How to respond to "Jesus doesn't care what church we go to"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ianjo99
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I just want to point out that a couple of churches have valid sacraments.

If we, as Roman Catholics, find ourselves stranded and no access to the rites of those churches in line with Rome, we can recieve Communion at:

Russian Orthodox
Greek Orthodox and
Anglican churches.

I’m not sure if thre are any more, and this is only in the event of an emergency. We cannot, on a regular basis, participate in the sacraments of these Churches.
 
the anglican churches do not have apostolic succession in most cases…it that were true that anglican churches have valid sacraments, then the Episcopal Church would have valid sacraments,(since it is the American branch of the Anglican church) which is not the case.
 
One reason why Jesus cares where we go…Eucharist. He really does want us to receive His body, blood, soul and divinity. Only one place (with a few different Rites) where you can get that…the Catholic Church
 
40.png
Ianjo99:
how to respond to “Jesus doesn’t care what church we go to”
Click to expand...
How about Mark 9:38–41

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in you name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”
 
If Jesus didn’t care what church we attend He wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of setting up His Church on earth.
 
40.png
Ianjo99:
In a talk with an old-time friend, she mentioned that she doesn’t think that Jesus/God really cares what church we go to as long as we go (or something to that effect). Thanks!
Click to expand...
and she was delegated by whom to receive, interpret and pass along Jesus’ teaching? Challenge her to provide chapter and verse where Jesus said: I don’t care what Church you belong to, but I want to see you someplace holy on Sunday morning. Ask her why Jesus went to the considerable trouble to found a church, choose and train leaders, invest them with His authority, and send the Holy Spirit upon His Church if the matter is of no interest to Him?
 
This whole thread is interesting.
First, I would like to point out that the Catholic Church has more than one Sacrament (does anyone go to Confession anymore?)
Secondly, it is interesting how one can defend the Dogma “Outside the Church there is no salvation” and be attacked… while on the other-hand watch those same, who attack the doctrine, say that Christ intended only one church, one faith, the Eucharist… etc. :eek:

So what is it going to be? Is that girl ok where she is, or NOT?

“answer ‘yes, yes’ or ‘no, no’ - all else is of satan”
 
40.png
waxednwaned:
This whole thread is interesting.
First, I would like to point out that the Catholic Church has more than one Sacrament (does anyone go to Confession anymore?)
Secondly, it is interesting how one can defend the Dogma “Outside the Church there is no salvation” and be attacked… while on the other-hand watch those same, who attack the doctrine, say that Christ intended only one church, one faith, the Eucharist… etc. :eek:

So what is it going to be? Is that girl ok where she is, or NOT?

“answer ‘yes, yes’ or ‘no, no’ - all else is of satan”
Click to expand...
Christ established one Church.
The Catholic Church is THE Church of Christ, His Bride.

Salvation comes to those who believe in Him.
But to those who never knew Him, was never introduced to Him, had never heard of Him, but who live good lives, salvation can also be theirs.

The problem lies in Christ’s unfathomable Mercy. No one on earth knows the status of any individual’s heart at the time of death. No one knows if in the very last moment the person calls out to Jesus to save them, regardless of how that person lived their life. And no one knows the depth of His Mercy. Only Him.

The Church teaches that for those who do not know Christ salvation might be possible because of His mercy. Even the Church doesn’t know definitively how He will judge every person at the moment of death, so She no longer teaches salvation **only **comes through the Catholic Church.

If you think about it, belonging to the Catholic Church is no guarantee of salvation because of free will. Being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit removes the stain of original sin, but it does not guarantee one will be saved ‘in the end’ because there is much a person can do before then to distance themselves from God.

Protestant Churches proclaim the Truth of Christ. It isn’t the FULL Truth, but it is Truth. A person worshipping in this manner certainly isn’t offending God. He’d be happier for the person if they were able to participate fully in His love through His church, but certainly He isn’t going to ignore those who are not in the fullness of the Church.

So, in a way, this girl is ok to go to a protestant church. She isn’t receiving full benefits, and that’s a shame, but it isn’t going to keep her from heaven. One responds to comments like that by saying it’s wonderful that they go to church, that it brings them close to Christ, but I wonder why one could walk away from receiving the living Christ inside them through the Eucharist and from receiving absolution of one’s sins. Apparently that person isn’t ready for that (grace alone will reveal the Truth of our claim), but the seed would be planted and Grace will do the rest.
 
I’m surprised this thread lasted after I thought it already died, but ironically, I got into another discussion with her last night.

I fear I am doing worse by even talking to her than letting her be. My arguments hold no water, even in my opinion, and I am getting too flustered to accurately explain or question. I feel bad, because I don’t want to hurt, I want to heal.

It’s not that I don’t think protestants will get to heaven, I’m fairly sure they will. But I get sick when someone has the truth, the full truth, and leaves it.

Her thing now is that no one can know what God is or if He even exists, so my opinions and the Church’s teachings are no more valid than anyone elses. She doesn’t take it seriously enough, IMO.

She even said the thing that I can’t stand (i’ve heard it three times in a week from different people):
If God sends -“a certain group”- to Hell or only allows -“another certain group”- into heaven, then I don’t want to go to heaven.

To me that smacks of immaturity and a lack of understanding on how important all this is, and a fundamental knowledge that our own opinions have no effect on truth or how God should/does think.

I failed miserably last night, and all I can do is pray that someday I’ll have the understanding necessary in order to help situations like these rather than cause further division.
 
40.png
Ianjo99:
I’m surprised this thread lasted after I thought it already died, but ironically, I got into another discussion with her last night.

I fear I am doing worse by even talking to her than letting her be. My arguments hold no water, even in my opinion, and I am getting too flustered to accurately explain or question. I feel bad, because I don’t want to hurt, I want to heal.

