will someone explain this...

to me. I have been reading many posts by Catholics..that the only 'true' church is the catholic church. Now, does this mean the denomination of the catholic church? and if that is yes..would that not mean it is a cult...cause all cults say they are the only true church. IF they mean..catholic as in universal..well, I even question that. AND if the catholic church is the only ones with true believers...I am in trouble. I am non denominational, but I have asked Jesus into my heart, and I am baptized and I love and serve Jesus. SOMEONE help!

Pretty much every denomination feels that they are the only "true church"
Do you think that our God, A God of Love would feel the same? No [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] way! Think about it.

GOD: "I love you all and sent my Son to die fall all of you, but you didn't join my ____________ church. So... see ya"

Do you see how ridiculous that sounds? I can't stand how each denomination makes their own exclusive claim on God, because that may be the very motive God may have to spew them out.

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Homebound. I agree. I have always said Jesus didn't die for a denomination. BUT we have them on here saying they are the only way. Look at Waco! Look at a few other ones Jim Jones...they claimed they were the only way too. I find it ironic that the Catholic church would do that. Am I saying they are a cult? NO! Not by any means. BUT to say to be a true Christian, you have to be in the one true church..that is pretty close!

I too agree that it is pretty ridiculous how people claim exclusive rights to the Lord's church.. His body, His flesh and His bones..

It simply exemplifies the ignorance (and in some cases, arrogance) within Christendom as to what the church of God actually is..

Two thousand years in the making, and it still remains a mystery to many folks.. especially those who think that their church is it..

Not only this.. but some denominations believe and teach that they can add members to the Lord's church, the body of Christ, by baptizing them.

Although the LORD sets each member of His own body into place as it pleases Him.. as He baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

[bible]1 Corinthians 12:13[/bible]

That's the truth of scripture.. some plant, some water.. but God gives the increase..

How frustrating.

Well, you're not in trouble. Start with what Jesus said--

Mark 16:16
He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Luke 7:50
And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

John 3:17
For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

John 10:3
Even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and Ilay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

(Even though this likely refers to Jews and Gentiles, it would even more mean that He wanted Catholics and Protestants to consider each other part of the flock.)

And Peter, who the Catholics consider their founder...

Acts 2:21
AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.

To say that the Catholic church is a cult because they think they're right is inductive reasoning (and extreme)....e.g., dog has burs on his fur; burs grow in the woods, therefore dog grew up in the woods.

But you have a good point.

Many decent churches would fit into cult definitions. Encouragement of self-denial, ritual, extreme devotion to a set of precepts, grouping of people with the same beliefs...

The dividing lines for cults are so blurry... but I think that intimidation about leaving, or physical opposition to leaving, is often what makes someone suddenly realize they were in a cult.

God knows each heart. I'm not even sure that there weren't individual saved souls among the Branch Davidians and the People's Temple. And there might be unsaved souls among the great preachers of our time. God set the rules. Trust His words, instead of what people say.

I am coming to the conclusion that questions like this one is almost impossible to answer in a forum such as this.
First of all, you would have to understand Catholic teaching on this, and it is not a black and white answer. It is pretty darned complex and I say this as a 40 year veteran teaching the Catholic faith. Even in this computer age, everything does not come in an instant package.
Second, and I do not want to offend anyone, there are many Catholics in these forums who might give you wrong answers. Many have not had solid teaching
And along with that, there is the fact that there are many here, the EO's and others who believe like we do in most things and whose history goes straight back to the Apostles.
By the way, Catholics are not a denomination.
Lastly, when you ask a question like this, every sort of non-Catholic tends to jump in to answer your question. A few have very good knowledge of the Catholic Church. California Josiah is a tremendous teacher. There are a few others.
However, there are 2 or 3 who don't know beans and just keep repeating the same stuff over and over and love to post outrageous stuff they dig up from "Catholic" websites. And then all sorts of others in between with little knowledge of what we believe but they do think they know. They will try to answer your questions but they are flat out unreliable.

Thank you for saying we are not a cult. I wouldn't have bothered to post here if you had said we were.

There are better ways than these forums to get answers like the one you asked but I would do it on a one on one basis with a good Catholic teacher and not on line.

