2006-09-26 05:40:58 · 31 answers · asked by buttercup 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are many differences between Protestant and Catholic worship and beliefs, but there are also similarities:
1. We both believe in the deity of Jesus Christ
2. We both believe in the Trinity
3. We both believe in the virgin birth of Jesus
4. We both believe in the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ
5. We both believe in a world without end
I'm a Protestant Christian and I have known some very spiritual Catholic believers ( whether their actions are approved by the Catholic church, I do not know?) I have no doubt whatsoever these people are Christian. I am not the judge of who is Christian and who is not, but I know who is : His name is Jesus Christ or for my Jewish brothers and sisters Yeshua ha'Mashiach.
Now is not the time for division among the Christian faith, nor is it the time to be judgmental.
Grace and Peace to all who read this.
2006-09-26 06:25:08 · answer #1 · answered by Not perfect, just forgiven 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, let me say that I do believe there are CHRISTians within the Catholic establishment, however it is important to note that...
To wear the title of CHRISTian is to choose to worship Christ and believe in His teachings, no more and no less.
To believe anything other than Christ's teachings or to add to His teachings is to wear the title of something else, (Whatever that may be).
Just because someone wears the cloak of "CHRISTianity" does not necessarily make them a believer and follower of Christ. Many like to dress themselves in this robe to give some sort of credence to their man-made belief system that is almost always self-serving or reward-seeking among the eyes of men.
It is unfortunate that many Catholics have additional doctrine besides the Holy Bible and that they are also missing out on much of the Holy Bible at the same time.
Considering the Catholic church hierarchy has done such a good job of elevating their Pope to a place of worship, I do think at times that Catholics would do better to call themselves "POPE-IANS" rather than CHRISTians.
MUTTERHALL:
Your point is an interesting one. The fact that the emphasis you have from your 8 years in Catholic school happens to be "THE CROSS" rather than JESUS who died ON THE CROSS" is exactly why some believe Catholics do not place Jesus where He belongs in their lives.
PS. It is always disturbing to me that the Pope carries an emmaciated Jesus around on a crooked and bent cross, where ever he goes when the truth is that JESUS IS NO LONGER ON THE CROSS, He is risen!
The emphasis should be on the fact that Jesus rose again on the third day, for without the resurrection CHRISTianity would be just another man-made idea. There is no other religion that can claim it's Prophet ROSE AGAIN from the dead and offer eye-witness accounts for that.
It is the resurrection that is distinctly characteristic of the CHRISTian faith. The emphasis should be on the resurrection rather than the death on the cross or even the cross itself.
The cross is NOTHING without the SAVIOR who died on it.
CHRISTianity is nothing with the SAVIOR who defied death and ROSE AGAIN on the third day.
2006-09-26 05:52:22 · answer #2 · answered by NONAME 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When Catholics started to focus more on the petitions and prayers made to their canonized saints specially installing the Mother of Jesus as the Queen of Heavens. Then when the three personalities of God was expressed as The Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit..saying all these because it could be harder to go to the Father unless you ask the the help of the channels. It started when they emphasized on what Jesus said, "No one can come to the father except through me." later on, they made this story about "When God closes the door for you in heaven, Mother Mary will surely open the window." and its not only that, they even pray to the cross where Jesus was crucified and died then called the cross Holy. They made God look like the president of United States where you will have to to go to many red tapes before you can have an audience with Him. By the time you reach God you forgot already why you are calling on God. This made it hard for other Christian denominations to call the Catholics Christians but the truth is if you believe in Christ, you are Christian and Catholics have Christ as the center of their faith amidst the confusing numbers of saints to pray to. A simple case of idolatry but they of course deny this for many reasons they can give.
2006-09-26 06:14:32 · answer #3 · answered by Rallie Florencio C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe it was a backlash from the time when Catholics thought they were the only ones going to heaven. It was never taught that way by the Church but was like a grassroots belief. Catholics have long since put such ignorant beliefs behind them for the most part. (Ignorant meaning without actual knowledge). Protestants are coming around now also and becoming more and more accepting of Catholics as Christians.
