Forgiven Christians (Ephesians 2:8-9)

06/28/10 - LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

Goodness Gracious! In my effort to grow in the knowledge of the various Christian denominations, their beliefs, their roots, and their faithfulness to the Gospel, I've been overwhelmed at the amount of blood shed between Christians over doctrinal disputes. Catholics and Protestants are both responsible for the deaths of many Christians who have sought to live according to the Scriptures and their beliefs - most of the beliefs we will never be certain of this side of Heaven.

Granted, we need to stand firm in our faith, and do our best to educate one another regarding our insights into Scripture, but we certainly don't need to put each other to death for not seeing passages as we do. We have the majority of the world to go out and evangelize, to bring the the Gospel of Christ - the Gospel of Peace.

I've done a lot of studying on Catholic theology lately. Much of what I've learned has been disturbing, and it's understandable why so many Evangelical denominations regard Roman Catholicism as seriously flawed, if not a false religion. At the core of Catholicism, they believe in the fundamentals of the Christian faith, but you need to dig through a lot of mire to get to that point. I'm not prepared to go so far as to divorce them from Biblical Christianity, yet there's much to be concerned with. Going to a true Bible believing church seems to me to be a whole lot better way to worship.  

Let's focus on evangelizing those who haven't heard the Word of God and those that have heard a twisted and perverted gospel (I'm aware there's folks out there jumping up and down screaming at me that Catholicism is a twisted and perverted church. In a spirit of generosity, I'm still going to hold that they have the very core of the Gospel intact, but a whole lot of issues need to be addressed.). Let's pick up our Bibles and show the world that we are living Christ's commandment, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34,35).

So this page may not be getting a whole lot of new posts. I love the Word of God. I love that we have the freedom to worship the living and True God of the Bible in various places of worship. I love that as an American, I can go to an Evangelical Church on a Sunday morning and then a Catholic Mass later that day. I love that we can debate with one another lovingly, and that we can reach out in love to those who have not heard the Word of the Lord.

God bless you and may we all serve Him in love.

Joe

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When people ask me which church I attend, I'm reluctant to give them a single Church "family." There are a couple of Evangelical Churches where I am blessed with in-depth teaching of the Word of God. On the other hand, I was brought up Catholic, always feel a sense of the "sacred" when I enter a Catholic Church, and am drawn to the Sacramental approach to worship. I am currently seeking to grow in my ability to understand Catholic doctrine which explains and expands on Biblical truth. Reconciling the denominational differences is not my job. I love the God of the Bible and stand on the inerrant Truth it contains. I also believe the Catholic Church has developed valuable insightsthroughout its turbulent history. I fully embrace the three "Sola's" - Christ alone, Faith alone, Grace alone - as the basis for salvation, yet see an abundance of treasure in the great minds associated with the Catholic Church.

I originally started this site challenging doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the Church traditions and structure.

Since that time, I have been deeply involved in researching my questions, and have found Catholic and Evangelical Apologetics to be very persuasive on both sides. My hope now is to use this page to explain to myself as well as to you, the reader, the reasons behind the Church's doctrine and practices.

As my knowledge grows, I will be adding to this page. In the meantime, one of the more useful Catholic Apologetics books is The Essential Catholic Survival Guide by the staff of Catholic Answers. I recommend this book to those who are willing to grow beyond preconceived views of Roman Catholicism. For practicing Catholics, this book will help fortify your faith and help you to defend the Catholic faith. For Protestants looking for insight into the Catholic Church, this is an easy read.

A great book which challenges the doctrines of the Catholic Church is Answers to Questions Catholics Are Asking by Tony Coffey. This book is insightful and respectful; it gives compelling reasons challenging the Biblical basis of the Catholic Church. Catholics willing to challenge their beliefs and Protestants looking for resources to evangelize Catholics in a loving manor would do well to read this book.

For everyone, be discerning!

06/27/10 - Regarding the Eucharist...

John 6:48-58  (the Bread of Life passage) is the preeminent passage Catholics hang their hat on to defend the doctrine of transubstantiation. I've been working hard to validate this assertion, as I see it as the cornerstone which distinguishes Catholicism from the Protestant denominations. To be clear, I fully believe Christ is present when we celebrate Communion and it should be received with the utmost reverence, whether one sees it as I do or as a "remembrance."

What struck me (and this is probably obvious to bible scholars) is that the Gospel of John is the only one of the four Gospels that does not have the "this is My body...this is my Blood" passage. One would think if John through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit was going to solidify the assertion that the Eucharist was truly the literal body and blood of Jesus, then this passage would be included as a confirmation of the Catholic Church's doctrine that Jesus was speaking literally in the referenced Scripture. Its absence (especially in the Gospel of John) is a curiosity to me.

From the earliest records of the Christian Church, including the Epistles of Paul and the writing of the early Church Fathers, there was no doubt that Christ was truly present in the Eucharist.

The Protestant denial of the doctrine of transubstantiation is lengthy and cites many reasons to reject it, yet both Luther and Calvin believed in Christ's Presence in the Eucharist - though they differed in the manner in which He is present.

