Catholics - Are They Christians?

[mtr01]

Gottle of Geer:

…

Excessive individualism is bad for the Body: the hand needs the foot, and the foot needs the hand, each needs the other, the rest of the Body needs both, and both need the rest of the Body - equally, all and each of the parts of the Body are dear to Christ; He is not the Saviour-Creator of a collectivity or an amorphous crowd, but of a Body with individual parts. Neglect any, and in the human body “dis-ease” results - but Christ neglects no part of His Body the Church.

In fact, even on earth, we look after the whole body, by looking after the parts; we don’t leave the body-in-general to look after itself, on the plea that looking after a fractured spine “dishonours” the right hand, or that looking after a broken thumb promotes division between the left knee-cap and the rest of the body. The bowels may not be as “noble” as the right hand, but bowel cancer is not going to make the right hand any healthier.

All true, but as I understand the Mystical Body of Christ, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. As Paul says, “But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (1 Cor 12:18-20), and “But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoiced with it” (1 Cor 12:24-26).

“You alone have I loved, of all the nations of the earth” is part of the Bible - so is “Save me, oh God, for the waters have come up to my neck”. If the OT could contain both emphases, corporate and personal - why can’t Christians ? ##

I have no problem at all with a personal understanding of salvation. In fact I often take solace in my personal relationship with God. But as a part of Christ’s Body, I also understand that I’m not more important than any other member, and that the body as a whole is more important than my personal part.

 

[Des]

Poisson:

I was in a hospital waiting room once and there was a grieving family who had a loved one undergoing emergency surgery. A pastor was being introduced to some of the family members and he said “Nice to meet you are you Christians too?” they said “Oh no, we’re Catholics.” The pastor nodded and said “Oh I see.”

I’m not sure they meant they were not Christians. I think they just said that to let the pastor know where they stood as christians. I myself have been asked if I was a Christian and I most always answer…“I’m Catholic”

If I answer with a simple yes, then they put me in the same catagory as many sects with different beliefs. But if I answer with the “I’m Catholic” then they put me in the catagory of just Catholic, a follower of Christ and His Vicar on earth.

 

[Redeemerslove]

Des:

I’m not sure they meant they were not Christians. I think they just said that to let the pastor know where they stood as christians. I myself have been asked if I was a Christian and I most always answer…“I’m Catholic”

If I answer with a simple yes, then they put me in the same catagory as many sects with different beliefs. But if I answer with the “I’m Catholic” then they put me in the catagory of just Catholic, a follower of Christ and His Vicar on earth.

Well, Des. They should have not said no. If someone asks if I am Christian, I say I am Catholic. I don’t say no.

But you are right they could have meant to specify that they are Catholic, even if they were poorly spoken.

 

[Redeemerslove]

Catholic4aReasn:

What I find interesting is the insistence of sola Scripturists using this phrase that isn’t in scripture.

In Christ,
Nancy

I know Nancy, I see the logical fallicy as well. But many traditional Protestants will say “we allow traditions, just not those the contradict scripture.” I find this faulty logic as well for 2 THE 2:15 says:

Hold fast to the Traditions we have handed on to you, whether by word of mouth, or by epistle.(2 THE 2:15)

Simply put, 2 THE 2:15 does not allow us to ignore any Traditions. It doesn’t say to hold fast to Scriptural Traditions alone, it opens up the gammit to both scripture and non-scripture. This includes both written non-Scriptural traditions, and spoken traditions as well. But of course, the caveat is that they must be from the Apostles (“we”), so that is the yardstick we use, Apostolic origin; not that it is inspired and written.

 

[bob]

Veronica Anne:

So, Bob, I take it that you (as you were growing up) were taught only the cultural/traditional practices of living out our Catholic Faith… and not the dogma nor the doctrine at the same time?

If that is the case, then what an empty experience that must have been for you! :crying: For that, I am sorry.

