Thread: What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Admin
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 07:11 AM
I thought this article explained well the differences in our Faiths! Maybe we can break it down in love with Scriptures.
My concern is why any person from any Religion would not want the real truth and that their Salvation was secured!
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
INTRODUCTION:
Christians in the Bible are called people that love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10). If a person loves the truth they must hate lies, errors and all distortions of the truth. However, just as God hates sin, but loves all people even though they sin, Christians should likewise love all people even if they do, teach or believe something that is not right or true. So Catholics and Protestant should love one another, even if they do not agree with or do not like what the other does or believes.
SUMMARY:
Catholics and Protestants believe and do many of the same things, but they also believe and do some things differently. Some differences are trivial, but some differences deal with the foundational issues.
HISTORY:
The Catholic Church has a long history over which time it has changed in many ways, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
Protestant Christianity began in the 1500's when a group of people began to protest against some of the wrong things they believed the Catholic Church was doing and teaching. These protesters became separated from the Catholic Church and formed their own Church which was more inline with what they believed was the truth. Just like the Catholic Church, Protestant Churches are not perfect, they have also changed many times in many ways.
The main issue is Catholics have believed and done some things differently to what Protestants believe the Bible has instructed. Protestants believe this is a result of Catholics believing what certain individuals and traditions have said, rather than what God has said through the Bible. The problem of traditions becoming more important than God's truth is something all religions have at some time been guilty of, including Protestants. The Catholic Church has admitted to some of the errors it has been guilty of in the past, and has changed. But there are still some beliefs and practices that Protestants would say are against what the Bible teaches.
An example of change in the Catholic church is, the fact that today, the Catholic Church does encourage Bible reading. But in the past the Catholic church has discouraged personal study of the Bible, in fact reading the Bible was at one time banned by the Church. Only certain people were allowed to do so. People that did read, or spread the Bible, were even killed by the Catholic Church, like William Tyndale who was one of the first people to translate the Bible into English.
The Catholic Bibles include certain books which Protestants say should not be there. They are called the apocryphal books, which are writings protestants do not believe have been approved as inspired by God. Since they are not referred to as Scripture by Jesus or His disciples.
At one time almost all Catholic Church services were entirely in the Latin language, and only a few people could understand Latin. This is no longer case.
THE VIRGIN MARY
Mary the physical mother of Jesus is of great importance to Catholics, but the Bible says very little about Mary. Here is a summary of what the Bible says about her:
The Bible describes Mary as the physical mother of Jesus, and that she was made pregnant by God. (Matthew 1:16, Luke 1:26-42, Luke 2:5-19) Mary visited her cousin Elisabeth (Luke 1:39-56) Mary attended a feast at Jerusalem with her family. (Luke 2:48-51) Mary is present at a marriage feast. (John 2:1-10) Mary looked for Jesus when He was teaching inside a house (Matthew 12:46-47, Mark 3:31, Luke 8:19). Mary went to see Jesus at the cross (John 19:25-27). Mary was committed to the care of Jesus' disciple John. (John 19:27) Mary lived with the disciples in Jerusalem for a while (Acts 1:14).
So everything Catholics say about Mary that is not in the Bible has been made up by people, and are based on tradition rather than the truth revealed to us God's Word. Nowhere does the Bible say Mary was greater than any other Christian, she was just a human like all of us. The Bible does not say people should worship Mary or pray to Mary. The Bible does not say Mary prays for us.
Some Catholics may believe and teach that Mary acts as a mediator between people and God, but this is the opposite to the Bible which says, Jesus is only mediator between God and mankind. (1 Timothy 2:5)
A mediator is somebody that negotiates a solution between two people that are divided because of some problem.
Praying to Mary, singing to Mary, and bowing down or kissing statues of Mary, might even be classed as a form of Idol worship, which Jesus said was wrong. For He said we must worship and serve God alone (Matthew 4:10). And Mary was a person.
Mary is not the gate of heaven as some Catholics say, for Jesus Himself said that He is the way and nobody comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). And the Bible also says, there is no other name except that of Jesus by which we are saved (Acts 4:12).
A popular belief among Catholics is that Mary never did any sin, but the Bible says everyone has sinned (Romans 5:12-13, 1 Kings 8:46, 1 John 1:8-10, Psalm 53:3). Mary even admitted she needed a Saviour for she called God her Saviour (Luke 1:46-47). Jesus is the only person who has not sinned, and Jesus was God.
