SEEK 47 – Being Catholic
Question: Why my family is Catholic, and I am a Christian?
Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:1-18
Text: “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14)
Several young people have asked this question. It is not an easy one to answer without offending or confusing people, because people are approaching it from different perspectives. For example, you seem to be assuming in your question that being Catholic is different from being a Christian. That may be true in your personal circumstances, but it is not a rule you can make for everyone.
I personally know several fine Catholic Christians – for example the author and journalist Greg Sheridan whose book Christians, the Urgent Case for Jesus in our World I would highly recommend. I love reading Catholic writers like GK Chesterton, Pascal, Aquinas and Augustine. One of best modern Christian writers is Peter Kreeft (see question 44 for my recommendation of one of his books). In the last question I cited a prayer I got from a Catholic website. Some of the finest and most devout believers I have known are Catholics. And I confess that I have spoken in Catholic churches (usually on abortion).
On the other hand I have also known plenty people whose family are Protestant, yet they themselves are not Christians. In fact, on both Catholic and Protestant sides there are plenty who are cultural Christians – their Christianity is not tied in with their personal faith in Christ but which cultural religious tribe they belong to. That can be true for those who take the label ‘evangelical’ to describe themselves. For example one survey in the US found that one third of ‘evangelicals’ did not agree with the Trinity, a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith.
I also know many former Catholics who are now in Protestant churches and who struggle with the idea that someone can be a Catholic and remain in the Roman Catholic Church (some of this is dependent on the culture of the country they come from).
This does not mean that Catholic and Protestant churches are just two sides of the same coin or that the distinctions between us don’t matter. There has been a bit of a trend in recent years to see some evangelical Christians ‘crossing the Tiber’ (another way of saying that they have joined the Roman Catholic Church). Sometimes I am asked, given that I have a lot of time for some Catholic teachings, Catholic philosophers, and especially their social theology (for example unlike some Protestant churches they are strongly opposed to abortion and to same sex marriage, and for justice for the poor) – why I have not done the same?
There are some Catholic doctrines that I just cannot believe. For example, the believe in Purgatory (a place where Christians go after they have died in order to get their sins purged and to be purified – Christ has already done that for me!). Then there is the aspect of praying to Mary or to the Saints – why do that when we can pray directly to Jesus? I also believe that whilst the Church is important, and the confessions and history of the Church, are to be greatly valued, our ultimate authority always has to be the Word of God, the Bible.
It is impossible for me to believe that the Pope is the head of the Church. I don’t believe, like some Protestants that the Pope is the anti-Christ, and I am greatly appreciative of the writings for example of Pope Benedict, but I do know that the behaviour of some Popes has been atrocious. The infallibility of the Pope is an absurd doctrine – and I suspect many Catholics will come to believe that given the pronouncements of the current Pope Francis!
Another area of great difficulty is that of the Mass. I do not believe in what is called transubstantiation – the belief that the bread and wine are literally turned into the physical body and blood of Jesus. I do not believe that when we take communion, we are offering Christ as a sacrifice again (see the Hebrews text above). A few years ago, I was invited to meet with the new Catholic Archbishop of Edinburgh. I greatly enjoyed meeting with him and discussing in what areas we could co-operate. At one point he asked me – “If I invited you to take Mass with me in my chapel, what would you say?”. I told him that I would politely decline because I did not believe what he believed about the mass, and He said “good! You have no idea how many Protestants pastors have said to me that they would do it. But if they can take mass they should be in the Catholic church. You and I can disagree but respect one another’s position”. My position exactly.
The real problems for me occur not with Catholic doctrine about Christ but rather about what theologians call ‘soteriology’. How we become Christians. Sadly, far too many Catholics believe in baptismal regeneration – that is they think that because they have been baptised they are saved. This leads to complacency and a type of religion which ends up being without Christ. This is not to undermine the importance of baptism but rather to say that baptism without faith in Christ ultimately does not save us.
And neither do good works. To put it simply Protestants, believe that we are saved by faith alone – we call it justification by faith. Catholics believe that it is a combination of faith and works. Although Protestants also believe that saving faith is never alone – and will always be evidenced by works. The distinctions may seem small – but in practice they are really substantial.
My Catholic friends want me to repent and come ‘back’ to what they consider to be ‘Mother’ Church – if not the only Church. I think that the Roman Catholic Church is a Christian Church, but that in some ways it has seriously erred. I suspect that they think the same way about me. I guess in heaven we will find out! But meanwhile I suggest that you ‘search the Scriptures’.
Consider: If you are a Christian in a traditional Catholic home, where you see little evidence of a living faith in Christ, consider how you can be a faithful and effective witness for Christ. Do the same if you are in a traditional Protestant home? Think about some of the differences mentioned above. Which are the most important?
Further Reading:
Nothing in my Hand I Bring – Ray Galea
A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Papacy – Leonardo De Chirico
Jesus of Nazereth – Pope Benedict XVI
Here is a debate I did with Peter Williams on this subject for the Unbelievable programme – https://theweeflea.com/2022/09/11/should-we-all-join-the-roman-catholic-church-debate-with-peter-d-williams/
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise your Name that you offered yourself as the one and only, unrepeatable sacrifice for our sins. We thank you that you are our great High Priest, and we don’t need another one. You are the Head of the Church and you have given us your infallible word, not fallible men. We thank you that you save people from every different religious background. May we never rely on our denomination, our church, our works, for salvation, but grant that we would trust solely in you. And grant that we would be united with all who share that same faith, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In Defence of the Catholic Church
Why Evangelical and Catholic Differences Matter