Catholic Bible Study

Catholicism Is Not Christianity

I intend to show some basic or fundamental differences between Catholicism and Christianity in this article. I do believe that most Catholics are not even aware that the two are not synonymous. If the two have different beliefs and different practices then they are different and have different heads. If they have different fundamental practices, then either they are both false or one is false and one is true, they cannot both be true. If one follows the teachings of the Bible then it is true to the Bible. If one does not follow the teachings of the Bible then it is a fake. Christianity is learned from the Bible and from teachers of the Bible, that is how it has been preserved throughout the centuries. If neither Catholicism nor Christianity follow the teachings of the Bible then both are false. If both follow the teachings of the Bible then they should observe the very same things.

It is essential that you believe that the true God is the author of the Bible. The way to learn this is to prove it for yourself, you can start by reading it. It is essential that you believe the Bible. Since there is only one God then there is only one Head of the church. Any other head is false or a false god, fake god, imaginary god, fabricated god or man made god, not the true God. If you do not believe that the Bible is the word of God then this discussion may stimulate some interest or curiosity in you and get you started on a path of knowledge. Without the Bible we are truly lost as far as having an insight into God’s relationship with man here on earth. Jesus is our only link with God and he taught from the whole Bible as it was in His day, that was the Old Testament. His apostles wrote the New Testament, for our benefit. Had it been meant for the knowledge of the Kingdom of God to be preached by word of mouth alone then the apostles would not have written anything. If you can’t believe Jesus or the apostles then Christianity is not within your grasp. The only name by which salvation is possible is Jesus. He is also know as Yashua, Yahashua, Joshua, Johashua, Jehovah, Yaweh (YHVH) and others.

God does not lie (Titus 1:2). He does what he says and he says what he does. He does whatever pleases him and whatever he chooses to do. If God were evil we would be without hope. But God is good and we here in Canada have witnessed his goodness for many generations. It has been a long time since we have had war on our soil. Very few go hungry here. We are well clothed and well sheltered with few exceptions. We are in need of so little physically that some forget God, very irrational. Those who keep God in their hearts and minds can believe the Bible and that it is a gift from God.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV)

The following is recent correspondence that I had with a practicing Roman Catholic and my response to it. I think it typifies Catholic thinking.

You said “About Catholicism and Christianity, Roman Catholicism is the mother of the Protestant movement.”

I do believe you are right. Here is a passage from the Bible that verifies that point. It is talking about a religious system that epitomizes the Roman Catholic Church.

And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Revelation 17:5-6 (ESV)

The mother is the Roman Catholic Church and the prostitutes are the protestant churches.

You Stated “Catholics are Christian because they are believers in Christ as the incarnate God who died for our sins. Incarnate means God came to earth in human or fleshly form.”

I do believe that Jesus died for my sins also but that is not what make me a Christian. Even Satan believes that Jesus is the son of God and our savior, that does not make Satan a Christian. Satan is as anti-Christian as is possible. I can believe that Confucius was a great leader of the Chinese but that does not make me Chinese. To be a Christian you have to live the life of a believer and follower. You have to let Jesus live in you as your Lord.

You stated “After all He is a spirit.”

I believe that Jesus gave up His spirituality when He became human. He was then given it back when He resurrected.

You stated “Only those who don’t believe that Christ is the son of God are not Christians.”

As I alluded to above, there are many who know that Jesus is the son of God but are not Christian. In other words they do not want to follow Him and they won’t. Some protest greatly.

You stated “There is greater tolerance Protestant & Catholic, one for the other. Catholics used to think that protestants were going to hell and then protestants started to protest that catholics were going to hell. We need to focus individually on God, to start developing a relationship with Him, and start asking Him what He thinks of us.”

I am neither Catholic nor Protestant. Tolerance is a good thing I think but love is better. Love is much more diverse and far reaching. The scriptures teach that we should each one individually work out his own salvation in fear and trembling. The way to develop a relationship with God is as taught in the Holy Scriptures and by His true ministers. They do tell us what God thinks of us and what we need to do to change.