Sticky: Index of Posts

Looking for a particular topic?  Here is an index of posts:

A Short Reply to a Long Article on Perspicuity

 I recently made a video on my YouTube channel about the Protestant doctrine of Perspicuity.  In brief, the doctrine of perspicuity asserts that the text of the Bible is clear enough that normal, competent, well-meaning people should be able to read the text and come to the correct conclusion about what the Bible is trying to assert - at least on the important/core doctrines of the faith.

Yesterday I saw that the Lutheran apologist Javier Perdomo wrote a Substack post defending perspicuity, so I gave it a look.  The following is a partial critique.

My Best Man Speech

 I recently served as the Best Man at the wedding of my good friend Ben and his (now) wife Lauren. I thought I'd share and store it here.  In memory of Matthew Paul Strong - perfect baby boy called back to the Lord in infancy.

Why Did Paul Say He Was Glad He Didn't Baptise?

 Dear Apologist, if baptism is so important, why does Paul express gladness that he was sent to preach rather than baptize and baptized only a few people? 

Carol of the Bells as an Actual Advent Hymn

 Carol of the Bells has one of the most compelling musical settings among Christmas themed songs.  Unfortunately, the actual lyrics of the song have nothing to do with Jesus or His birth to the Virgin in Bethlehem.  This year I thought I'd rectify that by making some new lyrics appropriate to Advent.  The goal was to capture mood of a world waiting in pagan darkness for the savior.

Collecting on the "Marital Debt"?

In a previous post I mentioned how the lectionary is imbalanced in how it presents the duties of men and women in marriage.  In short, the duties of men are always read.  The duties of women are either skipped over or made optional.  This, I believe, has contributed to a culture in which it is taboo to speak of a woman's roles or duties within marriage.  

Into that silence steps X (formerly Twitter user) Will Knowland, who posted the following assertion on October 20th 2025.

This post, and the reactions thereto, are what I wanted to discuss today....

An Imbalance in the Lectionary

I've been a volunteer youth minister for 15 years now. I lead a weekly meeting which is half Bible Study and half discussion group. I've tried different formats for Bible Study over the years. Sometimes we'll read about some topic the kids ask about. Other times we'll make our way through a book of the Bible one paragraph at a time. Lately I've just been following the lectionary. In doing that I've noticed something that kinda bothers me.

An Ideal Correction

At some point in the future I'd like to do record some fulsome thoughts on Pope Francis' 12 years as Pope.  Overall, I could count the things I liked on one hand.  But today I want to look at one particular quirk of the document Amoris Laetitia... and the subtle correction that Pope Leo seemed to give to it.

The African Bishops' Clever Gambit

The release of Fiducia Supplicans has been difficult for many in the Church.  As I noted in my Youtube video, a proper understanding of the document requires some technical reading.  

You can't read the stuff in paragraph 31 in the most intuitive way.  Instead it must be understood in light of stuff from way back in paragraph 8.  When one does that, the resulting reading is orthodox.  But how many people were going to do that? Confusion has abounded.

This left bishops around the world in a tough position:

1.  Pope Francis doesn't hesitate to punish those who question his authority 
2.  Pope Francis is also swift to punish those who critique him from the ideological Right
3.  Fiducia Supplicans has been a massive failure in terms of communication

So... how do you deal with document while not stepping on the toes of the Pontiff?  

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo found an interesting way to do it.  It has been described as a rejection of FS, but its far more subtle than that.  Let's take a look.

My Thoughts on Fiducia Supplicans

 Everyone is talking about it.  So here is the video I've made on the new Vatican document on blessings.

Under the Mission?

The New Testament presents us with many teachings which are difficult to accept.  Among the most difficult in our era pertains to the relationship between husbands and wives. There are four places [Col 3:18, Eph 5:22, Titus 2:5, 1Pet 3:1-6] where the New Testament states that a wife should be in submission to her husband. 

Today I wanted to look at a way folks try to obscure the difficulty of this teaching and why it doesn't work.

