Question: We are surprised concerning your use of the word
"catholic" in connection with the church and members of the Roman
Church, which mistakenly calls itself "catholic." The only church which
could and should be called "catholic" is the Church of Christ
as defined in the Bible. This is certainly not the Roman Church. A
catholic church should preach the proper biblical message and not
heresies, as is done in the Roman Church. You cannot call the Roman
Church and the Romanists "Catholics".
Answer: I agree. It is self-contradictory to call a local body
"Roman" (which is particular) and at the same time
"Catholic" (which
means universal). The Roman church falsely appropriates the term
"catholic" exclusively to itself. It is the epitome of pride for the
local assembly of Rome to limit the universal church of Jesus Christ to
those churches in submission to herself. Moreover, as you say,
a church is "catholic" - a member of the universal church of Jesus
Christ - if it is faithful to His Word. Sadly the Roman church is far
removed from the truth of Scripture.
I find myself caught in a dilemma. Reluctantly I refer to the members
of the Roman church as "Catholics" simply because they are generally
known by that name and not because I consider it an appropriate or
accurate description. I must meet them where they are.
Moreover I'm unwilling to use such terms as "romanism, romanists and
papists" for a very simple reason. The Roman Catholic
propaganda machine has been very effective to caricature the genuine
evangelistic efforts of many Protestants as hatred and bigotry against
them. Why should I fall into their trap? I want to reach the people who
call themselves "Catholics" and I will shout and call them by
that name to get their attention. Then hopefully they will listen and
hear the Good News of salvation in Christ and, among other things, that
the true church of Christ is not the Roman apostasy.
I think that there is ample biblical warrant for this policy. The
apostle Paul regularly calls the apostate descendants of Abraham both
"Jews" and "Israel". Elsewhere, however, he is eager
to explain:
"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision
that which is outward in the flesh; 29but he is a Jew who is one
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in
the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God" (Romans 2:28,29). And, "I
tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing
me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual
grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from
Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are
Israelites...But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect.
For they are not all Israel who are of Israel" (Romans 9:1-6).
He called them Israelites even though they are "not all
Israel". He called them Jews even though they were not inwardly so.
Similarly I call them Catholics even though they are not really
catholic. But I don't stop there. I go on to tell them about the true
catholic church, which is made up of all believers in Christ all through
the ages and all over the world. The church of Christ is not limited to
any denomination boundary. I also tell them about the head and the Saviour
of the body, Jesus Christ. All who truly believe in Him, who
have the Holy Spirit, are members of His body, the church. They are the
real "catholics" and that it is their privilege and duty to meet
with other believers in the local congregations for worship and mutual
edification.