Use this website if you would like to read the CCC references. Just type the number into the search engine.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
Similarities Between Catholics and Evangelicals
The Trinity
- God is one.
- God has revealed himself as three persons. (CCC 253)
- Catholics do not consider Mary part of the Trinity.
Jesus
- Jesus is the second person of the trinity.
- He is fully divine and fully human. (CCC 464)
- Born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross, buried, resurrected from the dead.
Miscellaneous
- Sinfulness of humanity.
- Necessity of Salvation
- Numerous Social Issues (i.e. abortion)
Differences
Authority
Catholics
- Have 3 sources of authority.
- The Bible (CCC 133)
- Tradition (CCC 82)
- Magisterium - teaching ministry of the church (CCC 85, 87, 95)
Evangelicals
- Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone).
Mary
Catholics
- Mary is the "Holy Mother of God" (CCC 975)
- She was preserved from original sin and pure from all sin in her life (CCC 508)
- Devotion to Mary and the saints intrinsic to worship (CCC 971; 2683-2684)
Evangelicals
- Mary is honored as a godly woman.
Sin
Catholics
- Two types of sin.
- Mortal - destroys the saving grace of God (CCC 1856-1859)
- Venial - does not destroy the saving grace og God. (CCC 1863)
Evangelicals
- No dual concept of sin.
Sacraments
Catholics
- The sacraments are a means of grace.
- The grace of God is infused in s person through the sacraments.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, Matrimony)
Evangelicals
- They are symbols of grace.
Baptism
Catholics
- Infant Baptism (CCC 1250)
- All sins forgiven, original sin and personal sins, as well as punishment for sin. (CCC 1263)
- Completed at Confirmation.
Evangelicals
- Testimony of regeneration not sacrament of regeneration.
Eucharist (Lord's Supper)
Catholics
- Transubstantiation - The bread and the wine actually transform into the body and blood of Christ. (CCC 1376)
- By receiving eucharist, one is receiving Christ.
Evangelicals
- It is a memorial meal, not eucharist sacrifice.
Confession
Catholics
- Sinner confesses mortal sins to priest; priest imposes acts of penance and offers forgiveness of sins. (CCC 1461)
- Reconciles one with God. (CCC 1468)
Evangelicals
- The Doctrine of the Priesthood of the Believer.
How Can One Be Saved?
How can I, a sinner, be made right with God, who is perfect and holy? By Justification
Catholics and Evangelicals agree that "We are justified by grace through faith because of Jesus Christ."
Catholics and Evangelicals disagree that "We are justified by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. Evangelicals agree with this statement.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
- Martin Luther: "the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls."
- John Calvin: "the hinge upon which everything turns."
- This is the heart of the Gospel.
The Council of Trent
- "If anyone says that by faith alone the sinner is justified, so as to mean that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification...let him be anathema (condemned; excommunicated)" Session 6, Canon 9
Paul
- "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel...If anyone is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned." Galatians 1:6-9
Discussion
1. What are your thoughts on this culture that you live in?
2. We can not judge if whether a person is going to heaven or hell but looking at the beliefs of the Catholic church how well do they match up with Christianity?
3 comments:
Since moving here a year ago, Catholic beliefs have of course come up more in this year than my 25 years of life. I have an aunt who is a Catholic and of course knew that there were some distinct differences in our beliefs, but have discovered much more since moving here. As a Christian I believe that grace alone is how we are saved in faith in Jesus Christ, NOT any other way. Major differences in Catholicism and Christianity include PRiesthood of the Believer which Christians believe in. Through this we can pray to OUR Father alone, not through a priest. Since the tearing of the curtain in the temple after Jesus crucifiction we now have that right. This is a very important and precious right that should be a daily practice of a Christian, one that many of us probably take for granted. Another difference in Catholicism and Christianity is the belief in mortal and venial sin for Catholics. We as Christians believe that sin does not hold different weight, except for the unpardonable sin. Sin is sin. Another difference is infant baptism which as a Christian we know that a person must freely accept Jesus Christ as Savior and must be at an age of realization of their sin and of Jesus' gift. One interesting thing in the blog was the decree by the Council of Trent about possible excommunication from the church if a person believes that faith alone is how you receive salvation. This of course is what Christians believe one verse that supports this is "We who are Jews by birth and not `Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. " (Galatians 2:15-16)
I'll be honest, I don't really understand a lot about the catholic faith. But it is definitely high in number around this area. Where I grew up, in Texas, it seemed Baptist were more plentiful. But not here.
I've never attended a catholic service, but I have a wedding and a funeral. The one thing I notice in both was that there really seemed to be no "emotions" involved. The songs, the scripture being read, the way the congregation would do their "sayings", etc. It all just seemed so....."this is what we do everytime, so..."
And, the idea of having to go to a man, sit in a little box and confess my sins....I don't think so. Not to have him judge me and tell me what I need to do to make it right. Not when all I have to do is go to the ONLY one that matters, ask for forgiveness, and it is done. I don't have to worry about being judged or to have to do some special prayers and actions to be forgiven.
I do have several catholic friends. I know that they definitely believe in God/Jesus, and that you need to walk in His ways. But it seems that they believe that's all you need to do. That and all their "traditional" ways. They can live the way they want to, as long as they confess to the priest and take part of communion, and so on..
That's another thing. I'm so glad we treat the Lord's Supper as something special. Not an every service thing. It is something of great importance and shouldn't be looked at like something we "just do."
Anyway, I'm babbling, so I'm going to just quit now. Like I've said, I really don't understand the catholic religion. They seem to make things harder than they really are. It seems most other religions do. When it boils down to just believing in Jesus and God's son and our Saviour. Asking Him to forgive our sins and come into our lives. After doing this, it seems to help make you WANT to walk in His footsteps. No certain works to be done...no certain prayers to be prayed...it's simple.
"Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free". How does Catholicism affect our culture??? It IS our culture in south Louisiana. I find that most Catholics do not have a clearly defined idea of what the Catholic church even believes, ha, much like a lot of Baptists! Catholics put their "faith" in their baptism - because that is what their parents do, because that is what "their" parents did...
The great news about "Catholicism" is ...when someone of this religion comes to know Christ as his personal Savior and develops a growing relationship with Christ, they truly become STRONG Christians! I have Catholic friends who are saved and still in the Catholic church...I'm not sure why??? I do know that it is difficult for them to break away from "the church" as it is a family tradition in our culture and "family" means everything here. I have friends who have broken away from the Catholic church and have been "excommunicated" from their families! The true love of the God unites - it never divides. It clearifies - not confuses. It gives peace and freedom, not bondage; and best of all it is a relationship - not a set of rules!
This subject must be handled very delicately in our culture. As Christians, we must first know "the Truth" in our own hearts and share Him. Lift up Christ and He will draw all men to Himself... "the Truth shall set you free!"
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