What does the Bible say vs. Catholicism?

If I pray to another rather than God, in Jesus name could I be a Christian? If I believe if I give money to my church I could pay my dead loved ones into Heaven, would I be a Christian? If I accept God only speaks to the head of the "church" but not to me personally, am I a Christian?

What does the Bible say vs. Catholicism?

Hey Jacob g,

Who told you to pray to “another god”?

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.” (5. 1 Timothy 2:5-6)


“ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3)

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5.20)


Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”( 1 John 4:15)


“Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God “(Matthew 16 13:20)

“For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens”.

(1 Chronicles 16:26)

“Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Who told you that you should give money to your church to pay your dead loved ones into Heaven? Surely you don't believe anyone can buy there way into Heaven with money?

“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” Acts 8:20

Who told you that God only speaks to the head of the "church" ?

While every church will have its own local leaders, the ultimate leader of any church is the Lord Jesus. He said,

“I will build my church”( Matthew 16:18)

It belongs to Him. He is the head of the body and the only One with the power to adequately lead and love the church.

“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.”

Colossians 1:18

“And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church”

Ephesians 1:22

I do not know which church you are from, but there is only one true God. Even if you are a Catholic, your own Pope Francis is quoted as saying

"I believe in God, not in a Catholic God, there is no Catholic God, there is God and I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation".

Pope Francis, October 1, 2013, interview, La Repubblica newspaper

I wish you'd use the phrase "Roman Catholicism" instead of Catholicism.

The word "catholic" was actually originally intended to define a true believer. It can still be used in that sense today. Unfortunately uninformed Christians consider "catholic" to be the same thing as "Roman Catholic". Therefore, that is why they are confused when they read the creeds or historic Christian confessions.

In one sense, evangelicals are "catholic" because they are true Christians, not like Arians or those who deny core Christian teachings.

Regarding whether a Roman Catholic can be a Christian, I think he could be..he could be a new believer who hasn't came to a realization of what the Bible teaches fully, and how the Roman Catholic church denies justification by faith alone and teaches false doctrines.

I was a member of a cultic group which taught serious false doctrines yet I was saved. When I learned their deceptive teachings, I turned from them and embraced evangelical Christianity.

By the way, I don't consider antics of some Pentecostals or charismatics to be much better than Roman Catholicism, even though they are technically evangelicals. If someone claims God audibly spoke to them, and he did not, then they are liars. Same for those who issue prophecies that do not come true. Therefore, I have issues with some evangelicals too. Do I think they are saved? I think they could be saved and deceived like I was, or they could be unbelievers.

some correction to some here the word ' Catholic " mean universal church as to where they may ever be . The word "Catholic in context to the church has nothing to do with Catholicism. When one say they are roman catholic that is said to separate those from western catholicism like in the United Sates because they do not hold as those from Rome. The term is part of the fellowship .

Well, the Catholic Church seems to use the word "catholic" differently than protestants use the word "catholic."

The word just means "universal." So sometimes protestants use the word, with a small "c", to refer to all Christians everywhere, in any denomination. This usage tends to occur in theological works, but not too much in everyday speech. So in a theological context, protestants might refer to the "catholic church" as all Christians everywhere, but use the term "Roman Catholic Church" to specifically denote the Catholic Church.
* But this isn't how the Catholic Church uses the word "catholic."

The Catholic Church seems to use the word "catholic" to refer specifically to ITSELF. It seems the "Catholic Church" feels anything "universal" is their private domain.



I guess it all gets a bit confusing.
Context is the solution.

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Some people believe the Bible but they have a belief that they hold unto that is not part of the Bible, and it becomes their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible, for they will view it in that light.

Which is your more serious flawed groups calling themselves Christianity.

Joseph Smith had a belief that was not part of the Bible and it became his foundation for the interpretation of scriptures, which is the Mormon Church that you can easily identify that they have a wrong foundation.

The new age movement is another example that they have a belief that is not part of the Bible and it became their foundation, which they believe in the occult, and evolution, and people are still evolving for evolution is not done with people yet, so they interpret all religions that way.

