Thank you Chad for this post, thank you also to Mary Ann Collins (A Former Catholic Nun)
This is NOT Catholic Bashing, just revealing the Truth, many times I have quoted, not mentioning Catholics, that the church today needs to look back to Acts and the Epistles for what the early church was like, it was not like it is today, that should raise warnings to all believers.
I have also quoted many items from church history, including around 300 AD Constantine era, but not in as much detail as Mary Ann Collins has done in the details we read in the first post of this thread.
When we compare the church today, with the first church and then question how it has changed over the years, we have to look at church history, which includes the Constantine era, the crusades, the reformation, etc. Understandably one of the first main changes we see is The Roman Catholic Church under Constantine.
The early church started by the saved believers meeting in their homes, these believers were the ekklesia, the True Church of Jesus Christ, God never asked for a building for worship but man cannot resist having to make one. The RCC arranged for everything to be read and sang in Latin, they controlled what the public was allowed to understand about scripture and brought in styles of worship similar to the Jewish rabbi's, the clothes they wore, the incense, a man created atmosphere for worship.
Church buildings were built throughout Europe and then to the UK, each getting grander as they progressed. The introduction of stained glass windows were brought in, to give pictures of Bible scenes, 'to help worship'.
Scripture was being changed to suit the RCC, as was mentioned earlier some parts of scripture were torn out to preserve them, why? Because the RCC was changing them, even though Scripture very clearly warns of changing any dot or tittle in The Word.
The RCC changed scripture to include the word kuriakon for church, ekklesia is the correct word for the Church, saved believers, the Body of Christ. The RCC introduced kuriakon of which the Greek meaning was church building. The word kuriakon is NOT in the original scriptures in was introduced by the RCC.
A month or so ago I included in another thread detail of changes of the 10 Commandments made by the RCC. Very cleverly adjusted, removing one commandment, adjusting others so it still ends up with 10 Commandments. What had been removed? The commandment regarding the not worshipping gravel images. In every Catholic church I have been in, there has always been a graven image of Christ, on the cross (He is Risen!), above the alter and usually at least twice the size of a human being. Congregants kneel looking up at the gravel image of Jesus worshipping! In every Catholic church I have been to, there has always been a graven image of Mary, the mother of Jesus, some inside the place of worship, and one in the garden where Mary is outside a tomb, these are graven images and people bow to her and worship the graven images
Recently the pope has stated that he suggests the Lord's Prayer be changed, to omit the words, 'lead us not into temptation'. His reason is God would not lead us into temptation. Scripture says....
Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)
31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
Matthew 5:17-20 (NKJV)
17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Catholic Church teach,
- they are the only ones who will go to Heaven - Not correct
- it is right to pray through the heart of the blessed virgin Mary who intercedes their prayers - Not correct
- They quote the early Father's, they call clergy members Father. Father this name, Father that name. - Read Matt 23:9
- The Catholic church is the one true church.- Not correct
- Only the Roman Catholic Church has authority to interpret Scripture.- Not correct
- The Pope is the head of the church and has the authority of Christ - Not correct
- Peter was the first Pope - Not correct
- The pope is in the line of Peter - Not correct
- Catholic mass, teaches when taking them they are actually eating Christ's body and drinking His blood.
When it comes to final authority, the Roman Catholic church teaches that three authorities exist.
- The 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church declares:
"It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls." (Pg. 34, #95)
So here we see, that along with Scripture, "tradition" (teachings handed down throughout the ages), and "magisterium" (the task of giving an authentic interpretation of the word of God) are associated so that one of them cannot stand without the others. In other words, "tradition" and "magisterium" are on equal grounds with the Scriptures. This is enforced by:
"Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit. And (Holy) Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit." (Pg. 31, #81)
And should these authorities disagree with each other the Catechism states:
"The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone. This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome." (Pg. 32, #85)
Thus, the final authority being the Roman Catholic Church! This too, is stated in the Catechism:
"For, of course, all that has been said about the manner of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the judgment of the Church which exercises the divinely conferred commission and ministry of watching over and interpreting the Word of God." (Pg. 39, #119)
Thus concluding that the Scriptures are not sufficient in itself.
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Nowhere do we see that the Scriptures were given only to an elite group to explain it to others.
The errors in the RCC are many, the above are just a few, this is not RCC or CC bashing, this is just clearly stating some of their errors which are against scripture.
What we must remember is at the Reformation, although a massive amount of errors was noted
1 - the Catholic church continues to follow the Pope and what he decides, not Jesus and The Word which is Truth (unchanged Word)
2 - the Anglican church was created but, adopted many of the RCC errors.
3 - although many denominations came from this they were all influenced by the RCC.
We must repent for any errors in 'The Church', 'The Body of Christ' which we may not be aware of.
We must always and all times look to scripture and seek true meaning of the Greek and Hebrew words.
We must go back to Acts and the Epistles and see the first church, see what it was like, see what they did, then compare with the Church today.
In a few words it is simply... 'Getting right with God, being right with Jesus, understanding what the One True Church really is'
The One True Church is the 'ekklesia', saved believers worldwide, together as the Body of Christ, The Bride of Christ.
When Christ returns in Glory, He will not come for the RCC, Anglicans, Methodists, URC's, or any other denomination. He will Return in Glory to collect His Church, saved believers from the far ends of the earth, regardless of colour, age, sex, language or any other difference.
Thanks be to God, in Jesus Name. Amen