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Are Catholic’s Christian

At least some are.

My former MIL, the ones I knew in my neighborhood growing up, Father Schuller at St Agnes in Saint Paul, some I met overseas, and some I've met as an adult believer. I wouldn't hazard a guess on anyone, Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Non-denominational, Orthodox, etc., who I didn't know, or whose writings, sermons, etc. didn't reflect Biblical truth and profession of faith.

Martin Luther was a Catholic Monk, who tried to reform the Church, but instead, ended up being a major figure in the Protestant Reformation. Based on his writings, sermons, actions, etc., I'd guess yes, but I never met him (obviously).
 
I’m glad I rejected this religion as a child.

I remember refusing to be confirmed, sitting in the office w/ the priest and my mom. She was insisting they make me get confirmed and the priest was like, we can’t make her 😊.

I also remember receiving a crocheted cross and my Aunt saying how special this was because it was blessed by the Pope and thinking how crazy that was, that he was just a man and was certainly not God like.

It's just so sad that some people on their death bed are all frantic and nervous about getting a priest to read them the last rites in time, rather than just concentrating on/trusting in only Jesus.

So many, many more things are messed up w/ Catholicism, one could go on forever...
 
LydiaJoy said:
I’m glad I rejected this religion as a child.

I remember refusing to be confirmed, sitting in the office w/ the priest and my mom. She was insisting they make me get confirmed and the priest was like, we can’t make her 😊.

I also remember receiving a crocheted cross and my Aunt saying how special this was because it was blessed by the Pope and thinking how crazy that was, that he was just a man and was certainly not God like.

It's just so sad that some people on their death bed are all frantic and nervous about getting a priest to read them the last rites in time, rather than just concentrating on/trusting in only Jesus.

So many, many more things are messed up w/ Catholicism, one could go on forever...
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Good on the Priest for refusing.

Good on you for your discernment.
 
Let us not forget that correct belief that Jesus is God, that we are sinners and that accepting Jesus as our savior is what it takes to be saved.

What man made religion we happen to follow does not matter as long as what we believe and accept regarding salvation is correct. A coworker that I led to salvation is currently a practicing Jew. Why? Because he was brought up that way and all his family and friends are Jewish. As far as I know, I am the only one who knows he has accepted Jesus as his Savior. It is what we believe and accept that saves us, not what we practice.

Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

So someone who not only sins but teaches other men to sin will also go to Heaven? 🤔 That is what Jesus says in Matthew 5:19.
 
I have known many catholics who I would expect are True Believers, including my mom, who, if I am correct is with Jesus now. Upbringing, tradition, etc., are stronger in some people than others. My mom didn't understand my Scripture only stance but she loved Jesus. She and I enjoyed attending prayer meetings and Christian conventions together. I see a difference in catholics, and members of many protestant religions who can talk the talk but haven't surrendered their lives to Jesus... those are more apt to fail to accept basic Biblical Truths and more apt to be comfortable with what the world teaches with regards to morality. Some of those are family members unfortunately. They attend church religiously while not understanding that they are rejecting Jesus in their lives. Very sad. They please the church, but not their Creator.

The question that is asked though, "Are catholics Christian?" should be rephrased since membership in a religion doesn't really reflect upon whether an individual is saved or not. While at times a large group of people are transformed into Believers, the miracle of salvation occured in each individually.

Why do many catholics, methodists, presbyterians, etc. continue their religious practices after they're saved? The pull of tradition, the things they are accustomed to, is really strong in some people.
 
Catholics that accept Jesus the gift of salvation by admitting they are a sinner believing he died for them, and calling upon his name to save them they are. I agree with TT those who stay in the RCC are in there because they were brought up that way, and that is what they are accustomed to. They need to get in a :bible:believing church where they can grow in their Spiritual walk with God.
 
mattfivefour said:
No it can't. But mere mental assent is not belief in the biblical sense and meaning of the word. Belief is an act of throwing yourself totally on God's mercy through Christ's sacrifice.
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While you and I almost always agree, when I got saved I actually doubted that it was true. After my salvation, it took God over a month to then convince me that what I thought just might be true was true! If it is indeed a free gift then why would we have to work hard on our faith to receive it? While I would agree that some people need to be convinced first to be saved, it was the opposite for me. I accepted first and then was later convinced. Interesting enough, I have never doubted after that. A lot of Christians that were convinced first, later doubted for a time. If strong, true or some standard of belief is required, how does anyone know if they have enough belief? You just need enough belief to take the next step of acceptance.

Do I base salvation on what happened to me? No, but to me my salvation makes total sense if salvation is a totally free gift. I did what was required which was to believe just enough to accept the free gift. Suppose I told you I had a million dollars in the trunk of my car and you could have it as a FREE GIFT. How much faith would be required? Just enough faith to accompany me to my car correct? The whole time walking to my car you could be thinking that I don't even have a million dollars, but that would not stop you from receiving it. Why? Because it is a FREE GIFT.

While we can disagree I cannot change my mind any more than I could stop believing in my own mother as this is the basis of my salvation, meaning how I personally got saved in the first place. I am not saying you have to agree with me though. :giggle:

God Bless! 😍
 
Andy C said:
Completely agree.

