Christians = Catholics

[Randy_Carson]

(edited)
As a Christian parent, I would be thankful that my child has chosen Christian friends (no matter what the denomination is) over everything else out there. Given all the garbage that occurs in high school, the last thing that Christian teenagers need is to become embroiled in the petty denominational disputes of their parents.

These kids need each other. Your are right, compared to all of the other issues kids face in high school this is a small one. Tweak the wording if you want to, but otherwise leave them alone.

Actually, it’s just passing on the truth and rejecting relativism.

I can understand why non-Catholics want Catholicism to be considered “just another denomination” because that puts their “faith communities” on equal footing with the true Church.

It’s just not that way, and Catholic kids need to be warned of those shoals which can shipwreck their faith because of the dangers that are hidden beneath the surface.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[Axion]

My 15 year old daughter talks about her Christian friends as opposed to her Catholic friends. She would say, “I have a lot of Christian friends, but hardly any Catholic friends.” She knows we are Christians too, but she doesn’t want to use the term Protestant. This is a small issue, but I would like to hear your comment on this. How do I get my daughter to either use the word Protestant or non-Catholic? Any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help,
Obl

This should not be tolerated. It is a TRICK used by Protestants to try to get people to assume that THEY are the Christians and that Catholics are something else.

If they don’t like being called Protestants, call them Baptists or Pentecostals or Evangelicals. Never give up the title Christian to such sectarian groups

 

[DanteAlighieri]

It is entirely appropriate to refer to non-Catholics as Protestants or non-Catholics. It is also entirely appropriate to refer to both groups, together or otherwise, as Christian.

It is inappropriate to draw a distinction between Catholic and Christian, however, which your daughter’s friends appear to be doing.

Perhaps it’s time to find her a good Catholic youth group.

Peace,
Dante

 

[mozart-250]

Actually, it’s just passing on the truth and rejecting relativism.

I can understand why non-Catholics want Catholicism to be considered “just another denomination” because that puts their “faith communities” on equal footing with the true Church.

It’s just not that way, and Catholic kids need to be warned of those shoals which can shipwreck their faith because of the dangers that are hidden beneath the surface.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

Well, teenagers can see right through boastful arrogance.

So if you want to go preach to your teenagers that your denomination is superior to every other denomination in town go right ahead (and btw denomination is exactly how it appears to your teen).

But it darned well better appear that way to your teen as reflected by what he/she sees in the lives of believers in your denomination as opposed to other denominations. Because your teen is not going to go on just your say so. And if something does not add up between what you say and what your teen sees with his/her own two eyes, guess what he/she will believe.

 

[DanteAlighieri]

Well, teenagers can see right through boastful arrogance.

So if you want to go preach to your teenagers that your denomination is superior to every other denomination in town go right ahead (and btw denomination is exactly how it appears to your teen).

But it darned well better appear that way to your teen as reflected by what he/she sees in the lives of believers in your denomination as opposed to other denominations. Because your teen is not going to go on just your say so. And if something does not add up between what you say and what your teen sees with his/her own two eyes, guess what he/she will believe.

Well said, but boastful arrogance is a different animal from righteous confidence in the truth.

Peace,
Dante

 

[mozart-250]

Well said, but boastful arrogance is a different animal from righteous confidence in the truth.

Peace,
Dante

Yes it is, and your teen will determine whether it is boastful arrogance or righteous confidence in the truth based on what he/she sees in the lives of believers in the “one true church” as opposed to what he/she sees in the lives of believers who belong to “deficient ecclesiastical communitites who do not possess the fullness of truth” and not on your or your denomination’s say so.

So you had darned well better have the fruit to back up your claims of superiority to everybody else or it will be boastful arrogance to your teen.

 

[NonDenom]

Oblaidon;2717154]Because Catholics are the first Christians. I don’t think you understand.

No I don’t think you understand, this is what I keep referring to when it comes to some Catholics.

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

They were called Christians, not Catholics. The term catholic (Universal) is used to describe those that follow Christ and HIS Church. I know you don’t think that I’m part of Christ’s Church, but thats OK because you are not going to judge anyone, you will be judged just like the rest of us.

