Question about the One True Church

Jesus said Church, not churches

The Church is the Body of Christ. Those who are His members are Christians. This includes the saints of Heaven, Earth and Purgatory and the unbaptized righteous of Earth. Those who are not His members are schismatics, heretics, the excommunicated, and the damned. Christians are within the Church, it is not the Church who is within Christians: for Christians are under the Invisible Head of Christ and the Visible Head of the Vicar of Christ in the Invisible and Visible Body of Christ. Though the unbaptized righteous are within the Church just as the righteous before Christ's First Coming were Christian, nevertheless we preach the Gospel to them for their greater good and to the glory of God, that they may be baptized and so fully incorporated into Jesus Christ, in who's Life they share, now fully by way of the Sacraments than before without them.

God can work outside the Church in people's lives, but I don't believe He would ever lead them away from the Church. He acts in their lives to bring them into full communion with Himself and His Church.

There is a problem with relying on feelings and experiences, because they can deceive us. We should always seek the truth above all things

Sometimes God leads people in an indirect way... I was baptized Eastern Orthodox, then I felt God "lead me" away from the Sacraments to a non denominational Protestant church, but I see now that's because back then I wasn't ready for the Sacraments. Later on, God clearly lead me back to the Sacraments and to the Catholic Church; and now I'm home. But in all this, it's very important to seek the truth... Jesus told Peter, "you are Peter [the rock] and on this rock I will build My Church". There is only one Church and others have separated from it... God is always calling us to greater unity though.

God bless

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on anything.

If you want my two cents as an ex-Protestant, I started to question the difference between Protestantism and ancient heresies like Novatianism. Really, what's the difference? And then I feared for my soul that I might be a heretic.

Yes, God can do good works through anything, but God saves through the catholic faith alone.

Mea Culpa said:

But there are many Catholic Churches that don't agree with one another as well.

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This is not true.. all Catholics share the same teachings and doctrines. There is one Catholic Church. It is divided into various rites and dioceses and parishes, but it's still one, with one Pope, one set of doctrines and beliefs... the only thing that varies is liturgical practices and devotions, but there's no disagreement about this, - one is not considered better than the other.

The Catholic Church is the Church, - Protestants are imperfectly united to it through their baptism but are not in communion. We receive Christ's Body and Blood in the Eucharist and through this we become His Body on earth. (the Church). Those who do not share Communion with the Church, or the teachings, or Apostolic Succession, are not perfectly united to it. The Church's bishops are successors of the Apostles....this can only be found in the Catholic and also the Orthodox church, but is not present anywhere else. Others broke away from this succession and that's why they don't have the priesthood and the Eucharist.

God bless

I look at it kind of like Israel in the Old Testament
the nation was splir in two, the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel, now both had the choosen people in it, but one was legit and the other was in rebellion, but both had good jews in them

Mea Culpa said:

Hello!

I hope this is the right place to ask this. If not, then I trust the mods will move it to the correct forum. If you do, I apologize in advance!

This question came to mind when I was reading the post about Pope Benedict and why he is Catholic.

I began my journey in the Catholic Church. I was led to worship elsewhere. That isn't a critique of Catholics, but rather how I felt, and still feel, led. That is just a little background info. My best friend is a Catholic.

Is it not possible for God to work outside of the One True Church? Is it not possible for Him to call and use believers who are not in the Catholic Church? Isn't the true universal (church) the body of believers whom He has chosen?

I hope that makes sense. I am just curious. For me, the church is greater then one part of it. The church is His chosen ones, and in truth, He only knows whose hearts are truly His.

Thanks!! God bless my Catholic brothers and sisters, and Happy Easter! Praise God that our Messiah has Risen!

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hmmm, do i think that there are saved christians in Protestant denominations? yes ofcourse
do I think God has called them to be in that denomination... i am not sure, i would say probably not, God wishes for all mankind to be part of the Catholic Church, one Church, visible and unified

Mea Culpa said:

Thanks for the responses, they are exactly what I was looking for.


But there are many Catholic Churches that don't agree with one another as well. So the fact that there are more then one 'church' shouldn't be an issue. My point is that the true universal church encompasses all believers, not just Catholic Church. God's church is the people, not the building.

