How can the Roman Catholic Church claim to be the "real" Christians?

Question

Let’s look at the historical development of the early church. I find it interesting that the Catholic Church claims headquarters in Rome with Peter’s chair there when in fact the early church’s original headquarters was in Jerusalem with James as the leader.

Acts 15 records an important issue that came up to the apostles. How were they to deal with Gentiles becoming Christians? Paul and Barnabus begin by sharing their wonderful stories of the conversion of Gentiles. After much discussion Peter gets up to offer his opinion that Gentiles should not have to follow the Law of Moses and so he agrees with Paul and Barnabus. But in the end, it is James who has the last word: When they finished, James spoke up: “Brothers, listen to me” (Acts 15:13). James then explains that Scripture foresaw the Gentiles becoming Christians and so they shouldn’t make them follow the Law of Moses.

From this incident we see that the first Church council did not take place in Rome with Peter as the head, but in Jerusalem with James leading the group. Paul confirms that James was the main leader at the time, for he writes, James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me (Gal 3:9). It was the custom in those times and even to a certain extent in our times to place the most important person first on the list. Peter is placed first when it comes to the list of the twelve original apostles, however, James becomes a believer after the resurrection, and interestingly appears to be the leader, and Paul affirms it by placing his name first on the list. The Catholic Church cannot scripturally make a claim that Peter was the first Pope when the scriptural evidence clearly demonstrates that he was not even the chief apostle.

Not only does the scripture show otherwise, but Paul exercises his right to correct Peter. When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong (Gal 2:11). How dare Paul rebuke the Pope, if indeed he was the Pope! From this passage I see clearly that Paul did not consider Peter “above” him. In fact, in this epistle he says, For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles (Gal 2:8). They saw themselves as “equals” for the apostles in Jerusalem gave Paul the right hand of fellowship.

In speaking of the Pillars of the church, he writes, They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews (Gal 2:9). This is a very important scripture. It shows clearly that every apostle had a limitation to their authority. Their authority was not universal. Paul did not usurp the authority of the apostles in Jerusalem, but he expected them not to usurp his authority over the Gentile churches that he established. This passage proves beyond a reasonable doubt that there was no “universal and total supreme” leader. They ruled where they worked. If they did not work in a certain region, they did not exercise authority in that region. Simple as that!

Aquila, you made my point for me. Catholics are the authors of Christianity? Wouldn't that be Christ, my dear? pardon me, but your false doctrine is showing.

Doug, the RC church did the revising. The RC church revised the savior's words to fit their own desires for centralizing of power. The dangerous heresies that catholicism has put forth through the centuries are proof enough of that. Kiss the pope's ring, if you must.
I bow at jesus' feet, and no other.

Doug, I'd advise you to always rely SOLEY on scripture in these matters.

I haven't said RC's aren't christians. It's the RC church that says that about me!!!
And all Protestants.

Aquila, I just saw you answer another question saying Jesus was homosexual!
I'm sure THAT's not an RC doctrine.

To Granny5, it is about accepting christ as savior. So why does roman catholic doctrine say I'm not a christian? Yes, I'm protestant....you would have imprisoned me for what i said a few centuries ago.

Answer 1

catholics choose to ignore the bible,and live in denial of the facts you present here,which is the truth.their bible says...i quote.
"There is only one true God. He took flesh and became man only once. When man, He founded only one religion and one Church, the Roman Catholic Religion and the Roman Catholic Church.

That Church is the divinely appointed guardian of the writings divinely inspired by God, known as the Bible. This Holy Bible is like no other book, because no other book has God for its principal author.

Nevertheless the Bible is not the foundation of the Church, but the Church is the foundation of the Bible. That is why Catholics need Mother Church as the guardian and interpreter of the Bible.

last time i checked,the old testament was connected to my bible,which is equally as important as the new.with their own words they place the church over the bible.
its absolutley ridiculous to listen to the catholic church traditions.man made traditions.
and yes,its clear that james led the church in jeruselem.

Answer 2

I wouldn't sweat it so much. Catholics believe that all Christians are Christians. They believe in something like 'conscious objector' or something. They also believe that other Christian Churches are true to a degree, for if they were not, then they would cease to exist.

Catholics may be very proud that they have been one of the oldest Christian Churches around, but it is really nothing more than a Yankees fan thinking the Yankees are the best. The Bottom line is that their are many pro-Catholic and Anti-Catholic people out there. But once you sit down and read what Catholics believe about salvation, you will find it to be very open, in that just about anyone can still make it to heaven.

