Does size matter?

[Bran_Stark]

When comparing the Catholic Church to other Christian denominations, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Catholic Church is by far the largest and most widespread and most powerful, and had been so for many centuries. What are the implications of this? It don’t think it’s a very Biblical attitude to say that whatever group is ahead in worldy numbers is necessarily the one most approved by God. In her infancy the Church was obviously a quite small religious minority, very limited geographically. So is it just a coincidence today that the “One True Church” so happens to be the biggest?

I feel that part of the reason for many Protestants being so attracted to Catholicism may be simply awe in belonging to such an impressive worldwide organization, and not so much in liking the particular doctrines which she teaches.

 

[SteveVH]

When comparing the Catholic Church to other Christian denominations, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Catholic Church is by far the largest and most widespread and most powerful, and had been so for many centuries. What are the implications of this? It don’t think it’s a very Biblical attitude to say that whatever group is ahead in worldy numbers is necessarily the one most approved by God. In her infancy the Church was obviously a quite small religious minority, very limited geographically. So is it just a coincidence today that the “One True Church” so happens to be the biggest?

I feel that part of the reason for many Protestants being so attracted to Catholicism may be simply awe in belonging to such an impressive worldwide organization, and not so much in liking the particular doctrines which she teaches.

I have never in my life heard of any Catholic who has tried to defend the Catholic Church on the basis of its size. So I’m not really sure what argument you are trying make.

 

[RyanK]

Well, I think it’s also the fact that the Church’s roots lead directly to Jesus Christ himself considering that our first Pope was St. Peter the Apostle whereas every other church’s roots leads to a reformer of some sort.

 

[DCNBILL]

When comparing the Catholic Church to other Christian denominations, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Catholic Church is by far the largest and most widespread and most powerful, and had been so for many centuries. What are the implications of this? It don’t think it’s a very Biblical attitude to say that whatever group is ahead in worldy numbers is necessarily the one most approved by God. In her infancy the Church was obviously a quite small religious minority, very limited geographically. So is it just a coincidence today that the “One True Church” so happens to be the biggest?

I feel that part of the reason for many Protestants being so attracted to Catholicism may be simply awe in belonging to such an impressive worldwide organization, and not so much in liking the particular doctrines which she teaches.

Just a small edit. “and has been since Christ has established His Church on earth” This is truth and should tell us something.

 

[TrueLight]

I feel that part of the reason for many Protestants being so attracted to Catholicism may be simply awe in belonging to such an impressive worldwide organization, and not so much in liking the particular doctrines which she teaches.

Are Protestants particularly attracted to the Catholic Church? I never was.

 

[Bran_Stark]

Just a small edit. “and has been since Christ has established His Church on earth” This is truth and should tell us something.

I seem to recall that at some points the Arians were in the majority… Even if not, she was still obviously not the largest religion.

But anyhow, if you think it “should tell us something”, then I guess you do indeed believe that size matters.

Are Protestants particularly attracted to the Catholic Church? I never was.

Not all of them of course. But plenty of them convert, and conversion starts with looking at Rome and wondering if something’s there.

 

[DCNBILL]

I seem to recall that at some points the Arians were in the majority… Even if not, she was still obviously not the largest religion.

But anyhow, if you think it “should tell us something”, then I guess you do indeed believe that size matters.

Not all of them of course. But plenty of them convert, and conversion starts with looking at Rome and wondering if something’s there.

At this point actualy paganism was in the majority, if you feel that numbers in the past are of conquence then you have obviously ignored salvation history.

 

[TrueLight]

I seem to recall that at some points the Arians were in the majority… Even if not, she was still obviously not the largest religion.

But anyhow, if you think it “should tell us something”, then I guess you do indeed believe that size matters.

Not all of them of course. But plenty of them convert, and conversion starts with looking at Rome and wondering if something’s there.

The first thing that attracted me was the history: the early church Fathers, the Apostolic succession. I could care less about size.

 

[AlwaysCurious]

When comparing the Catholic Church to other Christian denominations, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Catholic Church is by far the largest and most widespread and most powerful, and had been so for many centuries. What are the implications of this? It don’t think it’s a very Biblical attitude to say that whatever group is ahead in worldy numbers is necessarily the one most approved by God. In her infancy the Church was obviously a quite small religious minority, very limited geographically. So is it just a coincidence today that the “One True Church” so happens to be the biggest?

I feel that part of the reason for many Protestants being so attracted to Catholicism may be simply awe in belonging to such an impressive worldwide organization, and not so much in liking the particular doctrines which she teaches.

When I converted, it wasn’t so much the size that impressed me as the catholicity (among many other factors).

