6/24/13- Catholic Church

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9) 

Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age." (Mt. 28:19-20)

"I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church" (Nicene Creed)

Thoughts: The word "Catholic" originally is a contraction of kata holou ("according to the whole") and refers to the worldwide orthodox (as opposed to heretical) church.  In affirming this, we are saying that one particular church is not all there is- and also that our particular church doesn't have a corner on truth.  It is an important recognition that the church is bigger than us.  When we get to heaven there will be people from every language, nation and people group, and denomination.  it is also a recognition that the family of God is around the world.  We may get on a plane from someone in a different hemisphere and quickly recognize they are our brother or sister.  In fact, Christianity is the only religion with adherents in every single nation in the world today.

The Roman Catholic Church refers to the worldwide church that follows the bishop of Rome (the pope).  Hopefully today Protestants can appreciate the Roman Catholic Church as an ally against atheism and immorality.  The Reformation came in part because of some over-reaches of the Roman Catholic Church in terms of selling indulgences (which most Protestants viewed as selling forgiveness), some immoral practices among the clergy yet the clergy were seen as above reproach (sacerdotalism), the over-veneration of the saints (which Protestants have under-venerated), a view that saw the mass as turning the bread and cup into the actual body and blood of Jesus, and a restriction of the Bible to the clergy (and along with it an ignorance and disobedience of scripture in the populace and local clergy).   Many of these things were corrected over the years.  Protestants and Catholics alike share the basic beliefs of the faith- found in the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds.  This includes important ideas like the Father as the Creator; Jesus as divine and human; the importance of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the importance of the Holy Spirit for encouragement, comfort, and fellowship.  Many Protestants recognize the baptism of the Roman Catholic Church in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  For baptism is not into a denomination but into the name and person of Christ.  Most Protestant Churches will allow anyone who believes and are baptized (including Roman Catholics) to have communion- but it is not the other way around.
Protestant Churches need to be more careful in not only keeping to orthodoxy as defined in scripture, but orthopractice.  Changing the time-honored tradition of the church should not be done lightly, and when it conflicts with the clear prohibition of scripture it just should not be done.  Where tradition, experience, or an individual conflict with scripture- scripture is to be followed.  This is the lesson of the Reformation that we too easily lose.  The unity-oneness of the Church and the orthodoxy of the Church are more important than an idealism that would contradict what the scriptures say.

Cyril of Jerusalem has the ultimate quote on the catholicity of the church: "The Church, then , is called Catholic because it is spread through the whole world, from one end of the earth to the other, and because it never stops teaching in all its fulness every doctrine that people ought to be brought to know: and that regarding things visible and invisible, in heaven and on earth.  It is called Catholic also because it brings into religious obedience every sort of men, rulers and ruled, learned and simple, and because it is a universal treatment and cure for every kind of sin whether perpetrated by soul or body, and possesses within it every form of virtue that is named, whether it expresses itself in deeds or words or in spiritual graces of every description."

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand the importance of your world-wide family.