I hope this was helpful.

Answer 3

An excellent question.

A question which needs to be asked and which does not show hate for anyone.

It was in the 600's before anyone claimed the title of Pope during his own life time.

In the 800's there were five equal patriarchs of the church.

The Patriarch of Rome
The Patriarch of Constantinople
The Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Antioch
The Patriarch of Jerusalem

Sometime in the 800s AD these guys started to ex-communicate the others.

And that is the beginning of what today has become known as the Roman Catholic Church.

All of the bad pieces of Roman theology which protestants protests started after 800 AD.

Pastor Art

Answer 4

Are you sure you cut and pasted the right details for this question? I fail to see how any of this supports or refutes whether Catholics are "real" Christians. It's an interesting take on apostolic authority -- incoherent in spots, and completely off base, but interesting nevertheless.

Assuming that you intended to ask the question as stated, backed up with all of those details: Is it your reasoning that if you debunk the fact that Peter was in Rome (a popular theme tonight, did everybody read Loraine Boettner this week?), this somehow means Catholics aren't Christians?

That's news to me. I thought it had to do with whether we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Answer 5

No it's as simple as this... Catholics defined Christianity and complied the NT (chose which books it should contain). So they are the authors of Christianity, so therefore they are real Christians indeed. Protestantism is a spin-off and didn't even exist a few hundred years ago. So you're suggesting the whole world waited 1600 years for "real" Christianity (your version whatever it is)? Very amusing.

Answer 6

In the make believe world of religion many can make any claim they like including the Christian devils and they're
aftermath the Islamic fascists. just once I'd like to see a majority of the world actual come down to earth and group together for humanity without the barbaric supernatural ...

Answer 7

It was in 1032 that Benedict IX was elected pope at the age of fourteen years.8 “He was a disgrace to the Chair of Peter,” The Catholic Encyclopedia tells us.9 Others report that he “was one of the most profligate ever to occupy the post.”10 Because of his “dissolute life,” one of the factions in Rome drove him out of his office in 1044, and “amid the greatest disorder” elected Sylvester III as pope. But Benedict IX returned the same year and succeeded in expelling the newly elected Sylvester III.9 Then he wanted to marry, but the father of his intended bride refused to give his consent until Benedict resigned as pope, which he agreed to do.8 However, as this would have left him without an income, for a large sum of money he sold the papacy to his godfather, John Gratian, who was then duly elected, taking the title of Gregory VI.

Answer 8

They are not. But the Catholic church is written about in the book of revelation. She is the Mother whore that sits upon seven hills (ie. Rome). And the other denominations are her daughters. Real Christians will not join or belong to a denomination for God is against it. It is the doctrine of the Nicolatains. (Nico means to conquer and latains referes to the laity). (Excuse me if I spelled some things wrong.) Now understand God is against the system of organized religion he is not against the people that may attend these places, for I beleive there are true believers in every church just as there are unbelievers and make believers.

Answer 9

History ... NOT scripture ... tells the whole story of the papacy.

The fact of the papacy is well known and was never disputed by anyone for 1500 years. And even while people like you try to dispute it, the office of the papacy remains an essential one.

Only revisionists like yourself seem to feel the need to attempt to go back and change the facts.

It was Peter who "signed off" on the decrees of the Jerusalem Council, just as the supreme earthly leader office of the church has "signed off" on every church council ever since.

And while bishops have always exercized a significant amount of autonomy over the church in their areas, they remain accountable only to the Pope and to God, for their actions.

Look it up ... and you might just as well get used to it. It was Jesus who set it up this way, and it will ALWAYS be so.

Answer 10

see greg....its mass denial.
thumbs down to anyone who doesnt agree with the church.
scripture doesnt lie,which means god doesnt lie.
their failure to realize and discern what the bible says sadens me.
i'm not anti-catholic,but man....some things they ignore makes me wonder if they ever read the bible.
simple stuff..one lord,one faith,one baptism
jesus as our internal intercessor,perfect in all its glory
failure to acknowledge the authority of james and the others as equal leaders in the church.all backed by scripture.
it baffles me sometimes when i talk with someone claiming to be christian,but they refuse to read the whole bible.
and noone should be placing the church over the bible...wise 1 is correct,its in their bible as quoted.