Is it okay to go to a christian church and a catholic church?

[TheLittleLady]

Catholic Pentecostal movement, the name escapes me right off,

The Charismatic Renewal

 

[adamhovey1988]

Every time you go to a Catholic church, you go to a Christian church. Catholics ARE Christian.

 

[1959]

You should be saying Protestant instead of Christian. Any church that follows Christ is a Christian Church. Catholics were the first Christians and until 1517 when Martin Luther broke away and removed 7 books from the Bible there was NO other Christian Church. Lutherans were the first Protestants, Catholics were the first Christians.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I believe the year was 1517

 

[1959]

I just Googled it, you’re right 1517. My bad.

 

[1959]

There I fixed it, thanks.

 

[Theo2]

My God Gabby, there is so much to learn in the Catholic Faith you need not look other places. It is like the parable of the wedding feast where a guest showed up not properly disposed. It is like they stopped at a hamburger joint and were not hungry when they arrived. Where the Lord has laid out a great banquet for His guest.
Have you ever seen the angles and saints around the alter during mass? Many saints have. You have a lot to learn about our faith.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

You should be saying Protestant instead of Christian. Any church that follows Christ is a Christian Church. Catholics were the first Christians and until 1517 when Martin Luther broke away and removed 7 books from the Bible there was NO other Christian Church. Lutherans were the first Protestants, Catholics were the first Christians.

A couple of things. One is that the church the OP is probably attending is self-identifying as “Christian”. It may not be totally accurate to identify one’s church community as such, but it is quite common. It’s also quite common to believe that 'Catholics" are not of that branch of the church. So 'Christian" vs “Catholic” is the reality for many people.

Another thing is your statement about Catholics being the first Christians and the only Christians until 1517 is quite inaccurate. The first followers of Christ were Jews, and then Gentiles joined the followers. The Eastern followers of ‘The Way’ were the first official Church community. They did not consider themselves to be “Catholic.” And until this day, there is a vast difference between the Church in the East and the Church in the West.

There have been many, MANY communities of Christians that were not part of the political and ecclesial power of Rome: Celtic Christians, Hussites, the Bogomils, and of course the Cathars, the followers of Wycliff and Tyndale, many of the early hesychists, etc, etc. Luther and the Reformation, later in time, swept like fire over all of Europe, which in turn led to the political and theological break that remains to this day.

I think perhaps you have a very black and white understanding of church history and all the vast complexities. It is not so, not by a long shot.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

Even though the first Christians were Jews, they were still Catholic. It was the Catholic, or universal Church, that Christ built on the foundation of the apostles.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

A couple of things. One is that the church the OP is probably attending is self-identifying as “Christian”. It may not be totally accurate to identify one’s church community as such, but it is quite common. It’s also quite common to believe that 'Catholics" are not of that branch of the church. So 'Christian" vs “Catholic” is the reality for many people.

The OP states that they were born and raised Catholic. The OP needs to be aware that Catholics are indeed Christian, especially if the OP might be hanging around other Christian-but-non-Catholic churches where Catholics may not be seen as Christian.

It may be a “reality for many people” that the distinction is drawn - but it should NOT be a reality for a Catholic OP. And they need to be very clear and very strong on this before they go hanging around with any so-called “Christians” whose goal is to undermine the Catholic faith.

 

[Peeps]

The goal of non-Catholic Christian communities and ecclesial bodies is not to undermine the Catholic faith, but to teach that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I’m sure there are some exceptions–groups with a leadership who have been hurt in some way (perceived or real) by the Catholic Church, and they have dedicated their lives to leading people away from Catholicism. Often these groups are disparaged by other Protestant communities who find them less interested in preaching about Jesus than promoting their personal agenda.

But as an ex-Protestant, I can assure you that most Protestant churches and Christians respect Catholicism and even admire the work that Catholics have tirelessly done to fight abortion and help mothers and babies. They certainly disagree with some of the theology, at least, what they THINK that Catholic theology is, but they are not out to convert Catholics. Rather, they enjoy having a Catholic among them to give the “Catholic” perspective, which is, amazingly, what many of them discover that they also believe.

