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Protestant vs. Catholic Comparison

I wrote this article is to clear up some misconceptions of Protestants and Catholics about each others' views.

Misconceptions of Protestants . . .

• That Catholics believe in salvation by works.
• That Catholics worship Mary and the Saints.
• That Catholics are not saved and need to be "born again".
• That Catholics don't accept the Bible as the inerrant, inspired, infallible Word of God.

None of these are true; the Catholic Church doesn't teach these things. It is true that not all Catholics know or believe the teachings of their church; some Catholics throughout history (including popes, bishops, priests, monks, and nuns) have certainly had very strange ideas about Christianity, but even Protestantism has had this aspect.

Misconceptions of Catholics . . .

• That the Catholic Church teaches that Protestants are not saved and are not Christians.
• That Protestants believe you are saved in an instant during an emotionally-charged "born again" experience without the need for repentance from sin or a changed life.

Links.   For more about church unity — here and here.

Two Perspectives

Protestantism and Catholicism have very different perspectives. As an example of this consider the duty Christians have to share their faith with the unsaved . . .

The Protestant perspective . . .

The Bible commands us to share the gospel with this lost and dying world. But what if God places an unsaved person in our path and we fail to witness to them and they end up in hell? There are three views . . .

1. Their fate is our responibility. We will lose some of our rewards in heaven. Or perhaps we didn't obey God because we are not really saved after all.
2. When we got saved the Holy Spirit entered us and now empowers us to do what God wills for us. Since we know God wants us to witness to others (after all, it's in his Word, the Bible), when we fail to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit it means we are not really saved. (How can anyone who is saved resist the Holy Spirit?)
3. The Charismatic version: If we disobey the prompting of the Holy Spirit it is because we are not filled with the Holy Spirit; we are still baby Christians. (But some Charismatics think you have to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be saved.)

The Catholic perspective . . .

The two key factors . . .

1. Christians are called to live a life of virtue.
2. Those who are truly saved can lose their salvation if they habitually commit mortal sins (link, link, and link).

Those who truly practice the theological virtue of love (charity) will desire the salvation of others and will wish them to be saved and will therefore share the gospel with them. Those who truly practice the cardinal virtue of fortitude will have the courage of heart to overcome their fears and will share the gospel even when they are afraid. Those who have conquered the capital sin of sloth will not let themselves neglect their duty to witness out of laziness. Those who practice the cardinal virtue of wisdom will know when sharing the gospel to a particular person will merely be "casting their pearls before swine".

Every Christian has an obligation to obey Christ and to strive to become perfect in the virtues as he was . . .

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare. (1 Timothy 1:18)

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

However, because we still have concupiscence (tendency to sin) even after receiving salvation, becoming perfect in virtue requires a constant struggle. To be effective we must continually call out to the Holy Spirit to strengthen us. Those who don't call out to God are weak in the faith (or not be saved at all).

(As an aside, the key attitudes of a person who is saved is: (1) that they are repulsed by sin, and (2) that they call out to God.)

Salvation is not required to practice virtue; even non-Christians are capable of being virtuous. However, being virtuous does not result in salvation; faith through grace is required for salvation.

My conclusion . . .

Even though I am not a Catholic, I find the Catholic perspective very sensible and I accept it as Biblical and true.

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Links

In this article . . .

Overview | Two Perspectives | Pros and Cons of Various Forms of Christianity | Protestants and Catholics | Catholics and Protestants | Protestants Should . . . | Protestants Should Not . . . | Catholics Should . . . | More . . .

Other . . .

   Protestantism vs. Catholicism: Introduction | The Church | Church History | How Are We Saved? | Living A Holy Life | Sacraments | The Early Church | Doctrines | The Protestant Reformation | Protestant Objections | Protestant Variations | How to Know What's True | Liberal Christianity

   Church History — From before the time of Jesus to the present. 150+ hours of free MP3 files.

   Why I Became Catholic (but I am no longer Catholic)

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Pros and Cons of Various Forms of Christianity

Catholic

Pros

• Has historical continuity from the early church.
• Has many correct doctrines (rejects Sola Fide, rejects Sola Scriptura, purgatory, Saints in heaven, doctrines about Mary).
• Proper view and emphasis on Moral Theology (the virtues)
• Proper view of whether or not non-Christians can be saved.

Cons

• Does not allow Orthodox (or anyone else for that matter) to take communion.
• Emphasized papacy and distorted it (in my opinion).
• Allowed liberal Christianity to infiltrate.
• Allowed homosexuality to infiltrate.
• Some of the devout emphasize Mary, Saints, devotions but not Jesus.
• Few Catholics know the Bible.
• Created strong division between clergy / laity.
• Rejects marriage of priests (but the Bible doesn't teach this).
• Doesn't see alcohol use as a problem.
• Lengthy process to join (often taught by uninspired administrators who teach non-Catholic doctrines).

Orthodox

Pros

• Has remained orthodox in their doctrines.
• Has historical continuity from the early church.
• Has many correct doctrines (Mary is the mother of God, Eucharist).
• Rejects western (Aristotle) philosophy in formulation of theology and doctrine.
• Allows marriage of priests (in some cases).

Cons

• Is often ethnic.
• Rejects Catholicism and does not allow Catholics to take communion.
• Created strong division between clergy / laity.

