Are Catholics really Christians?
I had no idea that some Christians are unsure if Catholics are even Christians! I found out recently when I had a conversation with a non denominational friend. She shared with me that as far as she had known Catholics were not considered Christians. So from this comes the answers as to why Catholics are not only Christians but truly the first Christians! :)
1. The word 'Catholic' first appears in a letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch (110 AD) to distinguish Christ's Church from heretical groups. The word 'Christian' also originated in Antioch (Acts 11:26). St. Ignatius' letter indicated that by 110 AD the original Christian Church was already well known as the 'Catholic Church'. Taken directly from 'Beginning Apologetics- How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith' by Father Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham.
2. Early Church Fathers and their writings tell us what the first Christians believed. Their practices are all specific to Catholic doctrine. Taken directly from 'Beginning Apologetics- How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith' by Father Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham.
3. Catechism 73: God has revealed himself fully by sending his own Son, in whom he has established his covenant for ever. The Son is his Father's definitive Word; so there will be no further Revelation after Him.
Catechism 259 (last sentence of 259): Everyone who glorifies the Father does so through the Son in the Holy Spirit; everyone who follows Christ does so because the Father draws him and the Spirit moves him.
4. Scriptural references:
Mark 1:11- And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.
John 14:1- Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.
John 1:18- No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
John 6:46- Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the one who is from God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father come to me.
Matthew 11:27- All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
It is imperative that the world knows that Catholics are Christ based! It seems almost comical to me that someone would not know that Christ is our savior and redeemer. But truly it falls back on Catholics to remain consistent and alive in our faith. Catholics can proclaim to the world that Jesus is King!
