How is Catholicism not Christianity?

Question

Revelations says nothing about Catholicism.

Revelations says nothing about Catholicism.

Answer 1

Christianity strictly forbade the carving of God images,but the Catholic churches made the image of Jesus and Virgin Mary.

Catholism disobeying the Bible by making the images of God.

Answer 2

Protestants, in particular fundamentalists feel that they are the true christians, and that the Catholic church has perverted christianity into a bizarre polytheistic idol worshipping cult. They forget, or usually don't know church history.

Crash course in early christian history...

Until 423 there was no "bible" or orthodoxy of belief....every little christian group, the Gnostics, Essenes and many others shared different views of who or what Jesus was, and used different versions of Gospels and letters.

Constantine ordered that the bishops make a catholic bible (ie broad in interest, appealing to the widest variety ) so they threw out the more contraversial and outrageous bits (and that's saying something !!!) edited and tried to correct inconsistencies with the included bits (and boy, did they miss a lot !!!!) came up with a canon, started persecuting heretic christians and building churches and forging relics with Constantines support. Phew.

As the Roman empire collapsed, what was now the Catholic church assumed a power vacuum in Rome and the pope became the de facto ruler of the former Roman Empire. As literacy level dropped during the Dark Ages, and Latin fell out of common usage, the clergy were the only ones now with "direct access" to the word of god, and became incredibly powerful and rich as a result. (Remember, there was no TV back then, and a priest reading gods word to you in a language you didn't understand was a powerful thing)

The Protestant Reformation took place on several fronts with people like Calvin, Luther and Henry VIII reacting to the power and corruption of the papacy. The Protestant movement has continued to fragment into even more faction ever since.

However, by definition, they all worship Christ, whatever their docrtrinal differences, so they all practice Christianity.


The fact it is all delusion is an answer to a different question

Answer 3

Well... it depends on what you mean by it. Catholics are Christians, that's one of the meanings. But not all Christians are Catholics. So Catholicism isn't all of Christianity.

As for semi-literacy on the roots of the Protestant Church... Protestants aren't the only non-Catolic Christians. Think Eastern Orthodox... And think the division of the Eastern and Western Roman Empire. No, Catholicism is not all of Christianity, by a long haul.

Answer 4

Because not only do they have no basis to even exist as a Church, The Lord will destroy the Catholic Church during the tribulation for the reasons given in Revelations CH.17 V1-9

Answer 5

Catholics trust in their good deeds to earn their way.
"How should I witness to someone who belongs to a denomination, who I suspect isn’t trusting the Savior?"

The most effective way to speak about the issues of eternity to a religious person is not to get sidetracked from the essentials of salvation. Upon hearing a person’s background, we may feel an obligation to speak to issues such as infant baptism, transubstantiation, etc. However, it is wise rather to build on the points of agreement between the Bible and the person’s denomination, such as the virgin birth, the cross, and so on. One point of agreement will almost certainly be the Ten Commandments. They are the key to bringing any religious person to a saving knowledge of the gospel.

After someone is converted to Jesus Christ, the Bible will come alive and he will be led into all truth by the indwelling Holy Spirit. God’s Word will then give him light, and he will forsake religious tradition as he is led by God. While there are strong biblical arguments that may convince unregenerate people that their church’s traditions contradict Holy Scripture, there is a difficulty. Some religious people hold the teachings of their church to be on a par with, or of greater authority than, Holy Scripture. It is therefore often futile to try to convince them intellectually that their trust should be in the person of Jesus Christ, rather than in their own righteousness or in their church traditions. For this reason we should aim at the conscience, rather than the intellect. Take them through the Law of God (the Commandments) to show that they are condemned despite their works, and strongly emphasize that we are saved by grace, and grace alone, rather than by trusting in our own righteousness or religious traditions.

If they are open to the gospel, and are interested in what God’s Word says in reference to their church’s teachings, they will listen to Scripture. For example, in Matthew 8:14 we see that Peter (whom the Roman Catholic church maintains was the first pope) was married, as were many of the other apostles (see 1 Corinthians 9:5).

Answer 6

Catholics are Christians. Some of their theology I disagree with but the basis is there and other Christians should recognize this.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Answer 7

It is that same leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees....

(Mat 15:8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
(Mat 15:9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
(Mat 15:10) And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
(Mat 15:11) Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
(Mat 15:12) Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
(Mat 15:13) But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
(Mat 15:14) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
(Mat 15:15) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
(Mat 15:16) And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
(Mat 15:17) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
(Mat 15:18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
(Mat 15:19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Answer 8

They perform rituals, have graven images, lay up treasures on the earth,pray to saints worship idols,and pray to Mary.Just a few
things they do against The Word of God.I could go on and on.

Answer 9

catholics practise their form of christianity
the bible condems the use of Idols, the veneration of mary,
the pomp and ceremony practised

REV 18:4  And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if YOU do not want to share with her in her sins, and if YOU do not want to receive part of her plagues. 5 For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind. 6 Render to her even as she herself rendered, and do to her twice as much, yes, twice the number of the things she did; in the cup in which she put a mixture put twice as much of the mixture for her. 7 To the extent that she glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury, to that extent give her torment and mourning. For in her heart she keeps saying, ‘I sit a queen, and I am no widow, and I shall never see mourning.’ 8 That is why in one day her plagues will come, death and mourning and famine, and she will be completely burned with fire, because Jehovah God, who judged her, is strong.

Answer 10

Catholics are Christians. Some Protestants, attack Catholics and claim they are not true Christians because they worship Saints. Catholics fulfill the requirement of being Christians by believing in one god and Jesus is the son of God.