Expert: Sal - 4/2/2005

Question
what is the difference between  catholics and baptist

Answer
Dear Jermaine:

The differences between the Catholic & the Baptist Churches are many. Some of the differences follow. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ in 30 AD (Matthew 16:17-19). The Baptist Church was founded by John Smith in 1609. The Catholic Church is led by the successor of St. Peter, the first pope (Matthew 16:18-19; Luke 22:31-32; John 21:15-17).  The Baptist Church has each local congregation as its own authority. The Catholic Church believes that the sacrament of Baptism is normally necessary for salvation (John 3:5; I Peter 3:21). The Baptist Church does not.  The Catholic Church believes that doing good works is important to ones salvation ( Matthew 25: 41-46; James 2:14-17). The Baptist Church down plays the role of goodworks. The Catholic Church believes in the 3-fold priesthood. The laity or priesthood of all belevers (I Peter 3:21); the ministerial (Acts 14:4; Romans 15:15-16); the high priest  (Matthew 16:18; Luke 22:31-32; John 20:15-17; Acts 15: 7-12).  The Baptist Church only believes in the laity priesthood. The Catholic Church believes that she was ordained to forgive sins in God's name (John 20-21-23; Matthew 18:18).  The Baptist Church believes that God does not forgive sins through any church. The Catholic Church believes in the communion of saints (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4). The Baptist Church believes that those Christians that have died cannot aid us in any way.

So as you can see the Catholic Church is a biblical church while the Baptist Church is not.

God Bless You,
Sal