This seems like a proverbial and unambiguous or obvious question, but is it? What do I mean by "catholic?" The word denotes being universal in application (all true believers) and specifically to the Roman Catholic Church denomination of Christianity. Roman Catholicism does not refer to a sect or cult, but a bona fide division of our faith like the Orthodox and so-called Protestant schisms. This means you can be a true Christian in either denomination or division of Christianity, but that doesn't mean because you adhere to one that you are automatically a Christian. Catholics, as a rule, don't believe Protestants are saved; while Protestants believe some Catholics are saved--they just don't accept their soteriology or dogma of salvation that all Protestants subscribe to (salvation by grace through faith). So this begs the question, "Which denomination is sectarian?"
By Reformed tradition and interpretation of the doctrines of salvation, and Martin Luther was excommunicated for his faith, Catholics do not have saving faith by definition because they regard "merit" and see faith as a work and not a gift--we are not saved by works. In effect, they save themselves. Catholics officially believe you are saved "through the Church," obeying the teachings of the Church, and accepting their dogma without question. It is solely the responsibility of clerics to interpret Scripture, though the parishioner can read it.
The Pope is allegedly the Supreme Pontiff of the universal church and the vicar of Christ on earth, who speaks ex-cathedra when pronouncing from St. Peter's chair--this is known as pontificating, and it is infallible or without error (he claims to be speaking for Christ.) (Catholics have a lot of faith in the Pope and priests--you must trust Christ alone to be saved because it is the object that saves, not the faith--they have misdirected faith--in the wrong person.)
Catholic (small c) denotes the general and universal church at large of true believers (the Nicene Creed says there is "one holy and apostolic catholic church") if you go by definition and not what the Church says; therefore, the Pope must know Christ to be catholic. He can be "Catholic" and not catholic, catholic and not Catholic, and even Catholic and catholic. Christian by definition can be any denomination, is really universal terminology and is nonsectarian--sectarian spirit is sin according to Paul, because "Christ is not divided." (We shouldn't squabble over leadership.)
We should be "one in Spirit" (cf. Eph. 4:3) with all believers and not find differences but commonalities and be able to walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye on every issue. True Christians are able to have fellowship with other believers around the world and across denominational lines if they know the Lord, regardless of sectarian bias or affiliation. There is no fellowship with an unbeliever. There is a time to be nondenominational and a time to stick to your guns and be faithful to your creed. But note: Christianity is not a creed, but a relationship! But we have to turn our creeds into deeds and make good on our faith because true saving and obedient faith is a fruitful faith--we are known by our love producing good deeds.
"Woe unto you when all men speak well of you," Jesus said. (They all thought well of the Pharisees!) I don't know of anyone more popular in the world and that has more friends than the Pope, who tries to be everyone's friend and peacemaker. If you think the Pope is a Christian, then you may be a Catholic at heart--there are many Catholics who disagree with him! A former Pope made a "mecca" to Fatima to place something on the statue of the Virgin Mary, thanking her for saving him from assassination. What he stands for is anti-Christian because he exalts himself to a position only God is worthy of and will bear his judgment on the Last Day.
Because his judgment tarries and we don't see it, doesn't mean it isn't a sure thing. But he deceives many and God is patient for His elects' sake because they believe in Him in spite of being Catholic, not because they are Catholic. To be specific: The Catholic way or following the Pope is the road of good intentions leading to hell. Ever since the Council of Trent (1546) justification through faith alone has been anathema (cursed)--their misdirected faith in the Church won't save if they are converted solely to the program as do-gooders--granting false assurance.
They say that love is the test and we shall "know them by their love." You must believe right (orthodoxy) as well as act right (orthopraxy). Love is not God, God is love. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love;" "Whoever loves has been born of God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8, ESV). Do not be deceived! Don't say, "Oh he is such a lover; he must be saved." (Love without faith, as well as, faith without love is nothing.) This is how we shall know the brethren who believe the right creed from impostors or charlatans who claim faith and don't love. What it implies is that we shall not know solely by their creed, possessions, or testimony. Love must be the main ingredient and without it we don't have salvation, regardless of faith. Just having love per se doesn't prove salvation, it's just a sign to notice.
