Who Built the Church?
Jesus, the Apostles, and the Problem with Private Interpretation
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church..." (Matthew 16:18)
For two thousand years, Christians have wrestled with this question: What is the true Church? Who established it? Who sustains it? And how do we know whether we are in communion with it?
Today, former Catholics like Mike Gendron have taken to platforms like YouTube to accuse the Catholic Church of being an apostate body—a religious institution that, in their view, strayed from the Gospel centuries ago. They often point to verses like 1 John 2:19 (“They went out from us, but they were not of us…”) and 1 Timothy 4:1 (“In later times some will abandon the faith…”) to argue that the Catholic Church represents a falling away from truth rather than its continuation.
But their arguments crumble under honest biblical and historical scrutiny.
Christ the Builder—And the Church He Chose to Build
The foundation of the Church is, unquestionably, Jesus Christ. He is the builder—not a mere helper or bystander.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1)
"No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11)
And yet, this same Jesus chose to build upon the apostles—not apart from them.
In Ephesians 2:20, we are told the Church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.” Peter himself writes that we are “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5), being built into a spiritual house—but that house has a structure, a plan, and a divine architect.
So let’s be clear: the Catholic Church does not teach that the apostles are greater than Christ, nor that the Church is built apart from Him. Rather, Christ chose to build His Church through the apostles. He is the cornerstone. They are the foundation. The rest of us? We’re the living stones. There is no contradiction here—only divine design.
The Apostolic Church: Catholic Then, Catholic Now
When Mike Gendron and others say the Catholic Church “went astray,” they ignore a historical fact: the Catholic Church is the same Church that has existed since the time of the apostles. There is no historical record of a sudden break in belief or practice that would justify claims of apostasy. Instead, we see a Church that has endured trials, heresies, martyrdom, and reform—but not rebellion.
To claim that the Catholic Church is apostate is to imply that Christ failed to keep His promise:
"I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
Was He lying? Did He fail? Or are we misunderstanding what He meant?
The apostasy spoken of in Scripture is real—but it is a falling away from the Church, not of the Church. 1 John 2:19 speaks of those who departed: “They went out from us, but they were not of us.” This describes heretics and schismatics—those who rejected the apostles' teaching, not the Church they left behind. It actually affirms the visible unity of the Church. They left it. It did not leave Christ.
The Real Crisis: Interpreting Scripture Without the Church
One of the greatest tragedies of modern Christianity is the endless fragmentation caused by personal interpretation of Scripture. Thousands of preachers now claim to be led by the Holy Spirit—yet many of them contradict each other on essential doctrines. Still, they each declare their version of the faith to be the true one, and often claim the Catholic Church is wrong because it dares to teach with authority.
But what did Jesus say?
"He who hears you hears me; he who rejects you rejects me." (Luke 10:16)
Who was He speaking to? The apostles.
And what did the early Christians do?
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)
There was no individualistic, every-man-for-himself interpretation of Scripture. There was a visible, sacramental, hierarchical Church that taught, guarded, and handed on the deposit of faith. And it is still here.
The Holy Spirit Doesn’t Contradict Himself
When anti-Catholic voices claim to be inspired by the Holy Spirit in opposition to the Church Christ founded, we must ask: Since when does the Holy Spirit disagree with Himself?
Is the Spirit of Truth really responsible for thousands of denominations with conflicting beliefs? Or did Jesus establish one Church, guided by the Spirit, and promise to remain with it forever?
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…" (John 16:13)
The Holy Spirit does not validate private rebellion. He validates unity with the Church Christ built. And that Church is apostolic, historical, sacramental, and—yes—Catholic.
Come Home
If you’ve ever questioned whether the Catholic Church is the true Church, I invite you to explore its roots—not just its scandals or politics, but its origin. Look past the noise and seek the cornerstone. Study the lives of the saints. Read the Catechism. Pray with Scripture. And don’t just look at the apostles—look with them, as they gaze at the Lord who built something eternal through their hands.
The Catholic Church has not strayed. She has suffered. She has endured. But she remains Christ’s bride.
And if you’ve left her, perhaps it’s time to come home.
Coming soon: How the early Church resolved disputes! :)
The Skeptical Catholic by John Henry, explores unanswered questions that never seem to have time to be discussed. For those who’ve wrestled with doubt, wrestled with faith, or simply want to know why Catholics believe what they do, or how to explain it to others, this book offers honest answers and real hope.
Order your copy today and be ready for that next conversation when someone says, “I’m Catholic, but I don’t agree with everything the Church teaches.”