Fundamentalist, Evangelical Protestantism

Note: I reject liberal Christianity and have no interest in discussing it. Neither do I have any interest in traditional forms of Protestantism that are not on-fire, radically-saved, and born-again.

Pros

• Their zeal matches that of the early church.
• Emphasis on devotion to Jesus as in the early church.
• Emphasis on the Bible.
• Most members know the Bible well.

Cons

• Has discarded the Eucharist which was clearly believed and practiced by the early church.
• Often have incorrect end-time views (rapture, 1,000 earthly millennium)
• Often have annoying hit-em-over-the-head evangelism.
• Often consider Catholics as unsaved (and attempt to convert them).
• Generally have no understanding of early church history and the beliefs and practices of the very early church.

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Protestants and Catholics

"Catholic bashing" Protestants often misrepresent the doctrines, teachings, and practice of the Catholic Church claiming . . .

• That Catholics believe in salvation by works, not faith.
• That Catholics worship Mary and the Saints.
• That the Catholic Church teaches Protestants are not saved — but it doesn't. From the Catholic Catechism:

  Serious dissentions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church. . . . One cannot charge with sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers. . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church. . . . Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities [found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church] as means of salvation. (Catechism, p. 216, sects. 817, 818, 819)

Many objections are based not on what the Catholic Church actually teaches, but on the beliefs and practices of some Catholics, including some Catholic leaders (priests, bishops, nuns, monks, sisters, brothers, etc.) A few kinds of poorly formed Catholics . . .

• They simply don't know their faith because they were not properly instructed. Perhaps it is the fault of their parents; or of Catholic leaders; or of these Catholics themselves who have neglected their responsibility to learn their faith.
• They know what the Catholic Church teaches, but they don't believe it and therefore don't practice it. This is especially disturbing in the case of Catholic leaders who teach things at variance with the teachings of the Catholic Church and who consider themselves to be more of an authority than the Catholic Church.
• They think they know their faith and have good intentions to be true to their faith, but what they learned simply does not match what the Catholic Church really teachies.
• They believe and practice things they learned from their culture without consideration for whether or not they conflict with what the Catholic Church teaches.
• They practice their religion out of duty but have no faith in it whatsoever.

"Catholic bashing" Protestants exaggerate the numbers of these poorly-formed Catholics.

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Catholics and Protestants

There is often a discrepency between what Catholics think Protestants believe and practice, and what Protestants really do believe and practice, but the ultimate goal ought to be having a correct, informed understanding.

It is not surprising however that Catholics have this difficulty considering the many differing Protestant views.

The Catholic Church refers to Protestants as "separated brethren" (Catechism, 817, 855) claiming that Jesus did not establish the Protestant denominations (and "non-denominations"). The Protestant Reformation is seen as a schismatic movement resulting in disunity in Christ's true church, the Catholic Church. Martin Luther and John Calvin were declared to be heretics: Luther for dividing the church, Calvin for his views of total depravity (Catechism, 406).

The Catholic Church teaches that, as a consequence of this schism, Protestants are missing out on the many blessings (especially the sacraments) that come only from active membership and participation in the Catholic Church, and that they do not have the Teaching Magisterium to guide them in properly interpreting the Bible, and to provide trustworthy guidance in discerning the truths of the faith.

Some Catholics attempt to convert Protestants to Catholicism.

Some Catholic misunderstandings about Protestants, their beliefs, their practices . . .

• That Protestants teach "easy-believism" and are not concerned about good works. A few Protestants have this view but most do not.
• That Protestants consider Catholics as non-believers (some do, but not all).

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Protestants Should . . .

In judging whether or not Catholics can be saved, Protestants should only consider essential Christian doctrines rather than non-essential traditions and practices. Therefore, Catholics are saved if they emphasize Christ and His work on our behalf.

But more importantly, Protestants should consider the origin of their own doctrine and practice. In splitting away from the Catholic Church the Protestant Reformers (revolutionaries) invented new doctrines. It is hard to justify the idea that a single man such as Martin Luther could have gotten right what centuries of church theologians had missed, especially those early Church Fathers who learned the faith first hand from the apostles. It is easier to accept the notion that although the church needed reform, it had a correct doctrinal foundation.

Protestants should consider whether the Bible really teaches we are saved merely by the simple act of believing the gospel message; after all, John the Baptist and Jesus both preached the necessity of repentance from sin.

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Protestants Should Not . . .

Some Protestant missionaries in predominantly Catholic countries believe it is their mission to convert Catholics. This is no different than Baptists trying to convert Presbyterians into becoming Baptists.

The salvation of souls is the key issue, not the denominational distinctives of the various Protestant denominations. Yet missionary programs are often focused on converting those who are already saved and the conversion is often merely a conversion from Catholicism to Protestantism.

Protestants who sincerely desire to help Catholics can best help them by encouraging them to regularly read and study the Bible. The Catholic Church encourages all Christians to do this . . .

The study of the sacred page should be the very soul of sacred theology. (Catechism, 132)

The Church forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. (Catechism, 133)

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Catholics Should . . .

The scriptures (especially the gospels) are read and emphasized in every Catholic mass. Any faithful Catholic who is paying attention will be hearing the scriptures often, since they are required to attend mass weekly and on Holy Days (there are a half-dozen per year). In addition, Catholics are to be fully attentive with a worshipful, prayerful attitude during mass. The only Catholics who are not hearing the scriptures are those who are not faithful in practicing their faith.

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