what is the difference between christians , catholics and protestants .?

Question

I am not any one of them .. but I want to know ... thank you ..

Answer 1

INTRODUCTION:
Christians in the Bible are called people that love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10). If a person loves the truth they must hate lies, errors and all distortions of the truth. However, just as God hates sin, but loves all people even though they sin, Christians should likewise love all people even if they do, teach or believe something that is not right or true. So Catholics and Protestant should love one another, even if they do not agree with or do not like what the other does or believes.

SUMMARY:
Catholics and Protestants agree on a variety of things, but they are different because they do and believe some things differently, some differences are trivial, but some differences deal with the foundational issues.

CATHOLIC CHURCH HISTORY:
The Catholic Church has a long History over which time it has changed in many ways, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. The history of the Catholic Church can be traced back to the city of Rome about 300 years after Jesus.

PROTESTANT CHURCH HISTORY
Protestant Christianity began in the 1500's when some people protested against some of the wrong things they believed the Catholic Church was doing and teaching. These protesters became separated from the Catholic Church and formed their own Church which was more inline with what they believed was the truth. Just like the Catholic Church, Protestant Churches are not perfect, they have also changed many times in many ways.

THE MAIN ISSUE:
Through the history of the Catholic Church, Catholics have believed and done some things differently to what Protestants believe the Bible has clearly instructed. Protestants believe this is a result of Catholics believing what certain individuals and traditions have said, rather than what God has said through the Bible. The problem of traditions becoming more important than God's truth is something all religions have at some time been guilty of, including Protestants.

SPECIFIC PROBLEMS
The Catholic Church has admitted some of the errors it has taught in the past, and has changed. But there are still some beliefs and practices that Protestants would say are against what the Bible teaches. The rest of this document will examine some of these beliefs and practices, and give reasons from the Bible why many Protestant Christians still protest them.

1) BIBLE
Historically Catholics have not encouraged people to study the Bible, in fact reading the Bible was at one time banned by the Church. Only certain people were allowed to do so. People that did read, or spread the Bible, were even killed by the Catholic Church, like William Tyndale who was one of the first people to translate the Bible into English. Such practices have been stopped, but Bible study is still not as encouraged in many Catholic Churches as it should be.

The Catholic Church has also added to the Bible writings which Protestants say should not be there. Including those called the apocryphal books, which are writings that have not been approved as inspired by God. They are not referred to as Scripture by Jesus or His disciples.

At one time almost all Catholic Church services were entirely in the Latin language, and only a few people could understand Latin. This is no longer done in most Catholic Churches.

2) THE VIRGIN MARY
Mary the physical mother of Jesus is of great importance to Catholics, but the Bible says very little about Mary. Here is a summary of what the Bible says about her:

The Bible describes Mary as the physical mother of Jesus, and that she was made pregnant by God. (Matthew 1:16, Luke 1:26-42, Luke 2:5-19) Mary visited her cousin Elisabeth (Luke 1:39-56) Mary attended a feast at Jerusalem with her family. (Luke 2:48-51) Mary is present at a marriage feast. (John 2:1-10) Mary looked for Jesus when He was teaching inside a house (Matthew 12:46-47, Mark 3:31, Luke 8:19). Mary went to see Jesus at the cross (John 19:25-27). Mary was committed to the care of Jesus' disciple John. (John 19:27) Mary lived with the disciples in Jerusalem for a while (Acts 1:14).

So everything Catholics say about Mary that is not in the Bible has been made up by people, and are based on tradition rather than the truth. Nowhere does the Bible say Mary was greater than any other Christian, she was just a human like all of us. The Bible does not say people should worship Mary or pray to Mary. The Bible does not say Mary prays for us.

A popular Catholic belief is that Mary acts as a mediator between people and God, but this is the opposite to the Bible which says, Jesus is only mediator between God and mankind. (1 Timothy 2:5)

A mediator is somebody that negotiates a solution between two people that are divided because of some problem.

