A Protestant is a Christian who will revere an athlete or a musician but refuses to show anywhere the same level of reverence to the Mother of God.
A Catholic is someone who thinks that Christ, supreme head of the Church and High Priest in the Order of Melchizadek, somehow needs an earthly supreme head of the Church.
How could Jesus have decided to build his Church?
“Bishop Fulton Sheen describes it very well. There are 3 basic ways Jesus could have organized his Church:
- Democracy (Everybody votes and the idea with the most votes wins)
- Aristocracy (A group of elders get together and prayerfully make a decision on behalf of the people)
- Theocracy (Built on one person who leads the others who provide input but who defer to their leader)
Jesus asked the apostles, “Who do they say that I am?” (Mat 16:13) He was referring to the general people, their democratic voice. They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” In other words, no unity, no certitude. Leave the government to the people and you get no unity.
Then he appealed to the aristocracy, the apostles, but there was no answer, (Thomas doubted, Judas was in money, Philip was troubled about relations with the heavenly father.) Jesus could not build his Church on an aristocracy alone.
At this point one man comes forward without the consent of the others. It is Peter, who says “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” It is the right answer. Here was one man, divinely illuminated, speaking for all, who confesses the divinity of Christ, who is to be chosen as the leader of the Church. This is the Theocratic form of the Church that Catholics believe Jesus chose. This is what God did when he chose Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses etc.. Jesus is the big rock, and Peter is a little rock, acting on behalf of Christ on earth, giving the keys to him.”
so…what, we’re just supposed to have some sort of Christian anarchism?
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