Bluemoon said:
Just a generalization because there are many churches out there? I've been too many and after time I see the teachings start to change. So again how would we know what is the right church, if the church is the answer?
At least we have a set and solid doctrine. At Vatican II the Church IMPROVED a lot. Before this we were saying there was no salvation outside the church. Since the 1960's we have improved on our doctrine on ecuminsm. We now encourage the fellowship of our brother's and sister's in Christ. We our now allowed to attend a Protestant church. But we are to be careful of what they teach. Not to say that what the protestant church teaches is wrong, only that some go against the Church.
To answer you're question, read the Bible carefully. In Acts and the epistles you see an Orthodox (Catholic) view forming in the books. For one, we know from Paul that women are not to teach in Church (1 Corinthians 14:34). Then in Romans we see that Paul commends Sister Phoebe on her works in the church (Romans 16:1-2). Many take Romans 16:1-2 to mean that women can teach, but that would go against the bible. So if women cannot teach or speak in church and Paul commends Phoebe for her works within the Church and helping the elders what could she be? Sister Pheose perfectly fits the perameters of a nun.
We are the one true church because we are the Church started by Peter himself, who in turn was given power from Jesus to "bind and loose". I have nothing against the Protestant church but a few doctrines are misleading. For one, Sola Scriptura. Paul was a stark advocate for doctrines. Take for instance Titus 2:7 for one. In this verse Paul states that you should show yourself in a good pattern, including doctrine. The Bible is not doctrine it is the word, the Bible, scripture. Doctrine is the teachings on the word. To tell Titus, a student of Paul, show good doctrines, he must have a strong view on teachings. The theory of Sola Scriptura is never found in the bible. Also sola fide is not real and contradicts the bible. Martin Luther had a bone of contention with the works doctrine he felt there were none involved in salvation. The church teaches directly against the notion of Sola Fide, Martin Luther said they were wrong. The Catholic church has a set doctrine they teach. On the other hand protestant denominations (over 1000 of them) have thens of thousands of different doctrines. How can Catholicism not be the original and one true church when they never contradict each other?
2 Corinthians 11:3 "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all say the same thing, and that there be not among you divisions; but that ye be perfectly united in the same mind and in the same opinion. For it has been shewn to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of [the house of] Chloe, that there are strifes among you. But I speak of this, that each of you says, *I* am of Paul, and *I* of Apollos, and *I* of Cephas, and *I* of Christ. Is the Christ divided? has Paul been crucified for you? or have ye been baptised unto the name of Paul? I thank God that I have baptised none of you, unless Crispus and Gaius, that no one may say that I have baptised unto my own name. Yes, I baptised also the house of Stephanas; for the rest I know not if I have baptised any other. For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain."
The most Catholics say is I live in this parish or I go to that church. Protestants are Lutheran, Baptist, presbyterian etc. etc. The protestant church is so divisive they are not in unity. The Catholic church is not.
