How is it possible that Protestants think Catholics aren't Christians?

1. 75

   Mikel G Robertsposted 15 years ago

   How is it possible that Protestants think Catholics aren't Christians?
   
   The earliest Protestant church was the Lutheran Church, named after the Catholic monk Martin Luther. The man that broke away from the only christian church in existence, the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church was already 1,200 years old at the time of the birth of the Protestant Churches (1500ad). Which also means that ALL the Christians in the bible were Catholic...

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2. 69

   Silver Poetposted 15 years ago

   Judaism was the right way to worship God until they gradually drifted off track (i.e. killing the Son of God, pretty far off track don't you think?)
   
   Christianity became the right way to worship God, replacing the old system, but by the time of Martin Luther it was in bad shape and in need of reform.  Some of the practices of crooked churchmen of his day appalled him and were unbiblical.  (Example: if you bought an "indulgence" it allowed you to get away with one sin.  Sin is that which is unhealthy spiritually and/or physically and should be avoided as much as possible.  They cared more about obtaining money than about upholding the principles of their ministry.)
   
   I think Catholics are Christians who have a few doctrinal differences from Protestants (who are also Christians) and that those who sincerely seek God will be led into greater truth no matter where they start out from or what the name of their religious branch may be.

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   arvinoposted 15 years ago

   This is a problem for many people all around the world. How can anyone know what is the right way and which place to worship? Don't you know that the house of God is not made with hands. it is made without hands(heart and soul). You are the temple of God. The more denominations we have the ore sin there will be. Christians are Christ like(true christians).

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      celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      amen

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4. 66

   aka-djposted 15 years ago

   It's not about the (Denominational) labels. Being a "born of the Spirit" Child of God does not  fall into Religious Categories. A Catholic believer can be as much of a child of God as a Protestant, if he/she meets God's criteria.
   Like someone said, (Keith Green I think) "Being in a church does not make one a Christian any more than bing in McDonald's make you a hamburger".
   We like labels, because it makes us feel like we belong to something (visible), but, in reality, the true Church of God is INVISIBLE. It (the Church) crosses all cultural, ethnic and religious boundaries. No-one is too bad to get in. It is exclusive as well as inclusive.
   "Whosoever will, may come..."

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   SEO IT!posted 14 years ago

   First of all - this is DEFINITELY opinion (except for the Bible references)...
   
   I don' t think Protestants have any right to claim they are the only "true" Christians. It isn't about "Protestant, Catholic, Presbyterian..."  It is about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
   
   As for those things that go against my beliefs (such as praying to Mary, because Jesus said HE is the way, the truth and the life and that no man comes unto the father but through him...will cite if needed), only GOD is judge. 
   
   We protestants love to flaunt our "Bible-based religion" but it is downright embarrassing to me that so many fail to "JUDGE NOT".
   
   We are supposed to worry about following God ourselves and spread the GOOD news, instead of claiming to know who the "whore of Babylon" is and pointing fingers. As to who or what the whore of Babylon is -- it is ONLY speculation.
   
   Some protestants are just "old school" and constantly repeat what they have been told. I love my mom so much, but honestly think she'll be shocked when she gets to Heaven and *gasp*,  they aren't all protestants!

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   RS Wightposted 14 years ago

   I have only set foot in one church that I thought was worth staying in for more than about 10 minutes and that was the church I was married in (and I have been in many of every denomination)!
   
   Many of today's churches are far too political or judgmental or downright frightening in their reliance on the use of fear to keep people coming.
   
   This question reminds of a joke I once heard:
   
   A demon who was out on patrol heard the beautiful message of Christ's new church built on love.  In great fear for the future of Hell, he ran back to Satan with the news.
   Amazingly, to the demon, Satan laughed saying, "don't worry my son, I will just organize them."
   
   In other words, as soon as you take something that was meant to help us create a personal relationship with God and organize it into a church you loose the entire point.

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   Will Say Plentyposted 14 years ago

   I don't understand the question.  What makes you think Protestants think Catholics are not Christians?  As a Protestant, an ordained minister and recipient of the God And Country: God And Life Award, I can assure you that Protestants and Catholics are indeed Christians.  Are there differences in ceremonies and so forth?  Yes but we all are Christians.

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   Dog On A Missionposted 14 years ago

   I'm not a Christian myself, so I can only guess.
   
   Mark Dice (for example) does not regard Mormons or Catholics as Christians.
   
   I think that the well-researched historical novel "Shogun" by James Clavell lays bare the real reasons for the Catholic/Protestant schism, which have more to do with politics and economics than theology or doctrinal disputes.

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9. 68

   Etherealenigmaposted 14 years ago

   A fellow hubber asked why Protestants don't believe that Catholics are Christian. It may not agree with your beliefs or philosophy, but it is my answer to the debate and question that was asked in the hubpages forum. read more

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      SonOfSkyrim201posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Your hub is rubbish

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10. 75

    Lady Roseposted 14 years ago

    "He drew a circle that excluded me, but love and I were smarter and we drew a bigger circle that included him."
    Unless all Jesus's followers start loving one another as themselves, there will always be some that feel they are better or closer to God than others.
    God doesn't look at the affiliation or denomination, he looks at the hearts of men. And He loves protestants just as much as He loves Catholics, Muslims, Budhists and Jews.