(Now, I am aware that you cannot judge whether a person has saving faith (only God sees the heart), Catholics freely admit to believing a creed contrary to grace and grace orientation--their salvation is a cooperative venture between us and God known as synergism, while "salvation is of the Lord" according to Jonah 2:9 and is monergistic or God's work only. How important is grace? It is the one thing that distinguishes Christianity from religion and Catholicism, (Catholics do believe that grace is necessary, just not sufficient and must be improved upon by merit) and by definition, Catholicism is legalism (mixing works with faith), not Christianity, ergo the Pope is not catholic at heart but sectarian. What is religion? Its main effort is to reach God, is the best man can do. The Catholic dogma--a creed that is contrary to sound doctrine- is a do-it-yourself proposition of merit; Christianity is God reaching down to man, the best God can do and gives God the credit or glory (Soli Deo Gloria!) and we get none. Beware of the sin of Diotrephes, who liked to be number one and put himself first! Ego problems! Only Christ is the Head of His Body.)
The question also arises as to whether a "sincere" Catholic is saved. God says that ignorance is never an excuse because we all have His Word as a witness of the truth and are responsible to know it. Sincerity is important, but it is not everything--you can be sincerely wrong. Many Catholics have misdirected zeal without knowledge (cf. Rom. 10:2) and faith in the wrong object, which should only be Christ. Having faith in Christ and a combination of someone or something else (like the Mass) is not saving faith. One must wonder whether they know the Lord or not.
To clear something up the Reformed teaching is that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and that God alone gets the glory--"Salvation is of the Lord" (per Jonah 2:9 is their stand). Catholicism adds works to faith and merit to grace, teaching that they are necessary, but not sufficient and must be improved upon with our cooperation with God, helping Him out, as it were. Grace is not only necessary but wholly sufficient and needs no aid on our part to participate. Faith doesn't save, no matter how great it is, but the object saves (i.e., Jesus Christ). What one doesn't usually hear is that Paul was angry at the Galatians for teaching "another gospel" and pronounced a curse on them--this is what Catholics are doing, as they change Paul's doctrine to suit their traditions, ideas, and notions. Soli Deo Gloria!
By Reformed tradition and interpretation of the doctrines of salvation, and Martin Luther was excommunicated for his faith, Catholics do not have saving faith by definition because they regard "merit" and see faith as a work and not a gift--we are not saved by works. In effect, they save themselves. Catholics officially believe you are saved "through the Church," obeying the teachings of the Church, and accepting their dogma without question. It is solely the responsibility of clerics to interpret Scripture, though the parishioner can read it.
The Pope is allegedly the Supreme Pontiff of the universal church and the vicar of Christ on earth, who speaks ex-cathedra when pronouncing from St. Peter's chair--this is known as pontificating, and it is infallible or without error (he claims to be speaking for Christ.) (Catholics have a lot of faith in the Pope and priests--you must trust Christ alone to be saved because it is the object that saves, not the faith--they have misdirected faith--in the wrong person.)
Catholic (small c) denotes the general and universal church at large of true believers (the Nicene Creed says there is "one holy and apostolic catholic church") if you go by definition and not what the Church says; therefore, the Pope must know Christ to be catholic. He can be "Catholic" and not catholic, catholic and not Catholic, and even Catholic and catholic. Christian by definition can be any denomination, is really universal terminology and is nonsectarian--sectarian spirit is sin according to Paul, because "Christ is not divided." (We shouldn't squabble over leadership.)
We should be "one in Spirit" (cf. Eph. 4:3) with all believers and not find differences but commonalities and be able to walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye on every issue. True Christians are able to have fellowship with other believers around the world and across denominational lines if they know the Lord, regardless of sectarian bias or affiliation. There is no fellowship with an unbeliever. There is a time to be nondenominational and a time to stick to your guns and be faithful to your creed. But note: Christianity is not a creed, but a relationship! But we have to turn our creeds into deeds and make good on our faith because true saving and obedient faith is a fruitful faith--we are known by our love producing good deeds.
