Posted on 01/29/2006 5:25:55 AM PST by NYer
It's a stark sentence. Some Catholics even love its shock value, waving the doctrine like a flag in the face of their enemies. Other Catholics flatly refuse to believe it, and claim that this teaching was repudiated by the Second Vatican Council. Both groups are wrong.
Despite what some may think, this dogma is infallible, and all Catholics are required to believe it. This was repeated clearly at Vatican II, which said: "Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation."
At the same time, this dogma was never meant to be a sectarian battle cry, as if only Catholics may go to heaven.
So what is the correct interpretation of this sentence? What does the Catholic Church mean when she proclaims that Outside the Church there is no salvation?
OUTSIDE THE EARTH THERE IS NO LIFE
Saying that the Church is necessary for salvation is like saying that the earth is necessary for human life. Outside the Church there is no salvation, and outside the earth there is no life.
It's true, of course. The earth is our God-given home. If you leave here, you will die.
But if this is so, how do you explain the 445 astronauts who have flown into space and returned safely? If "outside the earth there is no life", how did Neil Armstrong ever walk on the moon?
The answer, of course, is simple: They didn't leave the earth; they just brought it with them. While they slept and walked on the moon, they were eating earth's food and breathing earth's air. Everything they had came from back home.
So when we say "outside the earth there is no life," we are saying that all of the means for survival are found on this planet. And when we say "outside the Church there is no salvation," we mean that all of the means of salvation -- doctrines, sacraments, and so on -- are found here, uncorrupted by error.
Some of these means can exist outside the visible bounds of the Church. For example, Protestants have most of the Bible, along with two of the seven sacraments. Nevertheless, these things are like the food and water on the Space Shuttle: they're life-giving, but they came from a place where they're far richer, more abundant and complete.
WHAT IT ALL MEANS
We may draw several conclusions from this.
First, if a person even suspects that the Church is necessary for salvation, but refuses to act on it before he dies, he will go to hell. As Vatican II stated, "They could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it."
Second, if a person fails to enter or stay in the Church through no fault of his own, he may still be saved. Pope Pius IX said: "By Faith it is to be firmly held that outside the Apostolic Roman Church none can achieve salvation. This is the only ark of salvation. He who does not enter into it will perish in the flood. Nevertheless equally certainly it is to be held that those who suffer from invincible ignorance of the true religion are not for this reason guilty in the eyes of the Lord."
Finally, it's not enough simply to call yourself Catholic. There is nothing magic about registering at a parish. To go to heaven, you have to take advantages of the means offered by the Church. This includes praying often, giving alms to the poor, spreading the Gospel, going to Confession and believing in all of her teachings -- even the hard ones.
Pope John Paul II summed it up best: "People are saved through the Church, they are saved in the Church, but they always are saved by the grace of Christ. . . . This is the authentic meaning of the well-known statement Outside the Church there is no salvation."
Ironic, isn't it? As a former Catholic who still loves and respects the Church and my fellow Catholics, I find myself on occasion having to slap down some dumbass Jack Chick type, only to have some strident RC or Orthodox issue some blanket aspersion on Protestants.
But I still love them. :-)
Christ wrote nothing down; all of his teachings were oral. He established a Church and entrusted it to the Apostles, giving the keys to Peter. That Church has been in existence for 2000 years, guided by the Holy Spirit, who inspired the Gospel writers. Interpretation of Holy Scripture falls to the Magisterium.
My initial response is LOL.
Foot washing! That's what I've forgotten!
They must be really rank by now.
Do you have a source for this?
What, once a month isn't enough?
The Religious Wars.
Many Catholics are unfamiliar with the faith into which they were baptized. Hence, they have no theology on which to base an opinion.
And which church do you belong to?
Excellent point ~ two of the biggest ones too!
lol, you're getting it mixed up with armpit washing. Unless you're French, of course... But I don't remember Jesus saying anything about that. Although He probably has an opinion...
Of course we do! To which church do you belong?
Yes, Holy Spirit baptism especially is kind of important! Tends to change everything. hoho haha heehee
Many of the ex-Catholics are exceedingly knowledgeable in Catholic theology. I think it's the ecclesiastical part that causes the most problems for them (we are speaking of "ex" people here, not "current" Catholics who are all deleriously happy with the way the Church is run.)
"(and for my Calvinist friends, those who Christ has saved with no effort whatsoever on your part).
See y'all there!"
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! Larry, you ought to do trial work...juries would love you!
It's called 'In The Name Of Jesus World Outreach Center'. Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?
We are currently believing God for an opportunity to raise the dead. hehe
There's a Catholic guy I've heard about in Boston who has quite a miracle ministry. I'd like to go check out his services sometime. Our associate pastor is Irish Catholic, he told me about him- we might take a trip up there.
Jesus said his Church would be "the light of the world." He then noted that "a city set on a hill cannot be hid" (Matt. 5:14). This means his Church is a visible organization. It must have characteristics that clearly identify it and that distinguish it from other churches. Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return.
If we wish to locate the Church founded by Jesus, we need to locate the one that has the four chief marks or qualities of his Church. The Church we seek must be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813822)
Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:2332). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.
His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).
Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Churchs official teachersthe pope and the bishops united with himhave never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:1213), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.
The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:2527, Rev. 19:78, CCC 823829)
By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesnt mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:2123).
But the Church itself is holy because it is the source of holiness and is the guardian of the special means of grace Jesus established, the sacraments (cf. Eph. 5:26).
The Church Is Catholic (Matt. 28:1920, Rev. 5:910, CCC 830856)
Jesus Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations" (Matt. 28:1920).
For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28).
Nowadays the Catholic Church is found in every country of the world and is still sending out missionaries to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19).
The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, "the Catholic Church," at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatiuss time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.
The Church Is Apostolic (Eph. 2:1920, CCC 857865)
The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because he appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders. The apostles were the first bishops, and, since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the apostles taught the first Christians in Scripture and oral Tradition (2 Tim. 2:2).
These beliefs include the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the forgiveness of sins through a priest, baptismal regeneration, the existence of purgatory, Marys special role, and much more even the doctrine of apostolic succession itself.
Early Christian writings prove the first Christians were thoroughly Catholic in belief and practice and looked to the successors of the apostles as their leaders. What these first Christians believed is still believed by the Catholic Church. No other Church can make that claim.
Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth
Interesting apologetic. "Outside the Church there is no salvation>"
This certainly isn't a new idea and long pre-dates the Reformation. I didn't realize that it was dogma of the Roman Church, though. I think an excellent theological argument can be made for this proposition but I do think that its a bit presumptious. Orthodox theologians are of two minds about this. Theosis is found within The Church and as a Eucharistic and Liturgical people we are saved in and as members of the Eucharistic Community which is The Church. On the other hand, I suppose I can't see the purpose in denying the power of the Holy Spirit to go whither He will.
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