Following the Truth: A Biblical Roadmap To The One, True Church (Catholic or Open)

CatholicLane.com ^ | May 12, 2011 | Gary Zimak

[Salvation]

A Biblical Roadmap To The One, True Church

by Gary Zimak on May 12, 2011

©Heidi Bratton Photography

Teach me, LORD, your way that I may walk in your truth. (Ps 86:11)

Sounds simple, doesn’t it?  I can’t imagine any Christian looking at the above verse and disagreeing with its content.  Essentially, it is a summary of our mission as followers of Christ. But exactly how does the Lord teach us “His way” so that we can “walk in His truth”?  Even though we acknowledge Jesus as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”, we still need a set of guidelines for making moral decisions.

The Bible tells us that “the church” is the guardian of the truth, but why is it that various Christian churches hold such radically different beliefs?  While pledging loyalty to the Bible, many denominations have conflicting teachings on important moral issues such as abortion, birth control, divorce and homosexuality.  Didn’t Psalm 86 state that there is one way which allows us to walk in God’s truth?  Can there actually be multiple conflicting “truths”? 

In reality, the Bible illustrates that there is indeed ONE truth and that there is ONE Church which was established to help us learn and live that truth.  Let’s look at 10 Scripture passages that take us from point “A” (there is one absolute truth) to point “B” (there is one Church that contains the fullness of truth).  Once we arrive at our destination, finding that one, true Church is relatively easy!

1. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth (1 Tm 2:3-4).

According to St. Paul, God wants everyone to be saved and to know THE “truth”.  It sounds good to me, but how can I discover THE “truth”?

2. But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tm 3:15).

A clue!  We are to look to “the Church” to discover the truth…but which one?  There are tens of thousands of Christian churches!

3. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming (Jn 16:13).

There’s that “truth” thing again! This could be another clue.  If (as Jesus promised) the Holy Spirit really guides us to all truth, then conflicting doctrinal beliefs would not be possible.  Doesn’t that make a strong case for a single, authoritative interpreter of the truth?  Could this interpreter possibly be “the Church” referred to as the “pillar and foundation of truth” in 1 Tm 3:15?

4. If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’  If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.  If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven  (Mt 18:15-18).

Jesus gives us a clue about “the Church”.  He points to “the Church” as the ultimate authority for settling moral issues and He gives this Church authority to make binding decisions on earth. That narrows my search down a bit; I need to find a church who can teach authoritatively…

5. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”   (Mt 16:18-19).

Not “churches”, but CHURCH (singular)!  This Church, founded by Christ, is built on the leadership of St. Peter (the first pope), to whom Jesus gives the power to make authoritative decisions on earth.  This could be that Church that I’m searching for, but I still need to look for more clues…

6. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  (Mt 28:18-20).

Let’s see…Just before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He instructed the Apostles to carry on His mission by baptizing and teaching ALL that He has commanded.   This is an unexpected development.  Now I’m looking for a church that presents the teaching of Jesus Christ and also utilizes baptism as a means to become a disciple.  I thought I was getting somewhere, but now I’m not so sure.  Lots of churches baptize their members.  I need to look for more clues…

7. Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit (Jn 3:1-5).

Wait a minute!  Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can achieve salvation “without being born of water and Spirit”.  It sounds like He’s referring to baptism and deeming it to be necessary for our salvation!  Now I’m looking for a church with a common set of beliefs (the “truth”), that is visible, can make authoritative decisions AND teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation.  Our list of potential churches has gotten a lot smaller!

8. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him (Jn 6:48-66).

Huh?  Did Jesus just say that eating His flesh and drinking His blood is necessary for achieving salvation?  This sounds like cannibalism!  He must be speaking figuratively and probably means “spiritual bread”.  Although, if Jesus was speaking figuratively – why would this saying be “hard” and why would He let many of His disciples walk away?  Wouldn’t it make sense that He would call them back, explaining that He wasn’t speaking literally?  In fact, He did just that when the Apostles misunderstood His reference to the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (“How do you not comprehend that I was not speaking to you about bread?”) in Mt 16:11.  Therefore, we must assume that Jesus meant exactly what He said.  If that’s true, how is it possible to actually eat His Body?  There must be a missing piece to this puzzle and it’s definitely worth pursuing, since it sure sounds like Jesus is telling us that it’s necessary for salvation!  Stay tuned…

9. Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you (Lk 22:19-20).

