Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Catholic Apologist Jimmy Akin is a "Semi-Calvinist"?

James Swan has written a very interesting article based on another article that criticizes Jimmy Akin's attempt to redefine Calvinism from a Roman Catholic perspective. Looking at it underscores how Calvinist theology and Roman Catholic theology differs.

I can't help but recall Geisler's Chosen But Free. It's true, Akin does indeed modify TULIP to be palatable for Romanism, as Geisler tried to make it palatable for Evangelical Arminians.

The article includes excerpts from Akin's attempt to Romanize the five doctrines of Grace known by the acronym TULIP. This is a great article for anyone who is interested in Calvinism and Roman Catholicism.

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Catholic Apologist Jimmy Akin is a "Semi-Calvinist"?

Related articles

• Ten Myths About Calvinism (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)
• Why did the Roman Catholic Church get reformed (wiki.answers.com)
• Insight Scoop | The Ignatius Press Blog: Jimmy Akin carefully considers Benedict XVI's thoughts on the conversion of Jews (deaconjohnspace.wordpress.com)
• being an apologist: part one (jude3project.org)

He Lives: If we traded him for future considerations, I don't think we'll get much

I heard about this conference from David Heddle's blog. I agree Robert Sungenis is really crazy! A conference arguing that the earth is the center of the universe?! And people are willing to pay $50 to get in?!
I find it interesting that the tag line was that Galileo was wrong and the Church, as in Roman Catholic Church  - not the Bible - was right! In a time where it can  be clearly demonstrated that we are not in a geocentric solar system - let alone universe. No where does the Bible tells us everything revolves around the earth. It was a presupposition of the Roman Catholic Church and not remotely true,. It makes sense though because Robert Sungenis' ultimate authority is not truth or the Bible but the Roman Catholic Church - its tradition and papal edicts - no worry that there is contradictions and mistakes.
He Lives: If we traded him for future considerations, I don't think we'll get much

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• Galileo Was Wrong, The Church Was Right (geekologie.com)

Peter Stravinskas Threatens to Sue Alpha and Omega Ministries

I just read a blog post from James White in which he reports that Peter Stravinskas wants to sue him and his ministry. I'm amazed by this. But once you watch the clip is shouldn't be surprising why Stravinskas is angry. I think that James White has made a very valid point:

So if Peter Stravinskas wants to "warn" Roman Catholics against debating me, let me add a few items. If you want a debate where your opponent does not study your position nor accurately represent your position, do not debate James White. If you want a debate where the resultant video recordings are not given wide distribution or clips allowed to be posted on YouTube, do not debate James White. Meanwhile, let's ponder the real reason why Peter Stravinskas wants control over video clip posting of any debates:

Follow the link below to see all of Dr. White's comments.

Peter Stravinskas Threatens to Sue Alpha and Omega Ministries

Roman Catholicism – Was Peter the Rock? Was Peter the First Pope? | True Freethinker

One of the most famous claims about Roman Catholicism is that the Roman Catholic Church is the one true church because Apostle Peter was the first pope and Jesus left him in charge. Matthew 16:13-20 is generally used to teach this. In this particular article (linked below) , Mariano explains why this interpretation is much more an example of eisogesis and not exegesis. He explains that Peter was not the first pope using Biblical evidences. This a great article and well worth reading!

Roman Catholicism – Was Peter the Rock? Was Peter the First Pope? | True Freethinker

Debunking Christianity: Christopher Hitchens on Real Time: The Pope is a Criminal

I watched the following exchange on HBO. I intended to make mention of it but John W. Loftus beat me to it - posting it on his own blog. It's basically Bill Maher and Christopher Hitchens gloating that the sexual misconduct of priests in the Roman Catholic Church was more wide-spread than was previously thought. I'm not surprise. This became inevitable as soon as celibacy for priests and nuns was made policy. I wouldn't be surprise if there was something similar in convents. I agree with these guys that it's horrible. Terrible. And the pope and all clergy should be held accountable for allowing it in those cases that they could have done something.

However, isn't it interesting that atheists who are crying foul and using this as a platform for attacking all Christians are making flawed assumptions. They say that this scandal is made possible because of how churches view sex as evil and teach unpractical and silly teachings. They contend that there is nothing wrong with extra-marital sex as long as all involved parties are okay with it. They claim homosexuality is good and that no one has the right to tell you what to do with your body.

I've got to point out that no where in scripture does it state that giving up marriage is going to get you closer to God. It actually countermands the command to be fruitful and multiply. Also the failure of a few men and women to do the right thing does not mean the right things is wrong and no one is accountable.