I do agree with you and many of the posters that if the OP is a young person with little experience, it would be better to stay away from attending Protestant churches/worship services/Bible studies. Sometimes the emotional styles of these meetings or the enthusiasm of the believers can fool an inexperienced Christian (Catholic or Protestant) into making a commitment that they really don’t believe, but they THINK they believe because they are allowing their feelings to lead them instead of having faith based on the facts (which support Catholicism, not Protestantism).

Perhaps occasionally attend a Christian concert (all genres, including classical, Southern gospel, country/bluegrass, rock, etc.) and experience the inspiring music and the emotional style of worship that can be quite uplifting for many Christians, including Catholics.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The goal of non-Catholic Christian communities and ecclesial bodies is not to undermine the Catholic faith, but to teach that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

There are plenty of so-called “Christian” or “evangelical” churches that will basically trash the Catholic faith and tell you you are not a Christian if you practice Catholicism. I encountered this in-person when I was in college and so have many other Catholics, especially in certain parts of the USA. One of these churches sent literature through the mail to homes in our Catholic suburb basically calling the Pope nasty names and all kinds of other crazy stuff.

If your particular church didn’t do this, fine. I live between two Protestant churches and was married to a Protestant for 23 years who never converted and died a Protestant. I never got any flak from him or his family or from my neighbor churches. But you don’t speak for every “Christian” church out there. Vigilance on the part of any Catholic who goes around to these “Christian” churches is important, especially when you are a young person and may be influenced by all this “Pope and Rome are evil”, “Catholics aren’t Christian”, “Catholics worship Mary” etc garbage.

There is also no need for you to defend “most Protestant churches” to me. I have relatives by marriage who belong to at least three of the denominations, friends from a couple more and I don’t exactly live an insular life. You’re kind of missing the point of the thread, which is that it’s risky for a young Catholic person to be going around to “Christian” non-Catholic churches and it is endangering their faith, unless maybe they’re attending a Church-sponsored ecumenical event.

 

[TC3033]

Am I the only one at least semi-surprised that I read 2 or 3 times in this thread that non-Catholics aren’t Christians? I thought that doesn’t happen and is against church teaching. Did I misunderstand that?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

non-Catholics aren’t Christians? I thought that doesn’t happen and is against church teaching. Did I misunderstand that?

Where are you reading that? I just searched for “non-Catholic” in the thread and I’m not seeing what you said anywhere.

There are “non-Catholics” who aren’t Christians: these would include Jewish people, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans, agnostics, and atheists, among many other faiths. These faiths, or lack of faith in the last two cases, don’t accept Jesus Christ as savior.

There are “non-Catholics” who are Christians: these would include all the Protestant faiths that accept Jesus Christ as Savior, such as Lutherans, Anglicans/ Episcopalians, Baptists, Presbyterians, various Evangelical churches, and many others.

 

[TC3033]

Sorry, I’m on my phone and quoting is terrible. Hopefully I have the correct post number(s). #47 says it, 71 eludes to it and the 3rd was my fault…I mis-read it.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

OK. Post 47 says:

In fact, the Catholic Church is the only Christian church.

This is incorrect. It is the only Christian church founded by Christ, and the only Christian church with the fullness of truth. It is NOT “the only Christian church” in the sense of there not being any others.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Post 71 says:

You are not going to expand your faith by going to a church which is not the true one. Only he Catholic Church has the fullness of faith.

You should not attend a false church.

This is correct. The Catholic Church is the only church that has the fullness of faith aka the fullness of truth. It is the One, True, Holy and Apostolic Church.

The other Christian churches don’t have the fullness of faith, so are to some degree “false”.
They are still “Christian”, however, if they acknowledge Christ as Savior.

The Catholic Church even accepts certain Christian church baptisms, and does not re-baptize Catholic converts who were previously baptized in these certain Christian but non-Catholic churches that use the Trinitarian rite; the Catholic Church also permits a sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church between a baptized Catholic and a person baptized in these certain Christian but non-Catholic churches.

