Understanding the Differences: Christians vs. Catholics

Question: 

What’s the difference between Christians and Catholics?

Answer: 

I love the way young minds are spinning, seeing the world we live in and then trying to gauge what we hear from a biblical worldview, even within a church like ours. So, let’s break down some of the key distinctions between Catholics and Christians.

We have to go back to church history. I’ll summarize this as quickly and concisely as possible, but when you go back into church history, when you read the book of Acts 2:1-4 NLT, you’ll see that the early church began and had this beginning where they were gathered together. 

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

It says that they were of one mind and of one accord, and they would have these gatherings. But then, of course, the church continued to multiply and spread. It’s exactly what Jesus intended, to go from Jerusalem to Judea’s Samaria, that surrounding region, into the uttermost parts of the earth.

But what has happened over time is, and, unfortunately, what tends to happen is that we take something that starts with the right foundation, but then we develop man-made traditions and ideas. And so, Catholicism, when you think of the word in general, Catholicism is actually not a negative word, or a bad word, or an ultimate false sect or religion, but “Catholicism” simply means universal. 

The idea of universality is correct, and we are one church. When I say “one church,” like anybody who is a true believer in Jesus Christ, is part of the church. That is exactly what the word “catholic” means. So, probably to distinguish your question is more in line with the manmade religion known as Roman Catholicism.

You can think of a man by the name of Martin Luther, who was a Catholic priest who realized that a lot of the traditions that came from the Roman Catholic Church in about the 1500s, he recognized that a lot of those were actually contrary to what the Bible taught. 

Martin Luther is most well-known for hanging up the 95 Theses on the door of the church. In these 95 Theses, he shares his struggle with the contradictions he sees in the man-made religion of Roman Catholicism versus what the Bible teaches. This was what launched what’s known as a Protestant movement.

Although Calvary Church is considered non-denominational, where we don’t hold to any denomination, we do find ourselves in the sense that we would consider ourselves Protestant, which simply means we protest against some of the man-made ideologies that the Roman Catholic Church has developed. 

One of the key issues is praying to saints because the Bible tells us that there is one God and one mediator between God and man, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. So, praying to Mary or praying a tradition like praying the rosary, where Jesus said, “Don’t think we will be heard by our vain repetitions.” 

So those are a couple of examples, but let me also be clear: we don’t take this hardcore stance against the Roman Catholics or against people who say they’re Catholic. We have a lot of similarities, too. I think most Catholics would fully subscribe to the essentials of the faith that they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, they believe that He died for our sins, that He was buried and rose again. And the Bible couldn’t be more clear that if you confess the Lord Jesus Christ with your mouth and believe in your heart, He’s been raised from the grave, you shall be saved.

There are many problems within the Roman Catholic Church. I would strongly caution you from attending mass or participating in those services. But what I will tell you is this: There is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus. And I believe that many Catholics, maybe not understanding, still have that foundation, and that is the foundation that gets us to heaven.

Let me read this verse to you. It’s about what Jesus prayed over his disciples and even over future disciples. John Chapter 17:20-21 NLT, Jesus says:

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

That’s the idea. Let’s not look for things that divide but look for things that unify, and that’s the very prayer of Jesus. 

source https://calvaryyouth.org/biblical-answers/understanding-the-differences-christians-vs-catholics/