Which they interpret the Bible according to the occult, and evolution, and Jesus is not Lord and Savior, but a good teacher and love, and evolved to be an ascended master and avatar, and do not acknowledge a personal God, but honor the God of forces, or the power of nature as their higher power, and the New Age Christ is the final teacher that will cause the people that follow him to evolve to be greater and spiritual.

The new age movement will pave the way to the New Age Christ, and the beast kingdom.

Christian Science, Scientology, the same thing.

Jehovah's witnesses are not as bad as the above mentioned as far as the crazy things they believe and incorporate it in to the Bible, but they are in error because they do not believe Jesus is God that has no beginning, so while they acknowledge Jehovah, and Jesus as a prophet, and believe there will be peace one day on earth for they understand there is no salvation because they do not hold the right viewpoint of Jesus.

But people like the Catholics and Jehovah's witnesses have a good chance of coming to the truth when the world comes together for many of them will not follow the world for they know it is not of God, and possibly they can come to the truth and be corrected.

But there is a slim chance for new age, Christian Science, Scientology, and Mormon for Mormons believe Jesus Christ came to preach in North America, and that they will rule their own planet one day which throws them off, but Mormons probably would have a better chance than the other three.

Many Catholics will not follow the world, and the Pope at the time the nations come together for they know enough of the Bible not to believe what is going on and the Pope is not right and will not follow the world or the Pope.

And since there will start to be more of a dividing point between the world and those who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, or came from a personal God as far as Jehovah's Witnesses, which the time will come the world will not want to endure the truth of the Bible but want to hear it according to the new age movement it will bring those of the different denominations that claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, or came from the God of Israel more closer together, and they will have great opportunity to speak with them and explain the truth, which I believe many will come to the truth of true Christianity.

Catholics have a very good chance of abandoning the ways of the Catholic Church and their teachings when it all goes down, and the Pope and the Vatican follow the world and the new age movement.

It is obvious when the Roman Empire embraced Christianity and the Bible that they did not get rid of their occult, pagan ways, and it became their foundation for the interpretation of scriptures, which is why the Pope and Vatican can easily follow the world, and the Pope the spiritual leader, and the Vatican the headquarters of a unified religious system.

For they will go along with the new age movement that is of the occult, and evolution, and want to revert back to how it was before Christianity which how the new age movement wants it, the old time occult kingdoms, especially Atlantis which they believe was before Egypt.

That is why the Pope can be Holy Father, and the head of the Church, and infallible.

That is why Mary can be the Queen of heaven, and mother of God, and a female deity like the pagan religions have a female deity.

That is why they have so many practices, works, traditions that are not even required in the Bible like the pagan religions have many works that is of the occult.

Dip their finger in water and make the sign of the cross when entering the building.

Pray over rosary beads, and use many physical items thinking there is power there which is witchcraft like the pagan religions do.

Make physical objects sacred, and exalt saints that should not be exalted, Saint this person, Saint that person.

Confess their sins to a priest when we go directly to God to ask forgiveness and the man Christ Jesus is the mediator between God and men.

And more.

The Bible says that love works no ill towards their neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

So all those traditions, practices, and works are not necessary.

But their foundation is of the occult, pagan, so they will interpret, and act according.

But I still view the Catholic people as close to the truth and a good chance they will come to the truth, for they do not think that there is anything amiss with those practices, and do not realize they are of the occult, and pagan.

But when the nations come together and say Peace and safety I believe the majority of Catholics will not follow the world, and not follow the Pope or the Vatican.

The answer is yes to all the questions on the grounds that they believe that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.
One must distinguish between major and minor theology.

I am glad a friend gave me a Bible to read when i was in my early 20's.. I renounced the roman catholic religion and accepted the Word of God Jesus as LORD and my Redeemer..

Roman catholicism is a grand deception. It is probably the biggest and most succesful cult to ever exist doing it's best to lead millions to damnation..