In general, her age group define themselves is either being Christian or Catholic. As if Catholics aren’t Christians. Why don’t I like that? Because I am and always have been a Christian. I became Catholic in 1995, but I never stopped being a Christian. I am more of a Christian now that I am Catholic than I ever was before. I just don’t want people to forget Catholics are Christians. The difference of what we believe in does not separate us from being Christian. I don’t want her or anyone else to make the error in saying, “No I am not Christian, I am Catholic”.

You are the ones calling yourselves Catholic, not Christian. All my in-laws are Catholic, and when asked they say “Catholic”, instead of Christian.

 

[DanteAlighieri]

No I don’t think you understand, this what I keep referring to when it comes to some Catholics.

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

They were called Christians, not Catholics. The term catholic (Universal) is used to describe those that follow Christ and HIS Church. I know you don’t think that I’m part of Christ’s Church, but thats OK because you are not going to judge anyone, you will be judged just like the rest of us.

And the Church which arose from the acts of the Apostles was the Catholic Church. ALL – I repeat – ALL other Christian “denominations” are offshoots or perversions thereof. To claim otherwise is to ignore the picture painted by history.

Further, the Scripture you quote does not say “they were called Christians – not Catholics – at Antioch”.

And where in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the only worthwhile reference?

(edited) If you disagree that the Catholic Church is the pillar and ground of truth, feel free – just make sure you back up your claims.

You are the ones calling yourselves Catholic, not Christian. All my in-laws are Catholic, and when asked they say “Catholic”, instead of Christian.

Because we are Catholic. This means we are part of the Body of Christ – the Church, with Christ as head. Even Protestants are (imperfectly) part of the Catholic Church by virtue of their baptism.

All Christians are called to be Catholics, because Catholicism contains the authority and protection from error guaranteed by Christ.

So, it is not inaccurate to call non-Catholics “non-Catholics” – it’s true. They are such because they choose to be so.

Peace,
Dante

 

[Kitty_Chan]

Thats why the defination Christian, follower of Christ. Thats first, the church is second. (see post #16 for defination)

Follow Christ into a church. Like Mozart said Id be happy if my son hung out with Christians, no matter the church.

In the subject of unity this is big. If each side saw the other as Christians first, church second, then unity could grow because no one is starting from a arguement out of the gate.

And on both sides of the fence Catholic and Protestant there are those who would rather die than see someone go elsewhere.

Then there are those who just see Christians.

Like Ive said before I know God will sort us out, but its gonna be interesting given the trenches dug deep.

 

[rpp]

Both Catholics and non-Catholics can rightly call themselves Christian.

And both are called upon by God to be charitable to others. Let us not forget that in this thread.

 

[DanteAlighieri]

Both Catholics and non-Catholics can rightly call themselves Christian.

And both are called upon by God to be charitable to others. Let us not forget that in this thread.

Indeed – as I said, both groups are Christians, but only one of them is Catholic.

Peace,
Dante

 

[NonDenom]

And the Church which arose from the acts of the Apostles was the Catholic Church. ALL – I repeat – ALL

other Christian “denominations” are offshoots or perversions thereof. To claim otherwise is to ignore the picture painted by history.

The Catholic church of today is a perversion of the original Church.

Further, the Scripture you quote does not say “they were called Christians – not Catholics – at Antioch”.

 

[Mannyfit75]

NonDenom:

The Catholic church of today is a perversion of the original Church.

The Catholic Church is hardly the perversion of the original Church. Tell me, Pope Benedict XVI since his Pontificate, has appeal for the flight of the Christians in Iraq and Darfur. He also condemned abortion, wrote a Book called God is Love, his first Encyclical. Then he wrote a Book about Jesus of Nazareth.

Yes there are bad priests in the Church. In the time of Jesus Christ, he was one apostle who betrayed him, and another denied him three times. Those were indeed the scandal of the time. What is worst at the time of Jesus Christ, is that the majority of the Apostles and disciple left Jesus dying on the cross. Only John, the women, and Jesus’s mother stood by the Lord.

Woe to them who abandon the Lord. Yet, we know in Acts these 11 Apostles appointed a New Apostle, Matthias to replace Judas, the Betrayer. On the Day of Penecost, the Apostle preached, and their fire for God was spreading. On the first day, 1,000 were converted.

The Catholic Church both have saints and sinners. We in fact admit were unworthy servants of God. Don’t call the Catholic Catholic a perversion of the original Church. That comment is UnChristian, and uncharitable, and in violation of the Forum Rules.

