Jenerally Speaking

Something came to my attention today that surprised me a little. Actually, it surprised me a lot. I was on a Christian site and according to the author of the site, Catholics are not Christians.
I go to a Roman Catholic church, but I have always considered myself to be a Christian. I was taught that Catholicism is one of the many different religious denominations within Christianity.
What are my beliefs, you might ask?
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. I believe that Jesus died for our sins and that I am saved because of this. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Isn’t that what Christianity is? And, since these beliefs were introduced to me through my Catholic teachings and my reading of the Holy Bible, how can anyone say that Catholics can not be Christians?
I would first venture a guess that it might depend up on a person’s definition of “Christian”. But, doesn’t the word Christian pretty much define itself…”Christ”ian. Someone who follows Christ.
Here is an excerpt from something I read online:
…The Roman Catholic church is a denomination. Just one part of the Christian whole. The question is whether or not a Catholic confesses with her mouth the Lord Jesus and believes in her heart that God has raised from the dead – then she will be saved (Romans 10:9). After all, Mother Theresa was Catholic – and I don’t know anyone on earth who would say that she is not in heaven now because of mere doctrinal differences…
Every Sunday, I sit in church and declare my faith in God and Jesus Christ. It’s offensive to have someone tell me that because I go to a Roman Catholic Church, I am not Christian. The doctrines within these particular religions may differ, but I am most certainly Christian – whether I go a Catholic, Methodist, or Baptist church.
I suppose the most important thing to remember is that God knows me. Jesus knows me. They know what is in my heart and they know what I believe.
I am a Roman Catholic because I attend Catholic mass and because I follow the traditions and doctrines of the Roman Catholic church…but I am also a Christian because I follow Jesus and I know that I am saved through the sacrifice He made for us.
In heaven, I don’t think the titles of “Catholic”, “Methodist”, or any other religious group is going to matter to God. It all comes down to what we believe…and I intend to live my life according to these beliefs, by trusting and loving Jesus and following the word of God. It will not matter if I go to a catholic church or not….what matters is that I know and love and believe in God and in my Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.