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Friar_David_O.Carm
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When ever I am asked this question, which is not too frequently, I always answer “Yes I am”.
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lovemyboys
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I wish more Catholics would start referring to themselves as “Catholic Christians.” So many of the ignorant protestants think they’re the only “Christians” and that “Catholic” is a different religion. If more of us would say, "Catholic Christians, " maybe we could enlighten a large segment of society.
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geminiangel6670
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I am a cradle Catholic. My husband is a “born-again” Christian, attending a Baptist church. He was “saved” about a year and a half ago. He doesn’t think Catholics are Christian. He doesn’t understand why I can’t just be born again and attend his church. I’ve gone a few times, but a Baptist sermon is NOT the same as going to Mass. I find little tracts and notes all the time about “false religions”. It is so frustrating. I don’t knock his religion to him, even though I think they are brainwashing him and controlling him. He has stopped openly bashing Catholicism to me, but there is a long road ahead of us, and I would love any advice on how to deal with stuff like this.:banghead:
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Lycorth
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There is no difference between “Catholic” and “Christian”. Moreover, only Catholicism offers full Christianity, as only the Church is the full deposit of Faith given to us by Christ and entrusted to the protection of Saint Peter and his successors.
The only way to logically apply “Christian” to any non-Catholic sect or idea is in a nominal sense, or else as a vaguely categorical label.
The only way to logically apply “Christian” to any non-Catholic sect or idea is in a nominal sense, or else as a vaguely categorical label.
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lovemyboys
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Wow, that must be difficult. If it were me (and this is just me), I’d try to convert him to Catholicism by showing him the accounts of Mary’s apparitions at Fatima and Lourdes. There are lots of other accounts of Mary’s apparitions at apparitions.com. I’d also show him the “incorruptables”-- the bodies of saints throughout history that have never decomposed after hundreds of years. These miraculous things are what made me realize Catholicism is special and more trustworthy than any Protestant church.
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jfoges
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That question is totally flawed. Not only are Catholics Christians, but Catholics are the only group of people that are fully Christian, believing all that Christ taught. Other Christian groups are only partially Christian in that they only partially agree with the teachings of the Church. This is not to say that other Christian groups are cut off from salvation, I know that is not the case. The Holy Spirit can and does work within other Christian groups, but they are still lacking in doctrine and understanding.
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usemelord
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geminiangel6670, I can relate to your situation completely. I was in your husband’s shoes for forty years of marriage. I married a cradle Catholic, like yourself, and never, ever understood the Catholic faith, or why Catholics do what they do at Mass. I was “born again” at a relatively young age and was brought up to believe “once saved, always saved.” Whenever my wife expressed concern about whether or not she was “good enough” to go to heaven, I used to get a little peeved and tell her that I had no problem because I was assured of heaven since I had accepted Christ. However, that all changed five years ago. I decided to investigate and explore the Catholic faith and eventually entered the RCIA program with an open, objective mind, not knowing if I would ever complete the process. Also, it’s important to note that when I made my decision to try RCIA, I did it for no one else but myself, because to do it for someone else would be absolutely the wrong reason. At first it was a slow process, but ever so gradually I came to understand what the Mass was all about. Figuratively, the fog lifted, the scales fell from my eyes, and I began connecting all the dots, as it were. Finally and ultimately I fell in love with the Catholic Church head over heels and wondered why I hadn’t looked into it forty years sooner. During the course of my “journey” I was touched by many things which influenced my decision to become Catholic. In no particular order, I would recommend Scott Hahn’s conversion c.d., Patrick Madrid’s compilation of conversion stories titled “Surprised by Truth” (all volumes), and any literature which lays out the history and tradition of the Catholic Church. Depending on how open-minded your husband is it may take quite a long time, if ever, for him to entertain such suggestions. I was simply ignorant (not stupid) regarding Catholicism—that is, lacking information and knowledge. All my previously held misconceptions were dissolved once, as they say, I learned the “truth.” As an aside, I had to admit to myself that the concept of “once saved, always saved” just made no sense whatsoever. I will pray that God will soften your husband’s heart. My cradle Catholic wife now, unwittingly, gives me the greatest compliment by calling me “too Catholic.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if some day you can give your husband the same compliment?
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Apryl
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Ok… I guess I’ve got on my cynic’s suit… or maybe it’s being stuck between a guy with the sniffles and a woman who is popping gum
But I really REALLY feel like MOST of the people who are caught up in this, and who repeat this are people who were NOT raised in the church… in ANY church. They have just discovered God, and the people who ‘showed them the way’ have them so stuck on toting their Bibles (which they are not reading in their entirety… and they ignore the parts which would just validate Catholicism) and banging some gong that they are ignoring all the things they say that they adhere to.