Further, Maher and Hitchens' position strikes me as hypocritical just because they prefer to be with consenting adults, yet they would deny others the "right" to be happy if they prefer children. What makes one preference abominable and the other righteous? I agree children are not to be sexual partners but so is anyone who is not your spouse who must be a member of the opposite sex (the definition of marriage). I can appeal to an objective moral standard that does not change - the same standard Jesus used in Matthew 19. By what standard is Maher and Hitchens using to validate their ethics? If it's relative then what gives them the right to criticize the Roman Catholic Church?

With the way things are going there will come a day when pedophilia and bestiality will be condones and defended like homosexuality is today. I'll bet they'll even use Hitchen's new catch phrase: "No Child's Behind Left."




Postscript: I posted a comment on Loftus' post pointing out that Hitchens seemed drunk to me. He even had a bottle of something with him when he went on camera (see at 22 secs). He is right about the Pope. I'm not Catholic and have no interest of defending the Papacy. The thing is that gets me is that it shows a problem if you go on TV drunk. I think its disrespectful to the audience to come in public and not be at your best.

Debunking Christianity: Christopher Hitchens on Real Time: The Pope is a Criminal

Catholic Apologist Dr. Art Sippo Says: Calvinists Are Psychotics

James Swan has posted a great article showing that Roman Catholic apologist Art Sippo does not argue fairly. In trying to use psychology to discredit Martin Luther, Sippo manages to to take a swipe at Calvinism. Swan quoted Sippo:

My charge that Luther was flagrantly psychotic when he wrote [The Bondage of the Will] is a clinical one. Luther makes a number of seriosuly[sic] disturbed remarks in this book. Among them, he actually says that the human mind is like a horse with an empty saddle and that either God or the Devil rides in it. This is clearly not the perception of a normal human mind. When I studied psychiatry in med school the professor told us "There are only 2 kinds of people who deny free will: psychotics and Calvinists." In my experience, there is only ONE kind of person. [source]

I read The Bondage of the Will and I see no evidence of that at all. In addition Martin Luther's work pre-dated John Calvin! Martin Luther was not a Calvinist. Swan did a great job to showing that Sippo misquoted Luther and I totally disagree that denying free will is crazy and that isn't really what Calvinism does. Just like its stupid to accuse all Arminians and non-Calvinists of denying God's sovereignty and saying that we get to tell God what we are going to do. These are gross over simplifications. we need to pray for Dr. Sippo.

Catholic Apologist Dr. Art Sippo Says: Calvinists Are Psychotics

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Luther Condemned the Word "Trinity"?

Many times Roman Catholics try to find things to demonize Martin Luther. In this recent blog post, James Swan, examines the accusation the Martin Luther denied the Trinity. Swan does a good job of showing that there is no basis for this accusation. Martin Luther was not perfect, but he can't be accused of denying the Trinity either. Read Swan's post at the link below.

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Luther Condemned the Word "Trinity"?

Debate: James White vs Tim Staples - Debating Purgatory

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On Thursday, January 28, 2010, James White debated Tim Staples on the Dividing Line web cast on the question "Does 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 support the Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory?" Staples claims that it does. James White says no. The debate had the following format:

15 minute opening statements (Tim gets to go first)
8 minutes rebuttals
5 minutes cross examination each
8 minute closing statements
Then, they took phone calls for just under 20 minute

I think White did a great job showing that it does not work. Here is what 1st Corinthians 3:10-15:

¹⁰By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. ¹⁴If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

I think the exchange tells us a lot. The thing that amazed me was Staples arguing that the teaching of Purgatory has not changed in 2000 years! I thought: WHAT???? Then he claimed that purgatory is not a place people go when they die it is the judgement of our lives and he read a quote from the current Pope to back him up. I know during the Reformation - 500 years ago - the Roman Catholic church taught that purgatory was a place where people go to get rid of sins they could not get rid of while they lived. They even taught that if you paid the church - indulgences - one could pay their way and loved ones out of purgatory! If Staples is correct as to what the Roman Catholics teachesd about what purgatory is - then it has changed. You can't claim a 2000-year unbroken tradition, and then ignore what used to be taught. Go ahead and follow the link below to hear the exchange.

I also think that I must comment that his discussion was vastly different than White's discussion with Michael Brown earlier in the week. Staples as mean and kept talking like any intelligent person could see that he was right and White was wrong.  I'm always amazed at how patient James White can be. 

