Can I convert to Christianity if I'm Catholic??

Question

OK so here's my story: So I was born and I was baptized as a Catholic. I have been a Catholic for years and I did my first communion about 4 years ago. I was going to these classes to get ready for it and I didn't really pay much attention cuz I wasn't really that interested. Now about 3 months ago I started going to a different church, only this was a Christian church! And I know people will say that they are both pretty much the same but I just wanna say that there are some differences! So yeah anyway, I'm still going to this church and unlike my old church back then I actually pay attention and I'm learning more! Now I've already given my life to my savior Jesus, and I guess the next step is baptism. But I wanna know if it's ok to get baptized even if I have done my 1st communion. Because isn't 1st com. the iniation for Catholics? Anyway I wanna know if it's ok because Christians believe it's their choice to get baptized and not your parents. So can anyone help me out please????????

Answer 1

First I want to say, Yay God! I am soo happy to hear about your experience. I am an ex Catholic, went through everything. I got baptized as an adult in a Christian church even though I went through infant baptism, 1st communion, confirmation, etc. Everything you did in the Catholic church was for the Catholic church only and does not filter through to protestant Christianity. So, get yourself batpized if you like and I wish you Gods peace on your journey in Christ :)

Answer 2

I am so sorry if you have been misled. Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity.
Christians are all those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as their Savior.
Think of Christianity as an umbrella under which are denominations such as Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, Pentacostal, and yes...the Christian church which is considered non-denominational but is Christian.

2nd - if you alread had your 1st communion then that means you have already been baptized. In the Catholic Church you can not have a 1st communion without being baptized.

You can get baptized again if you want in another church however but really, it is not required. Many people do it though when they are older because they reaffirm their baptismal vows.
But, once you are baptized - you are baptized - you are sealed as God's own forever. being baptized over and over really doesn't change anything.
I have heard of some churches say if you want to be a memeber in their church that you have to be baptized into the church.
God never required baptism more than once.
Jesus was baptized one time. Children in those days were baptized only once and adults as well.
It is your choice.
So, remember, you are a Christian, Catholic is a denomination.
Other than Christian you have agnostic, Jewish, Hindu, etc.
Catholics believe that baptism is necessary for the cleansing of the taint of original sin, and for that reason infant baptism is a common practice. The Eastern Churches (Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy) also baptize infants on the basis of texts such as Matthew 19:14, which are interpreted as supporting full Church membership for children, and so baptism is immediately followed by Chrismation and Communion at the next Divine Liturgy regardless of age. Orthodox likewise believe that baptism removes what they call the ancestral sin of Adam.[34] Anglicans believe that Baptism is also the entry into the Church and therefore allows them access to all rights and responsibilities as full members, including the privilege to receive Holy Communion. Most Anglicans agree that it also cleanses the taint of what in the West is called original sin, in the East ancestral sin.

Answer 3

The short answer is - yes. Don't worry about 1st communion and all that. It's your choice to be baptized and not your parents. Many churches have a membership class that would answer questions you are having like this one. Basically, what the church believes, how to become a member if you want and stuff, so you might ask if there is one.

Just in case - I would like to make sure you understand what a Christian is for sure. Check out www.godlovestheworld.com to see.

I go to a Baptist church. I only mention that, so you know where I'm coming from. The website I gave is run by Campus Crusade For Christ and I gave it just because I get tired of typing that same information they have readily available there.

Answer 4

I hope you're not really serious. Catholics ARE Christians already, in their purist forms. This is like saying can i turn bread into bread? They're already the same thing

Next, The very fact that you're considering "switching" churches because of a sales pitch by the new guy when you haven't even bothered to learn the richness of the faith you'll be losing indicates that you are not handling this decision like a responsible adult.

Finally, sacraments are universal provided the rite is done properly. If you were baptised in a protestant church, the catholic church would accept that as valid. As such, you don't need to be baptised again.

