What is the difference between Catholic and Christian?

Question

I am Christian but I don't quite understand Catholicism.

Answer 1

We are all trying to get to the same place, just take a different road.

Catholicism and Biblical Christianity are divergent religions. They are built on different foundations, and they propose different ways of salvation.

In principle, Christianity is built solely on the Holy Scriptures, the written Word of God. The Bible is our only infallible rule of faith, being sufficient to give us the sure knowledge of the Gospel for our salvation and holiness.

Roman Catholicism demands submission of the intellect and will to the doctrines taught by the Roman magisterium (the Pope and bishops). It is claimed that the Catholic Church derives its doctrines from the "sacred deposit" found in Scriptures and Sacred Tradition. However the faithful cannot verify these doctrines by referring to the original sources. The Scriptures are inaccessible because only the magisterium is able to establish the authentic meaning. Similarly the contents of Sacred Tradition can only be known through the magisterium. Roman Catholicism is mental and spiritual slavery to the Vatican.

As expected, since the foundations are different, so also are the edifices built upon them. Christianity stands on the Gospel of God's sovereign grace. In love, God predestines His chosen ones to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ, their sole mediator. The Son became man and gave His life as a ransom to secure their freedom from sin. Being dead in sin, they are completely unable to convert ourselves or merit God's favour. Therefore God graciously grants His people repentance and faith to turn to Him and trust in Christ Jesus for salvation. Believers are accepted in Christ, solely on the merit of His righteousness and blood, and not because of any goodness or human merit. God also resides in His people by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to obey and glorify the Father, and to guarantee their inheritance in heaven forever.

Rome's "gospel" is not good news at all. The Roman institution, calling itself "The Church", usurps Christ's mediatorial office, proclaiming herself as the "sacrament of salvation." The "Church" dispenses salvation to her faithful in small portions, starting at baptism and continuing throughout life. Forgiveness can only be obtained through the sacrament of penance. The benefits of Christ's sacrifice are accessible through the sacrifice of the Mass. Instead of teaching the faithful to rest in Christ by faith, Catholics are taught to perform religious works to "merit grace" and to do penance to make satisfaction. Even after death, Catholics remains dependent on the "Church" to relieve their suffering in Purgatory by masses and indulgences.

The Roman Catholic Church is a mighty obstacle to anyone seeking salvation, enslaving millions of people to a religious system and preventing them from coming directly to Christ.

The choice is between the Bible and the Roman magisterium; the choice is between salvation by grace through faith in Christ, or through human merit and effort in the Roman religion.

Answer 2

Catholicism is a type of Christian belief. There are specific guidelines for following a Catholic belief in Christianity, as there are for other types of Christian beliefs. Catholicism, as one might expect from one of the oldest forms of Christian belief, has a large number of guidelines that indicate how a proper Catholic should behave and worship. That is not a criticism, nor necessarily a benefit, simply a condition common among older sociological systems.

Answer 3

to understand catholicism you may want to look at scripturecatholic.com and ewtn.com the catholic church is christian,actually the first christians were catholic. to go through the differences and give an explanation would take up a good amount of space so just when you get a chance check out the websites, you can also have catholic in your search engine and just look around. you may not agree with everything but atleast you will understand it better.

Answer 4

Roman Catholicism is Christianity.

Answer 5

"What separates us as believers in Christ is much less than what unites us." (Pope John XXIII)

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 6

just as we are all humans - there are men, women, eastern european, africian, irish, etc.... in Christianity - all those that profess that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour ARE Christians. The Catholic denomination just like the others - Baptist, MEthodist, etc - they just have different traditions, intreprutations and such.

someone above posted that Catholics believe Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus is the way to God. Please do not listen to her or the other drivel you will hear as that is highly incorrect. The Catholics understand and respect the role Mary had to plan in God's plan. They do know fully that - without that gift from God - Jesus Christ - Mary would be nothing more than another Godly Jewish woman.

Answer 7

Roman Catholicism is one of the branches of Christianity. The other two are Eastern Christianity (which includes the Eastern Orthodox Church) and Protestantism (Anglicans, Lutherans, Reformed/Presbyterians, Congregational/United Church of Christ, Evangelical, Charismatic, Baptists, Methodists, Nazarenes, Anabaptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and Pentecostals, among others. The oldest of these separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century Protestant Reformation.)

Answer 8

All Catholics, repeat ALL CATHOLICS, are Christians.

Any verbiage that you've heard that suggests that Catholics, who with the Orthodox church held the traditions of the Christian Church for 1400 years until the Protestant Reformation, was basically ill-informed and misleading.

I don't know if they did it on purpose or not, but don't believe any of the derision pointed at Catholics.

Answer 9

Catholics are Christians, we believe in God and follow the Bible and do not worship Mary above God as some people think

God Bless You

Answer 10

The Pope is the reigning head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Jesus is the head of the Christian Church.

Peter received the keys to the kingdom of God,
he did not receive the keys to the church.

Answer 11

Yes, all Catholics are Christian, but not all Christians are Catholic. It's a denomination, just like Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, etc.