Aha!  Now the words about eating His Body make sense and thankfully it has nothing to do with cannibalism!  Our Lord didn’t say that “this REPRESENTS my Body” or “this SYMBOLIZES my Body”.  He said, “This IS my Body”.   Is there a church that believes that Our Lord’s Body can actually exist under the appearance of bread and that follows His command to “do this in memory of me”?  This sounds like the Catholic Mass…and, come to think of it, the Catholic Church fits all of the other scriptural requirements, but it can’t really be “the Church”, can it?  After all, Catholics believe that they can only be saved by faith AND works.  All Christians know that we are saved by faith alone…

10. See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24).

It doesn’t get much clearer than that.  Could it be that the teaching of the Catholic Church is actually supported by the Bible?  If that’s the case does anything prevent me from recognizing that the Catholic Church is the one, true Church founded by Jesus Christ? 

While there are hundreds of Bible passages that support Catholic doctrine, these 10 are among the best.  If you are Catholic, you can take comfort in the fact that our beliefs are totally in harmony with these verses.  If you are not Catholic, I invite you to compare the teachings of your church to God’s Word contained in these Scripture passages.  I urge you to read them over, meditate upon them and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to “the truth”.  A careful and honest study of Scripture has brought many people into the Catholic Church.

[Country Gal]

Ok - here you go.
1.This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth (1 Tm 2:3-4).

No disputes here. It’s a quantum leap to take this and say “This means the Catholic church”. No such inference is even suggested in this scripture.

2. But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tm 3:15).

Agreed again. Where does it say that the “Catholic Church” is this truth? Any church could say this. There is no evidence here supporting the Catholic position.

3. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming (Jn 16:13).

Agreed. He will guide to all truth. He’s guided me to my faith in a non-Catholic church.

4. If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Mt 18:15-18).

Agreed. Again - no support that “The Church” is “The Catholic Church”. The Church is the body of believers. No denomination is inferred.

5.And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:18-19).

Amen! Peter was the leader of the first church. No inference it that church being the Catholic church.

5. Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit (Jn 3:1-5).

Our church baptizes people almost every Sunday. It occurs once people confess Jesus as Lord.

8. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him (Jn 6:48-66).

Communion is a very important part of our church. We do it every Sunday. In John 16:25 Jesus says “Up until now I’ve spoken to you figuratively. I will now speak to you plainly”. He said this AFTER the Lord’s supper.

If the bread and wine literally become the flesh and blood - AWESOME!!!! Let’s get it to a lab and do some DNA analysis. I’d love to know what color Jesus’ eyes were and just in general, more about what He looked like.

9. en he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you (Lk 22:19-20).

Same answer as #8.

9. See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24).

Wow! I’d sure love to see the Catholics I work with realize that spending half the day on personal phone calls and turning a blind eye to abuse doesn’t speak well of their “works”.

BTW - good luck with the name-calling. That should bring a lot of people into the Kingdom.

[Country Gal]

When did I say “My pastor is better than your pastor...?”

The original article stated that “We are the true Church...” I believe that this was the ultimate “My way is better than your way....” comment

[raygunfan]

your ‘refutation’ attempt was tepid at best , all you did was comment on them, you didnt refute anything....you didnt show any of what was posted to be wrong.

and your ignorance of history is showing....there were no other churches until luther kicked of the deformation.....there was one church, and it was catholic, what in the world do you think luther was breaking from? did he post his 95 points on the wall of ‘good book, jesus and me and scripture makes three’ independent bible only church somewhere?

yes, and i use sarcasm, as the truth of the article hasnt been refuted, you make comments on his points, wow, that is really in depth analysis on your part....come on....lame at best.....

[Country Gal]

In no way is the Catholic position supported in the least in the article. Your “that was lame” comment was expected. It’s really all you have right now.

