Are Catholics also Christians?

[Munro]

Are Catholics also Christians?

This is a question I have often come across in religious forums.
And often also the opinion that Catholics are not Christians.

Now I ask this question here in the poll.

 

[Munro]

I say: Yes, of course!

And: What else could they be?

 

[fastfredy0]

And: What else could they be?

Non-Christians assuming they follow the doctrines of the R.C. church which is how I define Roman Catholics.

When you understand the idolatry of the mass, that propitiatory sacrifice of Christ can never save anyone, the treasury of merit, indulgences, the excess merit of Mary, purgatory, that one righteousness consists of that of Christ, Mary, the saints and oneself, sacraments, that the priest is another Christ … then one does not have the gospel of that leads to salvation. James White, See Galatians 1:6-9

 

[Manfred]

Are Catholics also Christians?

This is a question I have often come across in religious forums.
And often also the opinion that Catholics are not Christians.

Now I ask this question here in the poll.

Good afternoon (local time) Munro

You ask an important question, and it needs to be answered subtly and with grace.

If I could put a question to you and your fellow Roman Catholics:
Do you believe in salvation through the imputed righteousness of Christ, or rather by the infused righteousness of Christ?
Do you believe that someone like Gandhi, who was a "good" person will be allowed entrance to heaven, or do you think he has been cast into hell?

What are your thoughts on these two questions, and will your Church agree with your answers?

 

[Munro]

Good afternoon (local time) Munro

You ask an important question, and it needs to be answered subtly and with grace.

So be it!
More later!

And also good afternoon to you, Manfred.

 

[Alive]

There has alway been much wrong out of Rome, but the Lord knows those that are His.
You cannot say all of Rome are true christians any more than you can say all baptists are.
I do not like the question, nor its intent.

 

[civic]

When I was younger I worked in a salon cutting hair. I had a catholic priest who was a client on mine and I would intentionally take much longer cutting his hair because we would have some really good discussions and he would answer my concerns about catholics. I can tell you he loved Jesus just as much as I did and he would boldly talk about Him being his Lord and Savior from sin and being His disciple. Jesus was everything to him and I knew he loved the Lord. My mother in law was a saved charismatic catholic when I was dating my wife in highschool and later became reformed at a Dutch Reformed Church just around the corner from her house, I went their too after I was saved at age 20.

 

[fastfredy0]

When I was younger I worked in a salon cutting hair. I had a catholic priest who was a client on mine and I would intentionally take much longer cutting his hair because we would have some really good discussions and he would answer my concerns about catholics. I can tell you he loved Jesus just as much as I did and he would boldly talk about Him being his Lord and Savior from sin and being His disciple. Jesus was everything to him and I knew he loved the Lord. My mother in law was a saved charismatic catholic when I was dating my wife in highschool and later became reformed at a Dutch Reformed Church just around the corner from her house, I went their too after I was saved at age 20.

On an emotional level I am very sympathetic to your proposal; seems right to me. On a scriptural level, to me, Galatians condemns those who believe they justify themselves by works. Galatians 1:6-9, Gal. 5:2-6 ... and then there's turning wine and bread into God, etc.

 

[civic]

On an emotional level I am very sympathetic to your proposal; seems right to me. On a scriptural level, to me, Galatians condemns those who believe they justify themselves by works. Galatians 1:6-9, Gal. 5:2-6 ... and then there's turning wine and bread into God, etc.

We talked about the gospel and communion many times and I can tell you that he was spot on. If you did not know he was a priest you would think he was a protestant. I remeber thinking when he first sat in my chair and I asked him what he did for a living I now had someone I could witness to and share the gospel and prayed for his salvation. Unbeknownst to me he had a personal relationship with Christ and shared with me when he became a born again believer. And I know for a fact my mother in law was a saved charismatic catholic.

 

[fastfredy0]

We talked about the gospel and communion many times and I can tell you that he was spot on. If you did not know he was a priest you would think he was a protestant. I remeber thinking when he first sat in my chair and I asked him what he did for a living I now had someone I could witness to and share the gospel and prayed for his salvation. Unbeknownst to me he had a personal relationship with Christ and shared with me when he became a born again believer. And I know for a fact my mother in law was a saved charismatic catholic.

