Catholocism the only true choice

[Cinette]

Estesbob, you gotta get past the fact that there are many different branches of prodestantism. God created the world with some manner of diversity in mind. Were this not true then there would be no different ethnicities. God created each of us differently with very different needs. Such a diversity of different takes on how to follow Christ flings the doors wide open to allow different people to sincerely come to Christ Jesus and know the lord God in their own way. Granted, with such division, there is an innate danger of corruption. We Catholics with our vast size and atocricy are subject to a similar type of corruption. The reason that people sometimes bounce around isn’t because they are looking for a church that allows them to follow their own sin lifestyles. It’s because they are searching for a place that speaks to their hearts. (You may be alarmed to find that most prodestants i’ve associated with are generally on the same page when it comes to what matters in the Christian faith.)

This variety is also important because it gives people a way to flee from corrupt teaching. Be aware that our leadership is not free from such things - corrupted teaching exists within our own church as well. I had a priest visit our parish once who was convinced that we were not true christians if we didn’t go to his ‘laying of hands’ type healing service. This isn’t the first time my local parish has brought in speakers like this.

I think it would be good for you to try visiting a local prodestant church. Go with an open mind, looking to gain new perspective - you may come out pleasantly surprised.

Oh, by the way, the book of Ephesians spells out quite plainly what is neccessary for salvation. Most if not all Christian groups conform to what it says. They get off however on the details and supporting ideas associated with this book.

Hey Kronotaur -

You should have watched World Youth Day where the youth from 170 countries and traditions came together as ONE. One Faith, One Love… You can be different and be ONE WITH GOD who is ONE. Sure our diversity is wonderful and we should enjoy each others languages and cultures - but there is ONE HEAVEN (and one hell). We can be united in Faith and Diversity.

 

[Cinette]

Hello Everybody

I have been reading the postings on this thread and can imagine the frustrations of those who deal with this day in and day out.

“When ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise”.

It is imperative that we read and learn to interpret the Bible and seek one interpretation. Don’t forget that Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will guide us. I have just read a book by Mike Aquilina called “The Resiliant Church” - an overview of 2000 odd years of Christianity. I recommend it. It is testimony to the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit that the Church, despite the reformation (not the internal Reformation), the abuse, heresies, corruption, attacks, etc. etc. etc. has survived. Matthews 13:24-30 comes to mind. The Church is for everybody, especially sinners and we attract the good, the bad and the indifferent… It will always be like that. That is why we need the Holy Father and the Magisterium to keep us on track. Remember that the light shines in darkness.
What a Church we have! What a God we have! How can we survive without God and his Church?

extrahappy: :clapping:

 

[David_Vestal]

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[Mimi]

Re: post 359 by David Vestal

Great response – virtual fist bump!

catholic.com/thisrock/2007/0711clas.asp

I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church
By Msgr. Ronald Knox

When you say, “I believe in the holy Catholic Church,” you’ve said a mouthful. If you believe in the holy Catholic Church, then it follows that you believe in all the rest of the Credo; it would be silly to believe in the Church and not believe in what the Church tells you.

Gettin' back on track here (more or less); I see early on someone mentioned the 4 marks of the Church. That was my main reason for loggin on tonight. I was looking for the scriptural reference(s) for that. Anyone?? 

Hey -- I can always check my Catechism! 

God bless all, and especially our dear separated bro's. & sisters.
Mimi

 

[David_Vestal]

The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822)
Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.

His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).

Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.

** The Church Is Holy** (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829)
By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).

But the Church itself is holy because it is the source of holiness and is the guardian of the special means of grace Jesus established, the sacraments (cf. Eph. 5:26).

The Church Is Catholic (Matt. 28:19–20, Rev. 5:9–10, CCC 830–856)
Jesus’ Church is called catholic (“universal” in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of “all nations” (Matt. 28:19–20).

For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28).

Nowadays the Catholic Church is found in every country of the world and is still sending out missionaries to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19).

The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, “the Catholic Church,” at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’s time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.

The Church Is Apostolic (Eph. 2:19–20, CCC 857–865)
The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because he appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders. The apostles were the first bishops, and, since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the apostles taught the first Christians in Scripture and oral Tradition (2 Tim. 2:2).

These beliefs include the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the forgiveness of sins through a priest, baptismal regeneration, the existence of purgatory, Mary’s special role, and much more —even the doctrine of apostolic succession itself.

Early Christian writings prove the first Christians were thoroughly Catholic in belief and practice and looked to the successors of the apostles as their leaders. What these first Christians believed is still believed by the Catholic Church. No other Church can make that claim.

catholic.com/library/Pillar.asp

 

[KingAlfred]

How can one know that the “church” is the “church” Jesus had in mind?
How do we know it has not gone way off track?

How do we know that the answers are not right before our face but refuse to believe the truth?

What if we are wrong?

Signed~
~Still Confused~

I’ve been studying this topic for years. Today I finished a great analysis contrasting the Historical Jesus with the Paschal Jesus in the Oxford Bible Companion. It was great. The question you ask goes to the heart of the issue of the legitimacy of the Bible and institutional Christianity, as it has existed since Jesus’ crucifixion. I could go on forever, but the bottom line for me is whether or not one believes in the Holy Spirit. If not, the differences between the Historical Jesus and the Paschal Jesus, in both the Bible and denominational traditions, might simply be too much to reasonably accept. If yes, one can believe the Church has evolved directly under the stewardship of God, via the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to believe in the latter scenario.

 

[anon52328184]

can you explain what you mean by the historical Jesus and the Paschal Jesus? what is the difference. thank you.