Why the Catholic Church is the Only True Christian Church
Many years down the line, in a different time and place, to paraphrase one of our Priests: The Catholic Church is of the Christian tradition built on the Jewish Scriptures and the Gospel.
These days one can often see bumper-stickers and tee-shirts which read "My boss is a Jewish carpenter." Whether or not it is said or taken in a humorous vein, it is nonetheless accurate. Jesus was a traditional Jew; and that was what his way of life and his teachings reflected. And the fact is, a person cannot have one part without the other-- if one is not following the ways of Jesus Christ, one is not a 'Christian,' regardless of what he or she 'believes.'
What did Jesus Christ teach and live? He taught, and backed up his teachings by living, unconditional love for all persons, charity with no wish for personal gain nor considering anyone to be 'less' than himself, putting the needs of others as the priority, faith and prayer. You can see these standards very clearly in the Catholic Church.
It is becoming less and less popular these days to consider the term 'Christian' to mean Catholics, or even the numerous Protestant denominations. When someone says that he or she is 'Christian,' they are generally referring to Fundamentalism. Fundamentalism, however, is based primarily on the teachings of Paul, rather than Jesus; and those who adhere to it merely "pick and choose" specific lines and passages which will uphold their erroneous beliefs, leaving out or misinterpreting anything which is not convenient to their stand.
Fundamentalists routinely dismiss the Catholic Church in such contemptuous terms as "the whore of Babylon," and attempt to grant it unsavory status by likening it to an equally-contemptuous term, "Judaizers." To briefly note the correlations between the two, Fundamentalists have great negativity toward such aspects as Priests, Altars, Holy Water, Dietary Regulations, the bread/wafers, and keeping the Ten Commandments. In other words, the Catholic Church following the same precepts as the Jewish religion which Jesus lived, is something which Fundamentalists point at as "wrong." Teaching that Jesus, and belief in Jesus, represents the irrelevance of the Old Testament, Fundamentalists dismiss one of the most important precepts which Catholics adhere to:
Matthew 5:17-19 says "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
The subject of what constitutes "salvation" is one of the most significant dividers. As Fundamentalists fully believe that once one has "accepted Christ as one's personal savior" that one individual act constitutes being "saved," they are dismissing everything that is clearly written in black and white, clearly stating that that is not so. With that belief, Fundamentalists take extreme exception to much of what the Catholic Church is based upon-- they do not believe in the sacraments, even the Eucharist and confession are scorned. Nothing past the act of being "saved" is considered relevant.
As is written in Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." This is only one passage which is given to mean that one's actions are indeed relevant. What is the will of God? One can begin that answer with the Commandments. One can continue answering by recalling the words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In those words alone one cannot deny the importance of how one lives one's life. Those who have given themselves to the Catholic Church, either as its leaders or followers, know this. And one need look no further than the eighth Beatitude to understand. The question you can ask yourself is are you a Fundamentalist, or are you a true Christian?
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19 Comments
Post a Commentes, it is true what many of my Protestant friends say. The term Catholic Church does translate to "Universal Church". But it DOES NOT translate to Universal Churches. I believe that Christ founded one Church, on one leader, for all people, for all time. I pray often, just as Jesus did, that we become one. One in the Church founded by Christ, not in any church founded by man. Man cannot found a "church" and consider it part of the Universal Church, especially "churches" that do not submit to the Universal Church founded by Christ. Just because I call myself a millionaire does not make me one. Just because an organization founded by man calls itself a "church" does not make it one. Christ founded ONE Church for ALL mankind.
Allah bless all of you, for me Christians are bad as what i and ghandi observed. During my stay in Cotabato City, Philippines, the Couples For Christ, an organization within the catholic church has made me changed the way i look at them. They show a greatest love not only within their brethren but to us muslims feel their love when they gave us new and beautiful homes thru Gawad Kalinga Projects that changes everything to us even our dignity changed. So it started that my brothers and sisters in Allah love the Christians, we are hoping that those who are criticizing the catholic, please stop it instead follow their good doings by loving everyone. God bless
A church does not save you. Whether it be the "oldest" church (the Catholic Church) or a "traditional" church (Quaker or Presbyterian).