And we shouldn’t expect the current Church to look the same as the early Church any more than we should expect an oak tree to look like an acorn.

 

[Ahimsa]

When I converted, it wasn’t so much the size that impressed me as the catholicity (among many other factors).

And we shouldn’t expect the current Church to look the same as the early Church any more than we should expect an oak tree to look like an acorn.

If “catholicity” were the central issue, then why not choose Eastern Orthodoxy?

 

[Bran_Stark]

At this point actualy paganism was in the majority, if you feel that numbers in the past are of conquence then you have obviously ignored salvation history.

Huh? You just said in your other post that

Just a small edit. “and has been since Christ has established His Church on earth” This is truth and should tell us something.

So do you think numbers in the past are of consequence or not? I’m confused.

 

[DCNBILL]

Huh? You just said in your other post that

So do you think numbers in the past are of consequence or not? I’m confused.

I think that truth matters, if you do not believe that the beginings of Christianity are diferent than the situition of today, are you being truthful?

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

I seem to recall that at some points the Arians were in the majority… Even if not, she was still obviously not the largest religion.

But anyhow, if you think it “should tell us something”, then I guess you do indeed believe that size matters.

Not all of them of course. But plenty of them convert, and conversion starts with looking at Rome and wondering if something’s there.

Ah come on man! Context. Look back at the post. The thing “telling us something” is the truth that the Catholic Church was founded by Christ himself. Let’s not twist words We’re all way too smart for that.

 

[Della]

Well, I’d put more that the Catholic Church is the elephant in the room that many can’t ignore. No matter how far some Protestant groups go to deny they are Protestants, for example, they have to come back to the fact that they’re definitely not Catholic. The Catholic Church, along with the Orthodox, are the oldest forms of Christianity. That’s a simple historical fact. Many Protestants ignore this or deny it or simply go around it, but it’s still true. So, eventually one must deal with it if one is going to look fully and truthfully into Church history. This does lead many into accepting the Church’s claims of authenticity and authority, but not all, of course. The Church’s size is due to evangelization over centuries–something many Protestants also avoid acknowledging. When I was a Protestant I never heard about Catholic missions, only Protestant ones, as if Protestants invented the idea of taking the Gospel to to whole world. The Church was there first, in almost all cases, and so Protestants finding themselves proselytizing Catholics rather than converting non-Christians.

 

[Lokabrenna]

The only time I’ve heard size come up is in the answer to the question: “Why doesn’t [insert minority religion here] run as many charities and hospitals as Christians do?”

“I’m joining this religion because it’s big and impressive,” is a poor excuse for joining a religion IMHO.

However, it seems like age matters to some people. I see this a lot: “Why join a 50 year old religion when you can join a 2,000 year old religion?” and I don’t understand that logic either.

 

[AlwaysCurious]

If “catholicity” were the central issue, then why not choose Eastern Orthodoxy?

Catholicity wasn’t the central issue; I was just comparing/contrasting the idea to that of size. And beyond that I’m not going to derail this into a Catholicism vs. Orthodoxy thread

 

[Nicea325]

Not all of them of course. But plenty of them convert, and conversion starts with looking at Rome and wondering if something’s there.

The Fullness of Truth. Many converts read early church history and realize it was Catholic,not Baptist,Methodist,Mormon,etc,etc,

 

[Bran_Stark]

I think that truth matters, if you do not believe that the beginings of Christianity are diferent than the situition of today, are you being truthful?

Ah come on man! Context. Look back at the post. The thing “telling us something” is the truth that the Catholic Church was founded by Christ himself. Let’s not twist words We’re all way too smart for that.

Well obviously Catholics believe their Church was founded by Christ… that’s not the question I’m asking. I’m not twisting anyone’s words, I’m just confused. So again…

Is the size and influence of the Catholic Church, two thousands years ago or today or two thousand years in the future, a valid criterion for assessing her truth?

 

[Bearontherun]

The parable of the mustard seed comes to mind (Matthew 13:31).

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush,
and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”

This illustrates the growth of the church as it becomes large despite its small beginnings.

It is not only large, but visible. It must be visible…

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Well obviously Catholics believe their Church was founded by Christ… that’s not the question I’m asking. I’m not twisting anyone’s words, I’m just confused. So again…

Is the size and influence of the Catholic Church, two thousands years ago or today or two thousand years in the future, a valid criterion for assessing her truth?

No. Obviously not since there are other faiths just as large as catholicism. Size doesn’t mean anyone is right.

Catholics believe that they are on the right track is that the Catholic church was established by Christ. This is actually what caused me to convert among other reasons.