Bible.ca Rebuttal: Definition of a Catholic - Part 2

This article further clarifies the definition of a Catholic from Steve Rudd’s perspective. To accurately understand Catholicism, critics need a clear grasp of Catholic beliefs. The central focus here is the concept of authority, which fundamentally underpins belief or disbelief in the Catholic Church.

Claim by Steve Rudd: “Catholics believe that the theocratic organization of the church determines what doctrine will be taught and practiced. The Bible is just one of many sources of religious authority. The truth is that the church itself has no authority at all, but gets all its directives from the Bible alone (Rudd, n.d.).”

If the Church lacks authority, it cannot excommunicate, teach, or proclaim a mission. A Church without authority would result in disorder, as members could act without constraint. Even the Church of Christ exercises authority; for example, if an individual disputes an elder’s interpretation and refuses to comply, that person would be removed from a teaching position.

It is acknowledged that an organization administers the Church; however, describing it as a theocracy is inaccurate. The term 'theocracy' denotes a nation-state governed by religious authorities, such as Iran. Historically, the Papal State functioned as a country, but its political decisions did not dictate theology. Every church requires an organizational structure to manage finances, select sermons, and determine the necessary staff to support ministry.

Steve Rudd claims: “For a non-Catholic to charge the Roman Catholic church with false teaching is not comprehendible, for to a Catholic, doctrine is defined by the Organization. It is like telling God, He is wrong. God is the standard of right and wrong! To a Catholic, the Roman Catholic organization is the earthly standard of right and wrong and doctrine. Yet the truth is that the Bible, not the church, is the ultimate standard on earth of right and wrong. Jesus said that our standard of judgment would be his word, not what the pope says. John 12:48”

Is it comprehensible for a member of the Church of Christ for someone outside the Church of Christ to charge it with false doctrine? Yes, but the individual would be viewed with skepticism.

Doctrine is defined by the Magisterium. If an individual asserts that the Catholic Church is incorrect on a doctrine it has infallibly defined, that person cannot be considered Catholic. Similarly, adherence to doctrines not generally supported by the Churches of Christ, such as pouring rather than immersion, precludes membership in that denomination.

To assert that the Church’s official doctrine is incorrect is analogous to claiming that God is wrong. In the biblical account, God informed Samuel that the people were not rejecting Samuel, but God Himself. Consequently, rejecting God’s authorized leaders constitutes a rejection of God.

God is the ultimate standard of right and wrong, yet humanity does not possess direct, unmediated access to God’s will. God’s decision to use human agents to reveal and uphold His standard does not alter that standard. The Catholic Magisterium does not establish moral truth; rather, it upholds what God has already revealed.

In John 12:48, Jesus does not reference the Bible; rather, He indicates that rejection of Himself results in judgment by Him. If the Bible were the sole standard of right and wrong, several issues would arise. The New Testament was not completed until the end of the first century, and Christians did not have an authoritative canon until the Council of Rome in the fourth century. Furthermore, widespread literacy did not emerge until the nineteenth century. If reading the Bible were necessary to discern God’s will, nearly two millennia of individuals would be judged for failing to meet this standard.

Christ did not leave a Bible, nor did the Bible originate independently. Instead, Christ established a Church. Through apostolic succession and the preservation of apostolic teachings, this Church has maintained doctrinal truth throughout history. The Church does not create truth; it reveals and preserves it. Willful rebellion against the Church, after one is fully convinced of its legitimacy, constitutes rebellion against God.

This article was fact-checked by Magisterium AI, and structurally enhanced with Grammarly.

References

Rudd, S. (n.d.). Definition of a Roman Catholic. The Interactive Bible. https://www.bible.ca/catholic-start.htm