Protestants, Why don't you come home to Christ's Church and help fulfill Christ's prayer that we all be one?

Question

Does not God's grace bring you to obedience to Him. He created one Church, the Catholic Church. In this season when we are all remembering what He has done for us let us commit to take the first step to come home and give up our pridefulness and surrender to His Word and His Church. At least, let us all pray that we be one just as He does.

Morganie,

We only worship God and He said “this is my Body, this is my Blood” and we believe Him shouldn’t you.

Yes we do ask others to pray for us and we pray for them, shouldn’t you?

It is Christ’s Church you know, wouldn’t it make sense to be obedient to His Church?

Scotgirl,

Everything the Church teaches is supported by Scripture and never contradicts Scripture. Show me in history the facts about any siblings you believe Jesus had. There were none and that is why the blessed mother was given to St. John for care because Jesus had no other siblings. For purgatory go here: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-S6YMuFYyaa9ESBoW5DFwEjL_HhqA?tag=understandingpurgatory

Angela G,

Try reading the book of Acts which speaks of the formation of the Catholic Church, Actually the whole NT speaks of Christ’s Church as it was written by the Church. From history show me one other church Christ created and I will cease to be Catholic. The Catholic Church is the ONLY Church that is not manmade unless you call Jesus just a man but I believe He is God also.

Mr Ed,
I believe it is wrong for one to make up history and their on definitions and use their musings as an excuse. I thing Jesus will see through that ruse at judgment.

Ames,

Fine, then I have put you down as being in disagreement with Jesus' prayer.

Abtina,

Fine then I will record you as being disobedient to Christ's teaching and unwilling to change.

Ladybyrd,

Well, well, well… We have never sprinkled, just to correct that common fallacy.

1.The Bible says that those of us in the Church are to pray for each other our of love. Do you refuse to pray for others. Neither does the blessed mother of God.

2.The Bible instructs this, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said that what they bind on earth would be bound in heaven. He gave them and their successors the duty to forgive sins.

3.Well, the Bible says He was the first Pope , you can argue with Scripture.

4. we don’t do this

5. We are just following the teaching of St. Paul that said for us to preach Christ crucified.

Sounds like you just want to follow SOME of the Bible.

By his grace,

You do not have a good grasp of Scripture and obviously no training in hermeneutics or you would not be so gullible. I am a convert after 50 years as a Protestant, 25 of those years as a minister and I am now a Catholic priest by God's grace. Jesus prayed that we all be one in His Church not yours. His church is the Catholic church , there is no other.

St Preachy,

Thanks, I am still studying trying to find that other Church that everyone seems to think that Jesus founded. Over thirty years of intense study and I still can't find it. I am encouraged that I am not the only one who can't find it as no one else has either. I am starting to come to the conclusion that the bible must be right and that the Catholic Church is Christ's Church. If you come up with anything different, let me know.

the only 1 hobo,

Show me in Scripture that we are not to worship in His Church. He created His Church for a reason. Guess what that is?

Answer 1

John 17: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

"May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.

"May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

What we see in most of the answers here is a rejection of Christ's prayer by those who want the freedom to make up a gospel pleasing to themselves.

Fact: Jesus founded one human organization, the Church, with a hierarchy of human leaders, with the authority to forgive sins, interpret the teachings of Jesus, and appoint their successors in the Church that would defend Jesus' teachings until the end of time.

Fact: A scant 500 years ago, some believers who rejected the one Church imagined themselves empowered to start "churches" in competition to Jesus' organization, with man-pleasing doctrines like "by faith alone" and "sola scriptura, with me the only interpreter of record."

These man-made churches have no authority to administer the sacraments Jesus brought. They do not safeguard his teachings. They do not have his full gospel.

Until the rebellious Christians return to the one Church, they make the Church less effective as a witness of Jesus in the world. More personally, they risk the salvation of the Christians who are sheep without a shepherd.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 2

If I truly believed the Roman Catholic church was what Jesus intended the church to be. If I thought all the tradition were truly of Jesus I would. However I do not believe this and thus I cannot. It has nothing to do with pride on my part. I do not join the RCC because I truly believe the RCC teaches some things that are contradicted and even condemned by the Bible. If the RCC were the only church available I would go there but I would never be a good Catholic. For one thing I would have no problem telling the pope he is wrong if I disagreed. I don't care if he was speaking from St. Peter's seat I would tell him he is wrong. Politely but I would tell him. I also could never confess my sins to a priest when I the Bible says I can come boldly before the throne of Grace.

