I was walking alone on one of the streets in my city when I ran into a friend who was walking alongside two of her friends. After the usual greetings and small talk, she introduced them to me.
"This is Rose (not her real name). She is a Christian. And this is Mercy (not her real name). She is a Catholic."
Mercy seemed a little confused by the introduction—specifically, by how she was labeled as "a Catholic" rather than "a Christian."
"Isn't a Catholic a Christian too?" she asked.
"Yes, you are. What I meant was ‘born-again Christian,’" my friend quickly clarified.
Christian vs. Born-Again Christian
It is common in Christian communities, especially here in the Philippines, to introduce people by their religion or denomination. I have met others who introduce their friends as "Baptist" and "born-again Christian," as though Baptists are not also born-again Christians. But isn’t the very essence of being a Christian to be born again?
More Than Just Being Born Catholic
Being born to Catholic parents does not automatically make someone a Catholic. Wouldn’t you agree? When I said I was Catholic, I truly meant it. I was faithful to the teachings and practices expected of Catholics. I can clearly recall that when I was thirteen, I was fully aware of my beliefs, and at such a young age, I was serious when I said I wanted to become a priest someday.
I stopped being a "born Catholic" when I consciously embraced the Catholic faith as my own. At that moment, I wasn’t just born into it—I became a Catholic by choice.
Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
Later in life, I stopped labeling myself as a Catholic when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. That moment set me free from the bondage of religion. I no longer identify with a religious institution; I belong to Jesus Christ.
Labels may define how we categorize people, but faith is about a personal relationship with God. And in the end, that is what truly matters.