This has probably been discussed to death, so I am sorry if I missed a thread where this was discussed in the past!!

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If you are referring to the Orthodox and Oriental Church, you are right. We don't agree but that's becuase men are fallen and sinful men who divide the body of Jesus, His Church.

You present a false dichotomy here-- the people and the Church. It's not either it's the people or it's the Church. It's both.

It's also some what of a mystery.

The "Church" is our mother in mystical sense becuase the Church is an institution that is divine and protected by the Holy Spirit to not allow it to fall into doctrinal error.

It's not a mother who doesn't allow her children to be knuckleheads and argue and cause a schism in the family.

That's what the Orthodox and oriental Orthodox Church are... family but arguments over authority and doctrine has caused a schism in the family.

But we don't have to be lost sheep over the schisms and divisions. The Holy Spirit has given a special charism to the papal office. He who sits in the chair of Peter. So that is how we know which church is the one that will not lead us into error.

The popes job is to keep the faith that was handed down to us so long ago by the apostles from error. The promise of Christ and the Holy Spirit will never allow a pope to teach us something that is not true.

This is how we are able to know and choose which Church has it "right."

benedictaoo said:

It's not a mother who doesn't allow her children to be knuckleheads and argue and cause a schism in the family.

That's what the Orthodox and oriental Orthodox Church are... family but arguments over authority and doctrine has caused a schism in the family.

But we don't have to be lost sheep over the schisms and divisions. The Holy Spirit has given a special charism to the papal office. He who sits in the chair of Peter. So that is how we know which church is the one that will not lead us into error.

The popes job is to keep the faith that was handed down to us so long ago by the apostles from error. The promise of Christ and the Holy Spirit will never allow a pope to teach us something that is not true.

This is how we are able to know and choose which Church has it "right."

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Quoted for truth and love.

A blessed and holy Pascha to you dear sister and to all my brothers and sisters here.

Know we are praying for your great Church and for the healing of the problems by which it is beset; the gates of hell will not prevail against it,

peace,

Anglian

A blessed and holy Pascha to you too...

Rhamiel said:

I look at it kind of like Israel in the Old Testament
the nation was splir in two, the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel, now both had the choosen people in it, but one was legit and the other was in rebellion, but both had good jews in them

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Nice analogy

.

LittleLambofJesus said:

Nice analogy

.

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thank you
I am not as up on my biblical history as I should be, were the two kingdoms ever reunited?

MoNiCa4316 said:

This is not true.. all Catholics share the same teachings and doctrines. There is one Catholic Church. It is divided into various rites and dioceses and parishes, but it's still one, with one Pope, one set of doctrines and beliefs... the only thing that varies is liturgical practices and devotions, but there's no disagreement about this, - one is not considered better than the other.

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Well, I've spoken to many melkite catholics and they totally reject many latin doctrines as wrong. So my experience is ther eis real disagreement

Scottish Knight said:

Well, I've spoken to many melkite catholics and they totally reject many latin doctrines as wrong. So my experience is ther eis real disagreement

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Really? Melkite Catholics are in union with Rome and the Papacy, so I wonder if you were not talking to Melkite Orthodox, and not Melkite Catholics.





Jim

JimR-OCDS said:

Really? Melkite Catholics are in union with Rome and the Papacy, so I wonder if you were not talking to Melkite Orthodox, and not Melkite Catholics.





Jim

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they were definately melkite catholics. Went to their services over the whole easter period in Lebanon. Really enjoyed them actually. They also prayed for the pope in their liturgy so definately catholic. That's just been my experience over there

Scottish Knight said:

Well, I've spoken to many melkite catholics and they totally reject many latin doctrines as wrong. So my experience is ther eis real disagreement

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the East and the West have differant ways of explaining the same doctrines
the Latin Rite Church and the Melkite Rite Church are in union with eachother and agree with eachother on matters of doctrine.

now as far as each individual goes, well I am sure you know many Presbyterians who do not agree with everything that their denomination teaches

Scottish Knight said:

they were definately melkite catholics. Went to their services over the whole easter period in Lebanon. Really enjoyed them actually. They also prayed for the pope in their liturgy so definately catholic. That's just been my experience over there

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Then their issues must be individual, not their Church which is in full communion with Rome.

Jim