Praying to Mary, singing to Mary, and bowing down or kissing statues of Mary, might even be classed as a form of Idol worship, which Jesus said was wrong. For He said we must worship and serve God alone (Matthew 4:10). And Mary was a person.

Mary is not the gate of heaven as some Catholics say, for Jesus Himself said that He is the way and nobody comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). And the Bible also says, there is no other name except that of Jesus by which we are saved (Acts 4:12).

A popular Catholic belief is that Mary never did any sin, but the Bible says everyone has sinned (Romans 5:12-13, 1 Kings 8:46, 1 John 1:8-10, Psalm 53:3). Mary even admitted she needed a Saviour for she called God her Saviour (Luke 1:46-47). Jesus is the only person who has not sinned, and Jesus was God.

Catholics generally believe Mary never had any other children. But the Bible says Mary did have other children (Matthew 13:55-56).

Catholics often call Mary the mother of God, but God does not have a mother, for God and Jesus already existed before Mary existed (Isaiah 43:10). Mary was not God's mother, but simply a channel through which Jesus entered this physical world.

3) THE POPE
The Pope is a man Catholics have claimed is a mediator between God and mankind. But as it has been said Jesus is the only mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5). Catholics also claim the Pope is the head of the Church on earth, but the Bible says Jesus is the head of the Church (Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 2:9-10). To call the pope the head of the Church is to rob Jesus of the honour due to Him alone.

4) CONFESSION
It is often believed among Catholics that a certain class of people called priests, have the power and authority to forgive sins. So sins must be confessed to priests. But such beliefs are the opposite of what is found in the Bible, which says Jesus has the power to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6). Also, no human priest is a mediator between God and man. The Bible also teaches we can ask God ourselves for forgiveness, and He promises to forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). Peter also said in the Bible, that through Jesus name, whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of their sins (Acts 10:43). The Bible does not teach that today there should be a special class of people called priests, for God sees all Christians as priests (1 Peter 2:9).

5) PENANCE
Catholics generally believe sin causes spiritual penalties, and not all of these penalties are removed even if the guilt of a sin has been forgiven. They believe these remaining penalties can be removed or reduced by penance, which involves doing good works. What these good works are is decided by the priest after a confession. According to Catholic beliefs any remaining penalties will be paid by suffering in a place called purgatory after death.

However the Bible does not say anything about penance, God does not demand such things for the forgiveness of sins. God's forgiveness is a free gift we receive by turning away from our wrong ways and accepting it through believing in Jesus as our Lord (Galatians 2:16, Romans 1:17). According to the Bible good works do not make a person a Christian, but good works should be the sign of a person who is a Christian. Good works are the result of becoming a Christian. And we become a Christian by turning away from sin and turning our lives over to Jesus.

6) PURGATORY
Purgatory is a place Catholics believe they will go if they die with unpaid penalties, there they will pay for their penalties by suffering. This imaginary place keeps many Catholics in fear all their life, because they can never be sure of how long they will spend there. They miss out on the joy and peace that comes from knowing Jesus has paid the full price for sin. Catholics often teach that time spent in purgatory can be reduced by gifts of money, the prayers of priests, and by doing other things. Through such teachings the Catholic Church has collected billions of dollars, making it one of the richest institutions in the world.

However nothing about purgatory can be found in the Bible, it is a story invented by people. Jesus said in the Bible, that He who hears His word and believes in Him who sent Him, has everlasting life, and will not be judged, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24). The Bible also says God does not remember sins that have been forgiven (Hebrews 10:17). The Bible also says that once Christians die they will be present with God (2 Corinthians 5:8-9), there is no place in between.

7) INDULGENCES
Catholics also teach that the unpaid penalties can cause individuals to be punished in this life also, in various forms of sufferings, and what remains unpaid by suffering on earth will be paid in purgatory. Catholics also believe these penalties can be reduced with what Catholics call indulgences, which involve doing good works, saying certain prayers, going to confession, going to communion, or doing something else. Catholics also believe indulgences can be gained for people that have died and gone to the imaginary place called purgatory.

