John 13:34 states, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
We may not agree with everything other Christians say or do, but I hope we can agree on this basic definition of a Christian.
A Christian is someone who believes:
- Jesus is their Savior.
- Jesus is the Son of God.
- Jesus died. His blood paid for the sins of mankind.
- Jesus rose from the dead.
Once we have isolated who is a Christian, we could further organize them by details of their belief system. The next blog series will focus on two groups of Christians: Catholics and Protestants.
If someone calls themselves a Catholic, it is implied that they follow the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. They have usually been baptized, confirmed, and received the Eucharist in a Catholic Church.
A Protestant is any non-Catholic Christian. This includes all denominations (and non-denominational) like Baptist, Charismatic, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc.
The two groups have inspired a great deal of curiosity by both Christians and non-Christians. This blog series seeks to investigate the similarities and differences between Catholics and Protestants. It does not seek to persuade, promote, or discredit either side. Comments are always welcome, but please be considerate to all as you express your experiences and opinions.
Lord, we invite you into our thoughts and attitudes about our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to love one another as You have loved us. In Christ's Name, Amen.