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       celafoeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       WHAT a foolish statement.   to equate mus-slimes, budhists and such to the love of God.   He has love for all mankind that will come to Him, it is a diffeent kind of love for those who ARE HIS.  MUS-SLIMES, BUDHISTS AND SUCH ARE NOT HIS

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    brotheryochananposted 14 years ago

    The 'upper room' church was gods church in acts 2:1-4. The disciples of christ were the only ones authorized to work in the manner of apostleship and start churches. This was the work of god by men trained of christ. The catholic church started some time after the apostles were all murdered. The catholic church was a brainstorm of some roman leader to amalgamate all the beliefs into one church and thereby persuade the christians who were scattered abroad to enter in and be safe.
    We are all familiar with incorrect scriptural doctrines of the catholics and we know that anyone who disbelieves that jesus was the christ of god lives in unbelief. So say what you will about catholics loving god but at some point there has to be doctrinal change. The spirit of truth guides us into all truth and surely a lover of god will not be deceived to the point of praying to mary, as she is dead and buried in the ground and her spirit is with her there. The rosary and other catholic traditions and practices have to evolve with the Love of the worshipper. We can imagine that people love god, but god said, "with all the heart, soul and mind". This is really quite demanding and certainly goes far beyond our human conception of loving god. And again, "marvel not that i said ye must be born again". I state plainly that many catholics do not ever cross this line. "Woah to those who teach false doctrine for they lead many astray", but god will sort it all out because he is god and able to do so, therefore do i say, doctrinal change.

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    chatpilotposted 14 years ago

    From my experience as a former Protestant turned atheist, I would like to put this question in its proper perspective. It is true that most protestants don't consider Catholics as Christians and this is mainly because of the many saints and idols that they "venerate". In fact although more learned Catholics will say that they don't worship those idols most of those that are not as learned do.
    
    Another aspect of this is exclusivity, all sects of Christianity be they Catholic or Protestant claim that they have the pure unadulterated truth. The reason that there are so many sects within Christianity is simple; Christians can't seem to agree on doctrine and even in some cases some of the most fundamental beliefs that comprise their religion.
    
    Interpretation is a big factor here as well since each of these sects interpret the scriptures differently. Some are more spiritual, others more literal, and yet others somewhere in between. The bible in my opinion is like the quatrains of Nostradamus; they are open to the interpretation of the reader and this is one of many of the reasons I don't consider it nor any other book claiming inspiration from God or gods as holy or divine.

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       frumpletonposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I can't really believe that someone doesn't believe in God.  I'm not talking about Jesus.  I mean, Someone or something a lot smarter than us created you and me and the universe.  Praying doesn't work for me, so I can understand how you feel.

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    Maxfliesposted 13 years ago

    That's odd considering that Catholicism was the first Christian religion after Christ died, except for the Nephites (who would later become The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) {Mormons} in 1830. Some people don't think Mormons are Christians, which is strange because Jesus Christ is part of the title of their religion.

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       celafoeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       actually the  catholic church is much older than that

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    MrMaranathaposted 12 years ago

    Read your Bible and learn what it is to be a Christian... then it might make more sense to you... The R Catholic Church is not teaching Biblical Christianity.  But then again... Neither are the Mormons... JW's and some others...

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       MrMaranathaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       (But then again... Neither are the Mormons)

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15. 52

    celafoeposted 11 years ago

    while there may be  Christians in any church because God looks at the heart of the individual.  the catholic church is an abomination to God.   Necromancy, worshipping mary, penance, priests and nuns, and on and on. But also are denominations.   Get a copy of the book of denominations and read how each one was started.   All were begun as a result of schism and unrighteous division which God says He hates.   We are not suppose to separate and form another abomination .   We are supposed to get together and go to scripture and together, with the help of the Holy Spirit (who is not welcome in very many churches because he upsets the program)
    and find the one true understanding of scripture.   But instead of doing that most men want to hold onto their beliefs even if they are not scriptural, rather than admit they could be wrong.    I find this is especially true with ministers.   If you dont believe me, write as I often do a article attacking one of the false" sacred cows"  taught by the churches.    they will attack it without reading it and try to intimidate and discredit you, especially if you have all your scriptures in context and complete.
    This should not be.  , they should read what you have written and respond with
    their scriptures in order . and then there should be open discourse on both sides until it is proven what is the correct understanding.    Then either or both (whoever was wrong, maybe both were)should repent and change and go on.   But I find few anywhere that can and will do that and that is the problem in the churches---false pride more than anything else.

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    peter565posted 9 years ago

    There is a documentary about the origin of the Catholic church, it would answer your question.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tMvcBukXL4

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    dianetrotterposted 8 years ago

    1st Christian Church was Antioch in 1st Century - see Acts 11.  At that time, catholic church meant universal church.  The Roman Catholic church evolved after the Christian chuch became the "official" state religion of the Roman Empire.
    
    The Roman Catholic Church added prayer to Mary which is not Biblical.  The rosary includes 10 prayers to Mary and then 1 to the Father.  The RCC developed a way of making people saints which was not consistent with the Bible.  In each letter that Paul wrote to churches, he called them saints.  We became saints when we became Christians.
    
    It is not impossible for an RCC to be a Christian but it is not based on the church.  It is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  There are many "baptists, methodists, etc." that are not Christians because they do not have a personal relationship with Christ.

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