It really can’t be measured, and certainly not based on how one acts.

Im eternally grateful salvation is a free gift because I know beyond any doubt I could never earn it.
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Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

While I know this is not at all a salvation verse, Jesus is comparing unbelief to the tiny faith of a mustard seed. Meaning there is only two choices. One either believes or they do not. This idea of just how sincerely they believe is not a part of the salvation message. If we think that someone does not sincerely believe, what should we tell them to do. Start working on that? :noidea:
 
To clarify my earlier statement: I'm not suggesting in the least that there is a quantity of faith required for salvation ... only that one simply believes that Jesus Christ died for their sins. Therefore, the scripturally simple fact is that faith for salvation necessitates believing that Jesus Christ saves. It necessitates trusting that Christ is sufficient for one's salvation.

If I understand you correctly that you said you were saved but didn't really believe that Christ saved you, then with the greatest respect I would suggest that --AT THAT SPECIFIC POINT-- you weren't scripturally actually saved. But that is irrelevant to the fact of your salvation in that, by your initial decision, however tentative, Christ began the process in you, working progressively in you until a month later He brought you to the point of actual salvation-- namely that you trusted in Christ's sacrifice alone as being fully sufficient and the sole ground of your salvation.

Someone can argue this topic all they like, but I'm not here to argue: only to open up God's Word. And, respectfully, Scripture is clear that the ONLY basis for salvation is trust in Christ's fully sufficient sacrifice. Acknowledging that there was a historic figure named Jesus Christ, that he was a good man or teacher, or even that he was crucified, is not sufficient. Even trusting that Jesus is God is not sufficient. Even the demons knew Jesus was God. But trusting that Jesus Christ died for your sin is totally sufficient. And that is why I stated that mental assent regarding Jesus is, in itself, not sufficient for salvation. It takes the decision to actually trust Christ --however imperfectly-- to save a person. Because, respectfully, that is what Scripture teaches.

I hope this clarifies my meaning. I am not trying to make salvation complicated, or place conditions upon it. I'm merely saying that salvation results exclusively from us trusting Jesus Christ to save us, based on what He has done and not on anything we have done or may do. Without that trust, that belief, there can be no salvation.
 
mattfivefour said:
Acknowledging that there was a historic figure named Jesus Christ, that he was a good man or teacher, or even that he was crucified, is not sufficient. Even trusting that Jesus is God is not sufficient. Even the demons knew Jesus was God. But trusting that Jesus Christ died for your sin is totally sufficient. And that is why I stated that mental assent regarding Jesus is, in itself, not sufficient for salvation. It takes the decision to actually trust Christ --however imperfectly-- to save a person. Because, respectfully, that is what Scripture teaches.
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We are somehow not understanding each other. I was believing in the correct things meaning that I was a sinner, Jesus was God in the flesh and rose again and that he did ALL that was needed for my salvation. So if you are saying that we have to believe correctly, I did that. I am just saying that I had very little faith. By the way yes the Demons knew Jesus was God but they did not accept him. Salvation requires both belief and acceptance which is what I did.

I have shared with enough people on the street to know that most have one or two problems. They either do not want to submit to God or they can't believe that salvation is just that easy. As soon as someone says things like you must sincerely or truly believe, it goes against the idea of a free gift. When they say you must sincerely or truly believe to accept a free gift, that is kind of like the Peter Pan ferry tale. Unless you believe enough, you can't be saved.

I say all this not to argue with you but to be clear regarding how I got saved. You say I did not get saved when I prayed the prayer. If that is the case when did I get saved as I never again accepted Jesus after that, as I had already done it? :noidea:

Romans 10:9 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.

The verse above is exactly what I did. 👍

God Bless! 😍
 
Goodboy said:
I say all this not to argue with you but to be clear regarding how I got saved. You say I did not get saved when I prayed the prayer. If that is the case when did I get saved as I never again accepted Jesus after that, as I had already done it?
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From reading your account, it would seem to me that you got saved over a period of some amount of time. That's just my thought from reading your account.
 
Tall Timbers said:
From reading your account, it would seem to me that you got saved over a period of some amount of time. That's just my thought from reading your account.
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We discussed this very thing the other day at ladies Christian book club and the consensus was that it wasn't so important that one could name the exact date and circumstances of salvation but rather are you saved now? That is the important thing.
 
Kem said:
We discussed this very thing the other day at ladies Christian book club and the consensus was that it wasn't so important that one could name the exact date and circumstances of salvation but rather are you saved now? That is the important thing.
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Amen! We are not simple creatures. Like fingerprints, no two of us are alike. Even perfectly identical twins are identifiable after you get to know them because while they look identical, they are individually unique.

I knew God before I got saved. I'd had many conversations with Him. I wasn't praying to Him, but conversing. Those were two way conversations in a way I can't explain. I didn't know getting saved was a thing.

It was when I opened a Bible for the first time that the Word brought conviction and surrender. I remember the moment ever so fondly. I also remember my pre-salvation moments with God fondly. I expect I'll treasure those moments for all eternity.
 
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