Defending the Faith Vol. 1 Num. 2

Admin Posts : 320 Age : 28

Volume 1 Number 1
By Jeremy Candelas
June - 06 - 2010

Defending the Faith

Defending the Catholic Faith these days can sometimes be a real challenge, especially in the secular society we live in today. Often we are confronted by others who challenge us - and our faith. Nowadays, we often come unprepared and without an answer to defend ourselves. Through this series I will explain some of the toughest questions - which we are often unprepared for - and how to answer them according to the Catholic Faith and its teachings.

“Why Does It Matter What Church We Choose?”

Many people sadly believe that it does not matter what Church, or religion, or denomination you belong to. They often say, "You are still worshipping the same God right?" Even sadder is that many individuals choose not to worship Him, even though they know that Jesus founded the Catholic Church. Christ, in teaching the Apostles, giving the Apostles special powers and promises, and choosing Peter to lead His Church, obviously points to the fact that He wanted to have a visibly organized Church.

Defending the Faith Vol. 1 Num. 2 457777

As Christ was revealing Who He was, He was at the same time preparing the Apostles to teach his revelations to the rest of the world. Christ often spoke to crowds of people, however, a majority of His teachings were with the Apostles. Obviously they were special to Him, they were much more than the ordinary disciple of His. He specifically chose these Apostles to “Go into the world and preach the gospel to all nations.” No ordinary man could have done this without God given help and so, Jesus gave them several powers to be used in the spread of His Church.

Defending the Faith Vol. 1 Num. 2 457777

Christ gave the Apostles the powers to baptize, forgive sins, to consecrate bread and wine, and to bind and loose. Even greater than these powers was that Christ promised to the Apostles that He would be with them for all days, even until the end of the world. Christ surely would not have given them these extraordinary powers and promises if they were not to form and lead His Church on earth.

Defending the Faith Vol. 1 Num. 2 457777

Jesus wished for there to be only one unified Church; and for it, He chose Peter as its leader. As Christ has said, “thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.” At the Last Supper, Christ promises to Peter - after foretelling the His disciples desertion and the denial of Peter - that because of Peter’s prayers, his faith will never fail and he will become a source of strength and inspiration for the other disciples. After His death and Resurrection, Christ, as told in the book of Matthew, asks Peter three times if he loves Him. Each time after Peter replies, Jesus tells him to feed His lambs and to feed His sheep. In this passage, Christ is commanding Peter to rule His kingdom and His sheepfold; both of these being terms Christ used to describe the unity and organization of His followers. Peter is recognized again as leader of Christ’s city and of the other Apostles in the Acts of the Apostles, “In those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren. Obviously, Peter was chosen by Christ to be the head of the Catholic Church.

Defending the Faith Vol. 1 Num. 2 457777

Members of Christ’s Church have three requirements that they must follow. First, they must have belief in the truth. Second, they are to do the will of God, and lastly, they must have reception of and growth in the supernatural life. The truth and God’s Will could only be taught and preserved in an organized church. As individuals leading good lives can sometimes teach and believe contradictory things, inspiration of the Holy Spirit was give to the Church by God. Only in our organized Church can we be sure to avoid contradictions, and be sure we are receiving the valid sacraments. Any person could say that he has power to transmit the Life of God but without power given to him by a higher authority, we cannot be sure they are telling the truth.

Defending the Faith Vol. 1 Num. 2 457777

Christ, in teaching the Apostles, giving the Apostles special powers and promises, and choosing Peter to lead His Church, obviously points to the fact that He wanted to have a visibly organized Church. Otherwise why would he have given them these great powers, promises, and positions? It just would not make sense for Him to do so if He had wished otherwise. In conclusion, Christ, in founding the Catholic Church, intended for there to be only one visible Church which all are obliged to join.

Copyright 2010
Jeremy Candelas

Admin Posts : 60

Hope you guys enjoy this one. I had to wait for it to be graded first before I posted it.

Posts : 1005 Age : 28

I like how you quoted Matthew 16-18 i memorized it. Thanks for posting it's very interesting.

Posts : 953 Age : 27

Wow, I really like that! Pretty good.

Posts : 1005 Age : 28

Me too i like how Jeremy is posting apolegetics. Defending the Faith Vol. 1 Num. 2 Icon_cheers

Posts : 953 Age : 27

This is a great place to post this topic! I think this is probably the best topic in the whole forum...maybe.

Admin Posts : 320 Age : 28

Thanks you guys. I am really glad you like it. Defending the Faith Vol. 1 Num. 2 682734

Posts : 953 Age : 27

You're welcome.

Posts : 1005 Age : 28

Bitterschen!

Posts : 953 Age : 27

What?!?

Posts : 1005 Age : 28

It means your welcome in German! I lived in Germany for three years you know.

Posts : 953 Age : 27

You never said you lived in Germany!

Posts : 1005 Age : 28

I did when my father was in the army. Mine name ist Doitchen

Posts : 953 Age : 27

Oh, gosh.

Posts : 953 Age : 27

The truth hurts....

Admin Posts : 320 Age : 28

Sorry Josh but that is not true. I'll send you a copy of the message I sent Josh Joe. Pope John Paul II actually came out and defended it.

Posts : 953 Age : 27

When did he defend it? If the Vatican defends Pokemon, I don't see why it would be evil.

Admin Posts : 320 Age : 28

Going off the article I linked to and others I have read, on or before the 20th of April, 2000. The movie came out on April 20th 2000 there, and the article says he defended it the week the movie came out. Going off the dates of the articles I have seen, the earliest date is April 20th 2000, so he had to have said it either on the 20th or sometime before it.

Posts : 953 Age : 27

Admin Posts : 320 Age : 28

Look what I found, another one where they approved of it from December 1997.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,620818,00.html

Sorry Josh, but you really can't believe everything you read on sites like those.

Posts : 953 Age : 27

Wow! Another link! Any more sources?

Admin Posts : 320 Age : 28

PadrePio222 wrote:: I though we finished this discussion. Remember i agree. Dejavous thats what i am thinking were having the same conversation again. Oh! I get it you want too debate with me!

That was from back in August Josh. We finished the debate over PM afterwords.

Posts : 1005 Age : 28

It does Brother!