Faith in the atoning work of Christ saves you! All physical churches are made up of a variety of people...The TRUE CHURCH is the actual body of Believers...from all the man-made 'Churches', who actually have been Born-Again of the Spirit of God! The ONLY Christian Church is those who have been Born Again through their trust in the atonement of Christ.
if you read up no your history the catholic church has had more people murdered than any radical or extremist group to date
the catholic church isnt the true church they dont follow the sabbath or any holy days they follow their traditions not GODS look at the 23rd chapter of leviticus and tell me if they follow GODS WORD or many other churches 1thessalonians 5:21 says prove all things!!! hold fast that which is good
Christianity is known as a "religion", but it isn't a religion, it is a having a personal, intimate, eternal relationship with God our creator through His Son, Jesus Christ. This relationship with God is not just for a specific religion or denomination - it is for ALL WHO BELIEVE (John 3:16) that Jesus is the Messiah, our Savior, who died on the cross and washed away our sin, who rose to new life where He opened the way for others to follow. Jesus didn't come to earth to start a new religion. Jesus came to show us the way to the Father (John 14:6). Because we are all born with a sin nature (obvious in the world today, right?), we can't make it on our own, we need Jesus! Know this ... satan's lies and deceptions always bring confusion, division, and pride - his #1 goal is making sure we don't know God (John 10:10). Satan wants us to believe that we can only be saved through our religion, but faith in our religion in itself can't save us - only our faith in Jesus Christ. Open your
So many people have come out of the Catholic Church and are attending Protestant and non-denominational churches, so I know that they would definitely not agree with this article. I attend a non-denominational church and there are many former Catholics there. We need to remember one thing though. In heaven there will be no denominations. We will have all gotten there the same way, and that is through faith in Christ. So many people make such a big deal out of denominations. That's not going to save you. Jesus is the only way to heaven.
I have a great amount of love and respect for Catholic friends just as I do for my friends of other religions. But, Catholicism is indeed a major departure from Christianity. Jesus said nobody comes to the Father but by Him -- not by a priest, bishop, cardinal, or pope. Interposing a mock-vicar between people and God is not only cult-like and controlling, but it is satanic and the foundation of extortion such as the prostitution of salvation and the blood of Christ through the selling of indulgences making Jesus to die for the love of sin, to purchase licenses for sin without penalty, to purchase salvation for the criminally rich and damnation for the poor who despair of ability to pay for no fault of their own. Such heinous doctrine places man under man rather than man under God, and as power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, I sometimes believe it is common for man to become infinitely corrupt without any awareness of such corruption. And what we need in such a si
Why do so many Catholics pray to the Saints and confess to a priest, when Jesus is meant to be the High Priest for all mankind. My purity in Christ's sacrifice is not dependent upon my confession to man, or my prayers to dead human beings. Just because the Catholic church canonizes somebody (which by definition, means to GLORIFY them) for being light and salt in the world (which is WORLDLY glory, not lasting blessing from God), we should make them our intercessors?? I think Christ would say that is idolatry. And why the Rosary? Prayer to the virgin Mary? Why? She is not God, nor Christ, but chosen, JUST as you and I are chosen to do our work in the BODY of Christ in this current time we have been appointed. Mary's was unique, yes, but her duty was to God, and we should all follow her example and submit to God's will and pray to HIM only, as she did.
the vatican today has strayed so far from the gospel...
Pope Benedict XVI:
"Whoever seeks peace and the good of the community with a pure conscience, and keeps alive the desire for the transcendent, will be saved even if he lacks biblical faith."
that is why i dont believe the Catholic faith and Christian faith is the same thing. though i could go in depth with definitions of Christianity and other stuff, maybe that's for another article. nicely written, though.