Pitting the Church against Christ, a false dichotomy

De Maria | 02/04/2016

Frequently, anti-Catholics will say that Catholics pit the Church against Christ. Or that we put the Church before Christ.

That, however, is a false dichotomy.

Dichotomy

A dichotomy is an opposition. Two things are said to be a dichotomy if they are opposed to each other.

Body of Christ

But Jesus Christ said that the Church is His Body. Therefore, the Church can’t be opposed to Christ.

Because of Christ

Jesus Christ established the Church and it is because Christ established the Church that we believe in and submit to Her authority.

Christians who reject the Church, reject Christ who established the Church.

Confused

They claim that they accept Scripture alone. But Scripture says that they must accept the Church. Yet, they deny the Church. So, how do they accept Scripture if they deny what Scripture teaches?

Which Church?

But then they’ll ask, “Well, which Church?”

Well, which Church was first? Jesus Christ only established ONE. Scripture says so. The oldest Church in the world is the Catholic Church. This is confirmed historically, archaeologically and in Scripture.

Some will say, the Orthodox

Fine. But you will have to discard all your false doctrines, such as Scripture alone and faith alone and Once Saved Always Saved. Because they hold almost all the same Doctrines of God that the Catholic Church holds.

Anyone who discards Protestantism for the Orthodox Church, does well. But if they discard Protestantism for the Catholic Church, they do better.

The Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is the Body of Christ. It is through the Catholic Church that God speaks to His people. There is no dichotomy between the Catholic Church and Jesus Christ. Catholics believe the Catholic Church because they believe in Jesus Christ. Catholics submit to the Catholic Church because they submit to Jesus Christ. Catholics obey the Catholic Church, because they obey Jesus Christ.

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About the Author

De Maria

website

My name is not, De Maria. But De Maria is who I am. About 30 years ago, the internet was new. And many of us, including my wife and I, considered it the Beast of Revelations. Therefore, we stayed off of it. But, one day, after experiencing a very powerful conversion back to the Catholic Church and the Spirit, being strong within me, made me yearn to teach the Faith. Little did I know, how little I knew about the Faith I practiced.

Becoming a Catechism teacher took me back to the days when I was young and hungry for knowledge. But in those days, no one wanted to be bothered answering my questions. And I believe that is one of the reasons why I fell away. No one could explain the Faith to me in a manner that was satisfactory. I didn't want to be that type of Catechist. I wanted to understand so that I could pass on my understanding. But it soon became obvious to me, that I didn't understand very much at all.

Then, one day, someone said, "why don't you ask for explanations on the Internet? There are lots of knowledgeable people there." So, I investigated. And, thanks be to God, I found a now defunct website for Catechists. I learned so much from them. I can't ever repay them.

But, back to my pen name, De Maria. Back then, most of us distrusted the Internet. And this forum for Catechists did not permit us to use our real names. They required pen names. So, since I love Our Lady, I took her name. (I am a guy, by the way.) In the grand tradition of male Saints who have adopted Our Lady's name, for instance, St. Louis "Marie" de Montfort and St. Alphonsus "Marie" de Liquori. And that's who I am. I believe that I belong to Mary and that I am sent by her to preach about her Son.

Besides this website, I have two more. Washed, justified and sanctified in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and CatholicBibleTalk.