Do you consider catholic christians?

[graysparrow]

Title says it all :wave:

[fallingchristian]

Im catholic........Whats the difference?

[GK]

Since this is in the RM congregational forum, I assume greysparrow is asking if RM members consider Catholics to be christian. :)

There's no unifying doctrinal position here. I've been to RM churches that don't even think the RM church across the street is christian. Most think there are aspects of Catholic teaching that are wrong, but this does not preclude members of the Catholic Church from being christian.

I'd expect to see the same sort of responses here as most of the protestant groups.

[graysparrow]

ok thank you

[HeyHomie]

Yes, I do.

I believe that the RCC has some doctrinal beliefs and some practices that are wrong, but absolutely Catholics are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

[MrJim]

Title says it all :wave:

:hug: My favorite missionary! We cross paths again!

[constance]

I believe you have to focus on the central core Christian beliefs when trying to discern a Christian.

For example, there are people who attend my church who would not be able to post on CF, and one of our sister churches (UCC, not part of the RM, but in fellowship with us), don't believe in Hell, believe in Reincarnation, and some deny the deity of Christ.

And I'm quite convinced I know a woman who's a Mormon and a Christian.

So, no, I wouldn't assume all "Catholics" are Christian, just as I wouldn't assume a Baptist was, or a Presbyterian, or anything else.

Constance

[christianmomof3]

I believe you have to focus on the central core Christian beliefs when trying to discern a Christian.
So, no, I wouldn't assume all "Catholics" are Christian, just as I wouldn't assume a Baptist was, or a Presbyterian, or anything else.
Constance
I also agree that there are people in all Christian denominations, Catholic included who are Christian and there are people in all of them who are not Christian. We cannot judge another person's heart or salvation. Only God can do that.

[PatrickHanson1]

OK! First of all it is God's place to judge, but as I understand Scripture and someone were to ask me I would proceed to show them the conversions of Acts. I do believe baptism is essential and necessary for salvation. After hearing the Lord on the road to Damascus, Paul went into the town and prayed for three straight days. Paul was on his way to persecute and imprison Christians. I am sure his prayers expressed sorrow and repentence, but he still had sin. His sins were washed away at baptism, not during the Lord's prayer. Also in Acts we have the conversion of the Eunuch in Acts 6. The Eunuch asked Philip what prohibits him from being baptized and Philip told him if you believe with all your heart, you may. Infants who are "baptized" in the catholic church cannot make this confession. So I have questions and concerns about my family who are Catholic, but it is not my job to condemn. Thanks
Patrick

[VonKarman]

oh boy...

Here we go.

[fallingchristian]

I still dont like the idea Of people not beleving in the bible
In the holy bible it talks about hell, It talkes about Jesus And everything. SO how can you not beleve in it?

[Browneyes84]

I still dont like the idea Of people not beleving in the bible
In the holy bible it talks about hell, It talkes about Jesus And everything. SO how can you not beleve in it?

Then you are denying some core Christian beliefs. To not believe that there is a hell is to not believe that there is an entity who wants us to stray from a righteous path (Satan). This can easily lead to a slippery slope.

I've been reading Mere Christianity and Lewis makes a very good point in the book-- despite the fact that there are many denominations we all share one thing: that we believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for atonement of our sins. I have friends who are non-denominational, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, and Pentecostal and that is the basic backbone that holds us together.

[GK]

oh boy...

Here we go.
There's no reason it has to go there.

In the congregational forums, any member can come in and ask a question, but only members of the forum should be answering. In this case, there is nothing wrong with greysparrow asking his question, but only RM members should respond. People who want to turn it into a debate will need to start a new thread in the theology forums. Debate by non-RM members will be removed.

[HeyHomie]

Then you are denying some core Christian beliefs. To not believe that there is a hell is to not believe that there is an entity who wants us to stray from a righteous path (Satan). This can easily lead to a slippery slope.

So, if you don't believe in Hell you're going to go there? ;)

[constance]

I still dont like the idea Of people not beleving in the bible
In the holy bible it talks about hell, It talkes about Jesus And everything. SO how can you not beleve in it?

I try to be very Bible-centered, and I truly believe that all of the RM churches do too. I'm glad that you are Bible-centered.

It's a 20th century phenomenon to reinvent the concept of Hell. It's now not a horrible burning place (look at the paintings of Hieronymous Bosch) but rather a place where you are separated from God. It's very easy to go from there to "no such thing".

My comment about Hell was specifically about someone not in the Restoration Movement. I also know a Roman Catholic Priest who doesn't believe in hell. I think it's basically something that pops up in every denomination, independent of church teaching (like the belief in reincarnation, for example).

