The Church | cruxchfaithformation

Apologetics Minute: The Church

“In the Nicene Creed, what does ‘apostolic’ mean?”

There are two ways that the Church is apostolic. The first is that it can trace its authority and teachings to the twelve Apostles, the first bishops. Jesus gave His Apostles authority to “bind” and “loose” in Mat. 18:18 and especially to Peter in Mat. 16:19. He also says whoever “hears” them “hears” Him (Lk 10:16). The second sense the Church is apostolic is because it is “sent” on mission to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to “all nations,” as Jesus commands His Apostles in Mat. 28:20.

“What does the Nicene Creed mean by the Church being ‘catholic’?”

In the Creed, the word Catholics means universal. The Church is universal because all are welcome in God’s family. St. Paul highlights this point in Gal. 3:28 when he says, “There is no Jew nor Greek…all are one in Christ”. Jesus shares his desire and destiny to bring all people to himself in John 12:32. This desire is extended to His Apostles when He commands them to “make disciples of all nations” in Mat. 28:20.

“The Nicene Creed says the Church is ‘holy’. What does that mean?”

To call the Church holy means that it is “set apart”. The Church is set apart by its teachings, which often contradict the values of the world. The prophet Simeon predicts Jesus’ holiness would have this effect in Lk 2:34. This same effect is ascribed to the early Church in Acts 28:22. Jesus also instructs His followers to be a “city set on a hill,” alluding to being set apart as well (Mat. 5:14). Though not all Catholics live up to this call to holiness, the expectation of the Church to “be perfect” as God is perfect (Mat 5:48) is what sets it apart.

"In the Nicene Creed, why does the Church say it is ‘one’?”

The Church is one because God is one in nature. We see this declared in Deut. 6:4. This idea shows the importance of Christian unity. Jesus prays for Christian unity in Jn 17:11 when He asked, “that they [Christians] may be one,” even as Jesus and His Father are. St. Paul rhetorically asks in 1 Cor. 1:13 if Christ is divided to emphasize its impossibility. Because the Church is “one,” as well as the “body of Christ” (see 1 Cor. 12:27), it is united with Christ.

"Why should I listen to the Church?"

A common objection against the Catholic Church is its claims to authority. This objection assumes that the Catholic Church is merely a human institution run by fallible, sinful men. While it is true that fallible, sinful people are present in the Church, the Church itself is also a divine institution because it was founded by God (Jesus, see Mat 16:18-19) and is guided by God (the Holy Spirit, see Jn 16:13 and Acts 2:1-11). Jesus names twelve Apostles and says those who “hear” them “hear” Him (Lk 10:16). Jesus gave a special authority to His Apostles, the first bishops, an authority that extends to Catholic bishops, the successors of the Apostles, today.

“Why do I need the Catholic Church, won’t I go to heaven if I’m a good person?

This is a common question when one disagrees with Church teaching. Though seemingly reasonable, the assumption that simply being a “good person” (by whatever definition is convenient) gets one to heaven actually denies humanity’s need for a Savior, Jesus Christ. If being a “good person” is all it takes to get to heaven, the Sacrifice of Jesus is unnecessary for the restoration of our relationship with God, the Redemption, because that’s exactly what it did. We gain grace from the merits of the Redemption through our participation in the Sacraments only found in the Church. This does not mean it is impossible for God to work outside of His Sacraments to save souls, but it would be foolish to reject the normal means of salvation He gives us in His Church, which is the Catholic Church.

“What are the four marks of the Catholic Church?”

There are four attributes of the Church that Christ founded. We recite these four attributes, or marks, when we recite the Nicene Creed at Mass. The four marks of Christ’s Church are that it is “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic”. The Church is one because Jesus only founded one Church (Matthew 16:18). The Church is holy because God is holy; that is how the angels describe Him in Revelation 4:8. The word catholic means universal; anyone can belong to the Church. This follows St. Paul who said “neither Jew, nor Greek…” (Galatians 3:28). Finally, the Church is “apostolic” because its teachings were passed on by the Apostles. Only in the Catholic Church can every single bishop and priest trace his origin back to an Apostle.

Isn't it arrogant for the Catholic Church to claim to know God, His purposes and/or His commands?

This is a common claim made against the beliefs of the Catholic Church, especially when it comes to the salvation, inerrancy of the Bible and/or disputed moral teachings. While it seems so on the surface, the claim to “know God” is not necessarily arrogant. It depends on the grounds this claim is made. If the Church claimed this knowledge by her own merit or some arbitrary selection process (as the Gnostics, a non-Christian sect, claimed around early Christianity), then it would be arrogant. However, if the Church only claimed to know about God what had been revealed to her, and everyone else, then it’s actually quite humble. The Church is relying on another source, or Source, for its information. This is why these set of beliefs are often called “General Revelation” (revelation = revealed). Thankfully, God revealed Himself to all of humanity in His Son, Jesus Christ, and it is through the Church that His “purposes” and “commands” are protected and shared with the world.

What is, and why does the Catholic Church claim infallibility in matters of faith and morals?

Infallibility means that the Catholic Church is protected from error when speaking definitively in matters of faith, what Catholics are to believe, and morals, how Catholics are to live. The Church is able to claim infallibility because it was founded by Jesus and is inspired by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus founded His Church in Mat. 16:18-19, He said the “gates of hell would not prevail against it.” The “gates” symbolize the power of a kingdom, and the powers of hell are sin and death (see Jn. 8:44). Jesus also said He’d send the Holy Spirit, the “Paraclete,” to guide His Apostles and their successors (Jn. 14:16). The Holy Spirit, our Guide, is God and can only guide perfectly. Finally, consider the implications if the Church can be wrong about anything. This allows for the possibility that it is wrong about everything, including Jesus, the Bible and our salvation. It is because of its infallibility that St. Paul calls the Church “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (my emphasis, 1 Tim. 3:15).

“Does, or did, the Catholic Church discourage people from reading the Bible?”

The Catholic Church has actually made great efforts to promote the reading of the Bible by everyone. The Church commissioned St. Jerome in the 4^th century to translate the Bible into Latin. If you could read back then, you read Latin; this edition was called the Vulgate. The Church sent Sts. Cyril and Methodius in the 9^th century to develop an alphabet for the Slavic people so they could read the Bible. It was also the Church who published the first known common language editions of the Bible as early as the 1400s. The Vulgate was also the first Bible used on the printing press in 1452. The Church, however, does discourage people from interpreting the Bible without its guidance. This is to protect the Bible and us. If everyone has equal license to interpret God’s written Word, it loses its meaning.