Some Catholics believe Mary never had any other children. But the Bible says Mary did have other children (Matthew 13:55-56).
Some Catholics often call Mary the mother of God, but God does not have a mother, for God and Jesus already existed before Mary existed (Isaiah 43:10). Mary was not God's mother, but simply a channel through which Jesus entered this physical world.
THE POPE
The Pope is a man Catholics have claimed is a mediator between God and mankind. But as it has been said Jesus is the only mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5). Catholics also claim the Pope is the head of the Church on earth, but the Bible says Jesus is the head of the Church (Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 2:9-10). We should not give to any man the honour that belongs to Jesus alone.
CONFESSION
It is often believed among Catholics that a certain group of people called priests, have the power and authority to forgive sins. So sins must be confessed to priests. But such beliefs are the opposite of what is found in the Bible, which says Jesus has the power to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6). Also, no human priest is a mediator between God and man. The Bible also teaches we can ask God ourselves for forgiveness, and He promises to forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). Peter also said in the Bible, that through Jesus name, whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of their sins (Acts 10:43). The Bible does not teach that today there should be a special class of people called priests, for God sees all Christians as priests (1 Peter 2:9).
PENANCE
Catholics generally believe sin causes spiritual penalties, and not all of these penalties are removed even if the guilt of a sin has been forgiven. They believe these remaining penalties can be removed or reduced by penance, which involves doing good works. What these good works are is decided by the priest after a confession. According to Catholic beliefs any remaining penalties will be paid by suffering in a place called purgatory after death.
However the Bible does not say anything about penance, God does not demand such things for the forgiveness of sins. God's forgiveness is a free gift we receive by turning away from our wrong ways and accepting it through believing in Jesus as our Lord (Galatians 2:16, Romans 1:17). According to the Bible good works do not make a person a Christian, but good works should be the sign of a person who is a Christian. Good works are the result of becoming a Christian. And we become a Christian by turning away from sin and turning our lives over to Jesus.
PURGATORY
Purgatory is a place Catholics believe they will go if they die with unpaid penalties, there they will pay for their penalties by suffering. This imaginary place keeps many Catholics in fear all their life, because they can never be sure of how long they will spend there. A fear of purgatory causes many Catholics to miss out on the joy and peace that comes from knowing Jesus has paid the full price for sin. Catholics often teach that time spent in purgatory can be reduced by gifts of money, the prayers of priests, and by doing other things. Through such teachings the Catholic Church has collected billions of dollars, making it one of the richest institutions in the world.
However nothing about purgatory can be found in the Bible. Jesus said in the Bible, that He who hears His word and believes in Him who sent Him, has everlasting life, and will not be judged, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24). The Bible also says God does not remember sins that have been forgiven (Hebrews 10:17). The Bible also says that once Christians die they will be present with God (2 Corinthians 5:8-9), there is no place in between.
INDULGENCES
Catholics also teach that the unpaid penalties can cause individuals to be punished in this life also, in various forms of sufferings, and what remains unpaid by suffering on earth will be paid in purgatory. Catholics also believe these penalties can be reduced with what Catholics call indulgences, which involve doing good works, saying certain prayers, going to confession, going to communion, or doing something else. Catholics also believe indulgences can be gained for people that have died and gone to the imaginary place called purgatory.
The whole concept of Indulgences goes against the Bible, which teaches that God's Gift of life is free, for the whole punishment for all sin has been paid for by Jesus once and for all (Hebrews 10:10).
NEVER SURE OF BEING SAVED
Because of beliefs about purgatory, No Catholic person is sure they will go to Heaven when they die, they might go to purgatory. But the Bible says if we walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of God's Son Jesus cleanses us of all our sin (1 John 1:7). So Jesus cleanses us of ALL our sin.
MARRIAGE
Catholic beliefs do not allow certain men to have a wife because they are leaders in the Church. However in the Bible we read Christian leaders were married, such as the Apostle Peter (Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:30, Luke 4:38) Paul who was a Christian leader and wrote most of the New Testament also allowed marriage (1 Corinthians 9:5). The Bible even makes it clear that it is wrong to forbid marriage (1 Timothy 4:3).