In light of all the answers questioning the veracity of your question, I should add that for you young people, it was only 20 years ago that Catholics were not represented in any Christian stores and were constantly being bashed by Christian radio and tracts against Catholics were on display in most of the protestant churches I visited as part of promoting the March for Jesus which was an interdenominational movement to bring honor and praise of Jesus to the streets. I am Catholic and have personally experienced anti-Catholic rhetoric.
2006-09-26 05:47:10 · answer #4 · answered by Robert L 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You are misinformed the majority of the world believe Catholics are Christians and they are Christians. Catholics are recognized in most of society as Christians. Just a small portion of people believe the aren't. Catholics believe all the basics which qualifies them and makes a person a Christian.
2006-09-26 05:46:42 · answer #5 · answered by ruthie 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Many have always believed this. and, to some degree i do too, as far as the basic religion itself. Tho many Catholics are Christian and will receive more truth as time goes on. God says only He can offer forgivenss and absolution. Yet, they teach the priest can forgive. That is sheer blasphemy. This is just an example of one belief that shows their relition is not of God, even tho many of them are faithful believers. We cant judge the people, just the church. This is not a new concept at all, its always been there. Just people are becoming more vocal about it. And, they seem to put Mary above Jesus, and even pray to her. No where in scripture does it say to pray to anyone other than God. There are many things in their religion that are just anti Bible. But, we must love the Catholics and pray for them. God does not want us to hate anyone. But to love them, pray for them and try to understand them, and to be of help to them. God loves the catholics too, and we must remember that.
2006-09-26 05:48:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just want to apologize to any Catholics who have felt excluded under the banner of "Christian" by Christian Protestants.
Having been listening to excerpts of Catholic TV just for a different viewpoint I realize there are many Catholics who are just as devoted to Jesus Christ as there are Protestants.
Please forgive us Protestants for our lack of vision and love.
And - Keep the momentum going from the outpouring of God's Spirit that started at Duquesne University in the 1970's! There's a lot more where that spiritual waterfall came from!
2006-09-26 05:47:21 · answer #7 · answered by LL 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They were first call Christians at Antioch. The Bible definition of a Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are known by their love for God and others and their personal relationship to Jesus
When one believes that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, that He came to the earth as a man, suffered and died, to become the ultimate sacrifice for mankind. When they believe that He now lives and they follow Him as their Lord and Savior. They are Christians.
We are never told by God to be Catholic or Protestant. We are told to follow Jesus. All who follow Jesus and believe that He is the only way to God, that we can not earn salvation ourselves, that only what Jesus did on the cross saves us. When this is their belief, people can call themselves Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, Presbyterian or etc. But, they are Christians .
2006-09-26 06:00:51 · answer #8 · answered by 4HIM- Christians love 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with the following of Scripture or the following of the teachings and traditions of men. Protestants believe the written word of God, and Catholics believe in all of the traditions and teachings of the men in the vatican, even when they depart from Scripture or are proven to be false teachings that came about through historical and political events.
It also has to do with the basic tenant that salvation is only achieved through faith in Christ and the development of a relationship with Him, as opposed to the Catholic tradition that salvation is acquired by doing good things and receiving the sacrements.
The Protestants believe scripture when it says that grace is freely given and that salvation is not by works so that no man can boast. Catholics believe that grace is given through the sacrements and used up through sin, necessitating more grace to be sought through more sacrements, and that by being a good person and doing good works, one can earn a place in heaven.
That's it in a nutshell.
2006-09-26 05:51:11 · answer #9 · answered by lizardmama 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Thank you! I asked a question yesterday about christians and someone told me that catholics were not christians. Gee, that 8 years in catholic school I spent staring at a damn crucifix must have been my imagination...
Whoa, I had no idea that there was this giant bitchfight between catholics and other christians...
2006-09-26 05:52:45 · answer #10 · answered by mutterhals 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