How can protestants say what "Christians" believe?

Question

I have read numerous posts saying what "Christians" believe and don't believe, and most of them by protestants (who usurp the name "Christian" unto themselves). My questions is: How can you say what Christians believe? Here are some simple facts:

The total number of Christians in the world is: 2.1 billion. This is how it breaks down:

1) Catholics: 1.4 billion
2) Eastern Orthodox: 0.3 billion
3) Protestansts (Baptists, Lutherans, etc. etc): 0.4 billion

In light of these statistics, how can a group that represents less than 25% percent of Christians say what Christians believe? And, more than that, among themselves they argue endlessly because that small group is divided into hundreds of "denominations" who all disagree on doctrines. Yet they claim that the Holy Spirit guides them when they read the Scriptures. The arrogance is stupifying. I really would like to hear someone try to answer this question.

http://www.catholic.com/library/Pillar.asp
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Answer 1

Most of the Protestants who do not accept Catholics and Orthodox as Christians( even though the basic tenets of all Trinitarian Protestants come from the Catholics and Orthodox) also do not accept many other Protestants who dissagree with them on some issue,say, how the Church will meet the Lord at the 2nd Coming.

Fundamentalist protestants do not speak with a united voice about anything and they certainly cannot speak for even 25% of Christians

Also the different Protestant groups do depend in greater or lesser degree on the Apostolic Tradition and Councils of the Catholic Church(like Nicea or Chalcedon). Protestants of any type can only legitimately say what Christians believe if they appeal not only to the New Testament but also to Tradition and the authority of the Catholic(or Pre1054 Catholic/Orthodox )Church of The-Scripture-in -The-Tradition-in-The - Church.

Answer 2

It seems pretty obvious to me that you must be Catholic. Honestly I've had the some of the same thoughts about the term Christian before. Definitions change as time goes by. During the time shortly after Jesus's Resurrection there were many different terms for the people that believed in him and followed him. Terms such as Christian, Agnostics. etc. After the church separated into Roman and Greek, Catholics still called themselves Christians. I think the terminology of Christian really got taken away from the Catholics when Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church. He started his own Church... although he was ordained a priest, so they are still part of the Catholic Church although not Catholic but Christian. Later as people continued to brake away from the Catholic Church but still believe in Jesus just not all the teachings of the Catholic Church it just became normal for them to call themselves Christians. Most people do not understand the Catholic Church, they have no idea that it was the first Christian church started by Jesus. When I hear someone call themselves Christian I simply think Protestant. It's pretty much the same as the way Libertarians have to call themselves that instead of using the term classical liberal... because the term liberal is so closely related to leftist views instead of a free market society with small government. When all is said and done I come to the conclussion we are all individuals seeing things from completely different points of view. Too often people want to put generalizations on cultures/races/religions. In the bible there is one thing Christians can all agree on and that is that everyone we be judged by God individual for the life that person lead. Before Christians/Catholics/or anyone from any religion says what is true or not true by God they should think of the consequences of misinforming people of what is right or wrong.

Answer 3

I don't agree with you there at all. How can you say Protestants aren't Christians? (sometimes they don't act that way but neither do we)

Luke 9:49-50 "Then John said in reply, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company." Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."

Why do you honestly think Catholics don't go out trying to convert people?

Why on earth would you go and say something like that? And you complain that people think Catholics are going to Hell or some other thing people assume about Catholics. Nothing you can say is going to convince people of the truth of the Catholic Church. People say lots of things. You can only convince people by example. That's what Christ did and he instructed us to do the same.

Answer 4

I try not to answer on behalf of all Christians. I can only answer on behalf of myself. However, if I do feel the need to generalize, I usually include what I know of Catholic beliefs in my answer -- which is far from everything, but I know maybe a little more than the basics.

But Catholics don't do the same for us. When people ask a question about Christian beliefs, many Catholics -- including yourself at times -- copy and paste the Catechism ... and all Christians don't follow the Catechism.

It would do us all some good to remember that we're all working for the glory of Christ, even if it is in different ways, and stop arguing amongst each other!

Answer 5

it's really easy, watch:

"lawls catholics believe (insert misunderstood belief here)" and then they go and (do other misunderstood belief)"


fyi to that person who was talking about limbo- it was never a doctrine, only a, for lack of a better term, supposition. I doubt it was around for "hundreds or maybe thousands of years"


lost.eu/21618

Answer 6

I agree that Protestants are only a subdivision of Christianity. They can believe what ever they want. But, they are not the only Christians. And, they do not have the right to say other groups are not Christians.

Answer 7

Don't you realize it is all a matter of your personal philosophy. Some people develop theirs with a minimum of input, if it is taught to me, it must be so. Others are influenced and reshape their their personal beliefs by receiving input from many sources. They then "go with" that which seems to be the most logical or right for them.
One God, many paths!

Answer 8

Christian= One who follows Christ,knows Jesus is the Son of God,knows Jesus is our salvation. Simple

Answer 9

If one believes on The Lord Jesus Christ and attends a Lutheran, or Catholic, or Baptist Church or whatever, they are still a Christian.

Answer 10

I call myself a Christian because I have obeyed the command of Christ Himself to be born again. I don't consider myself a Protestant--the only one I'm "protesting" against is Satan.
Which church you are a member of is not as important as the condition of your heart.
Was St Paul a Catholic, Protestant, or Eastern Orthodox?
If he was Catholic, then so am I, because I agree with everything that he said. Of course, there are any teachings of today's Catholic Church that Paul never heard of.