PRAYER
Catholics often repeatedly say the same prayer over and over again. But this is a practice that the Bible says is wrong. For even Jesus told His followers to not vainly repeat themselves in prayer, like some do thinking they will be heard because of their many words. Jesus went on to say, we are not to be like them, for our heavenly Father knows what we need, before we ask him (Matthew 6:7-8).
RITUALS
A common Catholic tradition involves the kissing and bowing down to images and statues of Mary, Jesus, dead people and angels. The Bible says that is wrong, and such objects should not even be made (Exodus 20:4-5). Jesus told us to worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). There are many other Catholic practices and beliefs that can't be found in the Bible, such as saying prayers for the dead. Generally Church services involve intricate rituals and ceremonies that are not found in the Bible, but have been invented by people. God has said in the Bible He is more interested in what is in peoples heart than rituals and ceremonies.
CONCLUSION
As a Protestant, I believe the Catholic belief system has complicated the simple Gospel message. I protest any religion that teaches that to receive spiritual salvation involves a lot of hard work. I believe we have eternal life when we put our faith in Jesus, as the Scripture says: "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life" (John 3:36)
The Bible warns against those that seek to complicate and corrupt God's simple plan of salvation (2 Corinthians 11:3). The simple truth is God's gift of life has been fully paid by Jesus on the cross. We can receive it in this life by turning from our wrong ways and accepting Jesus as our Lord, it is not something we can get by doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
So if you want to get right with God, you have to go to Jesus directly, not any Church, religious organization or human individual. Jesus said, come to me all you that labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). We are not saved by belonging to a Church either Catholic or Protestant. There are only one kind of Christian, those that have made Jesus Lord of their life, and the simplest definition of a "true" Church is any group of people that is united by a shared love of Jesus Christ.
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 08:46 AM
New,
the author of this article writes:
�The Catholic Church has admitted to some of the errors it has been guilty of in the past, and has changed.�
I believe that this speaks about policies and practices (not Doctrine�which have never been changed, just Defined). The author of this article does not give examples�which would be very beneficial�perhaps you could find them and give them to us�otherwise it is an unsubstantiated and vague claim.
The author claims:
��the Catholic Church does encourage Bible reading. But in the past the Catholic church has discouraged personal study of the Bible, in fact reading the Bible was at one time banned by the Church.�
Where is this person getting this from? New, you really need to verify what you copy and paste (at least give the website or author). This is False information.
St. Jerome's in �De Vita Clericorum ad Nepotianum� writes:
�Often read the divine Scriptures; yea, let holy reading be always in thy hand, study that which thou thyself must preach.... Let the speech of the priest be ever season with Scriptural reading.�
The closest anyone can come to anything similar is that The Church prohibited Translation without Authorization (you have to ask �why would The Church do that?�).
Also The Bible was widely available in Latin, but most people couldn't read Latin (in fact most people couldn't read�period!)
Also consider that it took approximately one year to �create� a Bible by hand and it was Very�Very�Expensive (comparable to today's cost of about $30,000). This was the case until the invention of the Printing Press in the 16th Century and even then they were not cheap; so the only way anyone could afford to own a Bible would be if they were rich -- in which case they were educated, which meant (even as late as the twentieth century) they could read Latin.
�People that did read, or spread the Bible, were even killed by the Catholic Church, like William Tyndale who was one of the first people to translate the Bible into English.�
New�again you need to verify what you post here. This is a BLANTANT LIE. One that Chuck proposed earlier in this Forum.
The Truth is that Tyndale was burned at the stake in 1536, at the instigation of agents of King Henry VIII and the Anglican Church (not The Catholic Church).
�The Catholic Bibles include certain books which Protestants say should not be there. They are called the apocryphal books, which are writings protestants do not believe have been approved as inspired by God. Since they are not referred to as Scripture by Jesus or His disciples.�
Again, New�you�just like Chuck... do a great disservice to your Christian Brothers and Sisters by spreading these lies and falsehoods! Here is the Truth if you�d care to read it:
The Jews and the Protestants removed books from the OT. The Catholic Church simply received the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Scriptures, from the Jews, at the time of Christ. This became known as the Old Testament. 70 years later, the Jews removed 7 Old Testament books from the Septuagint. The reason given for this was that they could no longer find those books in Hebrew.