Perhaps all denominations are also cults. It's not like they are perfect in all doctrine and practices.

Well i have never joined a denomination after leaving the catholic church because i have never found a denomination who's teachings i agreed with 100%.. BUT i believe there are essential Core doctrines that must be correct that are essential to salvation and then there are less important disputable matters that people can get right or wrong and still be saved because they have the central core doctrines right..

But the doctrines of roman catholicism pushes Works salvation and the denial of the effectivness of the Atonement of Jesus to cover ones sins.. These are Core doctrine matters that the catholic religion has very wrong and it is a matter of salvation..

People can differ on things like Rapture or rapture timing and no matter what stance they take they can still be saved because rapture is not a Salvation core doctrine.. Also things like calvinism OSAS and are likewise not Core doctrines of Salvation importance.. Most of the things Christians debate in this forum do not effect ones salvation. Although some people get a little bit too emotional about them and some seem to mistakenly elevate them to salvational importance.

May the lord Jesus guide your path and take you into all truth. Trust Jesus and you will be blessed.

You were so upset when I claimed that Peter was a glorified bystander in Acts 15, that I actually considered you might be a possible Catholic.

So you did had Catholic background in the past.

Because so many are brought up in faith with different beliefs and denominations, due to where they live, peer pressure, parents and upbringing and even which part of the world they live in, they are sometimes without "help" in the truth ("helpless") and how they start off on their walk as Christians and may still be on the first path to Christ which is why WE shouldn't judge. I feel it all comes down to Judgement Day when ALL will have to give account.

This is the Human Race and in a race there are winners and losers. But a runner of a race may be last to start off and end up winning the prize later by running fast at the end, even as a horse does in racing. An "outsider" may come in late and win the race.

Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are going to come to the knowledge of Him so that is why we must not accuse or judge them. What do we know? Nothing actually. We do not know what is in any mans heart. But we can all account for OURSELVES. Lets look at the great big planks in our own eyes first. It is enough to keep our own actions and feelings in order day by day the way Christ would like us to imitate him, without pointing out others problems and faults. We need to all get our own act together as it is that which we are accountable for.

I have always tried to look at it as simply as possible (almost like you are on the moon looking down on everything). I don't think our Lord is trying to "trick" us or "confuse" anyone by making it too hard to even reach Salvation - (God forbid) and a loving God would never do that. Otherwise, who could be saved then? If we are all to account for every word we say and every action on Judgement Day, then the one thing we can be sure of is personal accountability. We have to take responsibility for ourselves before we can help others.

As our Lord Jesus taught in a simple way and his Word is plain and simple to understand, even though other parts of the OT and NT may be difficult to interpret leading to some to think certain verses mean other things (as the English language and word meanings have changed so much over the centuries it can lead to being misled if we listen to false preachers), and leading to some church leaders justifying why they do things differently to other Churches, and why they are "right" and others are "wrong" then it must all be down to the Word of Jesus. If Jesus is the Word, then his Word stands. As Heaven and Earth may pass away but his WORD will never pass away. Because in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God. This is written in the beginning of John and is in most Bibles and if it is not written in your Bible, they ask yourself why? It is not about getting into arguments - it is all about asking the right questions.

So if that being the case, many will come out of these other Churches if they study Scripture and find the Word of Jesus differs from what they are being told, in the way I did in the Catholic Church which I left, then surely if it is down to being personally judged, then it is an individual matter. There are many true lovers of Christ in many Churches and I hope and pray that they take the time to seek out the Word of God so they are not misled and don't just "sit there" listening to whoever without the faintest idea how it compares to Scripture.

Many JWs for instance, take the printed booklets the JW church produce to be the "Word" yet how does it compare to Scripture for instance? I have found many you point this out to, are only to happy to listen actually if you use gently persuasion. A lot of them haven't even read other Bibles other than their "own". Telling people they are "going to hell" isn't going to get you an audience and one should be careful how they use their words. We are not the Judge as we do not know everything - no one does, only God knows. Being "humble" in the true sense of the word (Blessed are the Humble) means "strength withheld". That includes how we use our words.