God bless,

Joe

06/28/10 (Padre Pio)

Padre Pio was a Franciscan Priest who for fifty years bore the stigmata (the wounds of Christ) until his death in 1968. Whenever I doubt the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, I remember a picture of this humble Priest holding up the Host during the consecration of the Mass and cannot help but see that he believes Jesus is really and truly present in the Eucharist.

Protestants and Catholics have disagreed on this for centuries. Luther believed in Consubstantiation, Zwingli thought it was merely a "remembrance." The Catholic Church has volumes on the "Miracle of the Eucharist" with host's dripping blood or changing into flesh.

My point is, the mystery of the Eucharist is a matter of faith this side of heaven. Too often we need "proof." Some folks prefer to have minimal faith and rely on evidence. Others have an overabundance of faith and think they can fly. Research, examples of others (including Padre Pio, Mother Theresa, and a plethora of really committed Christians) compel me to believe Jesus is really and truly, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist.

God bless,

Joe

07/11/10 ~ Compassionate Catholicism

Over the last couple of years I've been challenged physically, emotionally, and financially. These sufferings have brought me to a place where seeking Spiritual truth is essential to enduring and overcoming the battles.

I've found the consistency of the Catholic Church, the ability to participate in the Sacraments, and the compassion of Catholic Priests and the congregation to be a visible example of "the Body of Christ." I thank them for their compassion, yet am haunted with the Biblical admonitions which are contradictory to the Catholic Church's counsel.

When seeking advice from Evangelical Pastors and friends (admittedly, I am drawn to the conservative end of the spectrum) their counsel has been from the Bible. While attempting to help me deal with my problems, they are unwavering in the commitment to stay true to the Biblical principles. I had their sympathy, yet the principles spelled out in the Bible were unconditional. It took me a while to understand that what appeared to be an almost detached response to the emotions I felt in favor of Scripture was, in fact, a profound belief that what the Bible says is truly the best advice for dealing with challenges. I am reminded we are living in the world, but are not of the world.

The Evangelical position at first seemed harsh, yet I learned we are Saved by Grace through Faith. Obedience to the Word of God keeps us centered on the Lord and His Kingdom - it keeps us from the consequences of sin.

With the Catholic Church, I was given compassion, understanding that humans make mistakes, Jesus forgives (including in the Sacrament of Reconciliation) and that I was not going to be "shunned" if I erred.

Truly, I have gained much wisdom from fine Protestant teachers and Preachers, but trying to meet the standards of Biblical Christianity was an uphill battle - there's not a lot of "wiggle room" when living according to the truth of the Scriptures.

In Catholicism, one can turn to the sacrament of reconciliation, a comforting resource for one who stumbles as much as I do. As a conservative Evangelical, I am held to Biblical truth and need to remind myself (even though it is much harder to live according to the Gospel) "it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20)

All this to say I am a human being who falls short of the Glory of God. Striving to live in accordance with the truth of the Bible can be difficult and inconvenient. Yet it is what we as Christians, whether Protestant or Catholic are called to do. And we must never forget the compassion of Jesus on the cross, paying the debt for our sins.

09/11/2010 - CATHOLICISM - BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM...

Well, it's been a while since I've posted on this site, primarily because I've been studying the doctrine of the Catholic Church and coming to terms with what I've learned.

It's important for me to express at the outset that I was born and raised Catholic, most of my family are Catholics, and there's so many Catholic friends I admire. In short, being a Catholic has been part of my identity for most of my life.

When I approached the challenge of discerning the differences between Roman Catholicism and Evangelical theology, my heart was hoping I could justify the Catholic Church with the Bible. I wanted to be Catholic and feel assured that they had it right.

Over the last few years discussing the various positions with clergy from various denominations, reading what seemed like a library of apologetics books, listening to audio information, and searching the web, I realize I am not at all prepared enough to even throw in my two cents with any really significant insights. Indeed, one of my favorite Bible verses has become Psalm 131:1 "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me."

What I have learned is that throughout history, many Catholics have held a deep love for Jesus and have born much fruit in service to Him. Granted, much of Catholic doctrine has been developed through the "Magesterium" and it is a stretch to find solid Biblical roots for many of the doctrines.

My experience has shown me most Catholics aren't overly interested in learning the source of the "doctrines," they simply want to love God and leave the interpretation, administration, and dogma in the hands of the leaders of the Church. I do believe Catholics worship the real Jesus of the Bible (as opposed to descriptions of Jesus provided by such cults as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses), but they also carry along a lot of extra-biblical baggage.

In Christ,

Joe

11/05/10 - TRUTH MATTERS

I still have a great yearning to be fully reconciled with the Catholic Church, as it is the "home" where I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior; I have tremendous memories from my youth on how closely I followed Jesus as a Catholic. Yet, I have difficulties in reconciling the Church doctrines and Magisterium with Scripture.

More discussions with Catholic priests and more exposure to Catholic apologists have brought me great sadness. I am most distressed with Protestants who have converted to Catholicism and then use "pieces" of Scripture to validate Catholic doctrine. While I don't doubt the sincerity of their conversion, I am having a more difficult time returning to the Catholic Church than they did embracing it.