Interestingly some of these books were being used to good advantage to make converts among the Jews. For example:
This passage prophesies and describes the attitude of the enemies of Jesus hundreds of years before His birth:
(my words here�note that these books were already in The Old Testament at the Time of Christ)
The Book of Wisdom
2.1a, 12-22
The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright:
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself as a child of the Lord. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his life is not like other men�s and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him. These were their thoughts, but they erred, for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls� reward.
Prayers for the dead and support for Purgatory (since people in Heaven don�t need prayers and people in Hell can�t be helped by prayers) are scriptural based on the following passage.
II Maccabees 12:44-45
For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.
But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.
In 1529, Martin Luther removed the same 7 books from the Catholic Old Testament, that the Jews had removed 1400 years earlier. Luther also removed 4 New Testament books (Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation) that did not agree with his theology, for his German translation. These books were removed from their original place in the order of the books and placed together at the end of the Bible. In later editions, he was persuaded to return the New Testament books to to their proper position in his translation of the Bible. Today Protestant Bibles don�t contain 7 Old Testament books at all.
Q. What is the Septuagint?
A. In the centuries leading up to the birth of Christ the Jews were living all over the known world. Greek was the language of commerce and scholarship. Over time it became harder and harder to maintain a wide knowledge of Hebrew among the Jews because more and more were speaking only Greek. The Jews in Alexandria set about to make a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures. This translation was completed between 250-125 BC by 70 Jewish scholars. Septuagint means 70 in Latin.
Scholars are certain that Jesus and the early Christians accepted the Septuagint version of the Old Testament because etymological studies of 300 quotes from the Old Testament made by the New Testament writers can be traced back to the Septuagint version. There are also OT quotes that can be traced back to the Hebrew OT but these are far fewer in number. So, if Jesus had rejected the Septuagint the New Testament writers seemed to know nothing about it since they all used it quite freely.
New�I am not even going to read any more of this�(I have a word in mind but will refrain�). Please try to verify what you place here and what you claim to be truth. At least cite the web page!
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 10:22 AM
The issue with Christianity, or any religion, is that even within sects and denominations, every individual has unique and personal beliefs. Just because an article summarizes that Catholics do certain things does not mean all Catholics do, some way with Protestants. Sure, denominations lump together people with certain beliefs, but it does not mean all are uniform.
My issues with Catholic practices are the ignorance of the Bible, although granted my personal experience with Catholics is limited. I dated a Catholic, who was probably the least scrupulous boyfriend I ever had, all while under the guise of being religious. I attended a Catholic service at the Catholic church in my town and could not find a Bible in the place besides some huge, ceremonial book that lay untouched at the head of the lavishly decorated room. Maybe that church was afraid if somebody cracked open a Bible, they would realize their church was hugely in error. Like I said, my experience is limited, but I was shocked by the un-Christian things that were being dressed up and sold as Christian.
The biggest thing I take away from the Catholic/Protestant argument is that it is a futile one. Catholics are determined that they are right, and Protestants are determined that Catholics are wrong. That is why they are divided. All of the arguments that take place on this forum seem to be for self-gratification rather than seeking the truth. While I would like to believe in reconciliation and everybody being all happy, there are very deep rifts between Catholics and Protestants that will be a challenge to overcome.
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 11:27 AM
siylii,
You write:
�All of the arguments that take place on this forum seem to be for self-gratification rather than seeking the truth.�
My post was exactly that �seeking the Truth�. I pointed out Lies and Misinformation. How can any two people come to any kind of conclusion when one of them is lying? You say that an �issue� that you have with Catholics is ��ignorance of the Bible�. Yet, if I were to ask you for specifics�what I would get is your interpretation of Scripture.
Christ�s Final Prayer to His Father in Heaven was:
John 17:21-23
21 ��that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one� 23 I in them and you in me�so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.�
For over 1500 years this was the case�this was the way Christ�s Church was. Now it is Splintered into 38,000 different churches.
I speak up because of outright lies and falsehoods and plain misunderstandings. When I debate I present my position clearly and as succinctly as possible and use Scripture whenever I can. I believe my arguments are clear and my evidence empirical and verifiable. I ask only that those that choose to convince me of my errors do the same.
I also believe that as members of The Body of Christ that we should not utter lies and untruths about each other�s churches.
Discussing our beliefs should be an edifying experience�not a frustrating one. If you feel that what I pointed out as lies were in fact truths�then it would behoove you as a Sister in Christ to point out my error, but�please show me exactly where and how and why I am in error and also how I can verify your claim.
