One Hundred Fifty Reasons I'm Catholic - And You Should Be Too!

http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org ^ | January 23, 2014 | Dave Armstrong

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>Our Lord gave us His Church, a Universal (that is CATHOLIC) Church that has existed since He created it. <<<

The Lord hates bloated, top-heavy bureaucracies; so one can only imagine how much he seethes at the mere mention of the RCC and its history of violence, child abuse, and mockery of his Holy Name and Word.

[Religion Moderator]

Do not make this thread "about" individual Freepers. That is also a form of "making it personal."

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

[CynicalBear]

>> and if was not the true faith it would been relegated to the asp heap of history thousands of years ago.<<

That line of thinking is weak at best. Satan has had his cults and false religions since the beginning of this world and more. Thinking just because it has lasted it’s the true religion you may want to consider how long Satan has been leading astray.

>> The Catholic Church is an ocean in a world full of ponds and puddles – just as we would hope Christ’s Church would be.<<

Wide is the way!

[NKP_Vet]

“Why do you ever say a negative thing about a faith that you are not part of?”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3115093/posts?page=795#795

And your point?

[narses]

So how would a faithful Catholic respond to the calumnies above at 821?

A poster expresses an odius opinion, clearly his opinion. Since we cannot make this about him or his opinion or even his expressed beliefs, no matter how weird or whacko they may be, what is acceptable?

[Religion Moderator]

The substance of your reply was "Our Lord gave us His Church, a Universal (that is CATHOLIC) Church that has existed since He created it."

The rest was making it personal though you could have said "Nothing you said debunks that."

[BlueDragon]

And your point?

uh... is this a game of musical chairs?

[I thought that was silly when I first saw it in grade school, or a pre-school, and I was just a kid, myself]

[Arthur McGowan]

The NT church was not found upon the premise of an assuredly infallible magisterium, but on Scriptural substantiation in word and in power.

If you are correct, the NT Church was founded on something that didn't exist, because not one word of the NT Scriptures was written for years after the Church came into existence. You have it all exactly backwards. It was the Church that produced the Scriptures, used them liturgically, and distinguished between those to be considered inspired and those not. Jesus told the Apostles to spread out through the world, to teach, and to baptize. In other words, to be the Church. The Scriptures they wrote contain not one word from Jesus telling them to write one word.

[Arthur McGowan]

The preposition “to” is irrelevant. Of course Catholics pray TO Mary and other saints. Prayers are addressed TO the saints, just as you can address a letter TO your mother. The address on the envelope tells you precisely nothing about what’s inside the envelope.

What is relevant is: Do they offer Mary or saints the adoration that is due to God alone? The answer is No. Every catechism ever published teaches the distinction between any honor or praise given to saints (dulia) and the adoration given to God (latria).

[Arthur McGowan]

The preposition “to” is irrelevant. Of course Catholics pray TO Mary and other saints. Prayers are addressed TO the saints, just as you can address a letter TO your mother. The address on the envelope tells you precisely nothing about what’s inside the envelope.

What is relevant is: Do they offer Mary or saints the adoration that is due to God alone? The answer is No. Every catechism ever published teaches the distinction between any honor or praise given to saints (dulia) and the adoration given to God (latria).

[BlessedBeGod]

The Lord hates bloated, top-heavy bureaucracies; so one can only imagine how much he seethes at the mere mention of the RCC and its history of violence, child abuse, and mockery of his Holy Name and Word.

Amazing how some people think they can read God's mind, isn't it?

[boatbums]

The Scriptures they wrote contain not one word from Jesus telling them to write one word.

Please consider these:

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. (I Corinthians 14:37)

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. For we write none other things unto you, that what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus. (II Corinthians 1:12-14)

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. (II Corinthians 13:10)

Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. (Galatians 1:20)

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (II Peter 3:1,2)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:3-5)

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. (I John 2:8)

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. (I John 2:12-13)

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (I JOhn 5:13)

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3)

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11)

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; (Rev. 1:19)

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; (Rev. 2:1)

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; (Rev. 2:8)

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; (Rev. 2:12)

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; (Rev. 2:18)

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Rev. 3:1)

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;(Rve. 3:7)

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Rve. 3:14)

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (Rev. 14:13)

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Rev. 19:9)

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Rev. 21:5)

---

Those sure sound like Scriptures Jesus told them to write.

[Arthur McGowan]

Only the passages from Revelation attribute to Jesus a command to write. And all those are in visions.

In his public life on earth, Jesus never mentions writing as a means of transmitting the gospel, only teaching or preaching. That seems odd, if his plan was that ONLY writing was to be used to transmit the gospel.

[Arthur McGowan]

It’s painfully obvious that Jesus intended his teaching to be transmitted ONLY by means of writings, not by a “church.” He NEVER said he was going to found a “church.” NEVER. There is not one passage in any of the four gospels where Jesus speaks of a “church.” He also never spoke of sharing any of his authority with mere men. He never said he would give anyone “the keys of the kingdom.” He never commanded the apostles to do what he did at the Last Supper—i.e., share his body and blood, or eat and drink it. Never. He never said he was going to give anyone the authority to forgive sins. Never.

He DID, however, say many times that he wanted his teaching to be transmitted ONLY in writing. ONLY IN WRITING. Many, many, many times. Here are the many passages in the gospels where he says this:

[xzins]

The Lord hates bloated, top-heavy bureaucracies;

Scripture? I'm not even aware that "bloated bureaucracy" is a term ever used in the bible...or a problem railed about.

We can agree that "bloated bureaucracies" are inefficient and generally negative, but I'm just not aware that the bible addresses is...and that the Lord specifically addresses it.

[mlizzy]

Perhaps if you will shut off the yammering and slanders against the Catholic Church, and really listen in silence to your conscience, you may gain some insight.

Yes, that would be helpful!

My b-i-l, an RC priest/pastor, suggests to me frequently, to encourage all, not just Roman Catholics, to stop by an Adoration Chapel, if only initially for a few minutes of prayer (as it is a beautifully quiet place set aside in this jangled-up world).

http://www.fightingirishthomas.com/2011/12/perpetual-eucharistic-adoration-chapels.html

http://www.acfp2000.com/Chapels/worldmap.htm

[NKP_Vet]

“Historically and psychologically, the most common root cause of obsessions of this type is a guilty conscience. What is it about the existence of the Catholic Church that is such an irritant to your conscience”.

AMEN.

[metmom]

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

[metmom]

dan:The NT church was not found upon the premise of an assuredly infallible magisterium, but on Scriptural substantiation in word and in power.

AM: If you are correct, the NT Church was founded on something that didn't exist, because not one word of the NT Scriptures was written for years after the Church came into existence. You have it all exactly backwards. It was the Church that produced the Scriptures, used them liturgically, and distinguished between those to be considered inspired and those not.

He is correct. Scripture certainly did exist before the RCC came along and claimed to have written it.

Jesus referred to it plenty of times in the Gospels. Paul referred to Scripture in his letters, when talking to Timothy. The Bereans were commended for searching the Scripture daily to see if those things Paul was teaching were so.

And what scripture would that be? What we call the OT.

The Catholic church simply cannot take credit for that. Nor is anyone else accepting their taking credit for the rest of the NT which was written primarily by Jewish people. Claiming they are Catholic retroactively is simply a bid to claim authority over Scripture and it's obvious what's going on there.