What I think you and many others fail to understand is that the church is one. It always has been and always will be. The Church is all Christians regardless of denomination. The Church Jesus founded is one of all believers. Regardless of denomination. He knew denominations would come. I doubt He is pleased but He knew it. That is why He did not make the church a building or a denomination. But instead all the believers. All the Christians are the Church.

EDIT: Let me add with all this said I truly believe Catholics are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I look forward to spending eternity in Heaven with you. However I do not feel the RCC has everything right. Does my church have everything right? I doubt it. I doubt any church does. But let me ask you something rather than enjoining us to return to the RCC wouldn't it be better to embrace us as we are? I do not try and convert Catholics because I know you are Christians and there is no need for you to follow my denomination. Can't we be given the same courtesy? Isn't the fact that I am a Christian more important than if I am a Catholic or Pentecostal? For me serving Christ in a Pentecostal church is how I desire to serve Him. For you a Catholic church is where you belong. We are both Christians. That is what matters. Trying to convert someone from one Christian denomination to another is pointless and counterproductive. If you admit I am saved, and I know you do, then why does it matter which church I go to? Are we of Paul or Peter or Apollos? No. We are of Christ and that is what is important.

Answer 3

Church of Jesus evolved thru time: The Acts: a community of first christians followers called the Nazarene way or the Way.. First Christian church in Jerusalem, the Mother Church or the Holy Church St Ignatius called it 'catholic' in about 100AD, and since then and until NOW, it remained Catholic as pronounced by the Apostles in its Apostles' Creed. Orhtodox schismed in about 1,000 AD Protestants schismed in about 1,500 AD. Technically, the prots are catholics with a small letter 'c'. They are called the prodigal/run-away sons of the Catholic church. FYI of some who believe Constantine founded the catholicism in 300AD.The successor of 1st Apostle Leader St Peter is about 29 around 300 AD. 1 Peter, Apostle, Saint Reigned 33-67 2 Linus, Saint Reigned c.67-76 3 Anacletus, Saint Reigned 76-88 4 Clement I, Saint Reigned 88-97 5 Evaristus, Saint Reigned c.98- c.106 6 Alexander I, Saint Reigned c.106-115 7 Sixtus I, Saint Reigned 115-125 8 Telesphorus, Saint Reigned 125-136 9 Hyginus, Saint Reigned c.136-140 10 Pius I, Saint Reigned c.140-c.154 11 Anicetus, Saint Reigned c.157-168 12 Soter, Saint Reigned c.166-c.174 13 Eleutherius, Saint Reigned c.175-189 14 Victor I, Saint Reigned 189-c.198 15 Zephyrinus, Saint Reigned 198-217 16 Callistus I Reigned 218-c.222 17 Urban I Reigned 222-230 18 Pontian, Saint Reigned 230-235 19 Anterus, Saint Reigned 235-236 20 Fabian, Saint Reigned 236-250 21 Cornelius Reigned 251-253 22 Lucius I, Saint Reigned 253-254 23 Stephen I, Saint Reigned 254-257 24 Sixtus II, Saint Reigned 257-258 25 Dionysius, Saint Reigned 260-268 26 Felix I, Saint Reigned 269-274 27 Eutychianus, Saint Reigned 275-283 28 Caius, Saint Reigned 283-296 29 Marcellinus, Saint Reigned 296-304

Answer 4

I grew up in the Methodist church, and by the time I got to college, I was so spiritually starved that I came very close to abandoning Christianity altogether. Then I became Catholic, and I found everything that I was ever looking for: the joy of receiving my Savior in the sacrament of the Eucharist.

I've listened to my fellow converts here on R&S, and almost to a person, the thing that drew us to the Church was the Real Presence. If other Protestants could only experience that same joy and beauty that we found in the Eucharist, I wonder if their views on Catholicism might change, too.

I would encourage everyone to study and read about the Real Presence, then perhaps go visit a Catholic church or chapel during Adoration. Who knows -- maybe others will find the same peace and happiness that many of us have.

Answer 5

Every Christian believes that Jesus Christ established and sustains a community of faith, hope and love for all believers. This community we call His Church. The Church that Christ founded is the Catholic Church which has a formal earthly structure established by Christ and which continues under His authority and protection.

In concert with His redemptive act, Jesus did three things that established the framework of His Church. First, He chose humans to carry out His work. He appointed Peter to be the visible head of the Church. Jesus said to Peter, "You are Rock and on this rock I will build my Church." (Matthew 16: 18) Jesus said "build," as in to create a structure. Jesus built His structure on specifically chosen human beings Peter and the apostles.