If you look around this Forum (and churches in general) you will see more than a few disagreements on what Scripture says�on what Scripture means. Whenever The Catholic Church finds that there is a disagreement amongst Her flock�She has held a Council and once and for all Defined that Doctrine so as to end whatever disagreement there was. Once this was done�everyone fell in line with that definition.
For example�the Two Natures of Christ. There came about a disagreement amongst The Doctors of The Church as to the exact definition of Christ�s Nature. After fasting and invoking of The Holy Spirit and discussion�a definition was brought forth. That ended any arguments.
God knows our nature. God knows what would happen if we were left to our own accord. That is why He Established a Real�Physical Church here on earth with a Vicar as our Shepherd to ensure that we follow God�s Plan of Salvation and do not�I repeat�Do Not�follow our own inclinations and interpretation of Scripture.
I do not claim that I and Catholics are the only ones going to Heaven. I only ask that you refrain from telling lies about my Church.
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 11:47 AM
Archimedes
* Catholics have changed their doctrine you asked for a example : The Catholic church's doctrine on salvation was no one could be saved outside the Catholic church.....they changed it. (See Vactican II)
*The Catholic church banning scripture, Then how do you explain the torture, persecution, burning at the stake, hanging and murders the Catholic church has committed :
SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE, LORD COBHAM
JOHN HUSS
JOHN HOOPER
DR. ROLAND TAYLOR
HUGH LATIMER
BISHOP RIDLEY
THOMAS CRANMER
( And this is the short list! )
These people endured more torture and persecution than you'll ever know, And you belittle the ultimate sacrifices they made for Jesus Christ and the hands of the Catholic church, yet you will honor American veterans and not honor these people???
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 12:22 PM
Please God, may there never be reconciliation between Catholicism and Protestantism! The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church makes it very clear what the church teaches, and there is much that is pure heresy.
Read here for the words of a former RC priest:
http://www.bereanbeacon.org/
We had a conference at our church in October, "Helping Evangelicals Understand Roman Catholicism". Mr. Bennett was one of the speakers.
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 12:26 PM
I thought I made it pretty clear that I was only stating what I saw from personal experience. I am not trying to judge the entire Catholic entity, simply stating what I saw in these instances. I thought my introduction was very clear....
There is an endless number of arguments I can make just based on your response to me, Arch, but I choose not to. Not because I do not think I am justified or are afraid you will out argue-me, but because I think it would be futile. You are not interested in what I have to say, only in supporting your own beliefs.
I am sorry if by sharing my personal experiences with one particular Catholic and one particular Catholic church I appear to be "uttering untruths" about your belief system.
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 12:42 PM
If you don't believe that the catholic church has done some of the things that there are historical records for, and that the Vatican has publicly apologized for...then I don't know what to say, but I don't believe anyone is purposefully telling "lies". I will admit that my first view of Catholics literally "worshiping" idols was ignorant, but I didn't "lie" about it, and there are still pictures of the pope bowing to and/or kissing statues, so that's enough to support my argument. Calling people liars has gotten users reprimanded by the administrators in the past. There is a huge difference between an opinion, or ignorance, or attempts at refusing to acknowledge errors in your own beliefs, and a "lie".
What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?
Posted : 10 Dec, 2010 12:51 PM
Arch, you said-
"For example�the Two Natures of Christ. There came about a disagreement amongst The Doctors of The Church as to the exact definition of Christ�s Nature. After fasting and invoking of The Holy Spirit and discussion�a definition was brought forth. That ended any arguments."
This bothers me. What it sounds like you are saying is that whatever disagreement there is in Scripture, only those men in your Church, which are as fallible as any other man of God, define Scripture for all the world's Believers and there is no arguing it because they alone have the answer[s].
What if the Pastor of my Church, after much fasting and prayer, presented what he believed was the interpretation to a particular Scripture and told everyone there is no arguing it because God has set him as interpreter and overseer to the Body of Believers that attend his Church? Would you accept it as truth? Why or why not? Would it be because your Church alone has all the answers, therefore you will not seek God in the matter?
It bothers me also that there would be a disagreement in your Church as to the two natures of Christ. Any Believer can tell you that He is fully divine and fully man and offer Scripture to support it. How do we do this?
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. -1 Cor 12:3
We don't need a council of men to decide whether we have the correct definition of the nature of Christ. We have Scripture. We have the Holy Ghost.
