Replies

"If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hates.

"My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh.

"If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world. Look for the Church that is hated by the world, as Christ was hated by the world.

"Look for the Church which is accused of being behind the times, as Our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned. Look for the Church which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth.

"Look for the Church which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils. Look for the Church which, in seasons of bigotry, men say must be destroyed in the name of God as men crucified Christ and thought they had done a service to God.

"Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because He called Himself the Truth.

"Look for the Church which is rejected by the world as Our Lord was rejected by men.

"Look for the Church which amid the confusion of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its Voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly, it is other-worldly. Since it is other-worldly it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself.

"But only that which is Divine can be infinitely hated and infinitely loved. Therefore the Church is Divine."

-- Archbishop Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen, D.D., "Preface", Radio Replies, Volume I; TAN Books, 1979

If I were not a Catholic, and we were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which the world ignores, a church that has a reputation of telling truth in the most inopportune times and places.

"My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be waiting to find one that believed the Word of GOd alone, rightly dividing the word of truth, and wanting more than anything God's approval as His workers who need not be ashamed before God.

"If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that has no cathedrals, artwork, surrounding beauty, awe in its inspriring stained glass and ceilings covered with the artwork of the heavens.

Look for the Church that has comfortable seating, an podium and a God's Holy Bible open, ready for study. Look for a chalkboard near the podium with lots of fat chalk, so things can be explained for the eyes to see, too.

Look for the Church that has as it's budget a picnic on the grounds. And weekly bible study at different member's houses. Look for collection boxes at the back of the church. And lots of books that can be checked out for edification.

THis church is never going to be wealthy or powerful. In man's eyes. You can't get rich and powerful telling people that Salvation is a free gift of God. And the finished work of Christ is what saves you. And that purgatory doesn't exist and praying for the dead is a waste of time and money. There would be no confessionals, we go straight to GOd with our problems. There would be no priests. Our sins have already been remitted BY THE CROSS, But what this church would have the the Power of the Word of Truth, rightly divided and the commission to spread the Gospel of the Grace of God. Our members would be free of fear and retribution and would not fall prey to doctrines of men and the wiles of Satan. This church exists to praise GOd and spread His Gospel of Grace. I think this is a Church GOd would be very proud of.