"Woe unto you when all men speak well of you," Jesus said. (They all thought well of the Pharisees!) I don't know of anyone more popular in the world and that has more friends than the Pope, who tries to be everyone's friend and peacemaker. If you think the Pope is a Christian, then you may be a Catholic at heart--there are many Catholics who disagree with him! A former Pope made a "mecca" to Fatima to place something on the statue of the Virgin Mary, thanking her for saving him from assassination. What he stands for is anti-Christian because he exalts himself to a position only God is worthy of and will bear his judgment on the Last Day.
Because his judgment tarries and we don't see it, doesn't mean it isn't a sure thing. But he deceives many and God is patient for His elects' sake because they believe in Him in spite of being Catholic, not because they are Catholic. To be specific: The Catholic way or following the Pope is the road of good intentions leading to hell. Ever since the Council of Trent (1546) justification through faith alone has been anathema (cursed)--their misdirected faith in the Church won't save if they are converted solely to the program as do-gooders--granting false assurance.
They say that love is the test and we shall "know them by their love." You must believe right (orthodoxy) as well as act right (orthopraxy). Love is not God, God is love. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love;" "Whoever loves has been born of God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8, ESV). Do not be deceived! Don't say, "Oh he is such a lover; he must be saved." (Love without faith, as well as, faith without love is nothing.) This is how we shall know the brethren who believe the right creed from impostors or charlatans who claim faith and don't love. What it implies is that we shall not know solely by their creed, possessions, or testimony. Love must be the main ingredient and without it we don't have salvation, regardless of faith. Just having love per se doesn't prove salvation, it's just a sign to notice.
(Now, I am aware that you cannot judge whether a person has saving faith (only God sees the heart), Catholics freely admit to believing a creed contrary to grace and grace orientation--their salvation is a cooperative venture between us and God known as synergism, while "salvation is of the Lord" according to Jonah 2:9 and is monergistic or God's work only. How important is grace? It is the one thing that distinguishes Christianity from religion and Catholicism, (Catholics do believe that grace is necessary, just not sufficient and must be improved upon by merit) and by definition, Catholicism is legalism (mixing works with faith), not Christianity, ergo the Pope is not catholic at heart but sectarian. What is religion? Its main effort is to reach God, is the best man can do. The Catholic dogma--a creed that is contrary to sound doctrine- is a do-it-yourself proposition of merit; Christianity is God reaching down to man, the best God can do and gives God the credit or glory (Soli Deo Gloria!) and we get none. Beware of the sin of Diotrephes, who liked to be number one and put himself first! Ego problems! Only Christ is the Head of His Body.)
The question also arises as to whether a "sincere" Catholic is saved. God says that ignorance is never an excuse because we all have His Word as a witness of the truth and are responsible to know it. Sincerity is important, but it is not everything--you can be sincerely wrong. Many Catholics have misdirected zeal without knowledge (cf. Rom. 10:2) and faith in the wrong object, which should only be Christ. Having faith in Christ and a combination of someone or something else (like the Mass) is not saving faith. One must wonder whether they know the Lord or not.
To clear something up the Reformed teaching is that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and that God alone gets the glory--"Salvation is of the Lord" (per Jonah 2:9 is their stand). Catholicism adds works to faith and merit to grace, teaching that they are necessary, but not sufficient and must be improved upon with our cooperation with God, helping Him out, as it were. Grace is not only necessary but wholly sufficient and needs no aid on our part to participate. Faith doesn't save, no matter how great it is, but the object saves (i.e., Jesus Christ). What one doesn't usually hear is that Paul was angry at the Galatians for teaching "another gospel" and pronounced a curse on them--this is what Catholics are doing, as they change Paul's doctrine to suit their traditions, ideas, and notions. Soli Deo Gloria!