Why this list matters: A March 2025 statement from the longstanding initiative Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) has enhanced Christian unity in “expressing a shared understanding” of the Nicene Creed’s marks of the church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox Christians are one in Christ despite themselves, and Christian solidarity—rooted in love and far above politics—is central to restoring the West.
Since its founding in 1994, ECT has helped Christians better understand that harmony among believers is intrinsic to the faith. Displaying love for one another, with all our unlovable flaws and failures, also illustrates a double-edged truth that is fundamental to democracy: as God’s image-bearers, we possess unalienable rights that government must protect. Yet our sinfulness entails checks, balances, and separated powers to limit abuses.
1. The Church is One
Despite profound ecclesiastical, theological, and cultural differences among Christians, Christian unity is an overriding metaphysical fact. Pointing to Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17, the ECT statement aptly concludes that “those who believe in Christ abide in him, and thus they are united in his love.” While upholding truth and acknowledging the danger of heresy, we must be humble and slow to condemn others. Such love of neighbor is vital for peace and stability in free societies.
2. The Church is Holy
The Church is “set apart, sanctified as the body of Christ.” Moreover, “God’s summons has the power of righteousness.” Despite the sinfulness and hypocrisy of so many Christians—including Christian leaders—Evangelicals and Catholics agree that “a Church of sinners does not efface the holiness of the body of Christ. God’s grace is greater than our sin.” Similarly, we can rely on God’s providence as we seek to bless Western society despite all our flaws and limitations.
3. The Church is Catholic
In the Nicene Creed, “catholic” means “universal.” Because Christ’s authority is universal, his church is also. As the Dutch Reformed theologian and politician Abraham Kuyper said, Christ claims ownership of every “square inch” of human existence. That includes the church: the one body of believers and only bride of Christ. In this context, as ECT affirms, “diversity does not necessarily entail division, and unity does not require uniformity.” This is a central truth of pluralistic democracy as well.
4. The Church is Apostolic
“The Church is apostolic because it confesses the faith of the apostles and sustains the common life established by Christ.” True Christianity is an ancient faith. “Progressive religion”—watering down venerable truths in an attempt to accommodate modernity—”poses a grave threat to the apostolicity of our churches.” Seeking an easy compromise with modernity will backfire. It is in countering the default relativism of today’s lazy agnosticism that Christians can bless Western society.
THE BOTTOM LINE
United in Christ’s love, Christians must not only collaborate selflessly with all who desire civilizational renewal, but we must also seek the good of our political enemies. Christians will always fall short in this, but our hope is in Christ, not politics. As the ECT statement concludes, “Christ has promised to build his Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
Using words like Catholic and Apostolic in a statement to promote unity doesn't seem very advisable to me, to be honest. All the same, I do believe in valuing the faith of all Christians, in so far as they are truly loyal to Christ and His Kingdom. We all of us must be discerning in these matters.
Let us begin by accepting the Church is really 'fellowship of believers' in the saving work of the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of God, promised Messiah,
One, holy and apostolic is already shared unity.
As for Apostolic, is it not referring to the body of revelation and doctrine established and passed down after the death of all the original apostles?
The Nicene Creed was not written in English, I do not see why we cannot just simply say what it meant One, holy, universal and apostolic. After all, we are in the vernacular age already.