Do you see yourself as a Catholic first, or a Christian first?

[NewsTheMan]

Jesus didn’t establish the “Catholic Church” or any church he established a Spiritual consciousness.

That wouldn’t be His style. As God. Suddenly He went from establishing temple worship with the Jews with specific requriements to a mere “consciousness”? No no, friend. He set up a Church. Don’t relegate Him to a mere “awakener” of “consciousness”.

The only organization is Spirit.

That makes no sense.

This is what the Catholic Church and other christian churches are as groups. To gather together in one body, their union being typified by the human body.

It has always been the CC until Luther came along. So, what happens if your “spirit consciousness” disagrees with mine? I say we must confess our sins (as Jesus and the Apostles said too, btw) and I say we must also partake of the Eucharist (ditto as last). Other “spiritual consciousness” say I don’t need to. Who is right? Is the Spirit deceiving me? Is it deceiving you? Either way, God becomes a liar.

I know what your going to say Jesus established the church when he said “upon this rock I build my church.” He did not tell Peter that he was to be the head of a church,.

Peter himself understood it differently to you. I take his word for it, since he was there!

Too many times the Catholic church has been a stumbling block for maturing in ones faith.

If the Church is a stumbling block for you, then you are the one at fault. Imagine I said - “too many times, university has been a stumbling block for me getting my PhD”. How does that make sense? In other words… I want all the rewards without doing it the proper way. The Church has produced thousands of Saints, what makes you different? Do you have new revelation from God?

Too much time, worrying and trying to live by precepts, stunting ones spiritual growth.

I know right? Like, all that stuff about “don’t murder”? Come on! Murdering is part of my spiritual growth man! And how about that Eucharist thing? I mean, yeah, Jesus said if we don’t do it we have no life in us… but He didn’t really mean that. I mean, is He even God anyway? What about that believing in God thing? So suddenly I have to believe in God too? Too many rules man.

Didn’t Jesus come to show the Jewish Pharisees that they were crippling the people serving God because they were so bound up with the law there was little time to develop a relationship with the Father (Abba).

No. He said that the were placing man made laws (i.e. not divine law, but law they decided to make up) above the laws of God. He called them hypocrites for pretending to follow the Law but inside they were haters of the Law. Yet, with all their hypocrisy, Jesus said to the people they still need to follow the commands of he who sits in the seat of Moses.

Jesus came to show the way to the Jewish people not start a church.

Weird. That’s not what the Apostles believed. Nor the early Christians.

It confounds me when looking at the Catholic catechism which has added even more regulations, dogmas and laws under the belief they are helping the Christian to be “saved.”

Jesus gave tons of regulations that needed to be followed in order to be saved. But again… think about your position here. It’s a self contradiction. It just makes no sense at all.

 

[Dan_Daly]

Recently I was talking to someone who I thought was a pretty staunch Catholic and he made the comment that he saw himself as a Christian first, moreso than a Catholic.

More recently when I have done or said something stupid a work colleague has lightheartedly said something like " I thought you were a Christian, you shouldn’t be saying things like that". On other occasions some others have commented about “the Christian thing to do…” etc

Now, that has got me thinking. How do we see ourselves foremost, a Catholic, or a Christian? Does it matter?

The question misses the point.

The fullness of the Christian faith is only found in the Catholic Church. Our Lord Jesus Christ established one Church. We call it the Catholic Church, because it is the universal (what Catholic means) Church.

A Christian follows Christ and His teachings. One of the things He’s taught us to do is to live in the Church He established.

Pax Christi

 

[Dan_Daly]

This is why I got into a short debate with my Protestant friend the other day, when she said, “…Christians and Catholics…”

I interrupted her and said, “Catholics are Christians.”

She swore up and down that a lot of Catholics say they are not Christian; they are Catholics.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I am a Catholic Christian and by acting like we are not Christian, we sow great confusion among non-Catholics.

You are absolutely correct, however your friend very likely has spoken with Catholics who do not think of themselves as Christians. I’ve heard it many times myself. This is a result of very poor catechsis that is common in the US (I can’t really speak to elsewhere). “Christian” equals “Protestant” in the minds of many Catholics- which is of course false, but they still believe it.

I think you will find, if you haven’t already, that many “cradle Catholics” really don’t know much about their faith. I’m very glad to have you and others like you back home in Mother Church to help evangelize the True Faith- both to those outside the Church and those inside.

Pax Christi

 

[Ohana]

What would you tell someone who asked your religion?

Actually, I usually say I am Roman Catholic.

I think it is more precise in terms of my own family heritage. I was kidding around with my brother once, bemoaning some of the hateful things being said and done in the name of “christianity” and said “I almost don’t want to say I am Christian.” He said, “Don’t worry about it., Most “christians” don’t think we are!”

Truthfully, I don’t worry a lot about it. One advantage of growing up in public schools is that I had to defend my faith a lot, and endure some of the names Catholics were called back in the day. I’m over it.

Next case.

 

[Chatter163]

I totally get and agree with your analogy, but what do you think of Catholics who actually say, “I’m not Christian; I’m Catholic”?

I have never heard a Catholic say this. In my circles, no Catholic would ever say this. But several posters here have pointed to poor catechesis on the part of Catholics (no argument there), as they have heard Catholic say this. To them, Christian means Protestant. My earlier post pointed out the same defect on the part of evangelical Protestants, many of whom call them selves Christian, and never Protestant. Prior to the last generation this would not likely have happened on either side.

 

[followingtheway]

I would say I’m Catholic because in my school. Almost every kid there believes the word “Christian” is synonymous with Protestant :sad_yes: Even the Catholics there believe there is a difference and stuff like “I’m not Christian, I’m Catholic” and the Protestants there believe Catholics aren’t Christians, without knowing that they even claim to be Christians. So when I’m asked this, I have to say “Catholic” because they’ll think I’m a Protestant.

I have never heard a Catholic say this. In my circles, no Catholic would ever say this.

Oh trust me, it exists :sad_yes: Every time I tell them “Catholics are Christians”. They say “No, Christian is different, and that Christians sing and have rock bands” or some will say “yeah well, it’s like Catholic but a little bit different” :banghead:

 

[francessmith]

Sad to say but true that Religions, all kinds, are what keep Christians separate from each other. All people who following Jesus no matter, protestant of all domination’s or Catholics. Are one body; Christians. That it why I call myself a Christian.