The Catholic Church often claims to be the original Christian faith, the one true Church that stretches back in an unbroken line to Jesus and the apostles. This claim is reinforced by the ancient traditions that characterize Catholic worship—practices that can often feel as though they offer a direct connection to the earliest Christian communities. I’ll give this to the Catholics: their liturgical form of worship does indeed have a genuine historical link, one that goes back to a time when Christianity was still understood to be part of or at least an offshoot of Judaism. But does that make Catholicism the true and original expression of Christianity?
Catholic liturgy is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable aspects of Catholic tradition. The ritualistic prayers, the incense, the readings, and the sacraments all reflect a deeply rooted tradition that appears to echo the ancient rhythms of worship. The structure of the Mass, for example, with its order of readings, prayers, and communion, bears resemblance to early Christian gatherings, which were themselves influenced by the practices of Jewish synagogues. Early Christians still saw themselves as part of a Jewish story—their worship was a continuation and fulfillment of Jewish hopes.
In this sense, there is something powerful about Catholic worship that points to its connection to early Christianity. The liturgical nature of Catholic worship isn’t something that emerged in the Middle Ages or was invented to support a hierarchical church structure. Rather, it is based on practices that date back to the first few centuries of Christianity. In those early days, Christians met regularly to break bread, to pray, and to read the scriptures. They gathered in a way that was orderly and communal, much like the synagogue gatherings they were familiar with, but centered around the new reality of Jesus Christ.
However, just because the Catholic Church maintains these ancient forms doesn’t mean that it perfectly represents the original faith of Jesus and the apostles. While the liturgical practices of the Catholic Church are undeniably ancient, the teachings and doctrines that have developed within Catholicism over the centuries diverge significantly from the simple message of Jesus and his earliest followers.
The early church, as recorded in the New Testament, was a community marked by simplicity, shared living, and an urgent expectation of Christ’s return. They didn’t have the elaborate doctrines about the nature of the sacraments, the authority of the pope, or the veneration of Mary that would later become central to Catholic belief. Many of these doctrines, including papal infallibility, purgatory, and Marian dogmas, developed over centuries as the church’s structure became more formalized and its theology more complex.
The apostles and early Christians were focused on spreading the message of Jesus, a message of repentance, forgiveness, and the coming Kingdom of God. Their gatherings were about mutual encouragement, teaching, breaking bread, and prayer. They were not about elevating one leader above all others or creating an intricate hierarchy. They were about a shared mission, a collective identity in Christ.
Moreover, the New Testament reflects a dynamic, often messy, community. There were disagreements about how to include Gentiles, debates over circumcision, and a constant tension between Jewish and Gentile believers. This diversity of thought and practice doesn’t fit neatly with the Catholic claim of a uniform and unbroken tradition. The early church was vibrant, evolving, and often adapting to new cultural realities, something that stands in contrast to the more rigid structures that developed in later centuries.
This is not to say that Catholicism hasn’t preserved important elements of early Christian faith. The liturgical calendar, the regular rhythm of prayer, the emphasis on sacraments—all of these are ways in which Catholicism has attempted to keep alive the spiritual practices of the past. And in that regard, there is value in what the Catholic Church offers: a tangible connection to the past, a sense of continuity that many find deeply meaningful.
However, it’s also important to recognize that ancient does not always mean original or most authentic. The Catholic Church’s liturgy may reflect some aspects of early Christian worship, but its doctrines and practices often go beyond or even diverge from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. The simple faith of the early Christians—a faith in Jesus as the resurrected Lord, a commitment to love one another, and an expectation of his return—has often been overshadowed by the complexities of later theological developments.
So while I can acknowledge that the Catholic Church has ancient roots and has preserved certain liturgical practices that date back to the early centuries, I don’t believe that it is the pure and original expression of what Jesus and his apostles intended. The true essence of Christianity lies in the teachings of Jesus, in the simplicity of faith and community, and in the transformative message of the Gospel. Tradition can be a beautiful and powerful thing, but it must always be weighed against the true source of our faith: the life and teachings of Jesus.
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