|
|
How
The Catholic Church Started
The word "catholic" means universal. Jesus created one
universal church for all of mankind. The Catholic Church was
established by Jesus with his words spoken in
Matthew 16. Jesus asked his disciples "Who
do people say that the Son of Man is?" The disciples then offered
various answers - "Some say John the Baptist, others
Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." But the question that Jesus
then asked was crucial: "But who do you say that I am?"
The answer provided by Simon
Peter set in motion the formation of the Catholic Church by Jesus. "You
are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." With this answer, Jesus
established the Catholic Church with Simon Peter designated the first Pope.
"Blessed
are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against
it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed
in heaven."
Many try to imply that it was Peter's
faith on which Jesus established the Church. But closer examination of the words
of Jesus reveal that the selection was of divine nature.
"For
flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father."
His knowledge of Jesus was not the reason for Peter's confession to the true
identity but it was the fact that it had been revealed to him by God. In the
words of Jesus gives Peter his new name - "The Rock". A foundation on which his
Church will be built.
Many separated from the Catholic Church cling to the notion
that the Church was built on the faith of Peter and not him as a man as
justification for their position. Unfortunately, their understanding is
incorrect.
The bible is full of references to the need for respect of
authority. It is also full of references for the need for unity. In one parable
Jesus is explaining how he could not be of Satanic origin (Mark 3:22), "How
can Satan drive out Satan?" In this parable he points out the importance
of leadership. "If a kingdom is divided against itself,
that kingdom cannot stand." Throughout the scripture we always see - One
God, One Son, One Holy Spirit, One Church.
The Church today has become a free enterprise operation. If
you can access the Internet you can be ordained in some church. The reformation
began a splintering of the Church - in so many words, a kingdom divided.
It is much easier to
understand Peter's role of leadership by reading Acts. He is clearly the leader
of the Church. One such example, there are others, is
Acts 15:6
where Peter addressing the other Apostles clearly states his leadership role: "My
brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you
that through my mouth..."
Around or about 45 AD, Peter
went to Rome and from there lead the Catholic Church. As of today, there have
been 265 Popes in direct succession to Peter. The position of Pope was
established by Christ and the office has been maintained in an apostolic manner
since the time of Christ. Although the Church has fragmented since the time of
Christ with various leadership centers emerging, the apostolic line of
succession in the Church is seated in Rome until this very day. Many throughout time have
tried to rationalize away and deny the authority and structure of the Church as
established by Jesus. In my heart I know that Catholic Church is the
Church established by Jesus and has maintained a clear line of apostolic
leadership to this very day. The Church has celebrated the sacraments and
worshiped the Lord in essentially the same way since the time of Christ.
Every Church suffers occasionally
because of the weaknesses of human nature. But I believe that regardless of
temporary problems experienced by the Church, abandoning the Catholic Faith is
not an option. Jesus was more forgiving and understanding of human nature. When
Jesus was arrested Judas had betrayed Him, Peter denied him three times, and the remaining apostles ran
away. If Jesus supported and anointed their apostolic role after some of
their human failings, I can't imagine abandoning my faith for human
shortcomings. After all, your faith is in the Church established by Jesus, not
in any person involved in the Church. Of course problems in the Church must be
addressed and corrected, but the faith and Church established by Jesus can never
be denied.
How
Did Your Church Begin?
|
33 A.D. |
Roman Catholic Church (moved to Rome by Peter after he fled Jerusalem) was founded by God-made-man, Jesus Christ. He said: "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it... Feed my lambs; feed My sheep"
(Matt. 16:18,19;
John 21:15,17). He also said: "He who is not with Me is against
Me, and he who gathers not with me scatters" (Matt.12:30).
|
|
100 |
|
|
200 |
|
|
300 |
|
|
400 |
|
|
500 |
|
|
600 |
|
|
700 |
|
|
800 |
9th Century Marked The
First Official Schisms Within The
Church
827:
Eastern Schism began
by Photius of Constantinople. The primary difference in Faith at the heart
of the schism was the argument over the addition of the filioque statement
(Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, not just the Father) to
the creed. This schism eventually healed. |
|
900 |
|
|
1000 |
1053:
Eastern Schism began
by Michael Caerularius of Constantinople. The primary argument was the Latin
practice of fasting on Saturday and the use of unleavened bread for the Holy
Eucharist. Theses two points were more for challenging the authority of the
Roman Pontif. This schism eventually healed. |
|
1100 |
|
|
1200 |
|
|
1300 |
1378: Death of Pope Gregory XI on 27
March, 1378 began the Western Schism. The schism came to an end in 1417. |
|
1400 |
1472: Present Schism of the
Eastern Church
begins with the repudiation of the
Council of Florence. |
|
1500 |
1517:
Lutheran Church was founded by Martin Luther, a former
priest of the Roman Catholic Church. This marked the beginning of the
Protestant Reformation
1521: Anabaptist first
appeared in Zwickau, in the present kingdom of Saxony. Initially, they were
primarily against infant baptism.
1525:
Schwenkfeldians were founded by
Kaspar of Schwenkfeld, aulic councillor of Duke Frederick of Liegnitz and canon.
At first he associated himself with Luther, but later opposed the latter in his
Christology, as well as in his conception of the Eucharist, and his doctrine of
justification.
1531:
The Socinians and other
Anti-Trinitarians attacked the fundamental doctrine of the Blessed Trinity.
Chief founder of Anti-Trinitarians was Laelius Socinus, teacher of
jurisprudence at Siena, and his nephew, Faustus Socinus.
1536: Mennonites founded by
Menno Simons,
a former Catholic priest and later an Anabaptist elder. They deny infant baptism
and the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
1534: Church of England (Anglicanism) was founded by King Henry VIII
when he threw off the authority of the Pope and proclaimed himself the
head of the Church in England, because the Pope refused to declare invalid his
marriage with Queen Catherine.
1560:
The Presbyterian denomination was begun by John Knox who was
dissatisfied with Anglicanism.
|
|
1600 |
1608:
The Baptist church was launched by John Smyth in Amsterdam, Holland.
1620: The Swiss Mennonites split into
Amish or Upland Mennonites and Lowland Mennonites.
1671:
Quakers were founded by John George Fox of Drayton in Leicestershire.
He favored a visionary spiritualism, and found in the soul of each man a
portion of the Divine intelligence. All are allowed to preach, according as
the spirit incites them.
|
|
1700 |
1744:
The Methodist church was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England.
1774:
The Unitarians were founded by Theophilus Lindley in London.
1784: Episcopalian denomination was begun by Samuel Seabury who was
dissatisfied with Presbyterianism.
1787:
The founder of The Salvation Army is William Booth, who quit the
Anglicans, and then the Methodists, and set up his own version of Christianity.
|
|
1800 |
1822:
Mormons founded by Joseph Smith,
who made his appearance with supposed revelations in 1822.
1872: The Jehovah's Witness Church was developed by Charles Russell.
1879:
Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy began the Christian Scientist religion
basing it upon an outright denial of Original Sin and its effects.
1896: Ballinger Booth, the son of
William Booth, quit The Salvation Army and started his own church.
The Seventh-Day Adventists, the Church of
Christ, The Church of the Nazarene, or any of the various
Pentecostal Churches, etc. are also among the hundreds of new churches
founded by men within the past 150 years or so.
|
|
1900 |
|
|
2000 |
Over 33,000 Sects "Scattered" Outside The One Church Founded By
Christ |
There Was Only
ONE Church Founded By Christ
AND HIS CHURCH
STILL LIVES TODAY
Learn About
Heresy That Divides The Church
Founded By Christ
|
