What's So Great about Catholicism? (here is the top 10)

Inside Catholic ^ | January 21, 2009 | H. W. Crocker III

[hosepipe]

[ Are we supposed to love God in the same way as Peter, or is Christ’s command to love God different for the Apostles than it is for us? ]

As is historically and obviously easy to see.. humans have very different ideas of what "love" means.. God seems to leave it to the individual what loving God means.. What I think loving God means may not be what you think it means.. Not only with God but with other things..

[Just mythoughts]

Did Christ ever tell us to do only what He does, and not what He did not?

To the masses he spoke in parables for was not given for all to understand... but for US who will, have His private explanation to His disciples. Christ said I have foretold you all things.

Did Christ ever wear blue jeans? Drive a car? Use a computer? Have you?

Christ was so nondescript there had to be one predestined to identify/betray Him to the religious leadership. But there was a 'head piece' some crowned Him with but looks nothing like the above headdress.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: HE is just, and having *salvation*; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Christ was perfect the only born in flesh to have never sinned. Matthew 23:9... you can look that one up.

[Petronski]

Christ was so nondescript there had to be one predestined to identify/betray Him to the religious leadership.

He founded the Catholic Church and the Holy Spirit guides and protects it to this day.

But there was a 'head piece' some crowned Him with but looks nothing like the above headdress.

I am cut to pieces by your rapier-like wit.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: HE is just, and having *salvation*; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Would you like some Scripture about how ornately beautiful God prescribes His Temples be built?

Christ was perfect the only born in flesh to have never sinned. Matthew 23:9... you can look that one up.

I don't need to look up Matthew 23:9 to know it doesn't say that.

[thefrankbaum]

God seems to leave it to the individual what loving God means.. What I think loving God means may not be what you think it means.. Not only with God but with other things..

It seems to me that God has been very explicit in what Love is - 1 Corinithians 13.

[Just mythoughts]

He founded the Catholic Church and the Holy Spirit guides and protects it to this day.

He had somebody pen there are 7 churches, and what He holds against some.

_____________________________________

But there was a 'head piece' some crowned Him with but looks nothing like the above headdress.

I am cut to pieces by your rapier-like wit.

Then you read what you wanted to read as there was nothing funny about the kind of crown the religious/political community placed upon His head.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: HE is just, and having *salvation*; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Would you like some Scripture about how ornately beautiful God prescribes His Temples be built?

You missed the whole point... Christ was 'salvation' before any church became established. The churches are suppose to teach the people the WORD of God from the Beginning, not teach church worship as being the only vehicle to salvation.

John 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15 And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, "Take these things hence; make not My Father's house an house of merchandise."

17 And His disciples remembered that it was written, "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up."

18 Then answered the Jews and said unto Him, "What sign shewest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things?"

19 Jesus answered and said unto them, "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

20 Then said the Jews, "Forty and six years was this Temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days?"

21 But He spake of the Temple of His body.

So yes give me the Scriptures that changed what Christ instructed, as HE did not build up earthly wealth and physical buildings of splendor to represent Himself.

Christ was perfect the only born in flesh to have never sinned. Matthew 23:9... you can look that one up.

I don't need to look up Matthew 23:9 to know it doesn't say that.

Oh so you know what Matthew 23:9 says.

[Petronski]

T...there was nothing funny about the kind of crown the religious/political community placed upon His head.

The crown isn't funny, but your use of it is pedantic and sophist.

You missed the whole point...

No, I simply stand firm refusing your effort to change the subject.

Oh so you know what Matthew 23:9 says.

Yes, and it does not say what you claimed it says. You can look that one up.

[hosepipe]

[ It seems to me that God has been very explicit in what Love is - 1 Corinithians 13. ]

Chapter 13 of ICor is merely comic relief from the important stuff in chapters 12 and 14.. If anything ch 13 sets the bar so high literally no human could ever achieve it.. which is probably "THE" point.. and the point that "I'M" trying to make as well..

Thats not to say some humans fool themselves or lie that they have achieved "it"(that kind of love).. Getting as close as you can to that standard(ch13) would be the message I think.. Christians are not known for being even "nice" to those of another denomination.. loving them is fairly unknown.. but "faked" well.. periodically..

That is, the denominations that even admit they are a denomination.. Some actually think they "ARE" "the church".. and not a denomination of it, at all..

[Just mythoughts]

The subject should always be Christ, and I have not changed that subject.

Now where are those Scriptures instructing buildings of wealth and grandeur in the name of Christ?

[thefrankbaum]

I've never heard Scripture called "comic relief" before. That is a new one on me. But, I do agree we cannot achieve what is defined as love, and I also agree that we are called to strive for that perfection, as we are called to emulate Christ. We can never perfectly imitate Him, but our objective is to come as close as possible. Again, you claimed it was impossible for man to conceive of God - if we cannot conceive of Him, we cannot emulate Him, and thus His charge to us (love Him) is impossible. You're moving the target.

