Pope’s visit highlights Southern Baptist-Catholic differences and similarities

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – As Pope Benedict XVI visits the United States this week, the Southern Baptist Convention’s 16 million members and North America’s 75 million Catholics agree on much but not all.

On key historical and doctrinal beliefs, Catholics and Southern Baptists alike believe in the Trinity, the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, that Jesus was sinless, died on the cross for man’s sins, rose again and ascended to heaven.

“When you’re talking to Catholics, you don’t have to convince them to believe in God, Jesus Christ or the Bible,” said Tal Davis, interfaith coordinator in the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) evangelization group. “Most Catholics do. But there are still significant differences.”

Davis adds that Catholics have moderated their views of Southern Baptists and other evangelicals over the last 30-40 years, and for the better.

“We’re never going to completely change each others’ minds, but we do agree on a host of public policy issues,” said Davis, citing “life issues” such as abortion, stem-cell research and euthanasia. Both groups are close on other moral issues such as the promotion of family life values and the war against drugs.

Davis said Catholics generally tend to be more liberal on other national issues, such as war and the death penalty, two issues they and the Roman Catholic Church itself strongly oppose.

The definition of “church” is one major contrast between the two sects. Evangelicals see the church as a body of baptized believers, not merely as a building. They see church as anywhere believers meet – a home, school, auditorium or a warehouse.

According to Davis, Catholics believe the true church is the Roman Catholic Church, God’s “church on earth” – a highly structured and regimented institution across the globe, including some 1 billion members, 16 percent of the world’s population.

“Second to Christianity itself, the Roman Catholic Church is, in fact, the oldest-organized, longest-lasting institution on earth, dating back to the sixth century. The Catholic Church is headed by a Pope who Catholics deem as having infallible authority, the successor to Peter,” says Davis.

Another NAMB expert on Catholicism is Bill Gordon, resourcing consultant for the agency’s personal and mass evangelism team.

Gordon said that compared to some groups, Catholics are easier to discuss the Gospel with because they and evangelicals share common doctrine and beliefs.

“With faiths such as the New Age movement, there is nothing in common with evangelicals. New Agers believe they are God. Evangelicals have little in common with Mormons who don’t believe in the Trinity, or with Muslims who don’t believe Jesus died on the cross.”

Gordon and Davis both agree two sticking points between evangelicals and Catholics are their respective views on salvation and sin.

“Catholics and Southern Baptists agree Jesus died on the cross and rose again to atone for our sins. But Catholics see salvation as a lengthy process requiring the seven sacraments,” said Davis. These sacraments include baptism at birth, confirmation, the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper), matrimony and penance.

“To get access to the grace of God, Catholics have to go through the Catholic Church and the sacraments. We Southern Baptists think that’s unnecessary and in fact, is a hindrance to God. We go straight to Jesus Christ for salvation by faith alone. No works are involved. You can’t save yourself and you can’t add anything to God’s plan of salvation,” Davis said.

Gordon said another major difference between the Catholic Church and evangelicals is each group’s definition of sin.

Catholics differentiate between two types of sin – mortal sins and venial sins, according to Gordon. Mortal sins are more serious than venial sins.

“They recognize they are sinners but think their sins are only venial or minor, and that they can take care of venial sins themselves through good works and purgatory, a temporary place after death.

“Most Catholics don’t see the need for salvation because they don’t consider their sins as mortal, the major sins that can send a soul to hell if not confessed to a priest.” Gordon added that according to statistics, less than 20 percent of Catholics go to confession once a year.

Gordon said evangelicals, on the other hand, believe any sin is enough to send a person to hell, and there’s no non-serious sin.

“And this major difference in the definition of sin is a barrier. We think we’ve communicated with them but then get frustrated because they still don’t see the need for salvation because they think their sins are only minor,” said Gordon.

Southern Baptists are not disrespecting Catholics when they share the Gospel – as they believe it – with their Catholic friends, said Davis.

“We’re not disrespecting them and while we obviously disagree with them, we’re just being true to our own beliefs and faith,” says Davis.

Davis offers these tips for evangelicals sharing their faith with Catholics:

-- be clear on your own Christian faith and what you believe.

-- become more informed on what Catholics believe.

-- develop a friendly relationship and get to know the person.

-- let them see Christ in you.

-- don’t get sidetracked by the thorny issues and don’t even make Catholicism the issue. Don’t debate. Start with God, Jesus and the things Baptists and Catholics hold in common.

For additional NAMB information on the Roman Catholic Church, access http://www.4truth.net and click on “denomination.”

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