A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 1: Intro

A while ago a good friend of mine asked if I could write about the prophecies concerning Jesus.  I still don’t know as much as I’d like, but I can offer a short summary.  With any luck, we can develop a sketch of the Jewish Messiah.

A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 2: In the Fullness of Time

In the first part I laid out some guidelines for how I’m approaching the Messianic prophecies.  Now I’ll begin walking through some of the more compelling ones I found using that criteria.  Today's goal is to pin down the time period we’re looking for our Messiah to appear in.

A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 3: From the Manger to the Grave

In the second part I focused on the Biblical prophecies concerning the Messianic age.  Today we’re going to examine the lineage, location, and death of the Messiah.

A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 4: From the Rising of the Sun to its Setting

In the previous parts we have looked at the timing of the coming of the Messiah, some of the accomplishments of his life, and the manner of his death.  Now we will look at what is prophesied concerning the lasting effects of his ministry.  What sort of things would change as a result of the coming of the Messiah?

Discrimination, Conscience, and Religious Liberty

A long while ago I was watching an episode of Miami Ink.  One of the tattoo artists, Ami James, was the only guy on staff when a woman came in asking for a tattoo of some Christian devotional artwork.  Ami, who is Jewish, said he did not feel comfortable drawing Christian devotional artwork.  He refused the job.

Now, one felt for the lady’s frustration, but what ought to have been done?  Do I want this Jewish man to be sued for refusing to draw Christian devotional artwork?  Do I want him hauled before court and facing legal penalties?  Do I want his business demolished?

For many people this is not a mental exercise – this is reality.  All it would take to ruin their livelihood is a single person coming in the door making a request they cannot fulfill in good conscience… with a finger ready to hit the “call” button to a well-lawyered advocacy group.

Today I want to point out a distinction people overlook in these cases.  When someone refuses a job in this fashion, what exactly is being discriminated against?

And also… to what extent are we willing to punish people for obeying their conscience?

Short Answers: Married Priests and the Priesthood of All Christians

Two questions on the Catholic priesthood today:

Short Answers: Repetitive Prayers and the Intercession of Saints

Dear Apologist, I was told that Jesus doesn’t want us to pray repetitious prayers like the Rosary. Is that true?

Short Answers: The ethics of In-Vitro-Fertilization.

Dear Apologist, Why would the Church oppose invitro-fertilization if it helps married couples have a baby? 

In-vitro-Fertilization (IVF) refers to a procedure whereby human embryos are created in a lab and implanted directly into a woman’s womb.  This process is commonly used to assist couples who are struggling to conceive a child naturally.  The Catholic Church nonetheless condemns the use of IVF as gravely evil.  [CCC 2371-2379].  Many argue that since God cooperates with the IVF process by bringing a new human soul into existence, this shows divine approval.  This argument does not work.  Children can also come into existence through a variety of evil acts – (we need not list them) – but no one would argue that those acts are morally licit on that basis.   Therefore, we must look deeper into what IVF does.

There are three main issues.  First, the Church recognizes that God has created a natural order by which children come into existence in the marital act between two spouses.  Children have the right to come into existence in this way.  Second, while a couple’s desire – even desperation - to have a child is understandable, no one has the RIGHT to a child.  They are gifts from God, but the IVF industry perpetuates the attitude that children are a commodity which can be manufactured.

Lastly, and most importantly, a couple who successfully uses IVF typically does not have only one new child.  The process typically creates multiple embryos, most of which are never implanted.  Those embryos, which are living human souls, are typically kept frozen.   While the Church would certainly not cast doubt on the dignity of a child who was born as a result of IVF, recognizing the equal humanity of the children kept on ice demands that the procedure be condemned.