After all, doesn't it simply boil down to this. If on Judgement Day, a Catholic is asked for example "why do you pray to Mary and Saints and not Jesus Christ who is Head and Body of the Church"? Who told you to do that"?

What will they say then?

Some "man" or Church leader told them too? They will be without excuse. Much like Paul McCartney sang "don't you listen to what the man says....". No don't. Listen to Jesus Christ and the Word of God as you will have to account for why you didn't otherwise.

I do not think this is going to lead to no Salvation for some by any means as some "do a few good things" especially if they believe in Jesus and have been misled, even giving a "cup of water" to someone can be judged rightly. But I do think there are different levels of Heaven and those different levels, represent spiritually how things are on Earth as correspondences, in the same way that we have those in high positions of Authority here on Earth with certain responsibility's and those who are still learning and still have the chance to rise upward who are under that Authority. We are to learn from the Creation by all the things that God has made. And just the same, some do not even come to Christ until they are old and grey. They should not be judged by us as we know nothing.

If we are to live for Eternity, there is much more to be done, much more to learn and much to do in the life hereafter. Otherwise, what are the three Heavens Paul spoke of? Even when Heaven and Earth pass away for a New Earth, that will still be governed and need us in positions to run the Kingdom according to the King of Kings who has spoken of these things.

How we treat others, how we judge others and how much Faith we have in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice will be the main criteria on Judgement Day and I do not believe a loving God would have Judgement Day at all if these things were not taken into account, as judging a matter is not always for de-merit but for merits also and reward.

Many will come out of these false Churches and we should love those from all religion's, (at least they are searching for God) knowing once myself I was part of a Church I did not research or understand from the beginning because I was a "babe in Christ" to start and at the beginning of my path. I knew nothing and still would not claim to know all things (who would dare?) only God knows.

But second hand information isn't going to help anyone when that information contradicts the Word of God and those things clearly given to us are plain to find and seek out for anyone. Nor do we want to be Laodicean in our walk or lukewarm. Anyone in doubt, should study ALL religions and compare to at least understand why others believe what they do, so they can refute any false premise and show them clearly what Jesus said. How he is the only Saviour and there is no other. How he offers Salvation and forgiveness like no other. It helps to be informed of what they believe and why.

I do fear for "lazy Christians" who do not read the Word of God but listen to different false preachers, for if they really had a heart for God or Jesus Christ, surely they would seek out his Word to compare and know if these things are true they are being "taught" by others, as the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and tells our heart to do so, but many pay lip service to the Word and do not seek out the Truth but they may do later in life for it is Gods wish that ALL are saved in his patience.

I do not think they are condemned by any means (who made us Judge?) and anyone who loves God will have his heart judged as well as having to give account. We should not judge our brothers or our sisters or even our enemy (we are told to even pray for our enemy) but ask Jesus to forgive them as MANY do not know what they do (even those throwing stones and crucifying Jesus). So who are WE to judge?

There is much truth in the children's game "Simon Says". Because on Judgement Day we may be asked

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46)

What will they do then?

And very much like a teacher at school says to a child when he is caught doing something wrong, the child might say "someone told me to do it". It isn't going to help them blaming someone else for their actions. They will convict themselves by the very question as there is no answer that justifies it even to themselves. It is rather like going to court on earth when you have done something you shouldn't and the judge says to you "do you know what you did"? What excuse have you? We convict ourselves if there is no excuse and no one left to blame. Thank God he is merciful and a righteous Judge. Who would want to be at Judgement Day and say to ourselves "I knew that really - why didn't I realise"? Because these things are not hard to seek out. God did not make it hard to search for Truth as Seek and Ye shall find.

Maybe this is why it says

"Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." (Luke 11:28)

Thank you, I honestly just know Cholothism is evel; I know there are Christian Catholics.... honestly I do not understand why they want to belong to a cult.... I am not trying to be mean, I really do not understand....