Kirche und Diversität im Evangelium nach Matthäus

Abstract

The Gospel of Matthew contains some interesting aspects concerning the question of diversity of the Church. The basic assumption is that all stories and verses about the disciples must be interpreted directly as statement of and to the church. The fundamental dimension of the life of the church is discipleship, in the tension of the three poles of faith, commitment and action: The obedient group of disciples is the church. By the lens of this triad, you see the disciples as those: whose faith might be very small, who doubt and who fail. Some follow the pharisaic way of faith; others follow the big commandments of love and mercifulness. For the disciples coming of the pagan world, the second way is possible. If some members of the church do not have the right faith and practice, the final judgement will reveal it. Church always is learning and teaching, thus fundamentally missionary, without fixed borders and therefore necessarily divers. Christ is “in between”, in the midst of the gathering of the disciples and their acts of love. In conclusion, you find more church diversity in the gospel of Matthew than in any other book of the New Testament.