Other Christians from a Baptist perspective.

[RaylightI]

Hi.

I need firstly to inform you that I don't speak English perfectly, but I'm sure you'll be able to understand me.


From the Baptist Church/s point of view, are Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestant Churches members Christians ? Are Catholics, Eastern Orthodox...etc less Christians than Baptists ?

 

[1watchman]

It is not about church membership. Keep in mind when you speak of Christian profession that "not all that say: Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingdom", Jesus said. So, we need to appreciate that there are true "born again" believers in Christ in all sects (and maybe in some cults), despite the errors of the sect. One needs faith in the Lord Jesus, the Christ of God, to be saved as a "child of God". Look up always, and praise the Savior!

 

[RaylightI]

It is not about church membership. Keep in mind when you speak of Christian profession that "not all that say: Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingdom", Jesus said. So, we need to appreciate that there are true "born again" believers in Christ in all sects (and maybe in some cults), despite the errors of the sect. One needs faith in the Lord Jesus, the Christ of God, to be saved as a "child of God". Look up always, and praise the Savior!

I need to know more about the quote I highlighted please. So many times I read/heard that when someone for example ask if Catholics are saved or not.

Aren't Catholics/Orthodox/Anglicans...etc true believers in Christ already ?

 

[USCGrad90]

I need to know more about the quote I highlighted please. So many times I read/heard that when someone for example ask if Catholics are saved or not.

Aren't Catholics/Orthodox/Anglicans...etc true believers in Christ already ?

I think some of the debate over the Catholic faith comes from their adoption of sacraments and other beliefs they feel are essential for Salvation. Their beliefs seem to favor Salvation by works versus Salvation only by grace.

Baptists don't agree with many of the beliefs and rituals of Catholics, but if they believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins, that He rose again, that He was both God and man, and that He alone can save, I would not question their profession of faith.

There are Catholics who live out their faith and and profess a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, while there are others who do not not demonstrate this in any way by their behavior or language. The same can be said for Baptists or other denominations.

The bottom line is that if you accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and repent of your sins, you are "Born Again." I don't think we can judge what is in another's heart - only God can. The doctrines of the church may not be perfect, but God can still save those with imperfect understanding since Jesus alone saves.

 

[MrJim]

My Southern Baptist pastor says there are Christians in all denominations "even Roman Catholic" (exact quote )...

 

[Skala]

From the Baptist Church/s point of view, are Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestant Churches members Christians ? Are Catholics, Eastern Orthodox...etc less Christians than Baptists ?

No. Though we obviously disagree with them on certain things, as long as they agree with us on the essentials/major doctrines, they aren't "less Christian".

However, of the list you gave us, I think we are furthest from Catholics. Baptists absolutely reject as heresy the doctrine of justification by faith+works.

This is one of those essential/major doctrines I mentioned above

 

[HawkBlue27]

I attend a Baptist church and I am a former Catholic. I was raised Catholic and there are things I disagreed with in that particular church (i.e.-asking a priest to forgive you for your sin).

My mother attends the Baptist church with me and she even says after hearing a sermon in Luke 5 about Jesus being the only one with power to forgive sins started questioning some Catholic teachings herself. Only faith in Christ can save a person and nothing less.

With that said, going to a certain denomination doesn't make you a Christian. Trusting in Christ, following Him does.

 

[mikedsjr]

I think the question better falls to whether the denomination's official beliefs are christian. By confession, most Baptist churches would certainly be required to say Catholics are not Christian. The issue really boils down to how much one holds to their denomination's confession or creed. If a denomination hold to a belief there are several ways to God besides through Christ, that also goes against the confession.

But are there Catholics who are Christian? Yes, just like there are many Baptist individuals who are not Christian. I've learned over time, the official doctrine of a denomination is what must be understood, not the individual within a said denomination. They can be misinformed of their own beliefs.

 

[RaylightI]

Thanks to each one of you for replying

 

[Avid]

I attend a Baptist church and I am a former Catholic...

On a different Christian Forum, I made friends with a fellow who was in this situation. He was very upset by the error he was taught in the Roman Catholic Institution.

There is a term called, "damnable heresy." These are things that, if you believe them, you are not a true Christian. Also, things that MUST be believed, but are NOT, can be included. Mostly, a Church will list some obvious ones, but we can be sure the proper list is formed by the LORD Jesus Christ. It is He that knows the hearts, and knows where our affection and allegiance is centered.

If we are part of ANY denomination that holds to error that turns a person's heart AWAY from the true worship of the LORD, we may be sure that believing those heresies has kept us from what we profess to seek.

It may be helpful to answer what things we KNOW are in the category of "damnable heresy." It will be different list depending on the denomination. The Catholics will certainly consider that a Baptist is not a Christian because he rejects a list of certain beliefs, and a Baptist will be as certain about a Catholic for the list he maintains.

The list maintained by a Catholic may not be truly a list of "damnable heresies," and some things a Baptist (even depending on which actual Church he attends) puts on a list may not be purely accurate.

Let us start with JUST ONE of the beliefs that a Catholic holds (if he follows the teaching of the Roman Church,) and that would be TRANSUBSTANTIATION. The original laws of the Roman Catholic Institution were used to justify the killing of millions of people who did not believe this basic principle. It is simply that they believe the actual body and blood of their God is present in the bread and wine, and any who do not hold that belief, and WORSHIP THESE AS GOD are heretics. (see Second Commandment)

Exodus 20
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
​

Some of the other denominations in your list may hold to this as well. The Catholics in America are not so sure about this, and I have not met any who would say they believe that dogma. Typically, I'll tell those people that they are not Catholic, but Protestant, because of that.

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