1 Corinthians 3 and Tim Staples on Today's Dividing Line

The God Centered Gospel vs. a Man Centered Gospel

Here is a great discussion from Dr. James White discussing the difference between a message centered around God and His character and His Glory, juxtaposed with one with humanity at its focus. He makes great points. I've found that we need to be careful not to change what Bible really says. Yes, Jesus came to save us. Yes, God loves us. Yes, God values us. Yet we must not value our perceived needs greater than glorifying and obeying God. He truly is all that matters. God is not obligated to save anyone....I'm just grateful He has decided to save those whoput their faith in Him. As I have. Take a listen to Dr. White's arguments for why it matters and how some protestants, not just official Roman Catholic theology changes what the Bible says.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

The God Centered Gospel vs. a Man Centered Gospel

Why I am Not a Roman Catholic

Alan Kurschner has posted a great article on the Pros Apologian blog on why he isn't a Roman Catholic. He quotes Tim Staples, a Roman Catholic apologist, saying thus:

"The bottom line here is this: Jesus Christ did not suffer and die so that we don't have to. Jesus Christ suffered and died so that our good works offered up in him can be truly pleasing and salvific before God. And indeed, Jesus didn't suffer and die so that we don't have to suffer and die, he suffered and died so that our suffering and death could be salvific."

Kurschner is not taking Staples out of context. Dr James White actually played the comment in context on his webcast recently! Tim Staples actually said this. I don't think it's fair to say that that all Roman Catholics believe this way or would agree with Staples, but from what I understand it is the official view of the Pope and what is taught from the Vatican. I vehemently disagree. Totally not Scriptural. It's important because this is the core of the Gospel that we are admonished and commanded to teach. Staples is postulating a different Gospel. In rebuttal, Kurschner printed Isaiah 52:13–53:11. Staples is not the only one who teaches this. Some Protestants do too. Norman Geisler wrote something similar in his bid to redefine the Calvinism/Arminan debate in his book Chosen be Free. God really wanted to drive the point home that is by Jesus' death our sins are atoned for and by his Resurrection we are justified!

Jesus' sacrifice was complete and perfect for all who their faith in Him! I like how 1 Peter 3: 17 - 19 puts it!

It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison

I've heard that James White will soon debate Tim Staples January 28 at 4pm MST on Purgatory and I hope it will help those who have not recognized that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins and the only offering that has any power to save us. It will most certainly come up.

Why I am Not a Roman Catholic

Vatican Cardinal on Gays and Transsexuals: 'No Heaven for You!' -- Politics Daily

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 I found a great article on an interview of Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, a Mexican cardinal, who is catching some flack. Why? Because he believes the Bible and is not afraid to agree and quote it in public. For shame.
Cardinal Barragan is said to have said about abortion:

In the interview with the aptly named magazine Pontifex, Barragan begins by talking about abortion, saying that even the morning-after pill, as an abortifacient, is comparable to "an assassination." Each abortion, he says, "is a crime" and as such "merits punishment."

Grant it a lot of people don't like this. I agree with the Cardinal because he agrees with the Bible. But this is not the only "controversial" thing he said. According to the article's writer, the Cardinal really stepped in it when he was asked about what he thought of homosexuality and the transgendered.What was so bad? He said Paul was right!

The interviewer then asks the cardinal how he views homosexuality and transgendered people. Here's my translation of his answers:

A: "Transsexuals and homosexuals will not enter into the Kingdom of God, and I do not say this, but Saint Paul does."

Q: But if a person is born homosexual?

A: "One is not born a homosexual. One becomes a homosexual. It is for various reasons, such as education, or for not developing one's own proper identity in adolescence; perhaps they are themselves not responsible, but acting against the dignity of the human body, certainly they will not enter Heaven. All that goes against nature and against the dignity of the human body offends God."

The cardinal adds:

"Homosexuality is therefore a sin, but this does not justify any form of discrimination. God alone has the right to judge...We on earth cannot condemn, and as human beings we all have the same rights."

If the translation is right, I agree with the Cardinal. What is missing from this discussion is the fact that homosexuality is no worse a sin than any others. The things is stealing, lying, adultery, and every other sin that comes to mind is just as bad as homosexuality and are inborn in us. Without Jesus we all go to hell. Bottom line. A homosexual is no worse a sinner than a liar or a thief. God does not love homosexuals less than any other sinner.

Unfortunately, the Vatican is not supporting the Bible the way this cardinal is:

Catholic leaders in Rome, and a few in the United States, have been wary of accepting scientific research showing that homosexuality could be biologically determined to a great degree. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says only that its "psychological genesis remains largely unexplained" and says homosexuality is "objectively disordered" and can never be approved. It calls on homosexuals to live chaste lives.

In a sign that the Vatican prefers to take a more nuanced approach to homosexuality, a papal spokesman told Reuters that Pontifex should not be considered an authority on Catholic thinking "on complex and delicate issues such as homosexuality."

I think the Vatican is dodging. We know what explains homosexuality. The same as all sins: our depraved sinful natures that we are all born with! Sins that we can only be delivered from by Jesus. Instead of upholding what the  Bible says, they try to be palatable to the society.