 

[Peeps]

And that’s what I said in my post–"I do agree with you and many of the posters that if the OP is a young person with little experience, it would be better to stay away from attending Protestant churches/worship services/Bible studies. Sometimes the emotional styles of these meetings or the enthusiasm of the believers can fool an inexperienced Christian (Catholic or Protestant) into making a commitment that they really don’t believe, but they THINK they believe because they are allowing their feelings to lead them instead of having faith based on the facts (which support Catholicism, not Protestantism).

I think my warning made clear and SPECIFIC what the OP and others need to watch out for–the emotionalism that is part of many (but not all) Protestant communities that can cause even a strong Catholic to make a commitment that they don’t understand and mean.

Because I play for churches all over the area, I feel that I have a pretty good picture of what the Protestants are teaching these days. Also, all of our relatives are Protestant and active in various churches. Also, the few friends that we do socialize with are Protestant, including several pastors and youth workers.

Also, I continue to read several Protestant magazines and denominational newsletters, and it has been many a year since I’ve seen anything “anti-Catholic.”

There is one local radio show in our city (on one of the local Christian radio stations) that features a couple of young men who are very anti-Catholic. They don’t have a much of a following.

And for years now, the Catholics and Protestants have worked side by side in protesting abortion (our clinic was shut down several years ago!), and in working at the Pregnancy Life Center in our city. In fact, a Catholic was recently appointed as the Director of this Center that has wide-spread Protestant financial and volunteer support.

The best way to tell what a Protestants church’s goals are is to read their Statement of Faith. I think you would be hard-pressed to find a SoF that said, “Our goal is to undermine the Catholic faith.”

Protestants are our brothers and sisters in Christ, according to the Catechism.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Like I said, I’m glad everybody gets along where you live. My husband’s hometown was much the same way, at least by the time I married him (it used to be not so ecumenical back in his grandparents’ day).

Unfortunately, it’s not like that everywhere, and the OP didn’t provide enough details for us to be able to pronounce on their situation.

And like I said, I have definitely seen and experienced some situations where Protestants, generally evangelical of some type, were NOT friendly to Catholics. We get posts here on a regular basis from people whose Protestant friends are telling them all sorts of rot about Catholicism. There are even people on this forum who have been verbally or even physically attacked for being Catholic. I don’t think we can just say, “Oh I haven’t seen any of that where I live so it doesn’t happen.”

It’s not just about being swept up in emotionalism, although that is also a concern for a young person, as is the basic idea of thinking that “hey, all these people are nice, kind and enthusiastic about Jesus, so what does it matter if I attend here or attend at the Catholic church? This place is more fun, I’ll go here instead, Jesus doesn’t care” etc.

We all need to be careful on these forums not to assume our particular experience applies everywhere in the USA or in the world.

 

[TC3033]

This is correct. The Catholic Church is the only church that has the fullness of faith aka the fullness of truth. It is the One, True, Holy and Apostolic Church.

Understood this is the belief by the Catholic church.

so are to some degree “false”.

Understood this is the belief, but not what was said. It was said they are false…not kinda false.

The Catholic Church even accepts certain Christian church baptisms, and does not re-baptize Catholic converts who were previously baptized in these certain Christian but non-Catholic churches that use the Trinitarian rite; the Catholic Church also permits a sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church between a baptized Catholic and a person baptized in these certain Christian but non-Catholic churches.

Yep, so then why would some say that non-Catholics aren’t Christians if (from the above) that’s not the teaching of the Church…? That’s something that used to be so foreign to me, Christians calling other Christians not Christians for not being Christian enough…one reason I’ve struggled with the wife’s parish so much, especially early on.

And like I said, I have definitely seen and experienced some situations where Protestants, generally evangelical of some type, were NOT friendly to Catholics. We get posts here on a regular basis from people whose Protestant friends are telling them all sorts of rot about Catholicism. There are even people on this forum who have been verbally or even physically attacked for being Catholic. I don’t think we can just say, “Oh I haven’t seen any of that where I live so it doesn’t happen.”

I’m just going to say, this can be a two way street. Many people on here don’t believe me when I say what has happened to me after getting married…because “that would never happen at their church”…but you’re right, that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. (full disclosure, I can say I’ve never been physically attacked for not being Catholic)