When confronting a Catholic apologist, it is important to schedule a follow-up meeting, then take their passages and read them in context prior to the next meeting. The Bible is clear when it is used to seek truth. When used to support dogma, it can (and sometimes is) used out of context.

Always we must believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God. If we do not accept this fact with great reverence, the temptation to twist it to accomodate our own agenda can be cancerous.

To be clear, we see where distorting Scripture serves the agenda of false religions. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnessess, and numerous TV evangelists have used and abused the Word of God for their own purposes, proclaiming a perverted Gospel.

I am not suggesting Catholicism is a false religion - it has two thousand years of great saints and theologians who are beacons of true Christianity throughout history. Indeed, the Catholic Church was instrumental in sustaining Christianity since the time of Christ (I readily admit Catholicism has periods throughout its history that are considerably less than stellar). It is due to the examples of the "saints" in the Catholic Church and the Church's long history as the "keeper of the keys to the kingdom"  (I know, Protestant friends, that statement is debatable) that I diligently seek to understand and return to the Church. Yet, I cannot embrace the Catholic faith until I am satisfied in my soul that it's teachings and doctrines are indeed consistent with the Word of God.

The Bible, complete and comprehensive, is God's primary means of developing a relationship with us. Picking and choosing the parts of Scripture which are most appealing to us, which create for ourselves a more "attractive" god is nothing short of creating and worshiping a false god.

God is the one true God from Genesis to Revelation with every word in between the first and the last verse. He is mighty, passionate, compassionate, severe and gentle. He is GOD. We need to never utter the phrase, "well, my god would never..." - your god is something you created. We need to bow before the God of the Bible, fully understanding that we will never have a complete knowledge of Him this side of heaven. We should humbly thank Him that He is too great for us to fully comprehend, yet He has allowed us to call Him "Abba" - "Daddy." Love Him, but never limit Him within the confines of your imagination.

In Christ,

Joe

A WORD TO CATHOLICS...

I have a great admiration for the fundamentals of the Catholic Church, and am currently seeking answers to difficulties I have with doctrines in the Catholic faith. As my research continues, I find some of its doctrines challenging and some logical.

I am currently studying the Church's position on the Eucharist; I feel it is the central and defining aspect of the Catholic Church which separates it from all other Christian denominations.

I love Mary as an example of one who has total trust and surrender to the will of God. She was highly favored to carry Jesus in her womb, yet her participation in bringing Jesus and Salvation to mankind was God's unique gift to her and her acceptance to his calling was a beautiful reflection of submission to the the will fo God. Anyone blessed with the opportunity to participate in sharing the Gospel realizes they are instruments of the Holy Spirit.

I believe she rightly understood her position as "the maidservant of the Lord " (Luke 1;38), and when we read in John 19; 26-27; "When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold, your son! Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' From that hour the disciple took her into his own household."  I see this passage as Jesus' incredible love for her and for all mankind in that in the hour of His most excrutiating suffering, He was concerned for her welfare (as well as asking forgiveness for His persecutors) .

I believe Mary would be apalled at the extraordinary worship given to her. She, like the rest of us, is a vessel in the hands of the Creator. I believe she understood that any admiration she receives is merely a result of the Holy Spirit working through her.

Please feel free to contact me with insights and questions by email at joe@forgivenchristians.org

A WORD TO PROTESTANTS...

As you can see from my links to "Grace to You", "Ligonier Ministries" and others, I am extremely comfortable with the three "Sola's" - Christ Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone.

I do, however, respect the tremendous contributions the Catholic Church has had on Christian Development and understanding of Biblical principles.

So consider this a forum to ask questions and give me insight. The Catholic Church with its Magesterium and Traditions can get confusing, yet I believe we are brothers and sisters in Christ. As I write this, I am reminded of John MacArthur's insightful CD series, "Explaining the Heresy of Catholicism" which I've listened to countless times and have given to friends and relatives. It challenges basic Catholic Doctrine, but I've found Dr. MacArthur's sources to be outdated and his understanding of the Catholic faith to be limited.

I have the deepest admiration for Dr. MacArthur, and hope to address his objections (not defend or deny, merely explore them).

Please contact me at joe@forgivenchristians.org with your insights and opinions and any questions regarding the Catholic Church you would like addressed.

I believe the greatest "Reformer" was St. Francis of Assisi who was able to revitalize the concept of living according to the Gospel within the framework of the Catholic Church. He had been given a vision in which Christ appeared to him saying, "Francis, rebuild My Church which, you can see, is in ruins."

I encourage everyone to read a biography of Francis (there are many excellent ones) and see how God used him in a mighty way.

It should also be noted that it was not Martin Luther's intent to separate from the Catholic Church, but to generate discussion and debate. I believe the Reformation has been useful in bringing more balance to the Catholic Church, yet am distressed at the false teachers distorting the Gospel and twisting it to the point of tickling the ears and fattening their pocketbooks.

Again, discernment is the key to finding a Pastor worth listening to. Pastors like John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, Alistair Begg, Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, and Greg Laurie are amazing.

So, realizing there is no "heirarchy" that can discipline Pastors in independent ministries, please be careful in choosing who you are going to listen to.

God bless.