I don't understand where you're whole "denomination" point enters the conversation - ours began regarding "doctrine," and your claim that God doesn't care about doctrine and that terrible things have occurred in the name of doctrine. I countered with examples of "doctrine" which go counter to Revelation (specifically, against the 10 Commandments and the words of Christ), and you really never answered the argument. So, again, I ask you - is Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Latter-day Saints, a prophet of God? An answer to the question is promulgating "doctrine" - granted, I believe the correct answer is doctrine directly revealed to us via Scripture, but it is doctrine nonetheless.

[bdeaner]

However, the Latin-Rite Church largely turned its back on its very best asset when it replaced the Tridentine Mass with a protestant-pleasing vernacular alternative.

Get over it.

[steve86]

Get over several hundred years of precious Catholic tradition? Sure, Mr. protestant-catholic. Good thing our Pope hadn’t “gotten over it”.

[bdeaner]

But this one starts out on the way wrong foot. I would hope that God, His Son, His Spirit, and His plan would be considered somewhat higher on the 'glorious' scale.

But, my friend, the Church IS His Plan. There is no contradiction here.

[Petronski]

The subject should always be Christ, and I have not changed that subject.

More pedantry.

[steve86]

Yet another “Clinical Psychologist” taking swats at real Catholics on FR. I love it! Hey, Quix, come join him!

[bdeaner]

Christ is the standard and He and He alone saves.

Yes, He is, and that is why we should follow Him by participating in the Church He founded. The Catholic Church does not say to follow the Church instead of Christ! On the contrary, it says to follow the Church because it is Christ's. And this is Biblical, my friend. I would be happy to show you in your own Bible.

[Petronski]

Now where are those Scriptures instructing buildings of wealth and grandeur in the name of Christ?

Where is that Scripture that commands sola scriptura?

[Just mythoughts]

Yes, He is, and that is why we should follow Him by participating in the Church He founded. The Catholic Church does not say to follow the Church instead of Christ! On the contrary, it says to follow the Church because it is Christ's. And this is Biblical, my friend. I would be happy to show you in your own Bible.

Ok show me where Christ said my church is the Catholic Church.

[Just mythoughts]

Where is that Scripture that commands sola scriptura?

You are going to have to translate into English.... King James Version if you please..... That way I have the tools to search the meaning of the words use....

[bdeaner]

HE is the path to salvation and it was to be the churches job to teach this gospel NOT make them self that claimed vehicle to salvation.

I think you are mistaken to interpret the Church to be saying that the Church is the vehicle to salvation. I challenge you to find anywhere in Church doctrine where it makes this statement -- official Church doctrine, mind you, in the Catechism, not some Catholic piping off somewhere.

The Catholic Church agrees that Christ is the means to salvation, and that His power to save is open to all, not only to Catholics. However, the Catholic Church is the only Church instituted directly by Christ, and for this reason is the only Church with the promise of infallibility. So, in comparison to any other institution, only the Catholic Church can claim objective truth in its interpretation of the Deposit of Faith, including the Bible. This is the result of the Holy Spirit, and not because of infallible men. On the contrary, in spite of the fallibility of Peter nad His successors, the Holy Spirit continues to instruct the Church infallibly. It is this teaching authority, as well as through the institution of the sacraments (baptism, confession, eucharist, etc), that the Catholic Church holds a special place and for which it has a special grace for guiding the faithful to salvation. This is different than saying the Church is the ONLY means to salvation. You are right that Christ is the only way. Indeed, He is.

[hosepipe]

[ Again, you claimed it was impossible for man to conceive of God - if we cannot conceive of Him, we cannot emulate Him, and thus His charge to us (love Him) is impossible. You're moving the target. ]

What is your conception of a being(God) that can re-model the earth, and create universes, galaxy and solar systems?.. Invent and create other creatures?.. What is he/it?.. Who is he/it?... My thought is whatever conception "you"(or I) have/has misses the mark.. of what we are dealing with..(ICor 2;9)

[ So, again, I ask you - is Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Latter-day Saints, a prophet of God? An answer to the question is promulgating "doctrine" - granted, I believe the correct answer is doctrine directly revealed to us via Scripture, but it is doctrine nonetheless. ]

There are lots of Gods on this planet.. People have been inventing them for Mullen.. That does not occlude the fact their is a God.. Lots of doctrines about "who and what" people think God(s) are.. even judeo-christians GODS..

People get lots if "ideas" and make doctrines.. codify them and form denominations of followers(sheep pens).. (John ch10).. WHO then, is correct/accurate?.. If any are?..

That "IS" why we need the Holy Spirit.. and WHY? Jesus left the Holy Spirit in charge of this planet.. Because people get strange ideas and "conceive" of strange rites and ceremony's(sacraments).. and develop doctrines.. The Jews did/and do as christians did/and do.. People are not too smart as I see it.. Thats WHY? Jesus did not forbid denominations even though he no doubt KNEW they would be some(denominations).. (being GOD).. People gather together in sheep pens as holding "tanks".. UNTIL they can be called out of them.. IF they will come.. (as John ch 10 intones)..

Sheep pens are a good place for christians, Jews, and other God seekers(goat pens) to be(Hindu, bud-dist etc.).. I think "the plan" is beautiful.. and very efficient.. People sorting themselves into pens.. The proper pens for them.. God is very smart..