Why do people deny that the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus when even secular history books say so?

Question

I know that someone is going to say, "but the Church that Jesus founded wasn't called the Catholic Church."

But, it wasn't called the "Baptist Church", or the "Pentecostal Church" or the "Presbyterian Church" or the "Lutheran Church" or the "Methodist Church" or the "Seventh Day Adventist Church" or the "Episcopalian Church" or the "Anglican Church", etc, either.

In the bible, the Church was called simply "The Church"

Catholic means "universal" which is what "The Church" has always been. So the name "Catholic Church".

Most people just go by what someone told them and assume that that person knew what they were talking about, or they read something in a novel of fiction and assume that it's true.

Why can't people actually do some research in history books for themselves to see how old the Catholic Church is and who actually founded it? A simple process of elimination in looking at the history of all the other Christian congregations will show that most have modern day founders.

Protestants who sincerely study a lot of history and who read the writings of the early Christians usually convert to Catholicism even when they start out trying to prove the Catholic Church wrong. This is because they soon find out that the early Christians were Catholic.

P.S.
The Catholic Church is also a "Church of God". It was the first.

Answer 1

Yes it is the original church, set forth at the last supper as was the instituting of the Eucharist. The Catholic Church existed before Constantine, it was just underground.

I'm a convert from protestantism because I did my research, I studied whatever I could and found that the Roman Catholic Church IS the true Church. A great book is Scott Hahn's "The Lamb's Supper". It's about his conversion to Catholicism after being a leading scholar in the protestant world and it also touches the basis of the Catholic faith in the Eucharist.

RE: Memorized prayer - it's a form of meditating on the Word and Life of Christ, as in the Rosary which is a meditation on the life of Christ. It is beautiful to come to the church where we are able to together recite the prayer together. We also have vocal prayers where we do spontaneous prayers, though not at Mass - usually during prayer sessions/vigils, etc. as in the Charismatic prayer groups. We also do contemplative prayer where we meditate and clear our minds to free ourselves to listen and hear him - as found at the Blessed Sacrament. Prayer is integral to the faith in all it's forms - we don't relegate it to merely one form. The Catholic faith is dedicated to listening and doing the will of God.

Sorry, but you're preaching to the choir here - but hopefully, others will see your question and start to read, and learn the truth about the Catholic faith.

Answer 2

You know, I answered this question for you a while back didn't I? Why do you ask again? Don't you recognize the truths contained in God's Word?

The true church of God is made up of every born again believer. It doesn't have some denominational sign over it. When you get to Heaven there isn't going to be a Catholic section and a Baptist section and a Methodist section.

When you read the book of Acts or any of the epistles you don't see the word Catholic anywhere or any of those other names do you? You see local churches that are only identified by the area they exist in.

The Roman Catholic church isn't like some "special" church that somehow has God's stamp of approval on it and all of the other congregations in this world fall in a distant second at best. In the congregations of the Roman Catholic church there are "wheat" and "tares" just like in every other congregation.

When Jesus comes again the wheat will be gathered in and the tares will be burned up. As to looking at history books, why would I want to look at something outside of viewing it through the lens of Scripture?

Do you know that your posts here cause strife and division and they reek of the sin of the Devil, namely religious pride? Repent in the name of Jesus lest you find out in an all too real manner why the Holy Spirit moved James to include this passage in Scripture.

James 3:1 My brothers, let not many become teachers, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a mature man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Consider that we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4 Consider also the ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a small member and it boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. Thus the tongue is set among our members, as that which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

Answer 3

What is now the "catholic" church came out of the apostacy of the 4-5 centuries and was established in 611 AD. The church of the Bible is not the "catholic" church, proven by the fact that so many of their doctrines cannot be found in the Bible, and some are outright condemned (1 Timothy 4:1-4, for instance).

The church in the Bible is called "the way" (Acts 9:2), "the church of the firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23), "the church of Christ" (Romans 16:16), "the church of God" (Acts 20:28); churches in the Bible were also called by their location (churches in Galatia, church at Jerusalem, etc). If you're looking for the church of the Bible, start with a name from the Bible, and then look for practices from the Bible!

Answer 4

Catholic church was founded by the Romans in 1050 A.D. and it was the Roman Catholic Church, the Protestants formed because they 'protested' the Roman government intervention. The Romans knew they were no match for the Christian faith, so they wanted to have control over the situation.

