Christians: Is it often obvious to you when a Catholic does not truly know Jesus Christ?

Question

I find it so. Anyone can have abundant knowledge of scripture; including Satan himself whom of which has more knowledge of scripture than any man alive today. But what good does this do a man if he is not born again through the Holy Spirit by direct repentance, and the accepting of Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and savior? I'm not trying to judge Catholics, but I often times find that this is the case when ingaging in conversation with them.

I would like to point out that in no way am I referring to any particular percentage of Catholics.

Yes, I understand what you are saying Story Junkie. I know that I'm no better or worse than any other person in anyway. So in that, I'm trying to ask the question WITHOUT any self-righteous type projections or inclinations. I'm not trying to put myself above anyone... just want to know if other Christians oftentimes experience this.

Good answer Pastor Chad. I agree. It's definitely not just in Catholicism but all denominations and churches out there, absolutely including Christianity. I'm not posing the question to just people who are of the "Christian" "RELIGION" but who are Christian that they are true believers of Christ Jesus. I am though asking the question in reference to people who practice Catholicism not all "religions".

Teri... you may know this but it's discernment and conviction through the Holy Spirit and ones personal relationship with Jesus Christ which enables one to decipher what is truly of and from God and what is not. In this same discernment graced to me by God, you have provided some good and true input (in the truth of its meaning), but also very much which is quite the opposite. Some of what you said was in similarity to the character of Satan, even though you likely do not even know this. I can just pray that you would have the discernment I referred to above and if not come to have it by God's grace in the future.

Great answer Tommy.

and Tommy, it does apply to EVERYONE. But the question was asked regarding "Catholics". This was because many seem as though they have much knowledge of the bible, yet don't really trully understand it.

Answer 1

I know a number of Catholics who have a personal relationship with Christ, not through some other mediator such as the Virgin Mary. Having said that, I also know of far too many Christians who attend even evangelical churches but who have absolutely no idea what they believe and are ignorant of even the basics of Scripture. I think it's much more productive to pray for ANYONE, Protestant or Catholic, to come to have a personal relationship with God through His Son and to live out His love than to point the finger at any one group. The lack of a personal relationship with Christ is certainly not confined to any one group of people.

Answer 2

I used to be a saved, evangelical Christian but then I did a study of the early church and found that there was no Baptists, no fundamentalists, no "born again" preachers at all. I converted to Catholicism when I was 40, kicking and screaming all the way.

For the most part I found Catholics to be pretty lifeless. They couldn't sing well. They didn't fellowship well. Their youth programs were inferior. Their pastors preached impromptu sermons!! How pathetic. But their teachings were right on...

Have you ever wondered why Protestants don't use any of the teachings of early patriarchs? Why do all their bible commentaries begin in the 16th century? Weren't there any Christians before the 16th century who could teach correctly?

Answer 3

This applies to all Christians, does it not?
Not every Christian, whatever church, faith or communion they take or belong to, is a child of the King. Not every one who cries Lord Lord will enter the kingdom.

You can go into baptism a sinner and come out a sinner. You can go into confirmation a sinner and complete confirmation a sinner; for confirmation will not save you; any more than Protestant baptism and courses of Bible study.

No church, order or tradition nor life of piety can provide salvation for the Lord alone is salvation. No sacrament or church order will do it. None can see the kingdom without being born of the spirit; which is the true indwelling of the living Christ whose title is the Holy Spirit.

In this hour one must also have the very mind of Christ to stand in a dark and evil hour.

The many former Protestants and Catholics I know have come out from under their respective religious coverings and will never go back; having found true liberty from the religious and political bondage of this world.

Are there Catholics who do not truly know Jesus Christ? Of course. As is the case for all who claim to be Christians; they are known by their fruits Some people show they are not of Christ by word and deed. With others, it is a matter of conversing with them long enough for their spirit to become transparent.

Even the devil knows when you are faking it.
.

Answer 4

I would be hard-pressed to tell just about any devout Catholic that they do not truly know Jesus Christ. If it's a works-oriented religion, then it's all done out of love for Christ anyway, begging for the forgiveness of sins, baptizing children, maybe it's not Protestantism but every time I go to Mass I always see an adoration that is admirable.

Answer 5

Catholic here.

I'll comment that it is sad when a protestant brother encounters a catholic brother and does not see a person dedicated to Christ. The sinfulness of this causes many people, even non-believers, to stumble and move away from Christ.

The opposite should be the case: when others see us, they are to see Christ. That is our calling. There are people that know the bible backwards and forwards, theology and doctrine, but have no faith. You are 100% right - it takes repentance and acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and, especially important, following Him.

I'd ask that you pray for those you've encountered who don't know their faith. It's a sad state of affairs. We must also pray for ourselves that we live the Faith as Jesus taught, devoting ourselves to prayer, worship, the Eucharist, and a life lived in Christ.

I love this quote from St. Francis (paraphrasing): "Preach the gospel every minute of every day of your lives, and when necessary, use words."

