Becoming a bilingual Christian

When I am asked, as a Catholic convert from the Southern Baptist denomination, about how to converse or speak about faith with our Protestant brothers and sisters then I often like to say you have to become bilingual. You have to be able to speak Catholic and. Protestant. The reason I say that is the terminology used is often different but we can agree on many of the definitions and concepts if we take the time to understand the other. My goal in this article is to simply give you a brief snapshot into how to become bilingual and confidently talk to our Protestant brothers and sisters.

The Catholic Church teaches that Protestants are, indeed, Christians and can receive salvation even without the sacraments of the Church:

CCC 847

“those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too many achieve eternal salvation”

** But, notice, the Church Fathers don’t say a person is definitely saved. (Of course, the Church doesn’t promise salvation to anyone if they are not repentant and align their life with the precepts of the Church and Christ, even if they’re a member of the Church). The Fathers only say that such a person (Outside the Church) may be saved. This is something known only to God, and we cannot put limits on God’s mercy, 

Definitions:
Christian: The traditionally accepted definition of a Christian is "a person who follows the teachings of Jesus Chrsit and is a member of a Christian church."

Catholicism: A person that is baptized and believes in the statements contained within the Creed

** There is a stipulation with this definition: CCC 1257 says God has bound salvation to the sacrament of baptism but He Himself is not bound by the sacraments

Protestantism: (Southern Baptist) Christians are people who have been redeemed through Christ from sin - the spiritual brokenness that causes us to resist God’s ways and fall short of His glory. I only point out Southern Baptist because that is where I originally became a Christian and can speak about from experience.

 
** Interestingly, if you ask the average Protestant to define a Christian, this is not the exact definition you will get. You might get something along the lines of “a follower of Jesus Christ” or “Someone who believes in Christ and has accepted Christ as their Savior”. The good news is that whatever definition they give you, if you are versed enough in Catholicism then you can agree with their definition and use their own Scripture to prove it. 

If you cannot get them to agree to a definition of Christian (even it doesn’t include baptism, because it may or may not include the need for baptism), you can agree that their definition is true and we believe the same thing. If you can’t agree on a basic definition and get them to agree, any other subject of faith is pointless.

Prayer:

Catholicism: CCC “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God”

 
Protestants: Generally they would agree that it is a relationship with God and addressing, petitioning, or communing with God.

Good News! We can agree on that

BUT: Catholics also believe the definition can be applicable to asking the saints for intercession. Prayer is basically a relationship, communication, supplication. Isn’t that what we do when we pray to the saints or ask a friend for prayer? 

Webster’s definition has 2 different definitions of prayer. The first doesn’t reserve prayer only for God. It’s a petition or request. That’s what we do with praying to the saints. 

Essentially, the Catholic faith puts into practice both definitions of prayer and not just one.

In support of this, our legal documents in court typically end with “the defendant prays the the court..” Or “counsel prays….” 

We use prayer in legal language as a means for requesting something of the court. We certainly don’t ascribe deity to a judge.