Today, Christians celebrate Good Friday, recalling the Death of Christ on the Cross for our sins. Virtually all Christians agree that Christ’s Death is an atoning Sacrifice for our sins. But Catholics and Reformed Protestants understand the nature of that Sacrifice very differently. Is Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross the outpouring of the Father’s wrath… Continue reading How Does Good Friday *Work*, Exactly?
Tag: apologetics
Maundy, Maundy!
Happy Maundy Thursday, everyone!For those of you who don’t know, Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday. The word “Maundy” comes from the word “command,” referring to Christ’s command for His disciples to serve. Because Good Friday is the anniversary of our Lord’s death on the Cross, Maundy Thursday is the anniversary of the… Continue reading Maundy, Maundy!
The Supernatural Case for Catholicism
I think that one mistake that we Catholics fall into is attempting to prove the faith without referencing the supernatural. We’ll use Scripture and reason to show the truth of Catholicism (which is great, of course), but we tend to get awkward about using miracles, particularly to non-believers. We’re quick to talk about John 6… Continue reading The Supernatural Case for Catholicism
A Fascinating Concession By Albert Mohler
Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is apparently startled by how much Evangelicals like Pope Francis, and is trying to scare them away from him by reminding them that we disagree whether justification is by faith, or by faith alone: Mohler noted that Pope Benedict XVI famously affirmed the doctrine of justification by… Continue reading A Fascinating Concession By Albert Mohler
Pope Francis, Foot-Washing, and the Cross
Meister des Hausbuches, Christ Washing the Feet of the Apostles (1475) The more I read about our new Holy Father, the happier I am. He seems to combine outspoken orthodoxy with flagrant and outspoken love of the poor and downtrodden. In short, there is plenty for Catholics (and non-Catholics) of all stripes to like. One… Continue reading Pope Francis, Foot-Washing, and the Cross
Where is the Papacy in the Bible?
To celebrate the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis, here is a copy of a talk that I gave at lunch today on the Scriptural origins of the papacy: ““Where is THAT in the Bible: The Pope” Sharing the Catholic faith with non-Catholics, even non-Catholic Christians, can seem overwhelming at times. There are just so… Continue reading Where is the Papacy in the Bible?
The Father’s Two Sons: What the Prodigal Son Tells us About Divine Sonship
In Exodus 32, Moses has gone up on Mount Sinai to talk to God. Almost immediately after he left, the Israelites fall into idolatry, worshiping a golden calf (Ex. 32:1-6). God is displeased, and says to Moses, “Go down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves” (Ex. 32:7). Moses responds… Continue reading The Father’s Two Sons: What the Prodigal Son Tells us About Divine Sonship
Numbering the Stars with a Fresh Pair of Eyes
The Gospel reading for this past Sunday is one of the more famous passages from the Book of Genesis. God tells Abram (a childless, 75-year-old man) to number the stars. When he can’t, God says, “And so shall your descendants be.” One of the things that makes this scene so captivating is that, for anyone… Continue reading Numbering the Stars with a Fresh Pair of Eyes
Your Heart and Soul are Made for God: Why Settle for Less?
St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life, which I have been reading lately, arose out of correspondence he had with a woman who was looking for help in living out the life of a Christian amidst the secular world. If anything, the book has become only more valuable since then, as secular culture… Continue reading Your Heart and Soul are Made for God: Why Settle for Less?
The Case for Calling Mary “Mother of God”
Modern Protestants often balk at Catholics referring to the Virgin Mary as “the Mother of God.” One Protestant apologetics website argues that “Mary most certainly isn’t the mother of God,” since “God is eternal, Mary was not.” The author concludes that calling Mary the Mother of God is thus “a serious blasphemy attacking the very… Continue reading The Case for Calling Mary “Mother of God”