are Catholics Christians?

Question

I ran out of answers and couldn't respond to the last hate attack, so I shall pose my point as a qustions: Do you know what "catholic" means? It means "universal" or "all-encompassing". In the Bible, particular local churches are spoken of )in Corinth, Ephesus, etc) but the Church is also spoke of in the "whole" sense; the Body of Christ - all believers. In this sense, the church is Catholic. Catholics usually prefer the name Catholic to Christian ( though not always) because the idea that the Church is of ALL believers everywhere is appealing. (Why would I want to call myself a "southern" Baptist - what about the "northern" ones?) The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, "the Catholic Church," at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’s time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.

Invite thoughtful people to read this link:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Pillar.asp
...and then comment. It is about a 15 minute read, but at least it will help those interested to understand the Catholic point of view a little better.
God Bless
"Pax Vobis"

Answer 1

Yes Catholics are Christian. And yes, we are "saved" through the Sacrament of Baptism. All Christians are.

As far as worshiping, Catholics worship no other but God. Mary, the Mother of Jesus is revered and prayed to but as a "prayer partner" if you will. We ask her for prayer and help in situations because she is our Holy Mother. She is the Mother of all peoples. Because she is the Mother of Jesus. And yes, she is still a virgin. Her conception was Immaculate because it was through God and the Holy Spirit.

The reason the Catholic Church is said to be the "original" church is because it is the truest. It is unchanged since the time of Jesus. The reason for having Popes as the head of the Catholic church is because it continues what Jesus started by appointing Peter as the Rock of the Church. Peter was the first Pope. From then on there have been others. The Catholic Church is the only Apostolic Church (meaning that it is the only church from which Jesus appointed Peter, one of Jesus' "Apostles". This is why the Catholic Church is the one true Church. All other denomonations exist because members of the original following of Jesus decided they believed in only parts of his teachings. The Baptist faith comes from those who believed that John the Baptist was the Messiah. They began to follow his teachings and formed their own following. Other christian faiths are likewise "branches" of the original teachings of Jesus.

Answer 2

I am a follower of Christ and I am Catholic so yes, Catholics are Christians.

I do not worship statues.
I do not worship the pope.
I do not worship Mary, the mother of our Lord.
I do not worship any saint.
I do not reject the Bible.
I do not think rituals will get me into heaven.
I do not practice paganism.
I do not ask men for forgiveness.

I believe in God, the almighty Father and in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son and in the Holy Spirit. I believe the Bible. I believe the Bible where it says that we are to follow both the written word AND sacred tradition (2 Thess 2:15). and I believe the Bible where it says that celibacy is a good practice for people called to serve the Lord (1 Cor 7:8ff).

I wish some of you people who hate Catholics would at least learn the FACTS about what Catholics believe instead of hating us for things that aren't even true.

Answer 3

One is only a true christian by faith in Christ. And you don't have to be a catholic to have faith. And it doesn't matter what church you belong to or what it is called, if one is not born again, they can not see the kingdom of God. Jesus didn't say to the man who asked how can one be born again that he had to be catholic to see the kindom. He said you had to be born again to see the kingdom. . And you can't get that in a catholic church. It is in the heart that this takes place. I could convert to catholicism, go to every mass, pray everday, to all the saints, to God , to Mary, and I can give my money to the church regularly, help people left and right, feed the poor, clothe the naked, get baptized, take communion, see a priest to confess, etc.....for the next 40 years and still go to hell and be eternally separated from God. The church was never called the CATHOLIC Church in the beginning. Your definition is correct but the true church was established by a Jewish Rabbi, named Jesus, who is God in the flesh, and celebrated all of the Jewish festivals and feasts, and kept the sabbath Holy and prayed to the Father only, and the catholic church isn't established on any truth that Christ established. It is an imitation and a bad one at that. Read my blog on the imitation "christianity" 360.

Answer 4

Some are some are not. No different that any other church in Christendom. See it doesn't matter in what building you worship nor does it matter about the dominations history. What matters is Jesus Christ. Did He shed His blood for your salvation. Did you except this gift of life by faith and live for Him? No matter what organization you join if you believe these things you are His child, a Christian... IHS Jim

Answer 5

Yes, catholic means universal church, encompassing all believers. The "Roman" catholic church is sect, not the universal Church. Will you come out and admit that there are believers and members of the body of Christ in Protestantism? Will you admit that salvation is by Christ alone, not the Roman church? Will you declare that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone? If so, then you are at odds with the bishop of Rome and the hierarchy who have declared, and has been catholic dogma, that those outside the "mother" church are fallen brethren, that Christ's work on the cross was insufficient for total forgiveness of sin and that salvation is found in the "mother" church only.

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, the One above all and through all and in you all.

There are only believers and unbelievers, that is is.

Answer 6

Catholics are funny. They believe in a place called purgatory and think that they wrote the Bible?! They believe that Mary is still a virgin even though the bible is clear on the fact that she had sex. They are nothing more than a group of idolaters. They have created a god from all their false doctrines. The reason all the doctrines they quote from didn't make the canon we call the bible is because they are false teachings, if they were true then GOD would have included them in the bible we know today.

Answer 7

This is becoming a mine is better contest which Jesus rebuked his disciples sharply for. I understand how you feel as Catholics and how disrespectful that last question was to you. As a Christian- born again & Spirit filled also raised Catholic I was greatly disturbed by it too. I want all of you to know that regardless of our differences I love you in Christ and pray that we will all come to the place where we can overlook our differences and agree on the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. Please forgive us as we also should forgive you.

Answer 8

I do not question one church over another.They believe they are Christians,therefore they are.Catholic,southern baptist,it's just a denomination...some people who are raised in that certain church think,that theirs is the only church..but I don't make a distinction.

Answer 9

I was raised Catholic and have always considered myself to be a Christian. The ian means "follower of". I'm definitely a follower of Christ. I've had this discussion with quite a few people and I understand your situation. Pax to you too.

Answer 10

Catholic religion is a hybrid is of christianty and pagan traditions and idiolity. It may not seem that way to many people, but if read history you see the various actions taken by the catholic church that merit the hybrid title. My opionon is that you can't bring in the things of worlds religion and intermingle it with pureness of Jesus Christ and expect it to work in Gods eyes. Sorry for being so hard, it what it is.