Early church member writings to not show catholic or protestant things.
Really? I mean, the writings of St. Ignatius, third bishop of Antioch and student of the Apostle John, seem pretty cut and dry to me: (Ignatius died between 107 and 110 AD)
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Let us all therefore love one another in harmony, and let no one look upon his neighbor according to the flesh, but in Christ Jesus. Let nothing exist among you which may divide you; but be united with your bishop, being through him subject to God in Christ.” (letter to the Magnesians)
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It is therefore necessary, whatsoever things you do, to do nothing without the bishop. And be subject also to the presbytery, as to the apostles of Jesus Christ, in whom, if we live, we shall [at last] be found. … apart from these there is no church.” (letter to the Trallians)
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Wherefore I write boldly to your love, which is worthy of God, and exhort you to have but one faith, and one [kind of] preaching, and one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ; and His blood which was shed for us is one; one loaf also is broken to all [the communicants], and one cup is distributed among them all: there is but one altar for the whole Church, and one bishop, with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants.” (letter to the Philadephians)
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Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude[of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” (letter to the Smyrnaeans)
As I stated earlier, St. Ignatius was a student of the Apostle John and the third bishop of Antioch. He died at the very beginning of the first century, before the end of 110 A.D.
The early church was not run like one world religion with a hierarchiy called a magesterium
The early church was not yet a “world religion” but it definitely had structure. As Paul Whitcomb puts it – Our Lord said: “There shall be one fold and one shepherd, yet it is well know that the various Christian denominations cannot agree on what Christ actually taught. Since Christ roundly condemned inter-denominationalism, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25),
they did not pray to Mary or saints, they did not attibute titles to Mary, they did not have a mass sacrifice cermony. No writings show this.
Perhaps you should go walk the catacombs in Rome and read the writings of the early church fathers. To say that the early church did not practice the mass in insane and unfounded.
around 400, you start seeing the emergence of some trends that lead to the catholic church, triggered by Constantine’s conversion.
Protestants say the darnedest things! The Edict of Milan was signed in 313 and legalized a religion that was already thriving. The first public council was held in Nicea not too long after.
As I posted earlier, the church was called “The Catholic Church” in the first century.
Jesus did not ever use the word Catholic or Protestant. On the day of Pentecost, the apostles and others did not start a Catholic Church. There are so many things done by the catholic church today that was not done there.
Of course He would not refer to Protestants as they didn’t exist until the 15th century! Christ difinitely refered to the Catholic Church He founded, telling us to be ONE. Again, refer to the early church fathers. For the record, Christ never used the words “Bible,” “Trinity,” or even “Christian,” either.
For example, today, for an adult non-catholic to be baptised in the catholic church. I have go through about 1 year training.
Why do you think that is? There are thousands upon thousand of diagreeing sects in existence today. To partake of the Eucharist is a big deal. To do so in an unworthy manner brings judgement on your soul. Since Baptism brings you into the Catholic Church and opens all of her graces up to you, it is imperitive that the new member understand not only the tenents and history of the faith, but what happens if your enter into it in an unworthy manner. In the time of Christ, you didn’t have Bob Jones whispering in one ear and Brigham Young in the other. You didn’t have everyday know it alls who thought that their personal interpretation of the Bible was infallible. Add in the secular teachings of our hedonistic world and … BAM! Not all who would enter the faith would do so with an honest … or knowing heart.
Back during the times of Christ and the few years after His death and resurrection, there was one Christian faith and the source of the teachings right there in front of you. It was much easier to understand and enter the faith.
Studying the Bible, historical context, and history help me see historical truths, but when I Repented from my sins and put my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit confirmed it.
The Bible is the only Writing that is “Inspired” by God, and therefore cannot be wrong. Prophecy confirms it. Christ fulfilled hundred of Jewish Prophesies. The re-emergence of Israel fulfills amazing prophesies.
Let’s see… there was no Christian Bible until the end of the fourth century, so what’s your point? The Bible is sacred and inspired, yes. But so are the Sacred Traditions of the Church … and they were here before the Bible.
Furthermore, Christ never, ever commanded His followers to record a single thing. The gathering of various letters into a Christian New Testament occured because the church was fighting herectical teachings from groups such as the Arians and the Gnostics. It was never meant to be the sole rule of faith for followers of Christ. It’s simply not the pillar of truth for the Christian …