The whole concept of Indulgences goes against the Bible, which teaches that God's Gift of life is free, for the whole punishment for all sin has been paid for by Jesus once and for all (Hebrews 10:10).

8) NEVER SURE OF BEING SAVED
Because of beliefs about purgatory, No Catholic person is sure they will go to Heaven when they die, they might go to purgatory. But the Bible says if we walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of God's Son Jesus cleanses us of all our sin (1 John 1:7). So Jesus cleanses us of ALL our sin.

9) MARRIAGE
Catholic beliefs do not allow certain men to have a wife because they are leaders in the Church. However in the Bible we read Christian leaders were married, such as the Apostle Peter (Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:30, Luke 4:38) Paul who was a Christian leader and wrote most of the New Testament also allowed marriage (1 Corinthians 9:5). The Bible even makes it clear that it is wrong to forbid marriage (1 Timothy 4:3).

10) PRAYER
Catholics often repeatedly say the same prayer over and over again. But this is a practice that the Bible says is wrong. For even Jesus told His followers to not vainly repeat themselves in prayer, like some do thinking they will be heard because of their many words. Jesus went on to say, we are not to be like them, for our heavenly Father knows what we need, before we ask him (Matthew 6:7-8).

11) RITUALS
A common Catholic tradition involves the kissing and bowing down to images and statues of Mary, Jesus, dead people and angels. The Bible says that is wrong, and such objects should not even be made (Exodus 20:4-5). Jesus told us to worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). There are many other Catholic practices and beliefs that can't be found in the Bible, such as saying prayers for the dead. Generally Church services involve fancy rituals and ceremonies that have been invented by people. God says He is more interested in what is in peoples heart than rituals and ceremonies.

CONCLUSION
As you can see Catholic beliefs are pretty complicated, and they believe being saved involves a lot of hard work, but the simple truth is that nobody can get to heaven by their good works. The Bible warns against those that seek to complicate and corrupt God's simple plan of salvation (2 Corinthians 11:3). The simple truth is God's gift of life has been fully paid by Jesus on the cross. We can receive it in this life by turning from our wrong ways and accepting Jesus as our Lord, it is not something we can get by doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

So if you want to get right with God, you have to go to Jesus directly, not any Church, religious organization or human individual. Jesus said, come to me all you that labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). We are not saved by belonging to a Church either Catholic or Protestant. There are only one kind of Christian, those that have made Jesus Lord of their life, and the simplest definition of a "true" Church is any group of people that is united by a shared love of Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

Catholics and Protestants are both Christians. Catholics used to be the only Christian religion until the reformation started by Martin Luther in Germany where he put up the 95 theses that said the 95 things he was against the Catholic religion. He broke away from the church and set up his own religion that followed the "right" way to follow God. Many branches of the Protest - ests came up. The major differences are that Catholics follow the Pope and have confessionals. Protestants dont have either. Also there are some small differences in the books in the Bible for either one.

Answer 3

Catholics believe in the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic church and in the pope's authority as head of the church, based on a concept called "Apostolic Succession" by which an unbroken succession of properly ordained bishops can be traced back to the first followers of Jesus.

Protestants believe in a more direct relationship with God, undistorted by the intercession of other human beings, no matter how holy they might be. Their teaching authority rests primarily with the Bible, the sacred writings of the faith.

Christians are anyone who believes in Christ, that is, in the divinity and saving action of Jesus. Both Catholics and Protestants are Christians, although some would disown others.

Answer 4

Both Catholics and Protestants are Christians. These are the two main branches of Christianity.

Christianity was formed by a Roman ; This was the beganning of the Christian faith. It was called "The Holy Roman Cathiolic Church' and still is.
A few hundred years later soem people became tired of the Catholic church and they protested certain parts of the religion(probly the parts where preist were sucking up to little boys).
These people were called Protestants. This branch includes all
Christians outside of the Catholic Church.
This can be compared to the Islamic religion with it's two main branches; sunny and shiite branches.