I can't speak to individuals. I know everyone has errors in their theology. I am sympathic for this guy; by human standards he sounds like a great guy.
I believe people who follow/believe in R.C. doctrine are not saved. I quoted Galatians as proof of the disqualification of those who believe in WORKS SALVATION and that is a major tenet of the R.C.s.

https://www.gotquestions.org/are-Catholics-saved.html ... .these guys agree with me and give their explanation (of course, that doesn't prove me right or wrong). Their summary is: Are Catholics saved? Do Catholics go to heaven? It depends. If the question is “are there saved Catholics?” then the answer is “yes.” If the question is “will a person go to heaven if he or she holds to the official Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation?” the answer is “no.”

 

[civic]

I can't speak to individuals. I know everyone has errors in their theology. I am sympathic for this guy; by human standards he sounds like a great guy.
I believe people who follow/believe in R.C. doctrine are not saved. I quoted Galatians as proof of the disqualification of those who believe in WORKS SALVATION and that is a major tenet of the R.C.s.

https://www.gotquestions.org/are-Catholics-saved.html ... .these guys agree with me and give their explanation (of course, that doesn't prove me right or wrong). Their summary is: Are Catholics saved? Do Catholics go to heaven? It depends. If the question is “are there saved Catholics?” then the answer is “yes.” If the question is “will a person go to heaven if he or she holds to the official Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation?” the answer is “no.”

I understand where you are coming from but the man and my mother in law whom I both knew really well would tell you unequivocally they are saved by grace through faith apart from works. I had many discussions with them over that topic. And in general I concur with what you say about the RCC in general but there are always exceptions to the rule. Maybe God was using him to reach catholics with the gospel ? Maybe it was his mission field.

 

[Fred]

What else could they be?

Since they pray to/worship others besides God means they are idolaters and unrepentant idolaters are not saved (Revelation 21:8).

 

[Munro]

---

• Total voters 9

Good that so many take part!

 

[ChristB4us]

Are Catholics also Christians?

This is a question I have often come across in religious forums.
And often also the opinion that Catholics are not Christians.

Now I ask this question here in the poll.

If a Catholic believes in the Lord Jesus Christ & that God has raised Him from the dead, they are saved as scriptures says;

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Do you believe you are saved by having believed in Jesus Christ or do you believe the works of Catholicism is necessary for you to obtain salvation by?

Just saying, you are saved for why you do not need to do the works of Catholicism.

The works of Catholicism is stealing the joy of their salvation away for why many are laboring in unbelief as if they can finish by the flesh through the Catholic Church of what God has begun in the Spirit. The catholic Church excuses it by saying God gives more grace for believers to do works and that cannot be true.

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Anyway, here is why I see saved believers laboring in unbelief for something when they are already saved for by believing in Jesus Christ.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

837 "Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization, and who - by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion - are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but 'in body' not 'in heart.'"321 " ~~~~end of quote

Skipping on down to quote some more:

"Outside the Church there is no salvation"

846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?335 Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:

Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.336

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.337

848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."338 ~~~~End of quote

 

[Munro]

10 voters so far

and 3 say: Yes, of course!

 

[Ritajanice]

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit [2] gives birth to spirit.7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You [3] must be born again.'8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

 

[CrazyCalvinistUncle]

Are Catholics also Christians?

Some of them. In spite of the RCC's teaching. Just more proof that God can strike a straight blow with a crooked stick.

Now mind you...there are also a some so called Protestants out there that are anything but Christians. But at least the Gospel was faithfully proclaimed to them. Unlike the RCC.

 

[Munro]

only 2 of 15 say: no

 

[CrazyCalvinistUncle]

only 2 of 15 say: no

That's because they are being polite and have forgotten Paul's declaration of anathema on any other Gospel.

 

[fastfredy0]

only 2 of 15 say: no

The question is vague in several regards.
1) The definition of "Christian" is not defined and people have varying definitions.
2) A lot of people said some RCs are and some are not Christians. This indicates a lack of definition. That's 8 of the 15 votes wasted.

The question should be IMO .... Would a person who is in agreement with and believes 100% of R.C. theology go to heaven. That should put a sharper edge on the question IMO.

Aside: I would like to be shown who voted for what.... more interesting that way.