It’s not that I don’t think protestants will get to heaven, I’m fairly sure they will. But I get sick when someone has the truth, the full truth, and leaves it.

Her thing now is that no one can know what God is or if He even exists, so my opinions and the Church’s teachings are no more valid than anyone elses. She doesn’t take it seriously enough, IMO.

She even said the thing that I can’t stand (i’ve heard it three times in a week from different people):
If God sends -“a certain group”- to Hell or only allows -“another certain group”- into heaven, then I don’t want to go to heaven.

To me that smacks of immaturity and a lack of understanding on how important all this is, and a fundamental knowledge that our own opinions have no effect on truth or how God should/does think.

I failed miserably last night, and all I can do is pray that someday I’ll have the understanding necessary in order to help situations like these rather than cause further division.
Click to expand...
She’s not ready for the Truth.
Just keep praying for her and in time, she’ll see the light.
When she comes up with the discussion points so off base, just tell her you’re sorry she sees things that way because she’s missing out on so much more with that view…and leave it at that. If need be, reassure her of your faith that one day, she’ll understand - it’s the way God works - in His own time, in His own way. But it makes no sense at this juncture to try to reason with her.
 
If He didn’t He wouldn’t have founded One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church containing the fullness of truth, instead He would have founded the Many and Partial Truth Churches.
 
Really, the best way to explain the Church’s relationship with Christ is to use the analogy the Bible itself uses: Marriage.

Suppose on my wedding day I told my bride, “It doesn’t matter who you are. Just as long as I know your name and you love me, that’s all I need to know.” What kind of a marriage would that be? Rather, while we were dating my wife poured her heart out to me, told me who she is, what she hopes to be, what her dreams and her passions are, and being so enamored by this amazing woman, on our wedding day I could proclaim “I do” with the greatest joy and elation. I knew who she was, I knew what was true about her, and I wanted nothing more than to share in that with her.

So it is with God.

The Word of God in the Scriptures is a love letter. But it is not just a letter saying how much God loves us, it is God pouring out His heart asking us to love Him. It is God saying, “This is who I am. These are my hopes, these are my dreams and I want you to share in them with me.” Because that is true love, that is true union.

If the world does not know what is true about God, the world cannot really love God. Furthermore, an all-loving God would *want *us to know all that is true about him, just as I desire to share all of who I am with my wife.

To say doctrinal differences don’t matter is to say that what is true about God doesn’t matter. What man would say that about his wife?

But that’s just my opinion. 😃
 
40.png
Ianjo99:
In a talk with an old-time friend, she mentioned that she doesn’t think that Jesus/God really cares what church we go to as long as we go (or something to that effect). Though I see where she is coming from, I still maintained that it is important that she go to Catholic mass as opposed to a protestant service.

How should one respond to that while keeping a loving attitude and not delving into hardcore apologetics?

Catholic answers only, please.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
How do you know that Jesus is not offended by what Church we attend? How do we know that we don’t offend Him when we turn our backs and walk away from the Church He founded upon Peter?
 
Br. Rich SFO:
How do you know that Jesus is not offended by what Church we attend? How do we know that we don’t offend Him when we turn our backs and walk away from the Church He founded upon Peter?
Click to expand...
She would probably respond that since we don’t know, then no one can say anything to the effect of “We should/must do this”. I suppose she would consider it a moot point.

I get what you’re saying though
 
Br. Rich SFO:
How do you know that Jesus is not offended by what Church we attend? How do we know that we don’t offend Him when we turn our backs and walk away from the Church He founded upon Peter?
Click to expand...
This is an excellent point! In addtion to walk away from the EUCHARIST!! IS A SIN IN ITSELF! It’s like “throwing pearls to swine!”

Blessings,
Joanie
 
40.png
Ianjo99:
In a talk with an old-time friend, she mentioned that she doesn’t think that Jesus/God really cares what church we go to as long as we go (or something to that effect). Though I see where she is coming from, I still maintained that it is important that she go to Catholic mass as opposed to a protestant service.

How should one respond to that while keeping a loving attitude and not delving into hardcore apologetics?
QUOTE]

It is my experience that direct apologetics and hard sell “attend Mass lectures” doesnt’ work because they question your motives (they think you only want to bring them into our “cult” with little regard to the truth or facts or Scripture). Instead I focus on what we agree on- Jesus wants us to have an intimate relationship with His Father, the Holy Spirit, and Himself. Depending on my “gut”, I either proceed to tell them how the Catholic Church enhances my relationship with the Trinity and ask how their religion enhances theirs (or approach it the vice versa). Over time, the differences become glaring and a bright light is shown on the Catholic Church.

Trust me it may take years. I have a college friend with whom I began this discussion over 20 years ago and only recently has he expressed openness to the Church. (Granted, his religion’s openness to same sex marriages didn’t hurt either.) I also don’t consider the fact that by the end of my friend’s life he may never actually go thru RCIA necessarily a failure. There are numerous anecdotes of people recieving conversion and viaticum (sp?) on their death bed. I’ll bet that every one of those anecdotes can be traced back to a loving and patient loved one who never gave up, prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance and graces, and approached the situation with the tender heart of Jesus (my answer to everything!).

P.S. I have told him that if I every visit him in a hospital, I’m bringing a Priest just in case. 😉
Click to expand...
 
40.png
Ianjo99:
She would probably respond that since we don’t know, then no one can say anything to the effect of “We should/must do this”. I suppose she would consider it a moot point.

I get what you’re saying though
Click to expand...
But ask her then what the Ten Commandments are, then, if not a list of “You should/must do (or do not do) this”. Also, remind her of what Jesus says (I believe it’s in Luke)—“He who rejects you, rejects Me”.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top