Expert: Griff Ruby - 4/30/2007

Question
Dear Griff,

                 Thank you so much for your reply. I love the catholic church and its teachings of God. Is the Catholic church the true church that was founded under God and are the false religions such as:

Baptist                  
Methodist              
Lutheran                 
Orthodox                
Latter-day saints     
Pentecostal              
Episcopal                 
Christian churches
And Churches of
Christ                      
Jehovah Witness       
Church of Christ
Science                      
Adventists                 
Reformed                   
Salvation army            
Roman Rite                 
Mennonite                 
Unitarian Universalism  
Association                
Friends (Quaker)
Brethren  
Mormons
Buddhism
Paganisim
Satanism
Protestant
Muslim
Islam
Hindu
Puritans Est..... Are all these false and manmade I mean is the only church the catholic church the one church that fits the bible of the old and new testament? And do we have a Jewish origin? So I have another question should we eat like the ancients did in Israel like biblical foods? And if we are Catholic isnt a Catholic called an Israelite? I want to right a book about Catholicism for people that dont understand our religion. How do I not offend them but guide them correctly to know what is true arent we also as Catholics Jewish like Jesus but since we know that the messiah hast come already? Will the Catholic church the faithful people like myself and you be resurrected when Christ comes back and takin up to heaven to be with him. And am I a sheep or a wolf that is a biblical question because I dont want to disobey God I think of him every single day. I also try to be honest and true. It is very hard in todays world. How do I get to heaven? And be with Jesus Christ my Lord? I really mean it I want to be with him so much. How do I get to heaven?


Answer
The Jewish laws and indeed their sacred Covenant with God, was abrogated in favor of the "new" Christian Covenant ("Testament") which fulfilled and graduated the Old Law of Moses into the New Law of Grace.  Many details are no longer required, including such dietary laws.  Therefore there is no binding rule to mandate following them any more.
For a time, the Church specifically avoided such laws, as a way to distance Herself from the Jews who rejected their own Messiah.  While the prudential wisdom of such a step could be debated (such laws, or their relaxation or even violation are after all areas of discipline, not Faith or Morals), there was no true violation, as the ritual dietary laws had served to point to Christ's own coming, for as the Nation of Israel was pure in its own sources (of food, among other things), so too our Lord was pure in His own source in His conception of the Holy Ghost in the womb of Mary.
But we who are sinners are cleansed of sin, for none of us is our story one of perfection coming from perfection, but rather of sin repented and forgiven and overcome.  Just as all Christians are sinners, striving towards holiness, and in some cases attaining great sanctity, yet no saint (apart from Mary and the good angels) is utterly without sin, our bodies come from much (or at least some little bit) that is impure, yet is regenerated and renewed in Christ towards perfection we never could merit.
As to the question of following the Jewish dietary laws, though they are not binding in any way, neither do I see any reason not to abide by them, should one feel so called.  Such laws, though presently abrogated, did nevertheless come from God, and in no way would be evil to follow.
There could also be a missionary value to following them, especially when reaching out to the Jews for Christ, for the Apostle Paul once wrote that he became all things to all men that by all means he might help some.  To a Jew he was a Jew, to a Gentile he was a Gentile, and so forth (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
As the Church, we are Spiritual Israel, the Kingdom of God on earth, the City on the hill which cannot be hid (though in these foggy days things have come as close to such as doctrinally possible), the pearl of great price, the royal vineyard.  As a man dies in the flesh but lives on in the spiritual realm (and is resurrected with a real, though glorified body), physical material Israel also died on the Cross, to make way for the new Spiritual Israel which though spiritual is still also real and physical, but now universally all around the world and no longer confined to a particular geographical region.
We have replaced the literally Jewish circumcision of the flesh with the spiritual circumcision of the heart, that we may leave off the desires of the flesh and serve the Spirit alone while still in the flesh.
As to salvation and whether to be a goat or a lamb, you know what the commandments are.  Have you observed them?  You know what the sacraments are.  Have you availed yourself of them as applicable to your station in life?  Have you been baptized?  You know what prayer is.  Have you prayed?  And if you have failed, you know what repentance is.  Have you repented of all sins?  You know what penance is.  Do you do penance for your forgiven sins, and for the sins of others?
Perform an examination of conscience.  If you are not sure of how to do this, there are small books and even leaflets that guide one through such a self-examination, and with sufficient thoroughness.  Are you guilty of the sins listed therein?  Have you confessed them and sought to eliminate them from your life?  Can you approach the sacrament of the Eucharist?  If you know you can, then you know yourself to be in the state of Sanctifying Grace, and that as such if you died this instant you would end up in Heaven.  If not, the way ahead is clear, and mandatory.
To get to Heaven, stay as close to Jesus and as far from sin as possible.  Love God and neighbor.  Do these things as you are with Him now.
When I still struggled with a sin, and could just barely avoid it, I would tuck myself into bed each night with the sternest possible reminder that such a sin has no place in my life and shall not be permitted under any circumstances.  Doing so was as comforting to me in going go sleep as a goodnight kiss on the forehead of a loving parent before shutting off the light.
Finally, a good book I recommend for giving to others which will not only explain the Faith but also go far towards defending it is "This is the Faith" by Canon Francis Ripley (do a google search by book title and author to find where it is available).