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 813–822)
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. 5:23–32). 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 Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.
The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829)
By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t 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. 7:21–23).
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. 28:19–20, Rev. 5:9–10, CCC 830–856)
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. 28:19–20).
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 Ignatius’s time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.
The Church Is Apostolic (Eph. 2:19–20, CCC 857–865)
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, Mary’s 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
"Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine."
That's pretty loose talk, NYer. Doctrine has certainly changed; dogma hasn't at base. Words are important as the sorry history of The Church demonstrates. Its comments like the above which can box the Latin Church into posityions and places it doesn't need to be.
You know, all this theological debate is fine, as far as it goes- but do you know that right now, all over the Middle East, muslims are being saved because they are having dreams? Jesus is revealing Himself to them sovereignly, without ANYONE preaching to them and personally leading them through a prayer or ceremony. I imagine that they know about Him by some secondary knowledge, otherwise how would they know Who He is, but there are numerous testimonies of these 'dream salvations' coming out of that region and making their way to missionary organizations.
Yes, I know- it messes with my theology too. But it's apparently happening.
I don't comment too much on Catholic posts unless you folks reach the outer limits. This is one of those cases.
Jesus prayed that God would keep his Church in His, (the Father's) name. Church of God
Never in scripture is the Church referred to as "Catholic". The Apostles referred to themselves as "The Church of God". Only once is the Church referred to as "The Church of Christ", [Romans 16:16].....but Christ is the head of the Church, [Colossians 1:18]....and Christ is also God, [John 1:1].
The name Christian is used only 3 times in scripture, [Acts 11:26], [Acts 26:28] and [1 Peter 4:16].
Well into the writings of the Early Church Fathers they were still referring to themselves as "The Church of God". You can wish and hope as much as you want....but the term "Catholic" is a "Johnny Come Lately".
Maybe you can clear something up for me. I believe the Bible is God’s Word and is infallible. I’m assuming that you believe the same. You also believe that the teachings of the Catholic church are infallible I assume. So, if these teachings come in conflict with each other, how is that rationalized? Two things that are both infallible but can’t be harmonized? They both can’t be right. Let me give one example. The church believes that sins can be forgiven by confession before a priest whereas scripture is quite clear on this: 1 Timothy 2:4 ‘Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.’ So which is infallible?
Why are the Holydays of Obligation different in the U.S. and Europe, for instance? Why aren't they "catholic", as in universal?
The only answer I can come up with is that the established holydays do not fall within the Church doctrine.
IMO, if this is the reasoning, excuse me but it appears to fall flat on it's face.
That an American Catholic is condemned to hell for missing Mass on a "U.S. holyday", while a European Catholic has no obligation to attend Mass the same day goes beyond my ability to logically understand this.