The one true church

[Anglewannabe]

I was at a bible study and the topic of the one true church came up. I said that the protestants do not have all of the truth. This was a Catholic church and did I ever get blasted for that. They kept telling me that God judges and that if a protestant didn’t know any better they can still go to heaven.

No matter how much I told them I agreed with them but it doesn’t change the fact that since I know better, I have a moral responsibility to speak up and say that the Catholic church is the only one with the full truth, they still were very offended.

The leader kept saying ‘we massage the teachings’ I felt like saying 'You are massaging the teachings. Every time I say ‘Catholics believe’ you correct me and say ‘no Christians’ you are the one doing the massaging.

Then I asked her if she believed in papal infallibility. The way she said ‘hhhmmm let me think about that’ leads me to believe she doesn’t even know what it is.

So my questions is, doesn’t the church teach the Catholic religion is the one that was given to us by Christ and although there are a lot of protestants that have similar beliefs, it was never God’s will they separate from the church?

Angie

 

[fred_conty]

Just tell them that there are over 30,000 non-catholic churches. There is 1 catholic church. Somebody has to be wrong, and somebody has to be right. And it is important to know who is right otherwise how would someone know they are on the road to heaven?

The catholic church worship goes back to the apostles when they gathered to break and share the blessed bread, that which Jesus did at the last supper. The earliest historical churches that exist today back to the fourth and fifth centuries have an altar front and center and not a pulpit.
The most of the non-catholic church worship goes back to the 16th century.

The books in the bible were determined by the catholic church and passed down thru the centuries.
The books in the bible that were determined by the catholic church are used by the non-catholic churches.

Just some thoughts.
May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

From Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism:

1. . . . Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only. However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided. Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.
2. . . . the very fullness of grace and truth [have been] entrusted to the [Catholic] Church. . . . *t is only through Christ’s Catholic Church . . . that [Christians] can benefit fully from the means of salvation. . . .

If they don’t affirm these things, they are going against Vatican II. (See also CCC 816 ff)*

 

[Abu]

Anglewannabe #1
So my questions is, doesn’t the church teach the Catholic religion is the one that was given to us by Christ and although there are a lot of protestants that have similar beliefs, it was never God’s will they separate from the church?

Spot on, however no Protestants can say the faithful “remained faithful to the teaching of the Apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42). So, as Jesus commanded, His Church has the Eucharist (Holy Mass), His seven sacraments, the primacy and infallibility of the pope, Her Tradition and Her Sacred Scriptures.

 

[ahs]

You were exactly right Anglewannabe. I’m trying to figure out why someone would throw out a red herring like “God judges” when all you did was make a statement of fact…that Protestants don’t have the fullness of Truth. Why in the world were they offended?? (Not like you’d know their thoughts…that’s more of a rhetorical question.) These were Catholics in this Bible study?!?! (You should invite them to CAF. )

 

[quiet52]

I stopped being surprised long ago about how little knowledge so many Catholic adults have about the faith, and about how minimal their efforts and zeal are to defend it.

This is one of the consequences of mixed faith marriages, when the Catholic spouse does not dare to state that the Church that Jesus founded, the Catholic Church, has the fullest deposit of faith. When Catholics don’t state what they believe, it’s easy to forget what they believe.

It seems likely that the OP’s Bible study leader was reluctant to acknowledge that he/she might not be well-catechized.

 

[R_C]

Just tell them that there are over 30,000 non-catholic churches. There is 1 catholic church.

Over 40,000, all founded in the past 500 years, with about 800 million Christians spread through them (an average of 20,000 people per denomination).

Then you have the Catholic Church - 1.2 billion Christians (the vast majority) spread uniformly all around the world, the only Church claiming that their priests and bishops are direct successors of the Apostles with authority to forgive sins and cast out demons in the name of Christ, the only Church that claims their consecrated Eucharist to be truly, really Christ, not a symbol.

So my questions is, doesn’t the church teach the Catholic religion is the one that was given to us by Christ and although there are a lot of protestants that have similar beliefs, it was never God’s will they separate from the church

Of course. But unfortunately odd things have happened in the past 40 years and still happen. Not because there is a problem in the teachings of Holy Church, but rather because there is a problem in the way some people interpret those teachings - and false ecumenism and *false tolerance * are indeed major problems.

