The structure of the Catholic Church, and Christian faith, is today far from what Christ intended it to be. Today we see the spread of the church has created hundreds of thousands of church buildings world wide. The New Testament has been printed in 1,534 languages. But at the same time, we’ve seen the creation of a sometimes corrupt system of influence and false preachings. The church, the holiest structure of faith to ever exist, is also at the same time, one of the most corrupt and failing systems to ever see the light of day. Every day, every year, for decades, a civil war is waged in the Catholic church, and among all denominations of Christs church. A war between the devil and God. A war between corruption, greed, and sinful lust, which battles against true faith, and souls of pure intent. This battle takes place in the hearts of men, men of influence in and outside the church. It is no lie that evil men have occupied seats of power, power which gave them false dominion over other men.
Truly, not even the Holy Father has any influence over his fellow man, for it is only God that commands us, and it is an often forgotten fact that the Pope, in his blessed status, is still only a man. A man of God, who is also tempted and lured to sin. And it is for this reason that every Catholic must first look to Christs own words before they turn to the Pope. Now, the Church is of course a blessed and holy foundation of faith, founded by the Son of God. Yet it is foolish to ignore the presence of the Devil, even in the Church. And so, these positions of power have fallen from time and time again, to the hands of sinners who fail to uphold the true Christian faith. Jesus Christ did not build a church that was to command other men, or hold themselves higher than fellow sinners. No, Christ said himself, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:20. Thus, the presence of God exists whenever and wherever men gather to seek him. This was the foundation of the true church, that His apostles would leave mustard seeds of faith in one man, that he may gather with others, and through this spread the word of God. This is the ideology that should be preached by the Church. A Church that has historically brought the greatest shame to Christ.
The enslavement and murder of indigenous peoples, the slaughter of native culture and lifestyle, all in the name of “spreading Christianity.” How could this have been the intent of Christ? Jesus surely embraced the souls of slaughtered villages and homes long before he’d ever allow those, who justified such acts with His name, into His holy kingdom. The Son of God says, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.” - 2 Timothy 4:2. He instructs us to correct our brothers, to rebuke them in their sin, and encourage them. And to do these things with patience and instruction. He does not tell us to force them, or to command them, but to have patience and to carefully instruct them. Thus, by imposing laws upon our fellow men, we fail to carefully instruct them, but instead to use power not granted to us to command them. There is a word Christ uses over and over in his scripture. Teach. He tells us to teach all nations, to use careful instruction, to spread wisdom and knowledge of the Good News, but never to command. Matthew 19:21, Christ tells a rich young man to sell his possessions, and give to the poor, and by doing this, he will have treasure in heaven. The young man cannot do this, and walks away. Jesus did not force the man to do anything, he gave the knowledge and let the man walk away. And today, with a church sporting such a history of hate and violence, it is imperative that the Christian remember, Jesus never intended to create a church which handed a man power over man, but that we are all sinners. And one should never force a belief upon another.