Of course it wouldn’t, the Catholic Church wasn’t around yet

The Catholic Church was around. The Church which Jesus Christ establish is a universal Church. The first recorded word of Catholic Church can be found in 110 AD.

St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch wrote to the Smyrnaeans;

See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man** do anything connected with the Church without the bishop**. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is** not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast**; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid

Some of us have, you just won’t listen

We believe that the Catholic Church is Apostolic. We believe this to be so because Jesus said, “He who hears you, hears me, he who rejects you, rejects me, rejects the one who sent me.” Luke 10:16. Jesus address the disciples.

I’m NOT part of the denomination called the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church is not a denomination.

This is of course a matter of opinion

"SO you don’t believe the Gospel should be preached to all nation? Since the Gospel is meant for everyone who hears it willingly. Catholicism is universal.

 

[Atemi]

Because there are real differences between Catholic and non-Catholics, and trying to gloss over them isn’t helpful.

When speaking of 15-year-olds, it IS important to help them understand these distinctions.

So calling a Christian, a Christian, is an offense to you?

Interesting.

Christians are not all the same; denominational and doctrinal disputes are real. A 15-year-old Catholic girl needs to understand that she is a member of the Church founded by Christ while her friends are members of “ecclesial communities” that are separated from that Church in varying degrees.

Ahhhh.

You must instill a subtle form of bigotry to maintain some sort of pride in your Christian affiliation.

It is sad how some people must embrace among themselves what they hate in others.

PS - teaching a 15 year old girl that her Christian friends are not members of the Body of Christ is to have her question their very salvation. There is no salvation outside the Body of Christ.

We teach our children that not every brightly colored liquid contained in bottles is safe to drink. Some is poison.

Ahhh.

Yes.

Why call Christians, Christians, when you can call them “poison”?

This is very unfortunate. All this serves to do is to teach Catholics to do what they condemn in others.

…

 

[Atemi]

As a Christian parent, I would be thankful that my child has chosen Christian friends (no matter what the denomination is) over everything else out there. Given all the garbage that occurs in high school, the last thing that Christian teenagers need is to become embroiled in the petty denominational disputes of their parents.

Amen.

It seems some would prefer to pass on the bigotry and the hatred they prefer rather than love and wisdom.

…

 

[Mannyfit75]

Atemi:

This is very unfortunate. All this serves to do is to teach Catholics to do what they condemn in others.

…

No one is condemning here. Why are you on the other hand so Anti-Catholic?

 

[Atemi]

So you had darned well better have the fruit to back up your claims of superiority to everybody else or it will be boastful arrogance to your teen.

And as a Catholic for most of my life, that superior fruit is not there.

Pride and self-righteousness sometimes takes generations to crush, if at all.

…

 

[Mannyfit75]

And as a Catholic for most of my life, that superior fruit is not there.

Pride and self-righteousness sometimes takes generations to crush, if at all.

…

And you are basing this on your own life experience? From my own, I rarely see none of which you cited. I hardly think the Pope himself is prideful. He in fact did not want to be Pope. He was also appealing so much to the Christians in Iraq. Tell me, does any thing he has done seem prideful?

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Why don’t you like her calling Christians, “Christians”?

That is very odd to me that you would try to get your child to label other believers. This would not be helpful in her walk with the Lord further on in life, IMO.

…

They are also PROTESTANT.

Calling a spade a spade is the first defense. Protestants, especially the evangelical types (of which I was one once, now embraced Orthodoxy) like to use the grey “Christian.” Gets around the unconformtable issue that NO ONE believed as they do in the first nearly two thousand years of the Church.

Take the bull by the horns. Is the “Hail Mary” a “Christian” prayer?
If they say not, they are raising PROTESTANT objections, all the more problematic because the prayer is, except for the last line “Holy Mary…”, nothing but quotes from the Bible (the last line, however not a quote, is biblical).

 

[rpp]

This has become a terribly insulting uncharitable thread. The insulting and disrespectful manner in which the Catholic church is presented here by several non-Catholics is sad to see.

Please remain charitable. Using pejorative words such as “perversion” and “bigotry” to describe the Catholic Church are Catholics parents is as wrong as if a Catholic used such terms to describe a non-Catholic denomination.

Please stop with the insulting and uncharitable behavior. This does not glorify God.

And those tempted to make anti-Protestant postings should hold their peace as well!