One Church - One Faith

Posted by an anonymous reader - "Protestants think we are all equal in the church but I know we are not all equal because God does not intrust his word to just anyone and we are told not to cast our pearls amongst swine. If they were all equal then they all would have been bishops right? Please explain this is important to the Protestant beliefs:) They are all leaders of how many churches???? But they close in time or are found  [misleading], sorry but i have found this to be true of many. Blessings and Peace."

In response to the above previously submitted comment offered by an anonymous reader, the following are excerpts from the chapter titled "One Church - One Faith" in my soon to be published Book titled "Christianity In Catholicism".

Simply put, we are all equal as children of God but each person is predisposed to the amount of grace they can receive limited by their own choices in the love of God. People will be judged by God according to the lives they have lived and in comparison to the life we are called to in our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are officially representing the church or hold authority within the Church are also held to a higher level of responsibility than those who are lay persons. As scripture says, more will be expected from those who recieve more.
As for the numerous divisions of churches or the number of Christian faiths that exist, there are also numerous verses throughout scripture that clearly proclaim the solidarity all are called to in faith. For example: 

 “God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship (oneness) of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no schisms (divisions) among you; but that you be perfect in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians CH1: vs9-10).

 “…he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he (not man) may hold the primacy: Because in him, it hath well pleased the Father, that all fullness should dwell; And through him (not man) to reconcile all things unto himself (not to man, but reconciling man to Himself as well), making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven.” (LV Colossians CH1: vs18-20)

[Also refer to (Ephesians CH4: vs11-16)]
“…keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body (one Church) and one Spirit (Holy Spirit); as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians CH4: vs3-5)

“…you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds he has now reconciled in his “fleshly body” through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him, provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.” (Colossians CH1: vs21-23)

“They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."(Acts CH14: v22).

The birth of Protestantism and the principle of Sola Scriptura not only defies scripture in its independence and rejection of the teaching authority of the Church, but
during its relatively brief life it opposes scripture by its own unbridled splintering proving itself an unsound principle opposing the very source it claims to stand upon, the Holy Bible.

“For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.” (2 Timothy CH4; v3-4)

Though most Christians regardless of church affiliations are to be recognized as children of God through Baptism, sincere in their seeking that righteous path to Christ, most are clearly a scattered flock begging to be home in true faith but not knowing of where they may find the truth because of bias miscinceptions. We desire to be right in what we believe in order to know Jesus as intimately as possible and live the life He calls us to in the love of God.

In accordance with the numerous scripture passages provided above and throughout the book chapter we must first come to the understanding that from the very beginning of Christianity we were first called to learn and then persevere in our faith and that there can be no division in what we accept in faith or encourage of others. Now immediately let me say if any person claims this is not true, let he or she who claims it untrue show support from scripture that diversity in systems of beliefs is acceptable and how such an interpretation does not conflict with the verses provided here; because above all, scripture does not conflict with itself. There are many well meaning individuals with advanced levels of education who defend their own denomination or even the existence of numerous denominations by way of apologetics but each lacks one thing that is critical in making that final judgment they believe worthy to teach others. They do not properly know the true teachings of the Catholic faith and many are fearful to learn because of what that will mean.

One Church can represent only one faith, one teaching rendering one system of beliefs that Jesus calls all people to live by. Where two or more systems of beliefs or “faiths” exist in opposition they can not be one. Where two or more conflicting systems of conduct are encouraged for living a Christian life, only one can be authentic and fulfill Christ’s calling.

“And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.” (Colossians CH3: v15)

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Romans CH15: vs5-6)

"I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John CH10: v16)

Also refer to (Colossians CH1: vs21-23),(2 Timothy CH2: vs11-17), (1 Timothy CH4:v16).

“…Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that… you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind struggling together for the faith of the gospel,” (Philippians CH1: v27)

Today there exists between thirty to forty thousand Christian faiths that have been established over the last four centuries, the logical person should feel compelled to ask how this can be. Each of these faiths by way of their ministerial leaders claims its correctness in presenting a true understanding of scripture and Christian observance. At the same time, each offers distinctive and at times opposing direction to their followers as to the principles of faith that are or are not necessary for a person to adhere to in living the Christian life all are called to in Christ. In Fact, the principles of Christian life are not selectively optional. Jesus commanded His Apostles:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew CH28: vs19-20).

But those who take on the roll of shepherds in the name of Christ also take on some of the responsibility for the souls they provide guidance:

“Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew CH5: vs18-19)

Consider which founder of any other system of beliefs is justified through scripture to establish a new or revised Christian faith? Is it perhaps Martin Luther or Zwingli, Henry VIII, Calvin, Knox, Cartwright, Brown, John Smith, Seabury, Fox, Wesley, Lindsay, Joseph Smith, Jr., Campbell, Ann Lee, Stone, Miller, Russell, Felix Manalo, Mary Baker Eddy, Parham, Chuck Smith, Herbert W. Armstrong, or Fillmore, just to name a few. Which one is justified by scripture to establish and teach others a revised faith based on their own judgments? Not one. Which one is not in opposition to scripture? Not one. Which one is justified to reconcile all things on earth including the Church Jesus founded with His Blood and all things in Heaven through himself and to himself in the name of Jesus Christ? Not one. Each founder judged their own opinions to be correct over someone else. Not one could see clearly enough to remove the beam from their own eye [(Matthew CH7: v3), (Luke CH6: vs39-41)] that they may realize their own waywardness from the warnings of scripture.

Yet, by the warnings of scripture that tell us sinful men and times of corruption would occur within the Church, we are also told to persevere, never divide or saparate or found a new church or faith. That Christ Himelf would reconcile all things on earth and in Heaven to and through Himself. Those scriptural wearnings further validate the Church Jesus founded which will never fall but remain against the gates of hell with Jesus as its High Priest to the consumation of the world.

I hope these excerpts have been of some guidence. The full chapter will be available soon in the upcoming book "Christianity In Catholicism".

The time for reunification is passing by as we speak.