In all this catholic vs protestant, etc, it is not right to bicker over all these various 'religions.' All these religions are birthed from Christianity, which is that Jesus Christ is God in human form, that he was sent as God's gift to die for our sins, and that he died and rose again. The only time doctrine is false is when it steers differently from these facts.
Most denominations have various rituals and beliefs that fall outside of the Bible, so one must read the Bible, then go with the denomination that best fits them, but always remembering to use the Bible as the main standard to test the doctrine.
No one group crucified Jesus, Jesus was crucified by man's sin.

Answer 5

Anyone who takes the time and makes the effort to actually learn what the Catholic church teaches, and on what it bases those teachings, would shortly realize that God intends for them, and everyone, to be Catholic.

Regarding the perceived corruption in the church:

The church has struggled with corruption ever since Judas. At various times throughout history, things were more corrupt and less corrupt.

In spite of this, at no time has anyone ever managed to insert false doctrine into the church.
We have God's promise (in the bible) on that.

Jesus remains at the head of the church. The Holy Spirit remains as the official advocate.

God allows us to work out our own problems with corruption. This too will pass.

Unlike God, priests, bishops, and popes aren't perfect. They're sinners, just like the rest of us.

For all the non-Catholics out there, a question: Where in the bible does it plainly say that the bible is the only authority?

Answer: It doesn't!

Why do non-Catholics continue to maintain that all God's truth can be found only in scripture, especially when most people can't even understand much of it?

Here's a quote from scripture for you, specifically about the one church that Jesus personally founded, the Catholic church:

1Ti 3:13 For they that have ministered well shall purchase to themselves a good degree and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 3:14 These things I write to thee, hoping that I shall come to thee shortly.
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH.

Answer 6

You raise some excellent points here, and there are a lot of good things about your church, especially since they look to helping other people.

But, although the name "Catholic" does mean universal, that is the name that the Roman Catholic church adopted as their name. Just as many Protestant denomination names have special significance as well.

I've met many people who have converted to Catholicism, but also have met people, who have converted FROM Catholicism, such as my brother in law who is now a minister in a Protestant denomination.

Each person must decide what church works best for them. Some people need the rituals of the Catholic church for their relationship with God. For me, I prefer a church where a minister can marry and prefer to pray directly to God through a simple prayer instead of through a memorized prayer.

Answer 7

First, Jesus did not found a church - He was dead before it was formed. Second, the Catholic Church that we know today can only trace its' history back to around the fourth century. It was not a descendant from Jesus or the apostles, but rather the product of weak Christians and pagan influence.

Since it was asked for, here it a text that says the Catholic Church's view on scripture and tradition is wrong:

"'And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.' He said to them, 'All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.'" (Mark 7:7 - 9 NKJV)

Not all points of revelation have to be in the Bible, but all revelation must not contradict the Bible; if it contradicts, God's kingdom would fail.

"Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he said to them, "Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue." (Matthew 12:25 NCV)

Answer 8

Maybe because the Catholic Church is so corrupt as to place a Cardinal Archbishop like Bernard Cardinal Law in a Bascilica in Rome, a high place of honor, even though he hide and covered up the sexually abusive priests who preyed on innocent children.

Or maybe they just don't like how the Catholic Church treats people in general!

Answer 9

Tlkhe Catholic Church was founded by Constitine three hundred years after Jesus' death. The church that Jesus founded did not have any Pope, saints, statutes, Cardinals, Bishops and did not resemble the Catholic Church in any way

Answer 10

There was actually a "church" mentioned in the Bible?

'scuse my ignorance on Christianity, but weren'tthe early eras of the Catholic Church a WEE bit corrupted from the tax/power-hungry popes? They sure didn't seem nice...with all that threatening by the word of God should you disobey me, king.

Did that make sense?

Answer 11

Because if they admitted that Jesus founded what would later be called the Catholic Church, that would say that their church was false. No one is going to admit they are wrong with out giving up a fight(unless they are dumb...that's another story.) I believe that they know that they are wrong, they just don't want to admit it. Historical truth, and the real truth, contradicts many claims.

Oh, by the way...I love other Christians, I just don't agree with everything that you have to say.