Well, the Church is the Church is the Church, whatever stupid things priests, bishops, and popes get up to.
As it happens, I was born and bred an Anglican, and I got a lot from that Church. I converted to Catholicism in college, not because it was “better” than Anglicanism, but because I gradually came to the conclusion that if there is only ONE true Church, it must be the Catholic Church. None of the Protestant churches were around for the first fifteen hundred years since Jesus founded the Church. Cardinal Newman made the argument convincingly.
So, unless Satan manages to nab me, I shall remain a Catholic until I die, no matter how bad things get. It’s still the One, true, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, and the sacraments are still the sacraments. Unless the priest goes too far overboard, in which case you just have to find another parish and another priest.
Christ founded the Church and promised that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against it. Bad things have happened in the Church from time to time in the past. But the worst thing about the current mess is that it has caused so many people to drop out and leave over the years. Their loss. Their terrible loss.
” but because I gradually came to the conclusion that if there is only ONE true Church, it must be the Catholic Church.”
Me too. 30 years later I still feel the same way. :-)
What did you read of Cardinal Newman’s? If Iyou would
I’ts my understanding that Sagan can’t grab us or do anything without our permission
Amen! Thank you for sharing your testimony. I totally agree.
The Church is Christ's bride (Ephesians 5:29) and has "no spot, wrinkle or blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). Christ also stated that the gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18) so how can the Church commit error? Individual clergy may commit sins, even popes commit sins because in the Church there are both "weeds and wheat" (Matthew 13:30).
Newman, among others, actually confirmed that the church of Rome is fundamentally contrary to the NT church, as it did not begin under the novel and unScriptural premise of ensured perpetual magisterial infallibility, which is the basis for RC assurance of Truth. Nor with the presuppositions RCs argue for it, which is that an infallible magisterium is essential for correctly discerning what writings (and men) are of God, and thus they are to be followed in all other things, and that being the historical magisterium and steward of Divine revelation men Rome is that infallible magisterium.
Nonetheless, God has always preserved a remnant, and no matter how callous, corrupt, controlling and even confused Catholicism became, there were always souls who saw Christ thru the religious trappings. And as God has always raised up men from without the magisterium to reprove it if needed, and thus the church began, so the Reformation was a judgment upon a recalcitrant institutionalized corrupt organization. And thus the gates of Hell, which Rome largely is, were prevailed against by the church as the body of Christ.
Which is the only one true church, as it alone 100% consists of true believers, while the visible church does not, but both wheat and tares express their faith in it.
And in addition to ensured perpetual magisterial infallibility, there are many other things which renders Rome to be the largest deformation of the NT church.
But the worst thing about the current mess is that it has caused so many people to drop out and leave over the years. Their loss. Their terrible loss.
Wrong. Very wrong, as Scripture actually commands,
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
At least SSPV and SSPX types see the contrast btwn modern Rome and its historical past and separate to different degrees, yet they actually separate into more strongly held errors. But multitudes of former RCs (as myself) become born again , by God's grace, and left mostly dead and largely liberal Rome and found spiritually alive evangelical churches, which most strongly hold to the authority of Scripture as literally being the wholly inspired and accurate word of God.
And which testify to the most unity in basic conservative beliefs, in stark contrast to the overall fruit of Catholicism.
And rather than that move being loss, it is a gain, while the terrible loss is to be as most Caths, yet dead in sins and never knowing their day of salvation, or regeneration with its profound changes in heart and life, as instead they are deceived into thinking they (most) became born again as infants via sprinkling of water, thus no conversion was needed, and got the questions and (usually perfunctory) professions correct as "Confirmation," and much trust that their own merits and those of Rome will eventually get them into glory. After become good enough thru purgatory.
The redeemed have come to God as souls damned for their works - not saved because of them - and destitute of any means or merit whereby they may escape their just and eternal punishment in Hell Fire and gain eternal life with God. And with contrite heart have cast their whole-hearted repentant faith upon the mercy of God in Christ, trusting the risen Divine Lord Jesus to save them by His sinless shed blood. (Rm. 3:9 - 5:1) And whose faith is thus counted as righteousness, but it is a faith that will follow Him.
May all join them, to the glory of God which enables and motivates man to faith.
You posted, “Christ founded the Church and promised that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against it.” I’m curious, do you mean Jesus established a Spiritual Church or an institution, or somehow both wound up in the Roman establishment?
“Cardinal Newman made the argument convincingly.”
Thank you for your testimony Cicero. I also am a fan of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman and own a copy of his “Apologia Pro Vita Sua”.
I was born a cradle Catholic but never really believed until my late 20’s (I did attend mass though, never formally left) due to the terrible catechesis that passed for formation in central New York in the 1960’s. The Vatican II I’m OK you’re OK pop psychology formation instead of doctrine did not resonate.
At around 30 I started reading pre-Vatican II Catholicism written by the saints and doctors of the Church and realized that the Catholic Faith was the one true visible Church established by Christ. I looked very briefly at the evangelical concept of faith alone but even a cursory study of its total lack of depth was apparent immediately.
The bitter ex catholics who were questioning because of poor catechesis ought to have read more deeply instead of abandoning ship.
Again, than you for the excellent witness.
But first; didn't you have to be 'convinced' that there IS only one true one?
That worked well!
HELL seems to have had a MIGHTY tight grip on those CATHOLIC churches John mentioned in Revelation.