 

[fbl9]

I was at a bible study and the topic of the one true church came up. I said that the protestants do not have all of the truth. This was a Catholic church and did I ever get blasted for that. They kept telling me that God judges and that if a protestant didn’t know any better they can still go to heaven.

No matter how much I told them I agreed with them but it doesn’t change the fact that since I know better, I have a moral responsibility to speak up and say that the Catholic church is the only one with the full truth, they still were very offended.

The leader kept saying ‘we massage the teachings’ I felt like saying 'You are massaging the teachings. Every time I say ‘Catholics believe’ you correct me and say ‘no Christians’ you are the one doing the massaging.

Then I asked her if she believed in papal infallibility. The way she said ‘hhhmmm let me think about that’ leads me to believe she doesn’t even know what it is.

So my questions is, doesn’t the church teach the Catholic religion is the one that was given to us by Christ and although there are a lot of protestants that have similar beliefs, it was never God’s will they separate from the church?

Angie

Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow.
The Church is the body of Christ
Would not the Church, being the body of Christ, be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow?

 

[Anglewannabe]

It seems likely that the OP’s Bible study leader was reluctant to acknowledge that he/she might not be well-catechized.

Not all that reluctant actually. She is probably in her 50s and admitted she recently (in the past couple of years) was shocked to find out missing mass was a mortal and sin looked it up to be sure.

However, when I said something that was politically in correct by secular standards, she got offended. One man was there with his wife and said ‘I am protestant’ and I said ‘don’t run me over with your beliefs’ To which he replied ‘Don’t run me over with yours’.

Next time I will tell him ‘If I am standing in a Catholic church, I will make sure the teachings of the Catholic church are not contradicted’

Angie

 

[Christ4us]

What i understand from the bible which is the only authoritative word of God…is that…
whoever follow the Shepard are the church…Jesus is the main trunk or root of the wine tree & we are the branches…
The gospel has to be preached to all the nations not Catholicism or Pentecostalism…
it is for the humble heart…anyone can preach the gospel… Lord didnt make anything complicated…

 

[Abu]

Christ4us #10
What i understand from the bible which is the only authoritative word of God…is that…
whoever follow the Shepard are the church…Jesus is the main trunk or root of the wine tree & we are the branches…
The gospel has to be preached to all the nations not Catholicism or Pentecostalism…
it is for the humble heart…anyone can preach the gospel… Lord didnt make anything complicated…

O ye of little faith!

Christ never wrote anything – He gave us His Church which gave us the Bible of 46 Books in the O.T., and 27 in the N.T. His Church gave us the New Testament and canonised the books of the Bible. Protestants lack seven books of the O.T., which is why most fail to believe in Purgatory and prayer for the departed, because they lack the authority of Christ through His Catholic Church. That is why there are many thousands of sects all somewhat different.

Are you unaware of so many modern problems that need the teaching of the Magisterium, which are not considered in the Sacred Scriptures? The Scriptures cannot always guide us on every aspect of contraception, on capital punishment, IVF, cloning and many other modern problems. [See *What Catholics Really Believe, by Karl Keating]

Johann Gutenberg, a Catholic, produced the first printed Bible, with the Church’s approval, in 1455. Luther was not born until 1483. There were 18 German editions of the whole Bible before the Catholic monk Luther posted his 95 theses in 1517, and there were German, Flemish, Italian, Spanish, and Polish editions before Luther left the Church. The first English edition appeared in 1525. James I in England authorised the “King James” version only in 1604.

This is what Christ commanded:
All four promises to Peter alone:
“You are Peter and on this rock I will build My Church.” (Mt 16:18)
“The gates of hell will not prevail against it.”(Mt 16:18)
“I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven." ( Mt 16:19)
“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” (Mt 16:19)

Sole authority to Peter:
“Strengthen your brethren.” (Lk 22:32)
“Feed My sheep.”(Jn 21:17).

Firmly and irrevocably given to us by the Sacred Scriptures written by His followers in His Church.

 

[KCT]

Bible studies and small, faith sharing groups can be wonderful, but when the folks in charge are not well formed, I think they can do more harm than good.

 

[Brandall]

Over 40,000, all founded in the past 500 years, with about 800 million Christians spread through them (an average of 20,000 people per denomination).

Then you have the Catholic Church - 1.2 billion Christians (the vast majority) spread uniformly all around the world, the only Church claiming that their priests and bishops are direct successors of the Apostles with authority to forgive sins and cast out demons in the name of Christ, the only Church that claims their consecrated Eucharist to be truly, really Christ, not a symbol.

