Convince me

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Can someone convince me to convert to the Catholic religion? I can't see how the Catholic church is the ONE church when all Christian churches celebrate God and Jesus. Biblical references are really welcomed! Thanks.

-- Seth (salsaquad@hotmail.com), February 24, 2005

Answers

It is customary to bump posts so that they will enter the new answers page which many have bookmarked.

-- bump (bumppmub@bumpmail.com), February 24, 2005.

Seth,

I am sure you are going to get a host of tremendously thoughtful and brilliant responses. But for now, here is some biblical proof.

Matthew 16:19 (talking to Peter) "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

Matthew 18:18 "And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

John 20:23 (talking to Apostles) "If you forgive people's sins they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

These quotes show Jesus handing over His authority to the Apostles. All of these quotes are spoken directly to the Apostles, the first Bishops who carried on the Catholic Church after Jesus ascended into Heaven. These Apostles passed on this authority to their successors, Bishops and Priests who have served throughout history.

This "handing-over" of authority continues to this very day, with each new Pope that is selected and each new Priest that is ordained.

I hope this helps you and begins to answer your question.

May you find the Truth that you seek,

Tim Kirschenheiter

-- Tim K. (tk4386@juno.com), February 24, 2005.


Matthew 16:19 (talking to Peter) "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

[what has this to do with the RCC?]-sdqa

Matthew 18:18 "And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

[same comment as above]-sdqa

John 20:23 (talking to Apostles) "If you forgive people's sins they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

[same comment as above]-sdqa

All of these quotes are spoken directly to the Apostles, the first Bishops who carried on the Catholic Church after Jesus ascended into Heaven.

[the early church isn't the same thing as the insitution that was established later]-sdqa

"Also, the catholic church was going off track a bit during the Martin Luthers time (indulgences) - so how do I defend them now?"

The Church is full of sinners, but the Church itself, never sins.

[the church is her ppl,off course,a building or an institution cannot sin,but if this church is made of evil ppl the church is evil also]-sdqa

"Also, what about declarations like Mary's assumption in the 1950s?"

I thought that was in the 19th century, but I may be mistaken. Either way, we believe that God's revelation is not complete. It did not end around 100 when the last book of the Bible was written. God continually reveals truths to the Catholic Church

[when did god then reveal the """truth""" about mary to the RCC?]-sdqa

"He says that I am following the church, not God's word (the Bible). I think there is a Bible verse that supports the church as authority - anyone know?"

[it supports the authority of the early church,not the church as it is today,i have a nice verse about this also the catholics use a lot to prove that their chucrh can teach non-biblical doctrines

"... she is the pillar and the foundation of the truth..."

yes things were taught oral back in the day and the church was the pillar and the foundation of the truth because there were no scriptures,but this 'truth' was written down and there was no need for oral tradition any longer,what did jesus or his apostels say to his church that wasen't written down? ]-sdqa

-- sdqa (sdqa@sdqa.Com), February 24, 2005.


yes things were taught oral back in the day and the church was the pillar and the foundation of the truth because there were no scriptures,but this 'truth' was written down and there was no need for oral tradition any longer,[what did jesus or his apostels say to his church that wasen't written down? ]-sdqa

Even though I agree with Sola Scriptura, I find your question a bit odd. If Jesus and the apostles were to write down every single thing that was said, you would end up with a humungously large book which you would never read through in your life time. Furthermore, John said that Jesus performed many deeds that are too numerous to be written down.

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), February 24, 2005.


"Even though I agree with Sola Scriptura, I find your question a bit odd. If Jesus and the apostles were to write down every single thing that was said, you would end up with a humungously large book which you would never read through in your life time. Furthermore, John said that Jesus performed many deeds that are too numerous to be written down. "

[but what are those things that jesus did and taught that aren't written down?]-sdqa

-- sdqa (sdqa@sdqa.Com), February 24, 2005.



Italics off

Sorry about that.

Again, how can one possibly consider the entire volume of Jesus's and the Apostle's spoken words?

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), February 24, 2005.


"Again, how can one possibly consider the entire volume of Jesus's and the Apostle's spoken words? "

[impossible...

but what things did jesus tell and were being passed oral but aren't written down? ]-sdqa

-- sdqa (sdqa@sdqa.Com), February 24, 2005.


[but what are those things that jesus did and taught that aren't written down?]-sdqa

Those are secret, sdqa. We hold late-night meetings where we discuss and pass on those teachings. It's only done a couple of times per year so that no outsiders catch on.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), February 24, 2005.


Sharing the truth sure is frusterating with someone like SDQA around to muddy the water, especially for a newcomer who may or may not know who is who around here... Can't this nemesis be banned once and for all??????? He should be free to lurk and gain wisdom, but his contributions have proven futile at best.

-- Mike (n@n.com), February 24, 2005.

--/i>

-- Fr. Paul (pjdoucet@hotmail.com), February 24, 2005.


"Can someone convince me to convert to the Catholic religion?"

No.

Nobody can convince you to convert except God. We can offer you rational arguments here, but you would be better off to enroll in an RCIA program which would be far more fruitful than listening to us argue.

-- Fr. Paul (pjdoucet@hotmail.com), February 24, 2005.


--

-- Fr. Paul (pjdoucet@hotmail.com), February 24, 2005.

italics off

-- n (n@n.n), February 24, 2005.

Seth

I agree with Fr. Paul. There are unfortunately poor influences on this board that seek only confusion when an answer is sought. I have been Catholic all of my life and have also gone to non-Catholic churches. After learning about these churches doctrines and worshiping with its people I still longed for the Catholic Church! There is something about receiving the body and blood of Christ Jesus that fills you with joy. (a side note: there are some people who insist on not capitalizing the words God and Jesus, I find this very disrespectful to the Creator of the universe and the Savior of mankind!)

Do not let anyone convince you of something, seek the truth, pray about it, read some books on the subject, and attend a service or two to see what being Catholic is all about. God will guide you. Man has a tendency to slant things one way or the other, God is the truth!

I will pray that God directs you to the right conclusion as you seek the answers.

-- Big Dave (big.dave@earthlink.net), February 24, 2005.


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