I support all Christian denominations and want everyone to find their way to Christ. I don’t believe that any one denomination works for everyone. No denomination has a monopoly on the Truth. But when one says “We are the only one”, well, I got to stand up to that.

I’m glad you’ve found peace and strength in the Catholic church. I have found it in a non-Catholic church. We are helping people recover from drug and alcohol addictions, we are feeding hundreds of families in our community through our food pantry, and we are helping people find hope and strength through our divorce care program. We are doing the work of Christ. I believe the Catholic church also does the work of Christ. We’re just not the ones saying “We’re the only source of Truth”, because we know we’re not.

In all humility, blessings to you and your family.

[ottbmare]

It is not the present teaching of the Catholic Church that anyone who is not a Catholic necessarily goes to Hell.

[antisocial]

“Do you know the actual words of absolution?”

Exodus 33:19 would imply that they aren’t necessary.

[Country Gal]

The Gospel is not difficult and should not be made to be so. It doesn’t take a lot of words. It’s beauty is in its simplicity.

What you call “lame” because there aren’t a lot of words to it, is beautiful to those seeking after Him.

(BTW - I didn’t comment immediately on each point of the original article, simply because I knew it would not matter what I said. I would be called “lame” or “stupid”).

May the love of Christ penetrate your heart, and may you come to a deeper love of Him, so that it can’t help but overflow to those around you.

[PetroniusMaximus]

“You do understand the difference between ignorant and stupid? I clearly used the word IGNORANT.”

I was referring to the condescending tone of many Catholic’s arguments, of which, sadly, you have provided a notable example.

++++++++++

“YOU realize that misquoting is also a tactic that leftists and liberals use. This is the second time in the same thread that YOU have done that to me.”

Please, get over yourself! Rephrasing your statement is not misquoting. You’re acting oddly self important, as if your posts are some sort of divine pronouncements to be weighed, studied and quoted with citation.

And additionally, you keep referring to having dicussed the issue at hand with me, “on at least 5 previous occasions”. Congratulations on being so orgazined in you posting as to keep up with every post you have ever made! Quite frankly, I can’t remember ever discussing the issue with you a single time. Not that I deny we have discussed this, but I have posted too many times to remember every individal thread.

I will tell you this however, If we did discuss it in the past, you did not provide me a satisfactory answer as to the basis of claimed Catholic authority. If you did, I would no longer be using the argument. As to where you have provided a satisfactory answer on this thread... I will take that up in another post.

[verga]

“Pay attention - I should only have to say this once”....

Yet another use of sarcasm to support the Catholic position

Serious question here.How many times exactly should a Catholic have to explain the basis for a Catholic belief to a non catholic?

Now how about acknowledging the point I made about the tabernacle containing the body, blood, soul, and divinity of God/ Jesus?

[PetroniusMaximus]

“And were you aware that in some of the early fathers’s writings that the apostles were transported miraculously to Mary’s bedside as she died?”

What bearing would that have on her novelty elevation to a status of a prayer-answering demigoddess in Catholic theology?

[PetroniusMaximus]

“No it will be your local school district or Protestant church.”

No, it will be any church that preaches the message of the Bible without addition or subtraction.

[verga]

Please, get over yourself! Rephrasing your statement is not misquoting.

It is exactly one of two things, either misquoting or lying. Words mean things and there is a huge difference between ignorant and stupid. Ignorant is saying that Catholics worship statues etc.., Stupid is repeating it after the Catholic belief/ position has been explained and clarified to you.

You’re acting oddly self important, as if your posts are some sort of divine pronouncements to be weighed, studied and quoted with citation.

No I am acting justifiably impatient with having to explain the same things over and over to people that will not even take the time to think about the Catholic position. My post are no where near divine pronouncements, but each and everyone of them is completely in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church which has divine origins.

[Country Gal]

Ok - I find it interesting that I’m continuously being told to respond to comments, yet no one responds to mine other than “that was lame”. But, if you insist on this....

I’ve never heard of the position of the tabernacle before, so your insinuation of “how many times must we explain this...” is unfounded. This is the first I’ve ever heard of it. It’s not located in the scriptures and is obviously something only Catholics know about.

People seem to be bowing in whatever direction the statue that they are bowing to is at.

