Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 6/14/2010

Question
Dr. Pastor Woods, I have attended a Baptist church for 19 years and the pastor is retiring and the new one coming in has just started us reciting the Creed. I do not feel comfortable with the word Catholic in the creed. I questioned this and they said the word catholic meant universal. My next question would be why not just use the word universal. I would like to know your opinion on this because I feel I should be looking for another church. Thanks in advance, Michelle

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

I remember in Seminary asking the same question.  But let's look at a little history.  When the apostle's creed was written (somewhere around 180 AD), there was only one universal church.  The first apostle's creed was written in Latin which was the common language of the time.  The word universal in Latin is catholicam.  Now when the creed was translated into English, the word catholicam was not translated but was transliterated (that is is was just made into an English word without translation).  Several words in the Bible like baptism are not translated but are transliterated.  (baptism translated is dunk)

Since the reformation, the Catholic church teaches that the word catholic in the creed stands for their church and their church alone, while protestants teach that the word catholic stands for "all" the body of Christ.

I can see where you would be uncomfortable with saying this, but don't let the word catholic be the reason you would leave a church.  Baptists are non-creedal.  That means we do not follow any one creed but only follow what is written in the word of God.  Using a creed in worship is not bad but it should not become ritual or the summation of our faith.

Blessings