So why isnt the catholic church the true church of Jesus's teachings?

Question

I’m serious; I would honestly like to know why people believe we are not true Christians. We can easily trace our leaders straight to the apostles. Jesus told Paul that what he says is law. Then the whole ‘You are the rock I build my church on’ – to me it’s clear but I do not understand why other people say its not.

And, of course this question is aimed at fellow christians.

Answer 1

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Born of the Father before all ages. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God. Begotten, not made: consubstantial with the Father; by Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from Heaven: [kneel] and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary: and was made man. [stand] He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. And He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead: of Whose kindgom there shall be no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life: Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified: Who spoke through the Prophets.

And in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Answer 2

Other churches cannot claim the historical data collected by the Catholic church. The Catholic church has more data about the event than any other church. Other Christian churches can vary on certain doctrines, and therefore do not enjoy the full benefit of how Christ's exemplary life was lived so that we may better imitate it. Some faiths have some truths, but the Catholic church, can (and with good cause, for wonders are worked within her) make the claim to have the entire teaching. That's not to say they used it well, since humans are the ones who run the institution.

Choose to love one another. Catholics do not condemn those born into error. But it would be a good thing to study, starting with apparitions and the lives of the saints and how the church had to figure out what they meant in the long run....the saints survived persecutions and questionings from their own church members and very often had to bear much grief, and their story, like Christ's is for the benefit of ALL mankind. Not just Catholics.

Answer 3

It is the true church that Jesus established in 33 AD.

It is much easier to understand Peter's role of leadership by reading Acts. He is clearly the leader of the Church. One such example, there are others, is Acts 15:6 where Peter addressing the other Apostles clearly states his leadership role:

Acts 15:6 After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Around or about 45 AD, Peter went to Rome and from there lead the Catholic Church. As of today, there have been 263 Popes in direct succession to Peter. The position of Pope was established by Christ and the office has been maintained in an apostolic manner since the time of Christ. Although the Church has fragmented since the time of Christ with various leadership centers emerging, the apostolic line of succession in the Church is seated in Rome until this very day.

The bible is full of references to the need for respect of authority. It is also full of references for the need for unity. In one parable Jesus is explaining how he could not be of Satanic origin (Mark 3:22), "How can Satan drive out Satan?" In this parable he points out the importance of leadership. "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." Throughout the scripture we always see - One God, One Son, One Holy Spirit, One Church.



The Church today has become a free enterprise operation. If you can access the Internet you can be ordained in some church. The reformation began a splintering of the Church - in so many words, a kingdom divided.

For over 2,000 years only the Catholic Church has preached the complete fullness of Jesus Christ, no other church has.

Answer 4

I just wanted to respond to the answerer who brought up the Greek translation of Peter’s name - Petros, Cepha - as “proof” that Peter was not the first pope. This person is confusing the translations.

Peter’s name DOES translate to petros in Greek, and was done so simply because Greek was the official language of the time. If anyone wanted to REALLY understand Christ’s intention, then they should dig a little deeper into history.

Cepha does NOT mean the same thing as petros. Cepha is the ARAMAIC translation of Peter’s name, and has only ONE meaning: ROCK. Aramaic is the language that Jesus spoke, and Cepha would have been the word He’ve used to address Peter, not petros. Cepha means Rock, not “little rock”, or “pebble”, or “chip of rock” or any of that nonsense. It means FOUNDATION, THE rock that the Church would be built upon.

I hope this was a little helpful. I had to correct the foolishness posted by that other guy.

Answer 5

Although I believe we are the first church and the one with the longest link to Christ and the apostles. I don't think saying the True church is the right thing.

I think that is an arrogant and offensive assertion, I believe that all members of the body of Christ contain some of the truth and that we are not complete without each other. Due to our longevity and the fact that we have the true vicar of Christ on earth in our church we have a much stronger link, but I believe that the bride of Christ will contain a kaleidescope of colors and flavors of Christianity when the Beloved returns.

Answer 6

I am agnostic although as a child I attended a liberal Protestant church. The Roman Catholic Church IS the original Christian Church because the early followers of Jesus established their religion in Rome. For reasons which I find strange, in recent years, certain Protestants have begun claiming that Roman Catholics are not Christians; the Protestants/Evangelicals or whoever are erroneous in that belief, however. Each Christian sect seems to insist that it is the only true one, but if you are Catholic, you can consider that you are the real Christians if you like...

Answer 7

As you can see by so many of the anti-Catholic answers you received, that they belong to the league of the misinformed. But try as you might they will not hear the truth.

The Popes' infallibility comes up a lot. Funny thing is, Catholics do not believe the Pope, as a man is infallible. The authority of his office is infallible and only when speaking on faith an morals. It is rare that a Pope will speak infallibly. And yet...every one of the anti-Catholic posters are claiming their own personal belief and interpretation to be infallible. Wow!!

The Catholic Church is the one true church. Founded by Christ through Peter. Peter is the rock on which he built his Church. Peter was the first to hold the office of authority which later became known as Pope.

Answer 8

They hate us because they do not understand the teachings of Scripture and use a proof text methodology that creates their doctrines of men. The Bible is without contradiction but if one is to believe their countless criticisms of Christ's Church one would notbe convinced that it is the inspired work that it represents. Basically they are taught by false teachers in man made churches without the discernment provided by Christ's Church. The Church will always be true because Christ said that His Church would endure till the end of the age. Come Lord Jesus Come.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 9

Peter was central in the early spread of the gospel (part of the meaning behind Matthew 16:18-19), the teaching of Scripture, taken in context, nowhere declares that he was in authority over the other apostles, or over the Church (having primacy). See Acts 15:1-23; Galatians 2:1-14; and 1 Peter 5:1-5. Nor is it ever taught in Scripture that the bishop of Rome, or any other bishop, was to have primacy over the Church. Scripture does not even explicitly record Peter even being in Rome. Rather there is only one reference in Scripture of Peter writing from “Babylon,” a name sometimes applied to Rome (1 Peter 5:13). Primarily upon this, and the historical rise of the influence of the Bishop of Rome, comes the Roman Catholic Church teaching of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. However, Scripture shows that Peter’s authority was shared by the other apostles (Ephesians 2:19-20), and the “loosing and binding” authority attributed to him was likewise shared by the local churches, not just their church leaders (see Matthew 18:15-19; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 13:10; Titus 2:15; 3:10-11).

Peter nowhere claims supremacy over the other apostles. Nowhere is his writings (1 and 2 Peter) did the Apostle Peter claim any special role, authority, or power over the church. Nowhere in Scripture does Peter, or any other apostle, state that their apostolic authority would be passed on to successors. Yes, the Apostle Peter had a leadership role among the disciples. Yes, Peter played a crucial role in the early spread of the Gospel (Acts chapters 1-10). Yes, Peter was the “rock” that Christ predicted he would be (Matthew 16:18). However, these truths about Peter in no way give support to the concept that Peter was the first pope, or that he was the “supreme leader” over the apostles, or that his authority would be passed on to the bishops of Rome. Peter himself points us all to the true Shepherd and Overseer of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:25).

Answer 10

All the offshoots claim to be the true church, I even sent a rebuttal to a young man who's pastor(?) said Catholics worshiped the devil! I think they all have egos and believe they were first in Christianity because they don't like the idea that the Catholics came first!