It is undeniable how the Roman Catholic and Baptist Church have disagreed for the longest time. The two churches are believers of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They are both Christian denominations making people question their heightened disagreements. It brings us to a discussion of Roman Catholic vs. Baptist because members need to understand the underlying issue. Therefore, what is there to learn about Roman Catholic vs. Baptist?
The Roman Catholic believes in the Pope and the necessity of sacraments for members’ salvation. Also, they believe in the Holy Mary and the use of pictures, the Rosary, and the crucifix. On the other hand, Baptists do not believe in the Pope. Also, Baptists believe in accepting Christ as the personal savior, which is achieved by faith and not sacraments. Lastly, the scripture is more powerful than Ecclesiastical traditions to Baptists.
So, what is the difference between Christianity and Roman Catholicism? What are the similarities between Baptist and Roman Catholicism? Which came first between Baptist and Roman Catholic? What do Catholics think of Baptists? Can Catholics attend Baptist churches?
What Is The Difference Between Christianity And Roman Catholicism?
The main difference between Christianity and Roman Catholicism is that Christianity is the main religion, while Roman Catholicism is among the three branches of Christianity. Christianity dates back to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Roman Catholicism also believes in this, but the difference is that it has different formats and modus operandi, which Christianity does not strictly define as the main aspects of Christianity.
It is the biggest branch, with 1.3 billion members out of the 2.3 billion Christians. In essence, all Roman Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Roman Catholics.
Christianity refers to the act of being born again according to John 3:7. It is following and trusting Jesus Christ, his teachings, life, and the fact that he conquered death, meaning that He is more powerful than death. This is similar to Catholicism, but Catholics have a more defined way of proving their belief in the teachings, life, birth, and death in Christ.
Catholicism also encourages the belief in Mary’s mother of God, which Christianity is not against but does not strictly prescribe the belief. Also, Christianity can be practiced in believers’ daily lives to get more connected to God and follow his commandments; some Christians go to their worship places on Sundays, Saturdays, and Fridays.
On the other hand, Roman Catholics worship on Sundays as their formal days of worship, although sometime during the week, some masses are held depending on the events. In addition, Christians worship in churches, chapels, cathedrals, Basilicas, Homes of Christians, personal dwellings, and even in public places. On the other hand, Roman Catholics strictly worship in Churches, chapels, Cathedrals, and Basilica.
Also, the origin of Christianity and Roman Catholicism differs in terms of time and place. Christianity was a term that referred to the Disciples of Christ and was first used In the New Testament. It went on to refer to the followers of Christ alongside his twelve disciples.
Catholics, too, are Christians, and the origin of Christianity dates back to the first century A.D. It is recorded in the book of Acts to have begun in Jerusalem as a tradition of Jews. Later it spread into the Roman Empire and other countries like China, Ethiopia, Assyria, India, Georgia, etc. On the other hand, it dates back to the time of apostles, including Apostle Peter. Peter is considered the first pope to whom all the popes look up. Roman Catholicism came into existence a thousand years later after Christianity began. It is suggested that it began as a way to allow people to connect with God through the church.
Roman Catholicism started by allowing the priests to give the power to solve the problems of the members of the church. The unity of Roman Catholics with global leadership came into place during 625 A.D. Also, although both Christianity and Roman Catholicism believe in the holy Bible, there are some seven books that Roman Catholicism believes in that Christianity does not strictly prescribe to other denominations.
The seven books include Sirach, Wisdom, Tobit, 1 Maccabees, Judith, additions to Daniel, and Esther. Roman Catholicism believes in the Holy Scripture, the Bible, and their sacred traditions. Christianity believes in the two parts of the Holy Bible, the New and Old Testament; similar to Roman Catholic, however, it does not strictly prescribe the sacred tradition to other denominations.
Also, Christianity does not strictly demand the use of pictures and statues in their worship because some denominations are keen on Leviticus 26:1, which states, “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God.”
However, Roman Catholicism strictly uses pictures and statues in their worship and culture. In Roman Catholicism, you will get statues of Mary, Mary carrying baby Jesus, Jesus on the cross, and statues of famous saints. Also, Roman Catholicism is identified using pictures of Christ and the Rosary. For Christianity, different dominations have different rules regarding pictures and statues.
Christianity encourages the belief in God, the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit, while Roman Catholicism belief lies in a more defined manner. Members of the Roman Catholic believed in the Holy Trinity, the Apostles, and Nicene Creed.
Also, the founder of Christianity is believed to be Jesus Christ, while for Roman Catholicism, the founders are two people. The founder of the Roman Catholic Church is believed to be Jesus, and Apostle Peter is also believed to be the first pope.
