Today the Roman Catholic Church uses the term “Catholic” and most of the protestant world has also granted that term. Both protestants and Roman Catholics seem to be unaware of the historical meaning of Catholic. Rome taking it for themselves and to mean the Roman Catholic Church, and protestants totally rejecting the word…
The truth is the reformers professed one true, Holy Catholic and apostolic church but there was a difference in how it was defined. The Belgic Confession written in 1561 was a confession of faith to appeal to the king of Spain who was persecuting protestants.
I would also argue that the Catholic Church at the time of St. Augustine looked nothing like nor taught what the Roman Catholic Church believes today. So if people ask me if I’m Catholic I would most likely answer yes, just not Roman Catholic
Belgic Confession Article 27 – The Holy Catholic Church
We believe and profess one catholic or universal Church, which is a holy congregation of true Christian believers, all expecting their salvation in Jesus Christ, being washed by His blood, sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
This Church has been from the beginning of the world, and will be to the end thereof; which is evident from this that Christ is an eternal King, which without subjects He cannot be. And this holy Church is preserved or supported by God against the rage of the whole world; though it sometimes for a while appears very small, and in the eyes of men to be reduced to nothing; as during the perilous reign of Ahab the Lord reserved unto Him seven thousand men who had not bowed their knees to Baal.
Furthermore, this holy Church is not confined, bound, or limited to a certain place or to certain persons, but is spread and dispersed over the whole world; and yet is joined and united with heart and will, by the power of faith, in one and the same Spirit.
Genesis 22:17; 2 Samuel 7:16; 1 Kings 19:18; Psalm 46:5; Psalm 89:37,38; Psalm 102:14; Psalm 110:2-4; Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 31:36; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:20; Luke 1:32,33; Luke 12:32; Luke 17:21; John 16:33; Acts 4:32; Romans 9:29; Romans 11:2,4; Romans 12:4; Ephesians 4:3,4; 2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 12:6,14.
