Caspar Schwenckfeld Catholic beliefs are often rejected by “Bible-only” Protestants on the grounds that they are “extra-Scriptural Traditions.” This accusation typically misses the mark: on teachings like the priesthood, or the Eucharist, or regenerative baptism, it’s not that the Church is deriving these views from a source other than Scripture. It’s that she sees support… Continue reading Reason #6 to Reject the Reformation: Patristic Scriptural Exegesis
Tag: Evangelicalism
The Untold Story of the Ecumenism of the Trenches
This week, in addition to being the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the 40th annual March for Life, is also the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It’s fitting that these two events should overlap, since the pro-life movement seems to have done more to draw together Catholics and Protestants, particularly Evangelicals, than… Continue reading The Untold Story of the Ecumenism of the Trenches
Five Ways to Defend the Faith Against Unexpected Attacks
There are times where we seek out opportunities to evangelize for the faith, but sometimes, the opportunity comes to us. When this happens, it’s not always pleasant. A couple months ago, for example, I was on a flight next to a guy who spent nearly the entire time telling me how rotten the Catholic Church… Continue reading Five Ways to Defend the Faith Against Unexpected Attacks
John Piper v. John Piper on the Apostles’ Creed
Harrowing of Hell (15th c.) The Apostles’ Creed declares that Jesus “was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right… Continue reading John Piper v. John Piper on the Apostles’ Creed
Does Water Baptism Save?
An Evangelical blogger and prison chaplain named Jeremy Myers wrote a post called “Don’t Get Baptized. Cut Your Hair!” His argument was that since Baptism was only symbolic, we should substitute for a symbol that we find more meaningful, like cutting our hair, or changing our names. From a Christian perspective, this is some of… Continue reading Does Water Baptism Save?
Is This the End of the Christmas Season, or the Beginning?
Terry Mattingly of GetReligion has a great column about the “two Christmases.” As he notes, for the Church, the Christmas season runs from Christmas Day (December 25) to Epiphany (January 6). These are the famous Twelve Days of Christmas. But in secular society, the Christmas season runs from around Thanksgiving until December 25. So… Continue reading Is This the End of the Christmas Season, or the Beginning?
The Three “Reformation Day” Ironies
Today, for most of us, is Halloween. But a lot of Christians are disturbed by the way that Halloween seems to celebrate evil, and many Protestants choose to celebrate Reformation Day instead. While I respect the desire to have fun without celebrating evil, I find Reformation Day to be unwittingly hilarious. Here’s why. Irony #1: Calvinist… Continue reading The Three “Reformation Day” Ironies
Doomsday Radio Wants Your Money
You may remember Family Radio, the group predicting that Judgment Day was coming on May 21, 2011, followed by the end of the world on October 21. After nothing happened on May 21, their leader, Harold Camping, claimed that Judgment Day was just invisible, that the world was still ending on October 21, and that “We… Continue reading Doomsday Radio Wants Your Money
Can Catholics and Orthodox Pray Directly to the Father?
I stumbled upon a Presbyterian blog which reminded me once more of how much work needs to be done in making sure people have some idea what Catholics believe – and don’t. The blogger, Benjamin Glaser, remarking on 1 Timothy 2, said: Nothing separates us more from our Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox brothers and… Continue reading Can Catholics and Orthodox Pray Directly to the Father?
A Lutheran Pastor Shows the Need for the Catholic Church
Steve Martin (the Lutheran blogger known as “Old Adam,” not the actor/comedian) has been talking with a motley crew of us Catholics in the comments here about how Lutherans can know which Books are in Scripture. Steve directed me to a talk his pastor, Mark Anderson, gave on the subject. I listened to it last night,… Continue reading A Lutheran Pastor Shows the Need for the Catholic Church