Instead of making it a black & white question why not ask ‘What does God care more about’?
He cared ALOT about starting His Church. And we know Jesus gave the keys of His kingdom to Peter. What Peter opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open. And Peter is to feed and rule Our Lord’s Church [Jn 21:15…]
Obviously God cares about this.
J:
Is going to a particular Church more or less important than faith in Christ and Holy Baptism?
Faith in Christ* is* obeying His command/will. Remaining in His Church shows obedience to the will of Jesus & perseverence in faith.
There is only 1 Church and 1 baptism. Anyone divided from Peter has disobeyed Jesus, and broken the bond of love Jesus spoke of. Those who remain united to Peter are obedient to faith, and remain faithful in that love that comes from obedience to His will.
Since you mention it later in this post, It’s always worth quoting a few ECF’s in advance on this subject…right?
these quotes will also shed ligtht on comments that follow
Cyprian
“Epistle LIV ad Cornelius on Fortunatus and Felicissimus:
“With false bishops appointed for themselves, they dare even set sail and carry their letters from schismatics and blasphemers to the Chair of Peter and to the principal church, in which sacerdotal unity (priestly unity) has its source; nor do they take thought that these are Romans, whose faith was praised by the Apostle, to whom heretical faith cannot have access.”
Ambrose
“It is to Peter that he says: ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church’ [Matt. 16:18]. Where Peter is, there is the Church. And where the Church is, no death is there, but life eternal” (*Commentary on Twelve Psalms of David *40:30
J:
Is going to a particular Church more or less important than keeping the commandments of God?
remaining in the Catholic Church,
IS keeping with His will for us.
J:
If you are comparing two Churches of which BOTH have all valid 7 Sacraments (such as Roman Catholic & Orthodox) then is going to one or the other Church more or less important to God?
The EO are seperated from Peter. That’s not okay. And the EO have resisted any reunion for 1000 years inspite of Peter’s MANY attempts at reunion. And THAT’s not okay. Being in union with Peter is absolutely important to God. Therefore it should be of utmost importance to you.
J:
Is dying as a martyr for a particular Church more or less important than dying as a martyr for Christ?
Why do you seperate the two? When Saul (before he became Paul) was busy persecuting the Church, what did Jesus say to him? “Saul, why do you persecute ME?” [Acts 9:4]
J:
Is sola scriptura more or less a valid approach to truth than sola ‘whatever the Church of Rome says’? How about sola ‘whatever the Church Fathers say’? What about sola ‘what the Church of Alexandria says’, or any other ancient Church established by the Apostles of Christ?
Re: approach to truth
Besides the quotes I referenced, both quotes btw, were well before the 1st ecumenical council that stated that it
IS the faith that one believes in
One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
As an aside
Here’s the ancient ranking of Churches in this order.
- Rome
- Alexandria
- Antioch
- Jerusalem
After Byzantium was changed to Constantinople ~330 a.d.
- Rome
- Constantinople (now Istanbul)
- Alexandria
- Antioch
- Jerusalem
Rome is 1st because it’s the see of Peter. However,
- All those other sees ( #'s 2-5) broke from Peter.
- They were/are no longer Catholic
As an observation,
EO can hardly be found anymore, in those cities (#'s 2-5) OR the countries those cities are in. Those countries are all muslim. And Constantinople, who wanted to be called “new Rome”, to rule over the East, with Hagia Sophia the crown jewel cathedral in Constantinople, all that fell apart. That cathedral is now a mosque, and Constantinople couldn’t even retain it’s name. Just thinking out loud, can you imagine St Peter’s being turned into a mosque?