I, too, did the “Catholic things” (whatever that practice is) as I was brought up Catholic. Still practice those “small t” traditional things as an adult.

It’s the capital “T” Tradition that I’m talking about. NOT theoretically. Actually.

Make sense?

Well for me it was only true till I reached Primary school at aged 7.

My mother though devout, was illiterate. So dogmas and doctrines were alien to her.

After that I was always in a Catholic school, we had Catechism classes till high school. We were then taught the why’s though not in depth, but not enough to stand up for the faith all the time.

So yes, a cultural Catholic till age 6, Catechism class Catholic till 17, self discovery Catholic in adulthood, a defender of the faith in my senior age.

Not too bad from the small t’s to the large T.

 

[CD4]

<<<So yes, a cultural Catholic till age 6, Catechism class Catholic till 17, self discovery Catholic in adulthood, a defender of the faith in my senior age.>>>

**What a journey! Human development is like that, isn’t it?..we don’t become discerning adults all of a sudden, so why should we be mature Christians all of a sudden, either. **

One of the reasons I love being Catholic is that Catholics tend to see their conversion as a journey, realizing that the process is a life long one…Each person’s conversion journey is an intensely personal, exciting, faith affirming experienice…

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

CD4:

One of the reasons I love being Catholic is that Catholics tend to see their conversion as a journey, realizing that the process is a life long one

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

bob:

So yes, a cultural Catholic till age 6, Catechism class Catholic till 17, self discovery Catholic in adulthood, a defender of the faith in my senior age.

Praise God and Alleluia!!! :clapping:

 

[cindyanne]

moira7:

. I told them that Catholics are Christian but not all Christians are Catholic. .

Amen to that. I’m gonna use it!

 

[mlchance]

fix:

Protestants are all heretics.

Our separated brothers are indeed Christian, and that is the authentic teaching of the Church.

“The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[La_Chiara]

Reading these posts confirms my experiences (and frustrations)with “Christians” who don’t believe that Catholics are Christians. Although, these are almost exclusively the “nondenominational” or fundamentalist Christians and not the mainline denominations who have this attitude. It brings to mind that famous quote by Saint John Newman “To be Protestant is to be ignorant of history.”

 

[Maccabees]

Does anyoe else find it weird that many of the same protestants who would deny us the title of Christian. Described the very Catholic movie the passion as a Great Christian Movie?
This thing had catholic fingerprints all over it the script is part The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
by mystic, stigmatist, and visionary catholic nun Anne Catherine Emmerich
and of course the gospels mixed in with other visions of Venerable Mary of Agreda another catholic nun and Gibson is a Tradtionalist Catholic (which might even be worse than a regular Norvos Ordo Catholic he’s really into the mystery Bablon language and riturals from a fundamentlist view) of Course Jim Caveziel who plays Jesus is a devout practicing Catholic heck the guy makes Marian pilgramges (your going to tell that won’t freak out many evangelicals).

Yet depsite all this catholicity and the very catholic interpreation of the Passion we have here with Mary out front in center and the Last Supper (Communion) relating explcitly with the sacrifice of the cross this film is all of the suden Christian.

Don’t get me wrong it has a strong ecunemical value as the Christology is very high and could be related to by many protestants but there are some areas that are so catholic its undenialble yet they had not problems this film as a way to witness to non-christians… They clamied this film reafirmed their view of the gospels? Oh really Mary being offered to us as our Mother and Christ as the eucharistic sacrifce was their view of the gospels? I mean it could be just ignorance or plain oversight but I think its something more.

When Protestants have something they agree with they call it their own whether it be the Bible (that’s catholic and they don’t know it) or the Passion Movie, or the Trinity (that is so catholic) but anything they disagree with is suddenly not Christian but suddenly mystery Catholic relgion. These are labels of convenience more than anything else. Anyone else notice this?

I would like to hear if any evangelcials tried to convert you (catholics) to Christianity by taking you to the Passion movie. Now wouldn’t that be a hoot.