I bet you dollars to donuts, most, if not all, of the people who say, ‘I’m just a Bible believing Christian’ or ‘I’m a Christian… but you’re a Catholic’ have next to no background, understanding or relationship. … for most of those, being ‘saved’ is a new development, and why they can’t explain it further than they have gotten themselves
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Apryl
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Nah… I don’t see that.
That would be like me saying, ‘I’m a Detroit, Michiganian’… as if that is any more or less Michigan than is the rest of the state.
Ok… mebbee I’m not in favor of that because that is what I would be thinking: I’m MORE Christian than you are’… so maybe I shouldn’t say that.
Really and truly, I see it as a teaching moment. When I tell people the answer to their question is that I am a Catholic AND a Christian, I have a chance to explain to them that we all (Catholics and Protestants) are all Christians… and we all (Christians and Jews) believe in the same God… it’s just how we worship that makes us different.
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Apryl
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First of all: I pray for you (and your husband). That has to be a tough challenge.
But it CAN be done.
I happen to be opposed to mixed (religion) marriage… but I recently attended the renewal of vows for such a marriage. It was 50 years for them (and it was so beautiful that all of their children and grandchildren ‘gave her away’ to the groom! :crying:
This is not unusual, either. There are even some marriages of Christians and Jews that have stood the test of time.
Just pray. Pray a lot. Pray together. Pray for each other: for patience, understanding, temperment… and pray for each other to get into heaven to that you can share eternity together.
I don’t have an OUNCE of advice. I can just pray, and suggest you do the same.
Wish I had more.
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Linda_Marie
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Morgan2375
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If my heart’s desire is for God to transform my will to His will and what God calls us expresses the essence of who we are, then I want to represent who I truly am.
When Moses asked God what he should tell the people if they asked what God’s name is, God said “I am who am”. “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.”
When Thomas asked Jesus “how can we know the way” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
When Jesus asked Peter “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered “You are the Christ!”
I see this question as being do you know the Truth? In other words, since Jesus is the Truth, the question becomes do I know Jesus the Christ?
If God says “I am who am”, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life”, the question for me becomes “Who do I say that I am?”
I am a child of God! Jn 1:12
Now my direct answer to your question is “YES!”
God transformed me into a temple of the Holy Spirit at baptism and Christ’s living bride welcomed me into the body making me Catholic which by its very nature is Christian. As a temple of the Holy Spirit the core of my being is “I AM!” so believing in His name I can say “I am a child of God!”
When Moses asked God what he should tell the people if they asked what God’s name is, God said “I am who am”. “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.”
When Thomas asked Jesus “how can we know the way” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
When Jesus asked Peter “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered “You are the Christ!”
I see this question as being do you know the Truth? In other words, since Jesus is the Truth, the question becomes do I know Jesus the Christ?
If God says “I am who am”, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life”, the question for me becomes “Who do I say that I am?”
I am a child of God! Jn 1:12
Now my direct answer to your question is “YES!”
God transformed me into a temple of the Holy Spirit at baptism and Christ’s living bride welcomed me into the body making me Catholic which by its very nature is Christian. As a temple of the Holy Spirit the core of my being is “I AM!” so believing in His name I can say “I am a child of God!”
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SeanTom
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When we are bapized, we become Christians. After that we are part of a particular denomination, in my case, Catholic.
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ron77nyc
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What is the status of a baptized Christian who does not believe in Jesus?
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SeanTom
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The same as a Catholic who does not believe in Jesus.
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ron77nyc
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Now you’re making a distinction between Catholic and Christian. I was including all Christians in my question.
Are they Christian because they were baptized or because they have faith in Jesus?
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SeanTom
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Catholics who follow the teachings of Jesus are Christians. One who is Baptized, in any other denomination, is also considered to be a Christian until, at least, they decide to change and choose to become a non-Christian at some point in their lives. They, of course, can also change their denomination to one of their choosing.
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Apryl
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Apryl
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… and if they don’t believe in the teachings of Jesus… are they still Catholic? Are they Christian?
Hmmm… me thinks someone has been creating multiple accounts so that they may express themselves more fully…
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ron77nyc
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What I’m really asking is this: Can one be saved and forgiven and receive eternal life having heard the gospel and not believing what it says?
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