Why with 35,000 other options would someone wish to be a Catholic?

[PJM]

Why with 35,000 other Christian denominations, would someone choose to be a Catholic, given all there rules and regulations? We all believe in the same Jesus don’t we?

PJM

 

[PJM]

Maybe it’s because the Catholic church is the only Christian Church actually founded by Christ Himself?

PJM

 

[chris_molter]

You make it sound like rules and regulations are a bad thing.

 

[iamscifimike]

How many views can be right?

 

[Hajnalcsillag]

Here we go again…

 

[cathopologist]

How many churches can you belong to in a lifetime? Would you rather take 35,000 years to reach to the truth, or would you rather settle for the true Church God established on earth?

 

[PJM]

You make it sound like rules and regulations are a bad thing.

Reply:

I was more curious about “R & R’s” always being a “good thing.”

I know lots of Catholics who left the church because of “R & R’s.”

Is that good?

PJM

 

[PJM]

How many churches can you belong to in a lifetime? Would you rather take 35,000 years to reach to the truth, or would you rather settle for the true Church God established on earth?

I don’t understand your point. Can 35,000 Christian church’s be wrong, and only one be right? Think about it. We all believe in Jesus, right?

PJM

 

[Genesis315]

Either they all are wrong or only one is right. Contradictory assertions cannot both be true.

I am reminded of when Jesus asked who the Son of man is–everyone had it wrong except for Peter (see Matt. 16:13-16). The Catholic Church’s claim is like that.

 

[Antonius_Lupus]

Because it is TRUTH.

The Truth was worth risking my family life for the Catholic Church. The Truth was worth giving up the fleshly pleasures of Paganism for Catholic purity. The Truth is worth giving everything for…precisely because it is the TRUTH.

That is why with 35,000 other options, many of us have chosen the Church.

The Pearl of GREAT price…and it is WORTH GIVING EVERYTHING FOR!!!

 

[Mr_Fausto]

Why with 35,000 other Christian denominations, would someone choose to be a Catholic, given all there rules and regulations? We all believe in the same Jesus don’t we?

PJM

Because there is only one Jesus Christ. Not 35,000.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

I don’t understand your point. Can 35,000 Christian church’s be wrong, and only one be right? Think about it. We all believe in Jesus, right?

PJM

It’s all about the fullness of truth. For 1500 years there was one Christian faith, through the Catholic Church. When the reformation took place, the reformers only took “part” of the faith with them. As time passed, “men” took part of the faith from those reformed Churches. Now we have 35,000 denominations. It has appearances of people choosing what fits their lifestyles as opposed to obedience to God through the one Church started by Christ Himself.

While we may all believe in the same Jesus, we do not all believe in the same doctrinal teachings; baptism, confession, marriage/divorce, abortion, etc. etc. Which is right? Who gets to make the decision?

Which Church do you think Christ was talking about when he said to take disputes to the Church? Can 35,000 Churches have Christ’s authority to bind and loose on earth with promises that those things would be bound and loosed in Heaven?

Mat 18:15 But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
Mat 18:16 And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
Mat 18:17 And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.
Mat 18:18 Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.

 

[Soutane]

Because there is only one Jesus Christ. Not 35,000.

Exactly.Christ prayed in the garden of gethsemene that we would all be one-not one plus 35,000+.The Holy Catholic Church was founded by Christ not mere men.The Catholic Church did not denominate from anyone or anything.
Also,Catholicism is the most demanding Faith to live by but it is the easiest Faith to die by.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Maybe it’s because the Catholic church is the only Christian Church actually founded by Christ Himself?

Correct. The fullness of the faith subsists in the Catholic Church. All are obligated to examine the Church in good faith who seek to know God.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Scriptures teach the Church must be one:

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18 As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth.
Joh 17:20 "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word,
Joh 17:21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:22 The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
Joh 17:23 I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.

Joh 10:16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

Eph 4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call,
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Rom 16:17 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them.

1Co 1:10 I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Php 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Rom 15:5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
Rom 15:6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Rom 12:4 For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function,
Rom 12:5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call,

Col 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

 

[cathopologist]

I don’t understand your point. Can 35,000 Christian church’s be wrong, and only one be right? Think about it. We all believe in Jesus, right?

PJM

Anyone can claim to believe in Jesus. What makes a Christian is one who holds the Nicene Creed true and believes in the Holy Eucharist. The two are just the basic Christian beliefs. If a church serves you crackers and Ribena once a year for Communion, would you consider them Christians? If they say they do not believe in the Trinity, would you still consider them Christians?

Most of all, is Christ divided?

 

[JonNC]

PJM;4345026]Why with 35,000 other Christian denominations, would someone choose to be a Catholic, given all there rules and regulations?

Name them, please.

Maybe some people like rules and regs. I do. Rules and regs are not why I am Catholic or not.

We all believe in the same Jesus don’t we?

Yes, we do.

Prodigal Son1 Quote:
It’s all about the fullness of truth. For 1500 years there was one Christian faith, through the Catholic Church.

The Orthodox may quibble with this.

Jon

 

[LilyM]

Reply:

I was more curious about “R & R’s” always being a “good thing.”

I know lots of Catholics who left the church because of “R & R’s.”

Is that good?

PJM

many people left JESUS because of HIS r’n’rs - rules such as ‘if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you shall not have life within you’ (which many Protestants still leave Him about today, by the way), or ‘go, sell all that you have and give to the poor and come follow Me’.

His Apostles acknowledged these and other teachings of Jesus as ‘hard sayings’. People DO leave the Church over these hard sayings, as they left Him. Did He water down His message to stop them leaving? Of course not, neither can we.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Name them, please.

Here’s a list of non-duplicate Protestant denominations (thanks to forum member PhilVaz) of which there are 5000+.

The 33,000 number is slightly specious, and comes from including independents, and even breaks the Catholic Church into rites (which is incorrect to do so because they have the same hierarchy and teaching).

Either way you want to slice it, there are thousands of Protestant denominations.

 

[JonNC]

Here’s a list of non-duplicate Protestant denominations (thanks to forum member PhilVaz) of which there are 5000+.

The 33,000 number is slightly specious, and comes from including independents, and even breaks the Catholic Church into rites (which is incorrect to do so because they have the same hierarchy and teaching).

Either way you want to slice it, there are thousands of Protestant denominations.

Wouldn’t you also say that it is specious (and I thank you for your honesty in that remark ,btw) to list churches by country?

Jon