How are catholics not christians?

Question

We believe in Jesus Christ, we believe He is the Lord and Saviour. We do not worship Mary or the saints, but we do talk to them because we believe they can help us. They know the glories of heaven and the pains of earth- but we dont worship them.

I dont understand how some people say we are not christians. We believe in GOD!!!

Answer 1

catholics are christians.
mormons are christians.
someone cant just come up to you and try to tell you what you believe, and if you're christian or not.
that is the one thing that makes me mad.

Answer 2

Some Christians do not take into account Roman Catholics to be truly Christians, and those are typically protestants. But nearly, Roman Catholics are Christian however no longer all Christians are Catholic. Roman Catholics are lead through the Pope in Rome. Protestants do not appreciate the Pope's authority and are geared up into hundreds of unique denominations. The Eastern Orthodox(Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox) additionally don't appreciate the Pope, despite the fact that their teachings and ceremonies are similar to the Roman Catholics. The Eucharist is meant to be Jesus's Body and Blood, this can be a Holy Sacrament, an overly major facet of Catholic church rite. I do not consider in it. I can style of fully grasp the proposal however I am no longer Catholic or Christian. Never be terrified of asking questions of your priest or fellow parishioners.

Answer 3

The definition for Christian means [quote from dictionary.com] "pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ"

[unquote]

The fact you said "we believe" seems to fit the christian faith but only superficially, a closer look at what christ actually taught is key.

You mention something very startling [quote] "we do not worship Mary or the saints, but we do talk to them because we believe they can help us"[unquote]

Incidentally, I am a bible student and i have read most of the NT but haven't yet found reference to any follower of christ praying to mary or the "saints". Since i dont doubt you do have faith it would seem appropiate to list your foundation of such claims.
(KJV) 1 Peter 3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to everyman that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..."

Many (including me) do not find it biblically based to consent on the acts you mentioned. Sadly, these acts are likened to worship. I urge you to read the scriptures with an open heart.

Take Care Everybody.

Answer 4

There are over a dozen references in the Bible (mostly old testament, see below) of how the Lord feels about worship of a graven image. Praying to Mary is by definition worship of a graven image. Mary is not worthy to be prayed to, she was not perfect like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is why Martin Luther revolted against Catholicism and started his religion of Lutheranism. The Bible is very clear that it is only OK to pray to God the Creator, nobody else. I believe that there are many good God believing Christians in many different denomonational religions including Catholicism who are being deceived in different ways including the worship of things or persons other than the true Creator of all that is.

Most Catholics don't even know what the true doctrines of the Catholic church are. Catholicism changes it's doctrines and view points every time a pope dies and a new one is elected. God's word remains constant and unchanging, so that is the only place you should have to look for wisdom and knowledge pertaining to how you should be leading your life and what you should believe.

I don't know if it's still in use, but the Catholic church used to also have four additional books in their bible. It is easy to distinguish what is a book of God and what is not. A true book of God will have prophecy in it and all the rest will not. (side note: prophecy = 100% accuracy). None of the four extra Catholic books had any prophecy in them.

I am not condemning all Catholics, I am merely stating a few of the reasons why I have left the Catholic church. I believe there are many Christians in the Catholic church, as well as many other denominations out there. Once I reached a certain age in life I decided that I had to look into certain things on my own. Ever since then, it has been a hard road changing some/many of my own beliefs to be in line with what God's word has to say, not by what other people teach. Yes you can gain knowledge by what people teach and you can learn from them, but always test what they say to the word of God.

Answer 5

I believe Catholics are Christians.

However, I have noticed that many Catholics say that the Mormons are not Christian. According to some Catholic websites I've seen Catholics don't recognize Mormon baptisms because Mormons are not Christian enough for Catholics, because of a difference in doctrine about the Trinity. Catholics do recognize baptisms in other churches that they consider close enough in doctrine.

So, it is really a matter of definition. Some people tend to define things in such a way that they are included with the good guys, but others are excluded. All they need to do is define Christian to include their particular doctrines, but exclude yours. You see, Catholics also do this.

Mormons, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also believe in Jesus Christ. We also believe that He is the Lord and Savior. We also believe in God.

But, some people just like to exclude us. I think it makes them feel better about themselves. Sort of superior. It also makes it a sin for a Catholic to attend church services in a Mormon church.

EDIT:

Dear James O,

My point was that even the Catholic Church labels some other churches as non-Christian, because of differences in doctrine, even though those other churches consider themselves Christian and believe in the Bible and Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

I would also like to point out, as an aside, that Mormons do not consider themselves polytheistic. Not even henotheistic. There is only one God in Mormon doctrine.

Catholics believe in God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Ghost, and yet there is only one God. This is a Biblical teaching, and it is what the Mormons believe also. There are various interpretations of the Bible to explain how three persons can be One God, and Catholics and Mormons do differ in their understanding of God. And while we disagree on which church teaches the correct doctrine, I don't think it is right for either of us to call the other non-Christian because of a difference of understanding in the Biblical teaching, as long as we both believe in Jesus as our Redeemer and Savior.

It is just too easy to label others as non-Christian simply because of doctrinal disagreements. I would think, as a Catholic accused of being non-Christian, you would appreciate my point of view.

Just last week I was listening to a Catholic radio station in Cincinnati where someone was answering call-in questions, and the host emphasized that differences in belief about the nature of God does not mean that they don't also worship the same God. None of us has a perfect knowledge of God and can rightful say, "If you don't understand God like I do then you worship a false God." There is room for differences until we all come to a unity of the faith and a perfect knowledge.

Answer 6

Evodius was the first Bishop of Antioch, and he is credited with being the first person to call the followers of Christ, "Christians", as shown in Acts 11:26. See Eusebius, book 3, chapter 22.
Saint Ignatius (35-107), the second Bishop of Antioch wrote a letter to the Smyrneans in 107 A.D..
In this letter is recorded the first known use of the words "Catholic Church"...

It seems to me from the above that its the protestants who aren't Christians . They deny the Catholic Church so they must deny the word Christian Other wise they are hypocrites.

Answer 7

Dear Paulo,
Catholicism does not teach that Protestants cannot be saved. The Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as Vatican II emphasize the will of God that all be saved by his Grace. Protestants have "real but ipaired" communion with the Catholic Church and Protestant Churches are "channels of Grace" with real Baptism.

Dear DOc,
Mormons do not recognize the baptisms of anyone but Mormons as being real baptisms. Christian Churches do not see hoe polytheism(even of a henotheistic type ) could be in any way compatible with Christian faith.

Dear Folk Opposed to Religious Statues,
Please Read Exodus 25 in which the making of angel statues is not forbidden but commanded

Protestants got their Christianity from Catholicism. Protestantisms are just Catholicism minus some of its teachings.

Let us all pray for each other.

Answer 8

For those who use the word Christian, it means those who believe in Jesus the same way I do. Otherwise where is the trust and brotherhood if you're bound to disagree on doctrine? The proper response to someone saying Catholic is not Christian, 'You aren't Christian either.' By the same logic you are both correct.

Answer 9

God say,s call no man Father but him,and according to the Holy Bible the only one,s who help us is God and Jesus.

Answer 10

Eh, it's just the old, bogus argument of "Anybody who isn't from my sect isn't a 'true' Christian." In all fairness, some Catholics have said the same thing about Protestants.