 

[elzbeth99]

I don’t think anyone in there right mind would do what Catholics do without being Christian, a follower of Christ

There are many people out there that follow the mob mentality, and I am sad to say that I think that is what most non-catholics see happening with the Catholic Church. However, they have probably not been to mass To think that that many people could be brain washed and not understand at all what they are saying or doing during mass is pretty scary.

It is really hard to fill in the gap between thinking that and openning ones heart and mind to the Love of God, only the Holy Spirit can do such things. Thankfully the Holy Spirit working through us, other wise we go crazy with frusteration :banghead: But it still takes lots of prayer and patients as we wait on God to help us grow into the best examples we can be in the meantime.

The Catholic Church provides the best Spiritual Exercises possible. Non-Catholics see them as weird because only God could come up with such types of Devotions and Practices. But Catholics through Faith practice them and come to continuously practice them because of the increase of grace that flows from them.

Through the Catholic Church I have found Tangible Guidance I had been looking for which helps me more tangablely follow Jesus Christ and actively Change my life.
Does being a practicing Catholic make me a Christian. No
Some people are crazy and/or numb enough to do these things and not be move toward God when doing them. But it is the same faith that God gave me to seek the truth as a non-Catholic that helps me to preserver in my Catholic Faith Today, and grow as a Christian. I have not been left wanting. Jesus is more Real to me now then I could have ever imagined :dancing: But not in the way that I would have ever exspected.

Love In Chirst

 

[Benignus]

A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. I certainly hope that this is what I am.

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

I find it disturbing that anyone…even if it’s only 5 people…feel that Catholics ABSOLUTELY are not Christians. It’s not even a matter of “depends on whether or not they have accepted Jesus” or “depends on where their heart is”, but an ABSOLUTE no!

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who answered “absolutely not” why you feel that under no circumstance is a Catholic ever a Christian.

Thanks!!!

In Christ,
Nancy

 

[CD4]

BLB_Oregon:

My favorite was being told by a Protestant woman (who for some reason did not know I was Catholic) that someone else she was praying for was “a very good Christian, even though she’s Catholic.”

I’ve heard that kind of thing, and it makes me so mad …What if I said a person was a "very good Christian, even though she’s a Baptist?"

 

[MGEISING]

Catholic4aReasn:

I find it disturbing that anyone…even if it’s only 5 people…feel that Catholics ABSOLUTELY are not Christians. It’s not even a matter of “depends on whether or not they have accepted Jesus” or “depends on where their heart is”, but an ABSOLUTE no!

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who answered “absolutely not” why you feel that under no circumstance is a Catholic ever a Christian.

Thanks!!!

In Christ,
Nancy

I second this!

 

[Corpus_Cristi]

MariaG:

I personally have never met a Catholic who didn’t understand that they were Christian. Unfortunately, I have met many who do not believe Catholics are Christians.

I know most do not think Catholics are not Christian, but in the last year, my children or I have been slapped in the face with this very issue. My child will ask another one to church or ccd class. The parent declines because “we are Christians”, ie. Catholics are not Christian. I have heard this so much. Sometimes the underlying hatred and misunderstanding is so great, I am left in tears for the rejection. But I remind myself that the servant is never greater than the master.

Blessed are those who mourn :crying: , for they shall be comforted. We’re with ya Maria!!!

 

[1plus1equals2]

If anyone ever asks me what religion I am I say Catholic. Christianity is divided in Catholic, Protestant, and Non-denominational. Protestant is further divided. But saying you are christian is like asking what state someone is from and saying “Im from America.”

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

1plus1equals2:

If anyone ever asks me what religion I am I say Catholic. Christianity is divided in Catholic, Protestant, and Non-denominational. Protestant is further divided. But saying you are christian is like asking what state someone is from and saying “Im from America.”

On a different board someone was once asked “Are you Catholic or Christian?” The person answered by saying “That’s like asking someone, “Are you an American or a human being?””

In Christ,
Nancy