So of the three religions there was;
Judaism; The grandfather of all three.
Christianity with Catholics and Protestans; based Judaism.
Islam with sunnys, and shiites ; based on Judaism and Christianity.

Answer 5

Christianity is the term for anyone that believes in Christ. Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, etc... are just branches of Christianity. Mostly seperated due to political reasons throughout the ages. Hope that helps.

Answer 6

Christians denotes followers and practicers of Christianity. Christianity is the religion. Catholic and Protestant are two branches (there are four branches in Christianity: Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Protestant...according to people who categorize religions for a living.....within each of the branches are then the individual denominations).
Christianity first divided between the Eastern and Western Roman Empires with the formation of the Pope in the Western part of the Empire. Christianity in Western Roman Empire became known as Catholicism (Catholic means universal) and the Eastern Roman Empire's Christianity became known as Orthodox. The major difference between the two is that Catholicism has a strict heirarchy with the Pope as head of the church and the Orthodox church has a heirarchy but has no formal head of the church, but instead has a council of bishops. This was the first major split in Christianity.
The next major split in Christianity came with what is known in western history as the Reformation...started by Martin Luther. The term Protestant came about because those new denominations that were forming were "protesting" the Catholic church. Anglicanism came about during this time as a response by the King of England who then declared himself head of the church (thus instead of the Pope, the monarch of UK is the had of the church).

Some demoninations within each

Orthodox Branch: Greek Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Church, Assyrian Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, etc

Catholic Branch: Roman Catholic Church, Old Catholic Church, Catholic Apostolic Church, Reformed Catholic Church, Liberal Catholic Church, Evangelical Catholic Church, etc

Anglican Branch: Church of England, Church of Wales, Scottish Episcopal Church, Church of Ireland, Episcopal Church, Anglican Church of Canada, Church of Pakistan, Church of North India, etc

Protestant Branch: Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Quaker, Seventh-Day Adventist, Amish, Mennonite, Pentacostal, Evangelical, Assembly of God, Southern Baptist, Mormon, etc

Answer 7

Catholics beliieve that the Pope is the head of the church with divine inpiration form God to lead, THey belive that you have to be a good person and and believe in Christ. The Faith doctrine in called the Catacisim which is the law of the church.

Protestants believe that that by grace you are saved and what you do (your conduct) is not part of the equation. Their teaching are from the bible and do not have a centralized leader of the church.

Answer 8

Catholics and Protestants are both Christians. They are specific classes or sects of Christianity.

Kind of like New Yorkers and Rhode Islanders are both "northerners" but they still live in different states and have slightly different laws where they live.

They both drive on the right side of the road, though!

Well, hopefully.

Answer 9

Almost all important doctrine is completely agreed upon between Catholic Christians and other Christians.

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

There are many minor doctrine issues and some major cultural traditional differences which, I believe, do not matter that much.

A Catholic worships and follows Christ in the tradition of Catholicism which, among other things, recognizes that Christ made Peter the leader of His new Church and Pope Benedict XVI is Peter's direct successor.

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

Christians are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ who have been born again (baptized with the Holy Ghost) and believe that God is in His Word. That is, that the Bible is God's primary authority on earth.

Catholics are persons who follow the teachings, traditions and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. Catholics may be Christians if they are born again, which is to say Holy Ghost filled Christians. Those who do not have the Holy Ghost are just members of the Catholic religious
order or organization. Catholic prelates believe that God has given them total authority over Christianity on earth.through apostolic secession from St. Peter who they claim as the first Pope.

Protestants are, as the name implies, protesting Catholics. Protestants following the reformation of Martin Luther reject many of the doctrines, traditions and teachings of the Roman Church. Protestants may be Christians if they are born again, which is to say Holy Ghost filled Christians. Protestant groups generally believe that God's authority on earth is based in the Bible. Their prelates assume authority on that basis saying the church was founded on Christ and not St. Peter.

Answer 11

A Christian is anyone who accepts Christ as savior.

A catholic is someone who belongs to the catholic religion. A protestant is every religion that basically protests the catholic faith.