Christian v. Catholic

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Mary67

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Hi everyone,

I am starting a blog and want to publicly identify as “Christian”. Does this lead others on to assume I’m Protestant, or is it okay to go by “Christian “ when giving an overview about my blog. I’m not writing about theology, but do want to have Christian values represented on my blog. By any chance, does the Church state that we must always call ourselves Catholic? I apologize if this is a weird question!
 
We are Christians. I don’t think it’s wrong for us to identify ourselves as Christian.

But, because of the denomination problem; people will probably misidentify you as a non Catholic Christian because in common understanding; Christian often means non Catholic.

It’s unfortunate.
 
My Protestant friend doesn’t identify as Pentecostal or Protestant but simply ‘Christian’. Put it this way: us Catholics are the full true Christians and it is Our Lord’s wish that ‘Christian’ and ‘Catholic’ are synonymous.

Unfortunately that’s not yet case largely due to Luther’s splitting of the faith.

Personally I use both Catholic and Christian to describe myself.
 
Not a problem. I also remember that catholic comes from the Greek “ katholikos “ meaning universal. I don’t mind using the word Catholic for that very reason.
 
That’s why the Orthodox and many high Church Protestants such as Anglicans identify as ‘Catholic’. Because they like to think they are part of the universal Church.
 
They believe what they believe. It sometimes irks me when I hear in Lutheran services that when they say the Apostles’ Creed that they believe in the one, holy, catholic and Apostolic church.

It’s an unfortunate paradox.
 
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I think that some congregational Presbyterian Churches identify with the four marks and use the same creeds as us.
 
It wouldn’t surprise me. I mean: Doesn’t each major denomination believe that they’re the true church?
 
Protestants believe that their denomination is best form of Christianity but that people on other denominations are part of the invisible Church.

For example Lutherans believe Lutheranism is the best form of Christianity but that Christians who are saved by faith alone exist in all Christian communities and that it doesn’t matter what denomination you are as long as you have faith in Christ.
 
The whole invisible church concept I could never understand. It just sounds divisive to me.
 
It is divisive. My Protestant friend who is charismatic says that the Christian Church consists of all faithful Protestants Catholics and Orthodox.
 
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Sounds paradoxical to me. If we’re all in one Church; then why split off and maintain differences?
 
It’s so confusing. I don’t know. I once read a Protestant website which basically said as long as your a Christian it doesn’t matter which denomination.
 
That’s inconsistent. Maybe they were trying to be nice and ecumenical.
 
Thank you all for your thoughtful (name removed by moderator)ut! I think I have clarity on this issue now. God Bless! 😇
 
I would no longer assume that after having seen on the net videos of people who call themselves “Catholic” but are clearly Protestant. Based on what you write in it I think people will figure it out which denomination you belong to if this thing bothers them or interests them.
You wouldn’t be lying in saying “Christian” and you will probably get a lot more audience by the general term “Christian” and this help you stay connected and boost your confidence as a blogger. And if anyone asks you, you explain you are Catholic.
 
Catholic is a term that means universal. It is used to distinguish beliefs more so these days.
Anyone who believes in the trinity as defined by the Council of Nicaea is a Christian; whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant.
However, some groups such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals and some others who either deny or have a very different view of the Trinity are not Christian in a classical sense even though they claim to be.
 
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If you’re going to identify yourself as Christian you should make it clear that you are a (Roman?) Catholic Christian. Otherwise, people in the U.S. will assume you are non-Catholic.
 
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