Tag Archives: Christianity

United We Stand

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Divided we fall.

Putting aside the actual "meat" of the denial of Eucharist issue, it is quite disturbing and somewhat frightening to see such a division among U.S. Bishops. What kind of message does in-fighting and lack of pastoral harmony send? The Church is in a precarious position right now, due to scandals, dwindling numbers of faithful, rampant heterodoxy, and hostile secularism. We, the members of the Church militant, the body of Christ on earth, need strong, unified leadership. A decision needs to be reached soon, one way or another.

Communion issue causing split amongst US bishops

The New York Times is interpreting recent signs from the Vatican as dismay over the dissention amongst US Bishops on denying communion to politicians.

Silly Vegetarians

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New Bible-based diets preach healthful eating

SHELBY, N.C. – The Rev. George Malkmus often preaches about how he believes the
world of proper eating began.

This diet isn’t just quackery, it’s bad theology.

The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.” – Acts 10:9-16 (RSV)

Saved

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I forgot to mention something yesterday. Marty Minto‘s been on a bit of an anti-Catholic tirade for the last week. One of his listeners wrote in to ask if anyone who truly loved Jesus could go to Hell, even Catholics. I sent the following as part of an email to him during his broadcast.

“I was saved when Christ died for man’s sins.

I am being saved as I attempt carry my cross daily.

I hope to be saved when I face final judgment.

I love Jesus. He is my Lord and Savior. I know you feel the same way. We should work with each other, not against each other.”

He responded by saying he doesn’t think I’m saved! He said that those who are truly born again in the Spirit have assurance of salvation and to think otherwise suggests a lack of rebirth. I sent the following as a rebuttal, but he didn’t respond to all of it on-air.

Paul spoke of running a race (1 Cor 9:24), working out salvation with fear trembling (Phil 2:12), and completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions (Col 1:24). Obviously, endurance is called for.

When I say that I was saved, I mean that Christ’s sacrificial act redeemed mankind. Through baptism by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are buried with Christ and are entitled to rise with Him. Salvation is a gift. In order to be saved, however, we must actively accept that gift. Furthermore, that gift is not irrevocable. If we accept Christ one day and reject Him the next, we cannot possibly expect to be saved.

When I say that I am being saved, I mean that every day is a struggle and I know I can be led astray, lose hope, and lose faith.

When I say that I hope to be saved at the last judgment, I mean that I hope to persevere in Christ until the day I die. I pray that I will be counted among the sheep, rather than the goats. Not all who say “Lord, Lord” shall be allowed into the wedding banquet of Heaven.” I pray to be one who is.

Do I have any Evangelical Protestant readers who’d like to comment on this exchange? Anybody of any denomination want to chime in? What part of what I said is incompatible with “mere” Christianity (c.f. C.S. Lewis)?

Scrollin’, Scrollin’, Scrollin’

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Marty Minto‘s really
been plugging this exhibit. It seemed interesting, but I hesitated to blog it due
to some implicit Evangelical Protestant bias. However, Pittsburgh Catholic seems
to think it’s a good thing, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.

Dead Sea
Scrolls ‘fragments’ on exhibit
Tour includes other ancient biblical texts drawn from private collections

A remarkable array of ancient and antique biblical texts, including four fragments
of the Dead Sea Scrolls, will be on exhibit at the Monroeville ExpoMart from Friday
through June 20.

Fragments
of Dead Sea Scrolls on view at ExpoMart

Documents written 5,000 years ago sit a mere arms-length away. Peruse a copy of
temple-era biblical scrolls or skim through a page of the Guttenburg Bible.

Dead
Sea Scrolls exhibit emphasizes Bible history

Early colonial printers in Philadelphia played a key role in Bible history in this
country when they produced the first Bible in English in America in 1782, followed
eight years later by the first Catholic Bible. The city�s printers also produced
the first Hebrew Bible.

On a related note:

Local
museum boasts rare finds

Buried in the basement of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Highland Park is a
small archaeological treasure: The James L. Kelso Bible Lands Museum.

The Narrow Gate

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It seems many of the world’s Anglican nations have their heads screwed on straighter
than America’s. Since it seems the bad guys are unlikely to shape up or ship ship
out, I’ll just pray the good guys join either the Catholic Church or the Eastern
Orthodox Church.

Anglican Leaders Applaud Primates for Bold Stand Against ECUSA
By Jim Brown
June 1, 2004

(AgapePress) – Overseas Anglican leaders are being praised for issuing a statement that calls on the leadership of the Episcopal Church USA to repent within three months or face expulsion from the worldwide Anglican Communion.