Question: Dear
Greg,
I am a Roman Catholic and having read your responses to those who ask
questions regarding a Roman Catholic teaching, I have noticed many times you
have misrepresented our beliefs. I
see many errors in your answers. I
have a question for you and would very much like an in-depth answer with
biblical proof. If we are left to
interpret the Bible on our own and Christ did not establish ONE CHURCH before he
left this earth, then are you telling me that the Holy Spirit is confused? Most Christian churches believe they have the truth even if
they began within the last 100 years. These
many denominations have many beliefs that are very different.
Yet all claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
I personally like the idea that my Catholic Faith has been here since
Christ walked this earth and is still here (remember Jesus promised never to
leave us), and I might add, stronger than ever!!
May you discover the truth,
Annie
Answer: Dear
Annie,
I am not now, nor have I ever been a Roman Catholic. However, as I will explain latter, I am a c (note lower case
“c”) atholic, as all that believe in and accept our Lord Jesus Christ are.
More specifically, I have always been a Protestant, beginning with infant
baptism as a Lutheran.
However, the fact that I am not a Roman Catholic does not mean that I
have not studied Catholicism—with lay members and priests alike. I correspond with, speak to and with, and write to a large
number of Catholics on a regular basis. I
have read a number of Catholic authors and scholars, with Henri Nouwen and Hans
Kung being favorites. I am familiar
with the historical tenets of Catholicism as they relate to orthodox
Christianity—not as familiar with more contemporary innovations, such as
Vatican II.
You ask for an in-depth answer, including biblical proof in my response.
You may not be familiar with this service, but it is sponsored by Plain
Truth Ministries. It is just
that—a service—and for that reason I must restrict my time in answers so
that my responses resemble a brief, on-the-spot live radio response.
My answers are not carefully researched or nuanced.
They are on-the-spot, for that is the best we can do with this service in
order to allocate appropriate time for other duties in media ministry.
Your challenge concerns the idea of the “true church”. You may not be aware of all the historical core teachings of
Christianity. May I take a brief
moment to note one? The Roman
Catholic Church is, as you note, the one church that has existed, as a human
organization, longer than any other Christian church.
All Christian churches in some way can be traced to the Catholic Church.
Those that do not are either: 1) not Christian, because the beliefs they
hold and doctrines they proclaim are not orthodox, or 2) simply do not
understand their historical roots and heritage.
However, there is no biblical passage that suggests that Christ would
build one humanly organized and incorporated entity that would be given an
exclusive franchise to represent him on earth.
The very idea of such a claim is denied by the name—“Catholic”
church (catholic meaning universal). The
early creeds (note, for example, the Apostle’s Creed) claim that there is but
one holy Catholic Church. The
Creeds did not use the term Catholic as the name of a humanly incorporated legal
entity, but of the fact that the body of Christ is one, while it has many parts
(see 1 Corinthians 12, for example). All
of the early creeds and doctrinal affirmations of the church (the catholic
church) insisted that no one humanly organized entity could monopolize
Christianity, leaving all others outside the body of Christ.
In fact, to do so is to deny historical orthodoxy, to attack fellow
Christians as being less than Christian, and by doing so place oneself outside
of the universal body of Christ—the catholic church.
Of course, there are many denominations that carefully try to bill
themselves as better than and superior to other churches—in so doing becoming
more attractive for current members and hopefully trying to attract new members,
even at the cost of stealing sheep from other orthodox, Christ-centered
churches. This practice and belief
is condemned by the core teachings of the historical body of Christ, and all
priests, pastors, scholars, and theologians know such to be true. As Jesus said, “Can a house divided stand?”
Christians have often been their own worst enemies, at times leaving
little for Satan the devil to devote himself to.
The Eastern Orthodox Church left the West (what we now know as Roman
Catholic) about 1000 AD—500 years later the Protestant Reformation resulted in
many denominations forming as a part of the body of Christ, but outside of the
human control of Rome. One can
serve Christ without being subservient to Rome.
Of course, the fact that one is not a Roman Catholic does not, ipso
facto, make one a Christian. Atheists,
agnostics, Moslems, etc., are not under the authority of Rome, but that fact
alone does not make them Christian. On
the other hand, one can also serve Rome without being subservient to Christ.
There is only one church—the universal, catholic body of Christ.
God is not restricted to one denomination.
No human organization can draw boundary lines around God and claim him
for themselves alone. Such a
teaching is contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the new covenant given to us
by the blood of our Lord and Savior.
Praying that this will address your concern, and that you will forgive me
for not having the time to give you many more hours of discussion on this topic.
I have tried to give you food for thought and study.
May God bless you as you ponder this topic.
In Christ,
Greg Albrecht