Second, Jesus gave Peter and the apostles the power and authority to carry out His work. "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven."(Matthew 16:19; 18:18) "Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven, whose sins you retain, they are retained."(John 20:23)

Third, Jesus gave Peter and the apostles commands as to what that work should be. At the last supper, He commanded, "Do this in memory of Me." (Luke 22:19) He commanded them to "Make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19), and to "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

The early Church was structured in a hierarchical manner as it is today. We see in Acts, chapter 15 how the apostles and the elders came together under the leadership of St. Peter to decide the question of what was required of Gentiles. We also see how St. Peter was regarded as the head of the Church when St. Paul, "Went up to Jerusalem to confer with Kephas [Peter] and remained with him fifteen days." (Galatians 1:18) There is no Scriptural evidence of independent local churches.

The Catholic Church is the only church that can claim to have been founded by Christ personally. Every other church traces its lineage back to a mere human person such as Martin Luther or John Wesley. The Catholic Church can trace its lineage back to Jesus Christ who appointed St. Peter as the first pope. This line of popes has continued unbroken for almost 2,000 years.

God rules, instructs and sanctifies His people through His Church. Under her teaching office, the Catholic Church preserves the Word of God. She is the custodian, keeper, dispenser and interpreter of teachings of Christ. And she accomplishes this under the protection of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

One of the most difficult obstacles I have had to overcome in my faith journey is the spirit of independence. This is a wonderful country built on that wonderful spirit. But, unfortunately, it is that very spirit that often separates us from a true relationship with Christ for two simple reasons:

1. We bristle at anyone who expects us to be obedient.

2. We find it very difficult to be humble.

So, most of us find a church that makes us feel good. Lets us worship God in "our" way. In other words, we don't want to bear a cross. We don't want to feel guilty. We want it "our" way, which of course is not necessarily" God's" way. We want to storm the gates of heaven. Write our own ticket......

For about the last 400 years, Protestant churches have multiplied and divided until today there are over 33,000 denominations - all professing their own version of the truth. All Protestant faiths disregard Sacred Tradition, which is the literal living history of the Church founded by Jesus.

Imagine in 20 years you go to a high school reunion. When you begin to reminisce about your time in school, all you are allowed to do is to open your yearbook and look through it, read it. You can't talk about anything but what is in your yearbook. You can't talk about any of the activities that pictures bring to mind. You can't rely on the memory of others to refresh your memory about some of the things you have forgotten. That eliminates a big part of your high school years. This is a very simple analogy with Sacred Tradition. Disregarding Sacred Tradition strips the faith down to only what you can read and leaves much open to interpretation. While we all hold the Sacred Scriptures dear to our heart and read them often, it is important to know from Tradition how things were done, why they were done, and other critical aspects of the Faith not found in the Bible. It is important how the early Church worshiped. It is important how the early Church practiced and understood the Faith. Take some time in your life to learn about Jesus and HIS Church. Take time to learn THE COMPLETE TRUTH and experience THE COMPLETE FAITH.

Answer 7

May God Bless you. I agree with you. Bless your heart for writing this and getting this out into the open...

I am Catholic and proud of it. :)

Let's all pray the Rosary tonight for all souls....especially those who need Christ's Mercy.

Answer 8

Jesus' prayer means we all have to be Roman Catholic? Wow, you really do learn something new every day. You claim to be a student of history, but you cannot see that the Roman Catholic Church developed over time; along with it's dogma of papal primacy and finally infallibility, not to mention the Marian dogmas. If things had worked out differently on the ancient political scene we would all be arguing over the prerogatives of the bishop of Constantinople, or Antioch, or maybe even Jerusalem. Maybe it's time you do some of this historical research that you keep telling us to do.

Edit: You didn't really address what I said. Your Church was the result of political developments in the first thousand years of Christianity. When I ask myself the question who does the modern Catholic Church look more like, Jesus and the apostles, and the early Church described in Acts, 1&2 Tim, Titus, and so forth, or the Pharisees, and Sadducees? I can only come up with the latter as a viable answer.

Answer 9

After reading all that , and a few ans's I'm glad I left the catholic church when I was 13, and have never looked back. I always believed in God but became a born again Christian , when I finally came to my senses. I have never regretted that move. Besides its not the church that counts as a believer we are the temple as Christ is in us not a brick bldg.No verse says be catholic and be saved , it says believe in Jesus.

Answer 10

Actually a lot within the Lutheran and Anglican circles want reconciliation with the Holy See... they're still working it out though. At this rate it's gonna take another thousand years.