representative on earth. Christ has always been the only head of the church.” And I’m thankful there is no head to the church of which I am a member except Jesus Christ, “nor dare I be a member of any church which would content to any headship but His.

Jesus Christ, the true head of the Church 

Jesus Christ is the true head of his body, the church. Paul wrote in his epistle to the Colossians saying: He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1; 18). Not the Pope nor anyone else is styled the head of the church, save Jesus Christ alone. In another place it is written: And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1: 22-23). This text also affirms the headship of Christ over the church. 

Let us look at some of the reasons why Jesus Christ is called the head of the church 

One reason is that, he is the source of the church. Jesus initiated the church, he brought the church into existence. He said to his disciples: I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matthew 16; 18). On the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two, we see how the church of Christ was formed and began to spread from city to city into the uttermost parts of the world. As the author of the church, Jesus wields sovereign power and authority over the whole church, and she is subject to him alone and none else

Another reason why Jesus is the head of the church is because he bought the church with his own blood. It is written: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5; 25). Christ owns the church, the church is his, we belong to him, for he has bought us with his own precious blood. We do not belong to ourselves, we belong to him who loved us and gave himself for us.

Another reason why Jesus is the head of the church is that he governs the church by his infallible word. The scriptures reveals his revealed will for the whole church. He determines all the matters with respect to faith and practice. The whole bible points to him and what he expects from us, as his church. 

The last reason is that all power and authority in heaven and earth has been given to him (Matthew 28; 18). Jesus Christ does not only exercise his power in heaven, but also on earth and that includes the church. We acknowledge his sovereignty over us, and we are willing to submit ourselves to his precepts and commands. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and none else. God bless you

A thought to ponder 🤔 

 We do not belong to ourselves, we belong to him who loved us and gave himself for us

We defend and exposit the truth of the gospel