1) is the point. They don't know who Jesus Christ is, and this shows it to the greatest degree. He is the fulfillment of the law, psalms, and prophets. Exactly. Once Jesus of Nazareth lived, died, and rose from the dead, history was over. We have all that we need, but we do have to do our part - to live in synergy and repentance with God, because our lives still exist in time and space, until the final judgment.JDav wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 9:47 pmI have a couple of questions. As a Catholic I admit that I don't understand some of your beliefs.
1) If God sent His only Son, Jesus, and He was rejected, why would he bother sending more prophets? If people didn't believe the Son of God, why would they then believe a prophet that was sent 1800 years later. Jesus came "in the fullness of time" according to the Bible, which means exactly when God desired it. See also the parable about the owner of the vineyard, who first sent his servants (prophets) who were roughed up, then his son (Jesus) who was killed. He didn't send anyone else after that.
2) The Catholic Church, though not recognized by that name for several centuries, has been in existence for 2000 years. In fact, today's Mass largely resembles the liturgy practiced by the Apostles from the earliest days (see the writings of Justin Martyr, who died around the year 167 AD). Admittedly, the Church is in need of restoration (though it's a Divine institution it's still run on earth by mortal men), but not Restoration. There is an unbroken chain of authority passed on from Jesus to Peter to Linus to Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, etc. If you read the Epistles, all the Christian enclaves recognized Peter as the head of the Church, having been granted that authority by Jesus Himself. Even Paul recognized it.
I've encountered many Protestants over the years who seem to imply that Christianity disappeared for centuries until their particular person (Joseph Smith, Luther, et al.) restored it. Or that the Catholic Church was good until it got corrupted, especially during the time of Luther. But even those arguments can't overcome the fact that the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, or the Sacraments, have been in existence and practiced by Christians since the time Jesus instituted them.
You seem to say that the Church died when the Apostles did, but I find that hard to believe, especially given the rich history and writings of its greatest saints. Not trying to start an argument - just truly curious about how you arrive at your beliefs.
JDav may be a holier man than I, this I do not know, but I'm guessing he is. However, the only unchanged church is the one that looks like the people still practicing in the original areas, and hasn't changed its doctrine or practice (or the creed, or the altar, or holy communion, etc). These are what is called the eastern orthodox churches. Now even they are under attack. Catholicism falling was always a western tragedy, but its schism brought forth western materialism, atheism, and also, ironically protestantism (which is similar to islam in its "read this manual that fell from the sky").
The Catholic church has too many holes in it now for anyone inside it to judge others and declare their church unfit. (Insert vomiting smiley face here)