Despite the many, many ways the Church falls short (institutionally and among individual members themselves) I still believe the Catholic Church is the best and most legitimate representative of Christianity.
The Holy Bible that Protestants center their spiritual life around was written and compiled throughout the centuries and made "official" through the authority of the Church. Unlike Muslims who believe their book is the direct word of God, the Christian Bible is a collection of accounts, sayings, and different books written by different people. Most of the books in the modern day Bible changed a lot in the centuries following Christ, though always keeping the same general message. Over the centuries books were augmented or excluded, edited, lost, and sometimes altogether forgotten. The earliest surviving Jesus literature consists of parables and a few recognizable miracles.
Thus it seems that Christianity was created by the Church just as much as the Church was a product of Christianity. The Catholic Church really took the different ways people were trying to make sense of the Jesus event and created a lasting synthesis that even most Protestants recognize today.
People are naturally distrustful of hierarchies these days, especially when it comes in the form of an institution with rituals that involve symbolism. To that I'd say, ritual is a normal part of life and the human experience. The sun and moon, the seasons, the life cycle of plants and animals and human beings all act in a sort of ordered ritual throughout the generations. In every world religion you'll find fragments if not large chunks of the same integral teaching. Going off of just the Bible alone (which can be interpreted very differently by everyone) leads to a sort of relativism that probably served as the main cause of modern day moral relativism being so widespread. It's a slippery slope. A religious teaching needs to be married to an institution and supported with tradition, culture and philosophy.
Many Roman Catholics love Messiah and live lives of service to Heaven. I consider many of them brothers and sisters.
Unfortunately though Catholicism has many pagan-sourced and human traditions that they've placed above the Word of God.
Ex. God forbids His people to bow to pictures or statues and He forbids His people to pray to any other spirit/person other than God. These aren't obscure either - these are literally the first of the Big 10.
There is a Great prophetic Apostasy on its way. I'm sorry to say, the day is approaching fast where Catholics will be forced to choose between either Roman Catholicism or Messiah.
Common misunderstanding people have about Catholics praying to Blessed Mother Mary or Saints...Catholics don't pray to Mary or St. Anthony, St. Jude, etc.. Catholics ask Mary and the saints to pray for them. To intercede for them. Just like if I said I would pray for you if you needed prayer. That's what Catholics do - ask them to pray. (If someone is praying TO them, then they were misled somewhere.) Jesus is THE focus, and Our Lord and Savior - as with all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
I've never seen anyone bow to a statue of a saint. And MANY Catholics are not enamored with the Pope or the Vatican.
satan loves that Christians are divided. It's his goal. We are no match divided. Together though, as a united body of Christ, we will withstand his attacks. We all need to focus on who unites us. Not what divides us.
God bless you.
True. Satan not only hates us but he hates the Blessed Mother Mary.
Your answer is the common Catholic answer of course. Lol
Did you know that when the children of Israel worshiped the golden calf - when they all bowed, asked for intercession, sang, celebrated, sacrificed, ate and drank around the molten image - they were all focused on the LORD God? Read it in Exodus.
Intercession = prayer. There is only 1 Interceder, Messiah and He commanded us to ask the Father directly in His Name.
I agree we need unity in the Body of Messiah. Satan has used a lot of wolves in sheep's clothing and hirelings over the millennia to cause disunity - because what unity can there be between light and darkness?
And this is the question that will only get more urgent to every follower of Messiah: Realistically, what unity do the Pope and I have that I would give him my spiritual allegiance?