Christ leads the Church, therefore the Church is infallible

When I wrote the, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ promised to lead the Church unto the end of the world?” article, recently, I had forgotten a debate I had with someone, a few years ago. That was the first time I used the argument that “Christ leads the Church, therefore, the Church is infallible.”

As usual, when I find an effective argument, I use it over and over again.

Then, one day,

Then, a Reformed fellow said to me, “You’re wrong. How do you explain, then, the fact that the 12 Apostles failed Christ when He went to the Cross? They were led by Christ and they failed.”

I was dumbfounded and deflated. To my sorrow, I had to reply, “You’re right. I can’t explain it. I suppose the Church became infallible, after Christ sent the Holy Spirit to guide her.”

But, then, as it happens, amnesia set in, I forgot that discussion and I began to use the argument again. And I hadn’t remembered that Reformed fellow, until, as I was reading the comments to the “Do you believe…” article, I suddenly remembered that discussion and I thought, “Oh my God, I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn. How can I remedy my error?”

Suddenly, God gave me the answer.

It turns out, I had not been wrong in the first place. It is true. Christ leads the Church and therefore the Church is infallible. That Reformed fellow said the Apostles had failed while they were led by Christ. But that is false. Let me explain.

What did Jesus tell the Apostles?

Matthew 26:31 King James Version (KJV)

31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

I will smite the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.

In other words, it was precisely at the moment that the Church found itself without Christ, that it fell into disarray. That doesn’t disprove the statement. It proves it.

The Church, led by Christ, is infallible.

The Church without Christ is completely lost. It is like a sheep without the Shepherd. Like a boat without its Rudder. Like branch without the Vine.

John 15:5 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

What happened then?

After Christ was smitten and crucified, He came back. Appeared to Peter and the Apostles and they came together again. Christ never again left the Church, but remains with the Church to this day. And the Church remains, infallible.

And the rest is history, as they say.