Is Roman Catholicism Different From Biblical Christianity? with Shea Houdmann of Got Questions

Is Catholicism a Christian denomination? What Should Bible-Believing Christians Think About the Roman Catholic Church? In this episode we compare and contrast Protestantism/Evangelicalism with Roman Catholicism. My guest is Shea Michael Houdmann, president and founder of Got Questions Ministries. Shea earned a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and a Master's degree in Christian Theology.

Is Catholicism a Christian denomination?

What Should Bible-Believing Christians Think About the Roman Catholic Church?

In this episode we compare and contrast Protestantism/Evangelicalism with Roman Catholicism. My guest is Shea Michael Houdmann, president and founder of Got Questions Ministries. Shea earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and a Master’s degree in Christian Theology. He is also currently pursuing a Master of Theology degree with an emphasis in Apologetics. The ministry’s main website, www.GotQuestions.org, has grown into one of the most frequently visited Christian websites in the world in its 18 years of existence. Shea and his wife MeLissa reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Highlights from the episode:

Are Catholicism and Protestantism Different Religions?

Catholicism is not a different religion from Protestantism (in the way that Mormonism/LDS theology makes it a different religion). Catholicism is “Christian.”

Is Roman Catholicism A Christian Denomination?

While Catholicism is not a separate religion from Christianity, it is not truly considered a Christian denomination. And it differs from biblical Christianity some very important ways.

What Do Catholics Believe About Salvation?

Catholics believe they are saved by grace, but that their works (even those aided by grace) contribute to their justification (the Council of Trent actually anathematizes the concept that salvation is by grace through faith alone, although we didn’t get into that specifically in the interview). This is different from the Evangelical/Protestant belief that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone (which is the biblical teaching). Evangelicals and Catholics put works on opposite sides of the equation. Catholicism says salvation through faith + works. The Bible teaches that faith alone leads to salvation, but that along with salvation comes the ability and energy to do good works.

What is the Purpose of the Pope?

The Pope’s role in the Catholic Church is to serve as the vicar of Christ and the visible head of the church, while serving as the servant of God’s servants. The Catholic teaching on the pope misinterprets key biblical passages like Matthew 16:18. There is no office of Pope in the Bible. Rather, this office came about through historical circumstances, including the fall of the Roman Empire.

Do Catholics Worship Saints?

Officially, Catholicism does not teach the worship of saints. However, in practice, the attitude of many Roman Catholics toward certain deceased Christians (“saints”) borders on idolatry, and even crosses that border into actual idolatry. Prayer to, or through, saints is unnecessary and unbiblical at best and idolatrous at worst. The Bible teaches that there is only one mediator between God and man: Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

Shea also handles objections like:

Are you saying no Catholic can be a Christian?

No! There are undoubtedly many, many true Christians within the Roman Catholic Church. However, the official doctrine of the Catholic Church does not teach the biblical Gospel. So those who are saved within the Catholic Church are saved in spite of the official Roman Catholic teaching, not because of it.

Shouldn’t Catholics and Protestants focus on what we have in common?

We love our Roman Catholic friends, relatives and loved ones. While there is much we can celebrate and agree upon, there are also some significant differences between our beliefs. Our differences are important, and love requires us to bring those differences to light and discuss them.

Will Catholic teaching send a person to Hell?

Only the true Gospel of God’s free Grace through Jesus Christ can save. No so-called Gospel that disagrees with the Bible’s teaching can possible save anyone from Hell. Insofar as Catholic doctrine teaches that works contribute to a person’s salvation in any way, that doctrine is false and cannot save a person from Hell. No one’s good deeds will contribute to his or her salvation. Salvation comes only by trusting in the death of Jesus Christ for one’s sins, alone.

What about all the evangelicals who aren’t Christians?

They need the Gospel too! No denomination can save. Only Jesus saves.

Why are there so many Protestant denominations, if Protestantism is true?

Protestant denominations are united in their rejection of the Roman Catholic Gospel, insofar as it disagrees with biblical passages such as Ephesians 2:8-9. Much of the division between Protestant denominations is over secondary issues. The Gospel is primary, and as far as denominations agree on the Gospel, they are actually united.

The greatest desire of every Christian for his loved ones is that they will come to know God through Jesus Christ.

The purpose of this podcast is not at all to be divisive or argumentative. Rather, we want to foster meaningful dialogue with our Catholic friends and share the Gospel as we understand the Bible to be teaching it. If in fact we agree, we rejoice. If we disagree, we can at least understand each other and, by God’s grace, pray that we would all come to a greater knowledge of the truth that is found in Scripture alone.