|
Pastor's Message - May/June
Church Words Are PeculiarDear friends in Christ One
question that I have been asked from time to time is about a line from
the Apostles Creed. In our church life we use a set of words that
are sometimes different from everyday life. But then again, most
groups of people, trades, organisations etc. develop sets of words and
phrases that mean something particular in their local contexts.
Also
given that our English language is a real mixture of linguistic roots
from other languages, it is not surprising that the church has its own
set of words that are “peculiar”. Take that word “peculiar”
– a word with Latin origins - and it has two different meanings.
The modern usage might often be “different from the usual or
normal”. But the other meaning is also appropriate being “a
characteristic of only one person, group, or thing”. Some
of our church words are truly peculiar.
“I believe … in the holy catholic church …”
Apostles Creed
The
question I have been asked will often sound like this: “What do
you mean Holy Catholic Church? Didn’t you guys (Luther) split
away from the Catholic Church?”
The key word is catholic – but
you must note the spelling of the words. In our creed (which is a
Latin word meaning “I believe”) catholic is spelled with a lower case
“c”. It comes from two Greek words “kata” which means “by or
with” and “holos” which means “whole”. In English, the definition
of catholic with a small “c”, means universal.
In the
questioner’s mind I understand that they are thinking about the “Roman
Catholic Church” which is often shortened to “Catholic”
church/person/priest/faith/etc. Notice the upper case “C” in
Catholic. That is the title of the church which means “the
universal church based in Rome”. And that is true. The
Roman Catholic Church is universal around the world with authority
through the various bishops and cardinals and ending back at Rome with
the head of the Roman Catholic Church – the Pope.
The term is also found in the Nicene Creed “We believe in one holy catholic* church”. And
that additional word “one” is the essence of the statement. And
that is what we believe – that we, at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada, are part of a single worldwide Christian church –
which comprises our nearest Lutheran neighbours 1¼ mile south (west) of
us, and includes our Full Communion partners in the Anglican Church of
Canada, and our brothers and sisters in the Reformed Church in Bornholm
etc. and also includes our sisters and brothers who belong to the Roman
Catholic Church.
Peace – Pastor Steve
Note
* The words "and apostolic" are also added in the Nicene Creed meaning
that the church is also a succession handed down from the first
apostles.
|
|
|
