How was the Church able to define infallibility?

[simbagizmo]

This is what the Scriptures say:

That is why I believe you have an inaccurate picture of the Church when you said…

… as though Christianity had no direction but disunity and a mere imperfect unity under the utterance of the words “I believe in Christ.”. You saw the disunity among the members, but you didn’t see St. Paul, living to teach and urge them to unite in Christ. He didn’t say “Well, as a matter of fact, we don’t have any denomination here, so please do as you wish.” But instead, he asked indignantly:

See the passion of our Lord when he prayed to the Father for unity! He prayed for us with fervent love. Knowing this, can you not believe that it is possible that Christ founded a visible Church and teaching office which will be a concrete standard to which the faithful can adhere to and in doing so be able to unite more perfectly in Christ?

2000 years later, we still have the successors of the apostles, reminding us Christians of the same call for complete unity. The Catholic Church, never to be overcome by the netherworld as Christ said, is still here to fulfill that call under the workings of the Holy Spirit.

I have read, pondered, and prayed about what you have said. I continue to come up with the same reasoning. The crux of the difference between us, the Roman Catholic and the other Christian denominations, is the interpretation of the Matthew 16:18. I know the Roman Catholics believe this to mean that Peter was designated as the Leader of the Church and RCC says they are from the line of Peter, so they are the true Church. I believe this interpretation is not supported in the Scriptures, but debating this is pointless, so please lets not.

I believe that Christ founded and is still the head of His Church. I believe God has preserved the teachings of the apostles by having them written in Scripture. I believe God calls up men to teach his Word to other Church members so that we all become teachers and follow the commission given to the apostles, which is given to us all. I do not believe Christ founded the Roman Catholic Church, or any other denomination. I believe adherance to God is obedience to Scripture. What is taught in contradiction to Scripture, regardless of who is teaching it, should be condemned as false teaching. This does not say that the person teaching it is necessarily evil, but just could be misguided and in need of correction. Even Peter needed to be corrected by Paul when he was afraid of the Jews sent by James in dealing with the Gentiles.

Galations 2
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

So, I believe that all men, regardless of position, are still just men. Being men, all are capable of falling. I believe this is why Jesus gave us His Church, to correct teachings that may not be true. I also believe that Christianity has direction, but the direction is driven from Scripture.