[BJWilliams]

I was chatting with a friend of mine and she posed an interesting question to me. She asked if Catholics were Christians. After thinking about it for a good while, I said that if you have accepted Jesus as your savior, no matter what denomination you are, you're a Christian. I do feel like I punted though in responding to her question but I wanted to put it to you guys as well.

[Hold My Own]

Tally enters stage right in 3....2.....1....

[PAmedic]

If you are defining "Christian" as "born-again" , then I am sure that a good many Catholics ARE.

probably just as many as there are Protestants that are NOT. (born-again)

a lot hinges on your definition of "Christian", though.

I believe the traditional definition makes a distinction between Christian, Judiasm, Buddism, Hinduism and others, etc, but is not specific as to the type of Protestantism .

[TallyW]

You boys got this one covered.

Catholics (like anyone else) only need to repent and follow Christ as their Savior. The only discussion after that is if they trust the 7 sacraments save them or if they put their trust in Christ alone. As far as religious 'tradition' I think we all have some screwed up religious traditions that highlight portions of the faith more than others. I refuse to paint a broad brush with any denomination of Christ followers.... so yeah... if Christ is their only Salvation... they're every bit as Christians as I am...

[Libertine]

If you want to get technical, the word "Christian" means "follower of Christ", which does not automatically translate into "saved from sin". Remember, Jesus had hundreds of disciples when he was here on earth, all of whom -- with one exception -- abandoned him when things got hairy. I think the real question that you're getting at here is, "are Catholics going to Heaven?" Jesus answered that pretty clearly himself and Paul expounded on it in Romans that anyone, regardless of denomination or background, who puts their faith in Christ and Christ alone is in. If not, it doesn't matter what church you've been occupying since birth, you're out. To sum up: I know some Catholics who are certainly saved and I know others who are very likely not. I know some Baptists who are certainly saved and I know others who are very likely not. Believe it or not, I know a guy who calls himself a 'Christian agnostic' who I'm pretty sure is saved. The important thing to remember is that salvation is determined by the name that's printed on our hearts not the name that's printed over the church door.

[TDDance234]

Touchdown, Lib.

[Sly Fox]

I agree with the prevailing sentiment of the thread. But let me add that I feel Catholicism is more an impediment to salvation than assistance. I have many Catholic friends who are believers in spite of their chosen persuasion.

[TallyW]

If you want to get technical, the word "Christian" means "follower of Christ", which does not automatically translate into "saved from sin".

If it doesn't, please give me an example of a Christ-follower who is not saved from their sin or vise versa... show me one person who is saved from their sin who is not a follower of Christ.

I can't tell if you're running with semantics or are seriously saying anything different than everyone else above you on the thread...

[Libertine]

My point was that there's a lot of people who would refer to themselves as Christians or followers of Christ but, in reality, have no core connection with him. To borrow from another thread, I'm a big Duke fan and I enjoy all things Duke but I've never attended there and never worked there. I'm a Duke fan b/c I like what Duke stands for, not b/c Duke changed my life. Same principle.

[BJWilliams]

This is a very interesting discussion. Do you think I "punted" (as Dr Caner would say) in giving her my answer?

[Libertine]

I was chatting with a friend of mine and she posed an interesting question to me. She asked if Catholics were Christians. After thinking about it for a good while, I said that if you have accepted Jesus as your savior, no matter what denomination you are, you're a Christian. I do feel like I punted though in responding to her question but I wanted to put it to you guys as well.

I think you nailed it, BJ.

[TallyW]

I do too BJ.


Libertine... but would you agree that 'followers of Christ' are also the same who are 'saved from their sin?'
Or are you clarifying the thought by saying that there can be people who follow Christ's moral lessons without claiming him as their Lord?

[Ed Dantes]

I do too BJ.


Libertine... but would you agree that 'followers of Christ' are also the same who are 'saved from their sin?'
Or are you clarifying the thought by saying that there can be people who follow Christ's moral lessons without claiming him as their Lord?

I think that there is a huge difference between "followers of Christ" and "saved from their sin". I think that people who are new to Christianity are "saved from their sin" (e.g., they made their conversion to Christianity to repent from past lifestyle, or to avoid Hell), and that as their faaith evolves, they become followers of Christ (that is, they say "whatever the Lord wants from me, I'll do it... I'll surrender myself to Christ even if it means the end of myself").

...

I believe that's the level of faith that Mother Theresa attained, and thus, I believe that Catholics can be Christians and can be saved.

[TallyW]

I have a feeling this is more semantics than anything else.

There is no way a person can be 'saved from their sin' apart from following Jesus Christ. As far as being discipled into new ways to do that.... okay... but that's just an expression of what already happened. I can't see an honest separation...

Those who are saved from their sin have chosen to follow Christ... they may do that in various ways over time but none the less they have chosen to follow Christ. A person cannot receive eternal life without repentance of sin and faith in Christ. They used to follow their sinful nature and now they follow Christ... all you seem to be saying is that as a person is saved over a period of time they begin to give up more and more... It's awful dangerous to try and make a fuss about a gradual obedience when discussing salvation with someone interested in Christ. To be saved we must follow Christ, period. Yes it is expressed in various ways but the two are never mutually exclusive... they are one in the same.

We agree that people who are saved from sin are truly making Christ Lord in which case they have abandoned the throne and allowed Christ to reign... In some lives it's evident from day 1 and in others it shows over a longer period of time... but to separate the two seems to be nit-picky and without any theological ramification.

[4everfsu]

Maybe it depends on who you ask, if you have asked Osama Bin Laden if Catholics can be Christian, he would say yes and off with their heads. I don't think he sees any difference between the two groups.
Of course the crusades if I am not mistaken was blessed by the Pope, so you can say was it considered the Catholic church at the time or a Christian church at the time.
Yes Catholics can be Christian ,muslims can be Christian, but that is based on their decision to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour, once you accepted him, you have followed his guideline to enter Heaven. I wonder if the thief on the cross that Jesus said would be with him in paradise, was an atheist, a Jew or Gentile, etc, regardless upon his conversion on the cross, he was a Christian. Just think Christ lead a sinner to his Father while dying on the Cross for me,us and the world.

[Libertine]

I do too BJ.


Libertine... but would you agree that 'followers of Christ' are also the same who are 'saved from their sin?'
Or are you clarifying the thought by saying that there can be people who follow Christ's moral lessons without claiming him as their Lord?

The second one. All those who are 'saved from sin' are certainly 'followers of Christ' but not all those who call themselves 'followers of Christ' are truly 'saved from sin'.

[HenryGale]

So what you are saying is, even though I had fish for dinner tonight (its Friday), did my stations of the cross, and will be in church on Sat. evening, I am not going to heaven?

Sorry, sarcasm comes out after 9 years of Catholic School.