In many Identity Christian households, “Catholic” is treated as a four-letter word: “Watch your language around the children, please, dear.” In dual-seedline circles, the word is often used as an insult. Speak the word “Catholic” too often and there may be a need to brush the taste of dung out of the mouth. We are all familiar with the word “Catholic” and it’s a word that we just don’t want to hear.
However, few people understand what “catholic” really means. In his 1828 Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster defines:
CATHOLIC, a.
1. Universal or general; as the Catholic church. Originally this epithet was given to the Christian church in general, but is now appropriated to the Romish church, and in strictness there is no Catholic church, or universal Christian communion. The epithet is sometimes set in opposition to heretic, sectary or schismatic.
CATHOLIC, n. A papist.
Thank you, Mr. Webster. We see that “catholic” did not originally mean “of the Romish Church,” but rather conveyed the concept of a great Christian Church united in spirit and mind. Therefore, it will not surprise the reader that Protestant Reformers and later Reformed Theologians used the word “catholic” in many positive instances.
Matthew Henry:
"…the law of Christian love, in the Christian community, is founded on the catholic law, in the society of mankind, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matthew Henry's Commentary on I John 3:14-19)
“Though there are many particular churches, some of greater dignity, others of less, some of longer, others of shorter, standing, and many particular believers, of different gifts and attainments, some more eminent, others less so, yet they all constitute but one catholic church, are all but parts of that whole, and that is my dove, my undefiled.” (MH Com. Song 6:4-10)
Matthew Henry was a harsh critic of the Romish Church, and uses “catholic” in his commentary no fewer than 25 times to describe the spirit of the true Reformed Christian Church on earth.
Adam Clarke was inconsistent with the proper use of “catholic” in his commentary, though he understood the meaning of the word well:
“That very Church that arrogates all to itself has totally abandoned this title [Christian], and its members call themselves Roman Catholics, which is absurd; because the adjective and substantive include opposite ideas: catholic signifies universal; and Roman signifies of or belonging to Rome. If it be merely Roman, it cannot be catholic; if it be catholic, it cannot be confined to Rome; but it is not catholic nor universal, in any sense of the word, for it contains but a small part of the people who profess Christianity.” (Adam Clarke's Commentary on Acts 11:30)
John Calvin actually juxtaposes the "Romish See" with the "Catholic Church":
"But, on the head and crown of the whole matter, I mean the primacy of the Roman See, from which they undertake to prove that the Catholic Church is to be found only with them, we have not yet touched, because it did not take its origin either in the institution of Christ, or the practice of the early Church, as did those other parts, in regard to which we have shown, that though they were ancient in their origin, they in process of time altogether degenerated, nay, assumed an entirely new form." (Institues of the Christian Religion Book 4 Ch. 6)
Nave's Topical lists the chapter and verse regarding true Catholicity as preached in the Scriptures:
Catholicity
Liberality of religious sentiment.
Inculcated
General references
Mar_9:38-41; Luk_9:49-50; Acts 10:1-48; Act_11:17-18; Acts 15:1-31; Rom_1:1-7; Rom_1:14-16; Rom_3:20-31; Rom 4:1-25; Rom_5:1-2; Gal_3:27-28; Eph_2:14-17; Col_3:11-15
See Heathen; Strangers
Instances of:
Solomon, in his prayer
1Ki_8:41
Paul, in recognizing devout heathen
Act_13:16; Act_13:26; Act_13:42-43
Peter
Act_10:34-35
Rulers of the synagogue at Antioch, permitting the apostles to preach
Act_13:5
We must appreciate the word "catholic." We would use it more often during discussions if we thought most Christians understood its true meaning. God forbid, a brother challenges someone to a duel because he thinks he's being called a Papist! As Bill pointed out recently, people can’t own words. The negroes don’t get nigger, and the Papist devils don’t get catholic.
THE PAPIST DEVIL
THE PAPIST DEVIL