Please respond to my comments about how the Lord’s anger rages at those who bow to idols throughout the Old Testament. I can give you verses if you want, although I’m sure they will be called “lame”.

But if you want them, I’ll give them to you. Be warned - there are a lot!

[PetroniusMaximus]

“It is exactly one of two things, either misquoting or lying.”

Wrong. To rephrase someone’s statement can clarify the original statement.

+++++++++

“Ignorant is saying that Catholics worship statues etc.., Stupid is repeating it after the Catholic belief/ position has been explained and clarified to you.”

Unless Catholics are either:
1. Misinformed about their own practice.
2. Deceitful about the exact nature of their practice.

+++++++++

“”No I am acting justifiably impatient...”

No one is requiring you to be here. You are participating of your own free will. If you are feeling impatient then blame yourself.

+++++++++++

“... each and everyone of them is completely in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church which has divine origins.”

Each and every one? Completely in line?

Come on!!! Get off your high horse!

[Country Gal]

And if it’s something you truly believe and hold to be dear, you should want to talk about it as many times as needed for someone to understand.

Simply stated, the fruits of the Spirit are:
love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

You can find this in Galatians 5:22-23.

[Salvation]

You are quoting from the Old Testament.

Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant in the New Covenant of his Word.

I will pray for you on your last day of life.

[verga]

Please respond to my comments about how the Lord’s anger rages at those who bow to idols throughout the Old Testament. I can give you verses if you want, although I’m sure they will be called “lame”.

I have never "bowed to a statue, I have however genuflected before the tabernacle that contains the Body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Speaking of the OT can you explain why God directed the people of Israel to create and look on the Bronze serpent in Numbers 21 4-9.

[verga]

“It is exactly one of two things, either misquoting or lying.”

Wrong. To rephrase someone’s statement can clarify the original statement.

When you change the meaning it is not rephrasing (That would be you being on a high horse) +++++++++ “Ignorant is saying that Catholics worship statues etc.., Stupid is repeating it after the Catholic belief/ position has been explained and clarified to you.”

Unless Catholics are either: 1. Misinformed about their own practice. 2. Deceitful about the exact nature of their practice.

SIGH! Please Go look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church. +++++++++ “”No I am acting justifiably impatient...”

No one is requiring you to be here. You are participating of your own free will. If you are feeling impatient then blame yourself.

No I prefer to place the blame right where it belongs, on the willfully ignorant who refuse to even look at legitimate source material.

+++++++++++ “... each and everyone of them is completely in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church which has divine origins.”

Each and every one? Completely in line? Come on!!! Get off your high horse!

Prove me wrong. So far you have offered nothing of substance to refute a single claim I have made. And I am sitting on a normal size chair, I am not fond of high horses, it is to easy to fall off and look foolish (Hint Hint Hint)

[Country Gal]

I was HOPING you'd ask that! It's not wrong to create art. The problem is bowing to it. The Isrealites were never directed to bow to the bronze serpent, nor to the Ark! Where are the tabernacles in these photos located? (BTW - I already commented about the blood and body being symbolic. Jesus said he had been speaking figuratively in John 16:25. Can we agree on this?)

[PetroniusMaximus]

“When you change the meaning it is not rephrasing”

You are grasping at straws. The two words you are quibbling about can have the SAME meaning...

Ignorant: “resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence”

Stupid: “lacking intelligence or reason”

-Merriam Websters

+++++++++++++++

SIGH! Please Go look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

As if that is the UNBIASED final authority!!!

That’s like asking the Soviet Ministry of Propaganda to list out the deficiencies of Marxism/Leninism. I’m sure the Catechism of the Catholic Church isn’t going to say “Catholics bowing and praying to Mary are engaging in idol worship”.

+++++++++++++++

“No I prefer to place the blame right where it belongs, on the willfully ignorant who refuse to even look at legitimate source material.”

Your call.

+++++++++++++++

“Prove me wrong.”

You claim that, “... each and everyone of them [your posts] is completely in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church which has divine origins.” is beyond laughable.

Does the Pope know that you are also infallible? He might want to check with you before he speaks of matter of faith and morals.