Constance

[imawebmonkey]

I also agree that there are people in all Christian denominations, Catholic included who are Christian and there are people in all of them who are not Christian. We cannot judge another person's heart or salvation. Only God can do that.

This is my opinion as well. I don't agree with all of the practices of the Catholic church but neither do I agree with all of the practices of my home coC either.

[Browneyes84]

So, if you don't believe in Hell you're going to go there? ;)

Don't be silly! only God can deem such things.

[Browneyes84]

So I think we can agree that Catholics can be considered Christians. Now here's the real conundrum: Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christians?

[PatrickHanson1]

Is a Catholic immersed or not? I think we have to ask where does baptism fit in all of this. On the day of Pentecost the Bible says they were pricked to the heart. Did they or did they not believe there? They did, but when did they become saved. When they repented and were baptized. I say again I am not a judge, only God can judge, but we have to take God's word as God's revelation and will for us. I have many family members who are Catholic, and I think it is important to show them what I feel and know are wrong about the Catholic church from the Bible. Thanks
Patrick Hanson

[Browneyes84]

From what I have seen and know, adults who have been baptized are immersed...but keep in mind the Bible does say that infants were baptized (whole households were baptized) and obviously you can't immerse an infant. Catholics aren't the only ones who believe that infants can be baptized-- Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans and probably some more. So don't accuse catholics of infant baptism or not using immersion because there are other Christians who aren't necessarily baptized by immersion. If you're going to pick, don't be exclusive unless you already have some other agenda going on.

[PatrickHanson1]

From what I have seen and know, adults who have been baptized are immersed...but keep in mind the Bible does say that infants were baptized (whole households were baptized) and obviously you can't immerse an infant. Catholics aren't the only ones who believe that infants can be baptized-- Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans and probably some more. So don't accuse catholics of infant baptism or not using immersion because there are other Christians who aren't necessarily baptized by immersion. If you're going to pick, don't be exclusive unless you already have some other agenda going on.
If I offended you My apologies, but there is no evidence of infant baptism in the Bible. You cannot assume that when the Bible says "whole household were baptized" that infants were included. I do not have a personal agenda, but I do love the Truth. The Eunuch was baptized after he confessed he believed in Jesus. Can a infant have faith? I await your answer and I thank you for your response.
Patrick

[Browneyes84]

If I offended you My apologies, but there is no evidence of infant baptism in the Bible. You cannot assume that when the Bible says "whole household were baptized" that infants were included. I do not have a personal agenda, but I do love the Truth. The Eunuch was baptized after he confessed he believed in Jesus. Can a infant have faith? I await your answer and I thank you for your response.
Patrick

But where in the Bible does it say that infants and children are NOT to be baptized? Just because the Bible does not explicitly say that infants and children weren't baptized does not mean it did not happen. Infant baptism has been throughout early church history and continued in tradition.

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

But he did not restrict this teaching to adults.

He added, "For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him" (2:39).

This is an issue that does not necessarily depend on interpretation of the Bible, but on what your belief system says about salvation and what they believe about baptism. It bothers me greatly when people choose to be picky about whom they regard when it comes to a lot of things that appear to be extra-Biblical. Why not ask if Lutherans, Anglicans, Episcopalians, among the many other denominations who don't place full emphasis on the Bible if they are Christian too?

[Browneyes84]

Well, I think the OP's question has been answered then. But there will always be some odd ones out there who don't believe that Jesus was divine, or actually rose from the dead, etc etc.

[graysparrow]

Yes, the OP has been answered, thank you :).

Please, in the interest of peace, close the thread. There are debate forums :)... for our perpetual curse :D

[Frame1520]

I believe the OP asked if Catholics were Christians so in answer to that...;)

If a Catholic person believes that Jesus was the son of God, Died for our Sins, Rose again, to save us from our sins. Accepts Christ as Lord of their life, to paraphrase...then yes they are a Christian. Is that what you are asking?

Good answer...I like answering questions that are asked, but I don't like getting people riled up...on both sides of the issue. It seems fruitless to me.

[WesWoodell]

But where in the Bible does it say that infants and children are NOT to be baptized? Just because the Bible does not explicitly say that infants and children weren't baptized does not mean it did not happen. Infant baptism has been throughout early church history and continued in tradition.

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

But he did not restrict this teaching to adults.

The word "repent" is there. Do you know what "repentance" means?

[GK]

Yes, the OP has been answered, thank you :).

Please, in the interest of peace, close the thread. There are debate forums :)... for our perpetual curse :D
Thread closed at the request of the original poster.

Also, I have removed responses from non-RM members, per rule 2.2. If you have a denominational faith icon (catholic, orthodox, baptist, etc.) and your post has gone missing, this is why. Please feel free to send me a PM if you don't understand. :)