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Dont sweat it, keep your heart where it is. This is a case about the messenger thinking He's in control of the message. Christ and the Apostles said this heresy was beginning to happen in their day. (that the succession I see)

You already know that faith come by hearing, no mention of tradition... (well just read this again) (NLT)

Salvation Is for Everyone
Rom 10:5For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.*
6 But the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to find Christ and bring him down to help you).
7 And it says, "You don't need to go to the place of the dead" (to bring Christ back to life again).

(If you dont need to go anywhere between Heaven and Hell, you dont need to come to my church and I dont have to come to your church)



8 Salvation that comes from trusting Christ-which is the message we preach-is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart."*
9For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
11 As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed.*"
(whoop there it is)

12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They all have the same Lord, who generously gives his riches to all who ask for them.
(To know what the Jews rejected is to know what we need to accepted. After studying with Catholic lately I am sure that The Catholic Church have added to the truth or these texts are all lies)

13 For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."*
14But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"*
16But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, "Lord, who has believed our message?"*
17 Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news-the Good News about Christ.
18But what about the Jews? Have they actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

(Ask the Catholic Church if they teach that same message that the Jews heard or does a Jew have to be Catholic ?)


"The message of God's creation has gone out to everyone,
and its words to all the world."*


19But did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God had said,


"I will rouse your jealousy by blessing other nations.
I will make you angry by blessing the foolish Gentiles."*


20And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God:


"I was found by people
who were not looking for me.
I showed myself to those
who were not asking for me."*


21But regarding Israel, God said,


"All day long I opened my arms to them,
but they kept disobeying me and arguing with me."*



In peace
CRIBSTYL

I rest my case.

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They base their premise on the reasoning that the early church fathers were in their church who knew the Apostles.

Yet, Peter warned his very own congregations, that after he was gone, that in their midst there would be false teachers secretly introducing corrupt teachings.

2 Peter 2:1 niv

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves."

Most of the Epistles were dealing with false teachings that were going on when the Apostles were yet alive. How much more so? After they were gone?

Petersaid that they would secretly introduce heresies. Done in secret. Not openly detected. The only way to expose them is to have the standard of what the Written Word of God says as the basis to check and prove introduced traditions. Something that the Catholic church opposed.

Since most of those in the congregation did not have the written Word to check what they were told, it took years before the means was made available to them.

The Catholic church's traditions which were introduced, Peter said, was to be questioned by the congregations. For, Peter's warning was written to his congregations!

Paul had a similar command...

1 Thessalonians 5:21

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

When the hierarchy of any church is to be the one to decide what all are to believe? How can you prove all things? By what means?

The Written Word of God!

It took many years of unquestioned teachings. In the mean time, the hierarchy attacked the few men that were knowledgeable enough to read the Bible for themselves......

Then the Reformation came. Both good and bad came out of it. But, at least for those who desired truth, good was being offered that was denied them prior to this movement.

The Catholic church decries its loss of having a monopoly over the minds of believers because they claim that the Reformation caused many splits.

Yet? Those led of the Spirit are now FREE to find truth that the Catholic church denies them. Those who remain carnal? They are now they are free to find some wrong way of following Christ. One that at least feels good to their particular leanings of their flesh.

The one advantage is that those who are truly Spirit led are now free to worship in Truth as the Spirit leads. Those who still follow the desires of their flesh? They are free to follow after false teachings that suite them.

Before? When there was only one hierarchy to follow? Everyone was oppressed by what a select few determined what everyone was to think. The carnal (unless this teaching appealed to their flesh) were oppressed by being forced to submit to what did not please their flesh. And, those out to prove all things, were oppressed (and sometimes killed for exposing error in the church's teachings).

I like it better this way. Everyone is free to succeed, or to fail. Those who are Spirit led find truth. Those who are led by their emotions find what they reap.

2 Timothy 4:3 (New International Version)

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

That wasprophecy. Stating that there would be in the future no one universal church hierarchy over all believers! It says that believers would gather to themselves a great number of teachers to tell them what they want to hear. Paul was saying in effect, that the concept of a one Church over all was doomed to fail to keep it that way.

Grace and peace, GeneZ

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