I was raised Catholic and assumed I was Christian, until I read the Bible myself and found out you can't be born into faith that gives you salvation, it has to be decision you make on your own. But I think most people think Catholics are Christian because the church was originally Christian. Of course some are, inspite of the Catholic church itself. What do you think?
2007-07-20 08:11:34 · 12 answers · asked by IMHis 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I didn't say you couldn't be, I asked if you think someone is Christian just because s/he is Catholic, and by the way, the Bible does not say you have to be baptized- anyway, your parents did that, not you.
2007-07-20 08:27:06 · update #1
Oh Fr. Joseph, you are so wrong. No where in the Bible does Christ say you are born into faith, it says you must be born again. Your parents decision is not your own. I pray God will open your eyes and you will truly have a saving faith and Christ will never say He never knew you.
2007-07-20 08:44:54 · update #2
Fr. Joseph, I do take time to read my Bible, daily and when I was in Bible college! Jesus says it is by faith you are saved, not by water baptism, water baptism is a symbol, without faith works are useless. Lets keep the personal attacks out.
2007-07-20 10:47:07 · update #3
To answer a question below, I am not trying to promote any religion, just seeing how many people realize that just because you say you are Catholic, doesn't make you a Christian.
2007-07-21 13:53:26 · update #4
No. Neither are all Lutherans, Episcopalians, Baptists, Pentecostals., etc.
2007-07-20 08:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by Cee T 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think most of what you said is illogical.
Millions of people are born into Christian families some of which are Catholic. I was born into a Christian family (Moravian) and was Baptized into the body of Christ when I was just eight days old. I never made a decision to become Christian, I just always was a Christian. There was never any doubt as the Holy Spirit has always been in me as a result of my Baptism that was chosen by my family and my community of faith. For those who do make a decision to become Christian as adults that is a good thing but their Baptism is no more valid than mine who has never had a conversion experience or a need for one.
The Catholic Church is Christian, has always been Christian and is the true Church started by Christ and the disciples with the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against it and that it will endure for all times. The Bible says that the Catholic Church is the "bulwark and ground of the truth". No other ecclesiastical groups have these promises from our Lord but the Churches in apostolic succession. Jesus prayed in His last prayer that we all be one and all are welcome in His Church, the Catholic Church.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
Pam T,
It is by Baptism that we are born again and not by making a one time ascension to belief in God. If you would take the time to read the Scriptures you will find that entire families were baptized into the Christian faith including babies unable to make their own decision. No where in Scriptures does it say that it is necessary for one to be a certain age or make a confession of faith to be “born again”. Jesus forbid that the children be kept from Him as they may be the inheritors of His salvific work the same as anyone else. Jesus is the savior of all and not just for those with the mental ability to believe in Him before they are ‘born again”. My eyes are open I have just not been deceived by false teachers or become one myself.
One key Scripture reference to being "born again" or "regenerated" is John 3:5, where Jesus says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
This verse is so important that those who say baptism is just a symbol must deny that Jesus here refers to baptism. "Born again" Christians claim the "water" is the preached word of God.
But the early Christians uniformly identified this verse with baptism. Water baptism is the way, they said, that we are born again and receive new life—a fact that is supported elsewhere in Scripture (Rom. 6:3–4; Col. 2:12–13; Titus 3:5).
No Church Father referred to John 3:5 as anything other than water baptism.
2007-07-20 15:30:10 · answer #2 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm Catholic and yes, I'm a Christian because I love and worship Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church is STILL Christian, always has been and always will be, because the Catholic Church teaches people to love, honor, worship and serve Christ the Lord.
I am sorry that you weren't properly taught the Catholic faith. Catholicism does NOT mean that you are "born into" salvation in anyway.
And for the record, the BIBLE says that you can't just "decide" to be saved. Salvation belongs to CHRIST alone. You can't decide you've got it and you can't choose it and you can't earn it. Salvation is His to give.
2007-07-20 15:20:02 · answer #3 · answered by sparki777 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
This is not an opinion: Catholics are Christians. It's a fact.
Anyways, you aren't born into any religion. You must be Baptised in order to become Catholic. After that, you still choose to continue being Catholic and get other Sacraments, convert to another religion, or become atheist.
***addition: What religion are you trying to promote as the "real Christian faith" then? I guarantee that MANY people who belong to that religion were also introduced to it by their parents! (Also, a person may convert and be Baptized into Catholicism at ANY time in their life, so not everyone is baptized through their parents) The more responses you post, the more I begin to feel that you simply don't like Catholics/Catholicism and want to make yourself feel better by telling yourself that they are "not Christian"...
2007-07-20 15:18:11 · answer #4 · answered by Rabbityama 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Catholics are spiritually born again (and again and again) through:
+ Belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior
+ Living the Gospel to the best of our ability
+ Daily rededicating ourselves to Jesus Christ
+ Receiving new life in Baptism
+ The forgiveness of sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation
+ The infusion of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands in Confirmation
+ Taking the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ into our bodies through the Eucharist (Holy Communion)
+ Even during the penitential season of Lent
These are a few ways that Catholics are spiritually born again. We usually just don't use those words.
With love in Christ.
2007-07-21 01:22:59 · answer #5 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, most catholics are christians. So are baptists, lutherins, and methodists. Christianity is an umbrella and there are specific religons under that umbrella. But if you are born into a catholic family (i was too), and you are old enough to decide if you belive everything thats taught, then you are truely a catholic. My mom (and maybe me now) does't believe ALL that catholics teach, but most of it, so she is catholic. But then theres people who just believe in the bible (my dad) and they are just plain christians. Either way, if you believe and do everything the bible says, you will go to heaven!
2007-07-21 16:19:55 · answer #6 · answered by E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who says you cannot be Catholic and be born again? I am. Being born again means leaving your sinful past behind and being reborn. Thats just what happened. You should get a catholic Bible and see that it says the same thing.
2007-07-20 15:15:50 · answer #7 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No,not all Catholics are Christian.Neither are all
Protestants.There are some in the Baptist church that are not Christians. Matthew 7:15,16,17.
2007-07-21 09:26:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they believe in Christ they are Christian.
2007-07-20 15:21:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope. You are on the right track.
Salvation comes through Christ alone.
2007-07-20 15:25:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