Of course. But unfortunately odd things have happened in the past 40 years and still happen. Not because there is a problem in the teachings of Holy Church, but rather because there is a problem in the way some people interpret those teachings - and false ecumenism and *false tolerance * are indeed major problems.

Thirty thousand or forty thousand, what difference does it make. Regardless, it’s a massaged number. Unless you believe there are 282 different denominations of Catholicism.

 

[Brandall]

I was at a bible study and the topic of the one true church came up. I said that the protestants do not have all of the truth. This was a Catholic church and did I ever get blasted for that. They kept telling me that God judges and that if a protestant didn’t know any better they can still go to heaven.

No matter how much I told them I agreed with them but it doesn’t change the fact that since I know better, I have a moral responsibility to speak up and say that the Catholic church is the only one with the full truth, they still were very offended.

The leader kept saying ‘we massage the teachings’ I felt like saying 'You are massaging the teachings. Every time I say ‘Catholics believe’ you correct me and say ‘no Christians’ you are the one doing the massaging.

Then I asked her if she believed in papal infallibility. The way she said ‘hhhmmm let me think about that’ leads me to believe she doesn’t even know what it is.

So my questions is, doesn’t the church teach the Catholic religion is the one that was given to us by Christ and although there are a lot of protestants that have similar beliefs, it was never God’s will they separate from the church?

Angie

First of all, I plan to start RCIA next month and love the Catholic Church.

Having said that, I do not understand this Catholic fascination with claiming they have the 1 true church. It’s very off putting and tends to take away from the Church’s mission of spreading the gospel. There will be many put off by the proclamation of superiority of some members of the church. I just pray that when I’m in full communion with the church that I avoid this type of display that looks so unattractive to an outsider.

 

[johnnyc176]

First of all, I plan to start RCIA next month and love the Catholic Church.

Having said that, I do not understand this Catholic fascination with claiming they have the 1 true church. It’s very off putting and tends to take away from the Church’s mission of spreading the gospel. There will be many put off by the proclamation of superiority of some members of the church. I just pray that when I’m in full communion with the church that I avoid this type of display that looks so unattractive to an outsider.

Because it’s true.

 

[johnnyc176]

Not all that reluctant actually. She is probably in her 50s and admitted she recently (in the past couple of years) was shocked to find out missing mass was a mortal and sin looked it up to be sure.

However, when I said something that was politically in correct by secular standards, she got offended. One man was there with his wife and said ‘I am protestant’ and I said ‘don’t run me over with your beliefs’ To which he replied ‘Don’t run me over with yours’.

Next time I will tell him ‘If I am standing in a Catholic church, I will make sure the teachings of the Catholic church are not contradicted’

Angie

 

[Brandall]

Because it’s true.

The humility of the act is inspirational.

 

[StrawberryJam]

I was at a bible study and the topic of the one true church came up. I said that the protestants do not have all of the truth. This was a Catholic church and did I ever get blasted for that. They kept telling me that God judges and that if a protestant didn’t know any better they can still go to heaven.

No matter how much I told them I agreed with them but it doesn’t change the fact that since I know better, I have a moral responsibility to speak up and say that the Catholic church is the only one with the full truth, they still were very offended.

The leader kept saying ‘we massage the teachings’ I felt like saying 'You are massaging the teachings. Every time I say ‘Catholics believe’ you correct me and say ‘no Christians’ you are the one doing the massaging.

Then I asked her if she believed in papal infallibility. The way she said ‘hhhmmm let me think about that’ leads me to believe she doesn’t even know what it is.

So my questions is, doesn’t the church teach the Catholic religion is the one that was given to us by Christ and although there are a lot of protestants that have similar beliefs, it was never God’s will they separate from the church?

Angie

Report this to the Pastor, then the Bishop.

 

[LionHeart777]

Brandall,

I am a convert and former Protestant myself. It is true that the Catholic Church has the fullness of the truth and is the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ. But, one ought to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). I hope this helps.

 

[johnnyc176]

The humility of the act is inspirational.

What exactly do you expect to hear on a Catholic forum? Jesus founded a Church. We believe that Church to be the Catholic Church. The Church is the pillar and foundation of Truth. Do you expect to hear something different in RCIA?