If I'm a confirmed Catholic, is it bad to go to Christian church? Hi friend. It seems you have two questions, so I'll answer them separately. To be clear, when you refer to the "Christian church," what you really mean is the Protestant church. Read about the differences in this previous post.
1. If I'm a confirmed Catholic, is it bad to go to Christian church?
It is not bad at all. At RHCCC, people of all faith backgrounds are welcome. However, I do challenge you to take a deep look into the core beliefs of both churches. There are major differences between what Protestants believe and what Catholics believe. Visit this website for dozens of articles that will be helpful for you.
For instance, consider the most crucial issue of salvation. If you genuinely hold to OFFICIAL Roman Catholic doctrine and believe you can enter God's kingdom (at least partly) on your own merit, you will be at odds with what Protestants believe. Sooner or later, you must make up your mind and settle on the belief system of one church. How do you know which to settle on? Always go back to Scripture. What does the Bible say? Regarding salvation, Romans 3:24-25 tells us that we are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed as a propitiation in His blood through faith." Good works arise from faith in Christ and thus are an indication that one is truly saved. But in and of themselves, they do not justify or save us.
I hope you can see whether this is going. There are so many divisions between Protestants and Catholics that you cannot embrace both theological systems. I highly encourage you to read this article - I believe it will help in your faith journey. Also read this one.
2. Is it okay for a confirmed Catholic to partake in Holy Communion in a Christian church?
The purpose of communion is to remember the sacrificial death of Christ (N.B. This may contradict what you've been taught at a Catholic church. Read this post for further information). Here is an excerpt:
The Scriptures declare that the Lord's Supper is a memorial to the body and blood of Christ (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25), not the actual consumption of His physical body and blood. When Jesus was speaking in John chapter 6, Jesus had not yet had the Last Supper with His disciples, in which He instituted the Lord’s Supper. To read the Lord’s Supper / Christian Communion back into John chapter 6 is unwarranted. For a more complete discussion of these issues, please read our article on the Holy Eucharist.
The most serious reason transubstantiation should be rejected is because it is viewed by the Roman Catholic Church as a "re-sacrifice" of Jesus Christ for our sins, or as a “re-offering / re-presentation” of His sacrifice. This is directly in contradiction to what Scripture says, that Jesus died "once for all" and does not need to be sacrificed again (Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18). Hebrews 7:27 declares, "Unlike the other high priests, He (Jesus) does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins ONCE for all when He offered Himself."
Summarily, you may take the communion if you are a Christ-follower, even within a Protestant church. However, when you do take it, please know that we do not practice transubstantiation. We hold to memorial view in which we remember and celebrate the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
Hope this helps.
[Answered by Pastor HM]