Also, salvation Christianity means that believers believe in the power of Jesus, that he died on the cross and saved them, and in the resurrection of Christ. In Roman Catholicism, believers must believe in Christ as their savior. Also, they have to get baptized and develop a relationship with God, and sin can lead to the loss of baptism. The critical difference lies in Roman Catholicism’s demand for seven sacraments.
What Are The Similarities Between Baptist And Roman Catholicism?
Baptists and Roman Catholics are Christians who believe in Galatians 1:4, “who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” In both faiths, members are required to have faith in Jesus Christ and seek him as their savior. Salvation in Roman Catholicism and Baptist is essentially accepting Christ to take charge of a member’s life and believing in his mighty name.
Roman Catholicism and Baptist believe in the existence of sin. They both believe what God has stated as sin, which is breaking God’s laws according to 1st John 3:4. Members are encouraged to shun sin. In both denominations, sin determines whether members will be saved or die in sin and follow the fate of sinners.
Roman Catholicism and Baptists are both highly concerned with the salvation of their members. Both faiths preach that human beings cannot be righteous and, therefore, they can fall into sin, as written in Romans 3:10. However, they give hope to their believers that once they repent, their sins shall be washed away. Once members repent, God will forgive them and accept them in heaven, as recorded in Luke 15:7. However, for the unrepentant members full of sin, both churches preach that their destiny is in hell as written in Revelations 21:8, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” hell is defined as a place of eternal agony and continuous suffering for sinners who end up in both churches.
Both Roman Catholicism and Baptist Church believe and preach using the holy Bible. The Bible is the word of God; both denominations believe that human beings wrote them under the influence of the Holy Spirit; therefore, the Bible is so powerful.
The Bible is meant to guide members to live a life that pleases God as they walk through their salvation. Also, both denominations accept that the New Testament is powerful and a record of Jesus as a human being on earth and his teachings. In essence, they both believe in the miracles that Jesus performed, as documented in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Both denominations believe that Jesus was born by a virgin called Mary. It is recorded in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38 that He was conceived without sin because Mary was not yet married at the conception of Jesus. The father of Jesus is God, and hence they both believe in the Holy Trinity, God the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Both denominations believe in Holy Communion. They both partake of the Holy Communion, although in different styles. However, they both believe that they are following Christ’s example on the last supper, which is recorded in Luke 22:19. Holy Communion is perceived as a practical intake of the body of Christ and his blood. They both repent before they take the peace of bread and wine. The bread symbolizes Christ’s body, while the wine symbolizes the blood of Jesus in both denominations.
Lastly, Roman Catholicism and Baptist believers are encouraged to live like Christ for them to be able to uphold moral standards prescribed by the Bible and echoed by their leaders. The Ten Commandments are the key instructions that members in both churches follow to lead a life like that of Christ. Just like the Bible discourages divorce, as mentioned in Matthew 5:31-32 both churches discourage divorce, and for Roman Catholics, marriages are annulled on grounds provided by the Bible. Both churches are conservative on sexuality and the gospel they preach around sexuality.
Which Came First Between Baptist And Roman Catholic?
It is suggested that the Roman Catholic came first before the Baptist church. The Roman Catholic is believed to have been formed during Jesus’ and Peter’s times. In fact, Peter is believed to be the first Pope.
The Baptist Church is among the protestant churches and came into existence in 1609. Baptists came into existence during the Puritan era and Congregationalists. Puritans and Congregationalists were from the split up of the Church in England. The church in England had formed from the offshoot of the Roman Catholic. In that order, Roman Catholic was the mother church.
What Do Catholics Think Of Baptists?
Catholics think of Baptists as equal Christians trying to pursue the same goal, living in love and harmony on earth and chasing heaven as their goal. Although their practices of theology differ, Catholics admit that Baptists, too, are Christians because they believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
The Bible in Matthew 28:19 encourages Christians to believe in the Holy Trinity because it says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The two churches have a common belief in the Nicene Creed, which makes the Roman Catholics respect the Baptists as fellow Christians. Also, Catholics may respect Baptists because they recently agreed to work together against racism, support single mothers, and eradicate sex trafficking, poverty, homelessness, and hunger.
Can Catholics Attend Baptist Churches?
As suggested by Catholic members, a Roman Catholic can attend a Baptist Church. Sometimes a person can relocate to an area dominated by Baptist churches, and it takes a long drive to get to a Roman Catholic Church; they are allowed to attend a Baptist church.
However, the Baptist church that a Roman Catholic chooses to attend should not be outright anti-Catholic. Also, Roman Catholics are advised to make sure that even though they attend Baptist Churches due to circumstances, they should make a point to get to their churches and eat Holy Communion at special Roman Catholic events.
References
Lesson 4: Should Christians Hail Mary? (Luke 1:26-45)
CATHOLICS VS BAPTISTS – DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES DISCUSSED
What is the difference between Christianity and Roman Catholicism?
What is the Difference Between Catholic and Christian
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