Vatican Cardinal on Gays and Transsexuals: 'No Heaven for You!' -- Politics Daily

How To Prove The Immaculate Conception Without Biblical Proof

Here is the link to an article by James Swan. It is about the Roman Catholic doctrine that Mary was immaculately conceived and therefore did not have original sin. He does a great job presenting the Roman Catholic arguments and then refutes it.

http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3531

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Father Alberto's wife talks about their scandal

 I wrote about this story before.  A famous Catholic priest was caught a few months ago on a date, kissing his girlfriend in public. The truth is the media is reporting that Father Alberto Cutié broke his vow of celibacy but I have never heard him say that. What is news to me now is that he has married this woman and he is now serving in the Episcopal church. This article I have linked has excerpts from an interview with the woman, named Ruhama Canellis. I agree that forbidding priests to marry is unbiblical and not right. However the Anglican church is accepting homosexuality which is also unbiblical. She said in the article that people should read their Bibles, but you can't just point a finger at the Catholic church and accuse them of heresy while practicing it yourself. I wish the couple only the best, but all Christians should follow the Bible and not cherry-pick what they will and will not follow.

Father Alberto's wife talks about their scandal

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Mr. Matthew Bellisario to Appear on the Dividing Line

I just heard that Matthew Bellisario will be on James White's webcast next Thursday, July 9m 2009. Bellisario will be defending Roman Catholic teachings on the Pope. TurrintinFan, one of the bloggers on AOM.org has been gracious enough to pull together resources for anyone who wants to understand what the discussion will be about. Get the information here. This I got to hear!

The Reformation Is Defnitely Not Over

Catholicism is not a cult, but there are a few doctrinal and theological ideas that are held in Roman Catholicism that I must reject. There are many different ideas and beliefs in Catholicism because not all of the church follows the Pope and there are many Catholics that are saved as the Bible says and are in better or worse shape than Protestant believers. There is a vocal group of Catholic apologists who lay claim to the idea that all Christians should be Roman Catholic - to not just follow the Bible but all of the traditions of their church. Dr. James White has pointed out that an some Catholics have compiled a list of arguments Roman Catholics should not use when talking to Protestants. Here is what He wrote:

Benjamin Douglass and others have put together a list of common Roman Catholic arguments that, well, shouldn't be common at all. Now, posting something like this, given that it would decimate the arsenal of the most popular Roman Catholic apologists on the web and on radio today, can't make Mr. Douglass and his associates the most popular Roman Catholics around, but you have to give them a lot of credit for honestly recognizing these issues (issues I have been raising for many years). So kudos to Mr. Douglass and his associates! And a word of advice to Mr. Douglass: put on your asbestos booties and gloves before opening the resultant e-mails from the likes of Dave Armstrong and all the others who are so dependent upon these very arguments.

Priest Scandal

I read an article talking about a famous Roman Catholic priest caught fondling and caressing a woman on a Miami priest. Father Alberto Cutié was caught with a woman with both in bathing suit. Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy and so people are up in arms about his "inappropriate" behavior. This is why I don't think that the catholic priesthood is a good idea. If a man can't keep his hands off of a woman, he should marry her. If a woman wants a man she should marry him. Being alone does not make one closer to God.

Embedded video from CNN Video

Father Cutié did release the following statement:
"Before God -- full of love and mercy -- I ask for the forgiveness of those who may be hurt or saddened by my actions. Since I entered the seminary at the age of 18, the priesthood has brought me great joy. The commitment that I made to serve God will remain intact. I am grateful for the love and support I have received today from so many in our community, especially my parishioners and the supporters of the radio stations who have demonstrated great compassion and understanding toward me as a human being. I ask for your continued prayers and support."

Public Apostasy

A video has been posted on YouTube as a public statement of apostasy, decrying the stance of the Roman Catholic Church against the use of condoms and "safe" sex teachings. The video attempts to be humorous. You be the judge.





The video offends my own sensibilities because although I don't think for a moment that Jesus is happy with an church denomination on every point, I do believe that Jesus wants us to use His word as the final authority for all we stand on, say, and do. Reality is what He says it is. The maker of this video, and those that think like him, think that we should do extra-marital sex is okay and anyone should be free to have sex with whomever they choose and how ever they choose. Therefore, to avoid diseases and "unwanted" pregnancies while we selfishly seek to fulfill our own carnal pleasures and desires, "safe" sexual practices is the only intelligent solution because "they're going to do it anyway...let's keep them safe". From my own point-of-view: fine. Why not, if that is what people want? Doesn't affect me. Do you know what the problem is: Our Lord. Our Master. Our Creator. The one who gives us life and sustains that life says no. As long as we keep disobeying Him and refuse to submit to God we will keep having problems as we watch our society slip into the toilet socially, economically, physically,and emotionally - as individuals, families, and nation.