Christians/Catholics...?

Question

What's the difference?

Answer 1

Pastor Billy says: most of these previous answers are mis-representing Catholicism. Catholicism is in fact first Christianity hence the correctness in stating all Catholics are Christian but not all Christians are Catholic. The Protestant division from which most of your answers are coming from was first established in the 16th century at the time of the Protestant reformation. There arose a belief of total apostasy of the original Christian (Roman Catholic) Church based on propanganda by the elite classes in certain kingdoms and these Protestant groups (the wolves amongst the flock leading to schism) sought to create a new authority with the creation of new communities. They maintained some of the previous Christian professions of truth and rejected others. The problem with idea of reformation is..........you cannot reform something by leaving it. Scripturally we are also told that Jesus Christ will never leave his Church and therefore if Catholicism was not Christianity for the first 1600 years than Protestantism is also not Christianity as a breakaway. Total apostasy of the Catholic Church authority is an impossibly if we believe the words of Christ from scripture. "the gates of hell shall not prevail".

Finally I must correct one gentleman who is very poorly informed about what Catholicism teaches. Catholicism 101 states salvation is first and foremost by God's grace without God's grace there can be no salvation you are incorrect to say Catholicism teaches against this reality. Your acceptance of the teaching on God's grace is in reality a keeping of original Roman Catholic doctrine.

Answer 2

All Catholics are Christians but not all Christians are Catholics. There are more Catholics in the world than there are other Christians whom most Catholics generically call "Protestants", regardless of their denominations (i.e. Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, C of E or even Orthodox). It is similar to the Sunni Muslims who are the "Catholics" of the Islam and the Shiites, Sufis etc. are like the Protestants in Christianity. Even in the Jewish faith there is the Orthodox Jews who are in the same class as the Catholics and the "Liberal Jews" who may be likened to the protestants.
Normally Catholics believe that their form of Christianity is the only true way to heaven; but they don't realise that the other Christians and, dare I say, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists believe the same thing. I hope this was helpful.

Answer 3

Early Christians were heavily persecuted until Constantine made it the official religion for the Roman Empire. When this happened, they basically found that God's word could be used for political gain and power. The catholic institution quickly became the most powerful in the world by a number of immoral means. A lot of blood was shed by catholics, often of Christians who they regarded as heretics. The crusades and inquisition were Catholic rather than Christian. The original teachings of Christ became skewed and the purity of the Bible was polluted by these new teachings devised to cause people to rely on the church for their salvation. They managed to control people by saying that apart from the Catholic church, they would be doomed forever.

Amongst some of the unbiblical teachings introduced by popes that are not found in the Bible are that you must confess your sins to a priest (Christians believe Jesus died so that we could be given direct access to the throne of God without intermediaries), that there is such a thing as purgatory (Christians believe you go to heaven or hell based on your faith in Christ), that during communion the bread and wine literally turn into Christ's body and blood, that it is wrong for priests to marry, that Mary is a co-redemptrix and worthy of praise, that you should pray to saints (Christians believe this is idolatry), that faith is not enough to be saved (Christians believe this is blasphemy against what Jesus achieved in the cross) and many others.

During the Reformation, a group of people rebelled against the corrupt, controlling practices of Catholicism and decided to go back to the original word of God - without the layers of false teaching that Catholicism had put on top. They found that true Christianity was in opposition to Catholicism and that the words of Jesus and the words of the popes conflicted. In the face of death and persecution by the catholic hierarchy, people in the UK were made aware of the original Bible by some brave individuals.

Catholicism is not Christianity in the same way that Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christians. They have taken the original word of God and layered it with false, oppressive doctrine. However, it is immensely hard for a Catholic to leave Catholicism as they are taught that without the church, they can have no salvation. What they need to understand is that Jesus alone guarantees salvation and that church is not an institution or bricks or walls but that it's people.

Answer 4

Catholicism is a branch of Christianity as is Protestantism, Evangelism and Baptism. Although all believe in God the Father, Jesus as the Son, the Holy Spirit and all that, there are significant differences between them; everything from the way that their clergymen dress, to the way that services are conducted.

Unlike most Protestant churches for example, Catholic masses are conducted in a liturgical fashion, with much emphasis upon symbols, saints, rituals and ceremony. The Pope is also seen as a great figure of authority, believed to be the “Vicar of Christ”.

At the end of the day though, all various different sects of the Christian church share the common ground of being founded upon faith in Jesus Christ.

Answer 5

"Christianity" is the way of life that follows Jesus' teachings.
Catholicism is the oldest organized form of religion claiming to do such.
Many "Christians" do not consider Catholics worthy of being called Christians (for 1 reason or another, the Reformation split everybody apart).

However, seeing as how a good 99% of "Christianity" is out of harmony with Jesus' teachings in some form or fashion, technically they can't be called Christians either. All who claim to be Christian but teach erroneous doctrines such as the Trinity, immortality of the soul, hellfire, etc. comprise Christendom as opposed to true Christianity.

How funny that so many factions formed by breaking away from the Catholic Church but the poisonous teachings stayed intact through the divorce...

Answer 6

The Protestant Christian Churches teach Scripture, with no traditions added to it.
The Bible teaches that Scripture alone is the supreme and infallible authority for the church and the individual believer. This is not to say that creeds and tradition are unimportant, but the Bible alone is our final authority. Creeds and tradition are man made.
Jesus said, "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35). He said "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" (Matthew 5:18). He said, "It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the law" (Luke 16:17).
Jesus used Scripture as the final court of appeal in every matter under dispute. He said to some Pharisees, "You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down" (Mark 7:13). To the Sadducee's He said, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God". (Mat 22:29). To the devil, Jesus consistently responded, "It is written..." (Mat 4:4-10). So following Jesus' lead, the Scriptures alone are our supreme and final authority.
The Protestant Christians broke from the Catholic church because they did not agree with the traditions that were being held as the authority, rather than God's word the Bible.

Answer 7

Christians follow one of many branches of Christianity which includes Catholic, Baptist, Anglican, Presbyterian, Adventist, Evangelist and Congregationalist among others.

So of you like all Catholics are Christians but not all Christians are Catholic.

Answer 8

Catholics are a subset of Christians.

Answer 9

i'll u the difference that christians don't believe in worshipin' idols 4 example a statue of Jesus & they don't even believe in worshipin the virgen Mary but the Catholics do.

The christians love listening chistian rock, salsa & any rhythm they like but it has to be the christian version.
that's the difference between them & plus the christian like to read the Holy Bible everyday & everynight.

Answer 10

Saying Catholics are not Christians is like sayind Sunnis are not Muslims. We are the oldest and largest of all Christian Churches.