Comparing and contrasting the Catholic Church and Citipointe Christian Outreach Centre shows basic Christian beliefs which are the same. It also shows many major differences which began in the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century AD.
The basic beliefs that the Catholic Church shares with Citipointe are that God entered the world through the Incarnation of His Son Jesus Christ, by a virgin birth and that the church began with His life and teachings. They agree Jesus led a sinless life; that He died on the cross to atone for the sin of the world and that He rose from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to help believers. Both churches also believe in the Trinity or “God Head” – comprising Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/rcatholi.htm)
The early church lived and shared the gospel. As time passed and the church spread, they joined together into an organisational structure that helped them support each other and kept them on the right track in their teachings. By the eleventh century, many church leaders had become corrupt. Power struggles and different doctrines led to a split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, led by the Pope, the Bishop of Rome. Corruption became widespread amongst the clergy, especially at the top. The church encouraged prayer to Mary and the saints; sold “indulgences” guaranteed to get people to heaven, and persecuted and killed those who tried to bring reform. (http://www.crcna.org/pages/reformation.cfm)
During the sixteenth century, reform could no longer be stopped, especially after the Bible was translated from Latin and people could decide for themselves if what the church was teaching was true. Many believers followed the Reformers (Luther, Calvin, Knox and Zwingli) and left the Catholic Church to follow the teachings of Scripture and the Protestant churches began.
This is where the main differences between the Catholic Church and Citipointe come from. Citipointe is a Protestant church. It believes that the Bible is the Word of God and infallible. (http://www.citipointe.com.au/) All beliefs are based on it. The Catholic Church’s beliefs, however, are based on the New Testament teachings, but also on traditions and what the Popes and other teachers have decided. (http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/rcatholi.htm)
Another main difference from the Reformation is that Citipointe believes that salvation comes from faith in Jesus and confessing Him as Lord, accepting what Jesus has done, that is by His grace. The Catholic Church, however, has emphasised the church’s role in mediating salvation. Supernatural life is mediated to Christians through the sacraments administered by the hierarchy, who must be obeyed. (http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/rcatholi.htm)
Citipointe regularly (about once a month) celebrates the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion “in remembrance of Christ”. (http://www.citipointe.com.au/) The Catholic Church celebrates it daily and believes that the bread and wine turn into the actual body and blood of Christ.
Citipointe prays to God alone through Jesus, while the Catholic Church prays to Mary and the saints as well. (http://christianity.about.com/od/denominations/a/?once=true&)
These are some of the most important differences from the time of the Reformation. The way the two churches are governed is also different. In Christian Outreach Centre, God is considered the Head, and under Him, the Oversight of Senior Pastors together tries to follow His directions and agree on how God is speaking and leading. They oversee the church, and God’s Word is what they base their decisions on. In the Catholic Church, the Pope is the head. He is the supreme authority. He now shares a lot of authority with the Bishops. For hundreds of years, he has been considered as infallible.
Both Citipointe and the Catholic Church are Christian churches who believe Jesus is God’s Son but there are also many different beliefs which go right back to the beginning of the Protestant church in the Reformation. (http://christianity.about.com/od/denominations/a/?once=true&)
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