If you'd like to handle this responsibly and learn a little more about what you SAY is your current faith, you can click on my profile and email me specific questions. I think you're going off half-****** and making a mistake by just running to someone making a good sales pitch though.

Answer 5

I'm sorry to inform you that no authentically Biblical Christian church would tell you that you need to be rebaptized to be Christian!

You're jumping from the frying pan into the fire by wanting to go from Catholicism to some kind of Reformed Baptist (non-denominational perhaps, but that is misleading) church. Both rob you of God's Gospel that is meant for you!

The truth is that if you were baptized as an infant "in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit", God was the One who did the work of salvation in that Baptism. You don't need to be Baptized again! In fact, it would be an insult to God, telling Him that essentially, "You, God, didn't do a good enough job the first time." It's ridiculous to ask God to give you rebirth again since He's already given it to you in your first Baptism.

What exactly is catching your "attention" at this other church? God's Word? Great, but that church clearly isn't distinguishing Law & Gospel in God's Word properly (which is essential to properly understand & learn the Bible) if they're telling you that you must get baptized again! They are robbing you of the pure & sweet Gospel.

Try the Lutheran Church (LCMS). They will be much more likely to teach you God's Word properly, so that you are not robbed of the pure Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ--Christ's life, death & resurrection *for you* given to you in your Baptism & God's Word. Don't be fooled by those who would tell you that Christianity is about what you do (or what the priest does). NO, it's about what God did for us through Christ crucified & does for us through His Word (Law & Gospel properly distinguished) & Sacrament (Holy Baptism & Holy Communion).

An LCMS church would not require you to get rebaptized, but in order to take Holy Communion you would need to take instruction from a pastor from a much smaller Catechism (Luther's Small Catechism--http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/wa_smallcatechism.pdf & http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/smallcatechism.pdf) than the RCC Catechism.

Answer 6

2nd, the beauty of being a Christian is that once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, BOOM your converted. We don't have a list of things-to-do to stop being Catholic. But it is normally expected that you notify your previous church so that they can remove you from their membership rolls.
4th, we believe in immersion in water as baptism. Any religious history (like 1st communion), as well as moral mistakes, sins, etc. is washed away. Gone. And, I was also baptized Catholic as a little kid and they did the cross-on-the-forehead deal with me. I didn't have a clue what was happening. I chose Christ and got baptized as an adult and it was truly an emotional, spiritually uplifting experience.
5th, I think that your age will determine how baptism is addressed at your church. At mine for example, a child's parents are included in any conversation with a child who requests baptism.
1st, If you pray, don't worry. If you worry, you didn't pray.

Answer 7

No matter what ritual was conducted by a priest, pastor or anyone else, if you were not aware of what was going on and why, there is no point to the entire ritual.

So, no matter what has been done up to this point that you did not personally know what and why you were doing it, has no value to you or to God.

If you feel that you want to show the world an outside showing of an inside change in your heart and life, then by all means ask the pastor of your new church to perform the ritual. You will need to be fully aware of what you are doing, and why you are doing it. A good pastor will not perform a baptism unless the person knows exactly why they are being baptized.

I am sure that if you asked the pastor , he would tell you this exact thing.
We must know and understand what we are doing, or it is entirely for show and has no meaning to us or to God.

Answer 8

I also grew up as a Catholic - baptized as a baby. When I became a Christian and attended Christian churches I got baptized again - this time as a believer.

Baptism is for believers, not for unbelieving infants.

Answer 9

as far as i know, catholisizm is part of christianity. actually it is one of the oldest denominations of christianity and has converted more people over the ages (willingly and unwillingly) than any other christian church.
in recent years fundamentalists and born again christians appropriated the name of christianity, claiming that other denominations are not the real thing.
if you adopt their point of view, then your baptism is not valid and you need to convert.
according to catholics you're a christian if you were baptized as a baby.
but it's all really up to you.

Answer 10

You are already a Christian. Catholics are Christians, in fact Catholics were the first Christians. If you have already been baptized there is no reason for another