God bless.

Answer 6

so the church that gave us all the bible doesn't know Christ?
so the church that spread the word of god for 1500 years before any other doesn't know Christ?
so the church Christ gave the world doesn't know Christ?

your concept of being born again isn't the same as the catholic church but we are born again and accept Jesus as our personal lord and savior, we don't do it your way but we do it in our own form that has been consistent from when Christ gave us the church 2000 years ago. if anything catholics know Christ more than anyone else as we are the only ones who obey his command regarding the Eucharist. you may have come to your conclusion because you talked to catholics who were not as knowledgeable about their faith,the same as some other denomination Christians are unfamiliar with certain things,if that be the case here are some sites that will explain the faith better and you can see for yourself that we do indeed know Christ,in our own way

www.scripturecatholic.com
www.catholiceducation.org
www.newadvent.org
www.fisheaters.com
www.ewtn.com

you mentioning Satan and his knowledge of scripture goes both ways, for catholics after 1500 years protestants made alterations to what it was to be Christian using scripture,since then there is around 28,000 forms of christianity,it maybe that satan has successfully used scripture already to divide christians.....? just something to think about regarding your point about satan. sorry if this comes across as harsh or offensive that was not my intention,you asked respectfully and i hope this is seen as a respectful answer,if not sorry.

Answer 7

Catholics ARE Christians; the original Christians. Catholicism is the Church Christ founded while personally present on earth. Whatever type of Christianity you embrace, it is only a drop of water from the living ocean of truth which the Holy Spirit has continuously sustained and replenished in the Catholic Church for 2000 years; moreover, the only reason you have even that one drop is because you or your Protestant forebears borrowed it from Catholicism. If you knew the first think about the history of the Western World, that would be obvious to you.

Answer 8

So I take it Mother Teresa and John Paul I were heathens and have you ever heard of the saints that became martyrs by standing by Christ.

I find it interesting when you say that anybody can have knowledge of the scriptures and bend them to suit them don't think that is what fundamentals Christians have been doing since 9/11.

Yes the Catholics might be a little old fashioned in their views but one thing I went to catholic school and we studied many religions from Buddhism to Hinduism and never once did they condemn these people for their beliefs that is called tolerance.

Were as my daughters friends went to a very strict Christian school where non Christians attended so they had this class exercise about gays and the Christians had to convert the non Christan's from being gay into useful of members of society .

Answer 9

I have known many Catholics who were Catholics in name only -cultural Catholics who were baptized as infants, went through First Communion and Confirmation, and go to Mass infrequently. They, like many folks who belong to other churches, falsely believe that their membership in a church or participation in a ritual gets them to heaven. They will often speak of what they have done to gain God's acceptance.

I have also known Catholics (and people from other churches) that trust not in a church, but rely on Jesus, His death and resurrection, alone to save them. These are people who trust in, not what they have done, but what Christ has done on their behalf.

Answer 10

the two faiths ultimately have self assurance interior a similar issues. they're the two Christian. the two faiths renowned salvation by using Christ's crucifixion, the two faiths have self assurance in an all-powerful god. Now the two disagree on the greater superficial factors of religion. maximum critically, baptists take the Bible by using fact the literal and unquestionable word of God. They examine it therefor, that's actual. Catholics examine the Bible as frequently a metaphor, something that should be interpreted. to no longer diverse from fixing a riddle. This difference in interpretation finally ends up in lots of diffused ameliorations. Transubstantiation, via St. Thomas Aquinas' reason, is a mix of theological interpretation and Aristotelian logic. Baptists reject transubstantiation, by using fact it is not any longer, word for word, interior the Bible. this concept is a style between the two faiths and on their disagreements. additionally worth of no longer, besides he countless somewhat diffused ameliorations, their is a huge difference between non secular tone amoung the two faiths. As i'm particular you are able to tell basically from the responces, Catholics seem much less confrontational, on a similar time as the Baptists seem greater agressive. This stands to reason that a faith this relies of absolutes would be a sprint greater fanatical and much less accepting of ameliorations. on a similar time as maximum of Catholicism somewhat recognizes the smaller Protesant denominations. in actuality, maximum Europeans have by no skill heard of a fashionable Baptist. So thats fairly the conflict in a simplistic nut shell. i could additionally want to observe that the Catholic Church has an extremely constructive dating with Anglicans, Lutherans, and the eastern Orthodox faiths. thrilling to observe, none of those faiths take the Bible actually eather. a majority of those faiths have their disagreements, in spite of the shown fact that that's frequently greater theological and much less fanatical, interior the trendy era besides. As a Catholic, I could desire to declare that no faith is thoroughly precise or thoroughly incorrect. and that i think of that's immportant and morally precise to know the Baptist faith, seem at their ideals and honor its finer factors on a similar time as rejecting is worse characteristics. i fairly want all faiths ought to respectfully disagree, yet they cant.