Re-Reading James 2:18

I was recently preparing to lead my students through James 2.  I was going through it sentence-by-sentence when I discovered something confusing in verse 18.  It reads:

"But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith." - James 2:18

Why was this confusing?  And what was the solution?

Paul's Soteriology in Thessalonians

Last evening I thought I'd do a study on both the letters to the Thessalonians.  Specifically, I wanted to see what can be gleaned from those two letters concerning Paul's soteriology.  

There wasn't a lot; only 5 passages.  But those 5 provide an interesting summary which can used as an interpretive key to Paul's larger works.

So let's dive in!

Two Places Where Jesus Talks about Purgatory

It is often said by Protestants that they cannot find Purgatory in the Bible.  It could be retorted that it is harder to see something you're not looking for - even harder when you are opposed to finding it.

The typical passage which Catholic appeal to for a description of Purgatory is 1Corinthians 3:10-15.  But today I want to look at two other passages which come from the mouth of the Lord Himself.

Can There be a Catholic Feminism?

There are many ideologies in the world.  Populism, Libertarianism, Communism, Capitalism, Anarchism, and the list goes on.  Whenever Catholics encounter one, we inevitably ask if there can be a Catholic version of it.  And so it goes with Feminism.

Today I want to ask the question... can there be a Catholic Feminism?

Silly Animal Benedictions

I'm a member of an ecumenical men's group.  Every now and again one of the men sends out a text message with a prayer to encourage us.  I like to respond with a silly benediction of my own.  Namely, I like to invent benedictions based on the silly animal stories in the Bible.  

Today I'd like to share four which I've come up with.  So let's get a mooooooove on.

Why Did the Romans 6 Question Come Up?

Years ago I made a [post] about why the Council of Trent had to reject Luther's doctrine of Faith Alone.  The issue had nothing to do with the role of "works".  But rather, a flawed concept of what was entailed in a "saving faith".  

In short, Luther's concept of "saving faith" sounds just fine until you ask the question:  

What happens if a man lives a life of grave sin - with no intention to change - but still believes firmly that Jesus is the divine savior who forgives our sins?  Is that man still saved?

While our intuitions say he shouldn't be, a close examination of the Lutheran definition of "saving faith" says otherwise.  Going by their definition, it is impossible to explain how that hypothetical fella is any less saved than Saint Stephen.  

That's the real issue.  The Protestant concept of "faith alone" (defined as it is) provides no barrier against this libertine attitude... and almost points us toward it.

I presented that thesis to an acquaintance - a Baptist pastor - and he had an interesting reply.  It went like this:

"Well, maybe that means Luther was on the right track.  Maybe the true Gospel DOES kinda tempt one toward that attitude.  Why else would Paul feel the need to say:

'Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?  By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?' (Romans 6:1-2) 

Why would Paul feel the need to stipulate that?  Maybe it is because his Gospel matches Luther's, but he doesn't want people to take that road."

That is what I'd like to look at today.  Why did Paul feel the need to say that?

Grace as Power for Vocation

I've been working on some Biblical projects lately.  One of these has made me look up some of the ways the word "grace" is used in the New Testament epistles. Specifically, I was looking for instances which jive with the Catholic notion of a "habitual grace".  

The Catechism (CCC 2000) defines "Habitual grace" as a permanent disposition to live and act in keeping with God's call.  As with all things called "grace", this is a gift from God.  It inheres within you, and enables you to live out your vocation.

Let's take a look.

Mary and the Word "Until" (Matt 1:25)

The Catholic Church believes and teaches that Mary, the mother of Jesus, remained a virgin her whole life.  However, many Catholics have experienced the incredulity and shock of their Evangelical friends when they share that idea.  It seems preposterous and anti-Biblical to them.

Particularly, it seems to many that Matthew 1:25 is a clean refutation to the idea.  

Is it?  Let's dive in.

What Was Odd with Mary's Question to Gabriel?

The Catholic Church believes and teaches that Mary (Jesus' mother) had only one child:  Jesus.  

However, many Catholics have experienced the incredulity and shock of their Evangelical friends upon sharing that idea.  The notion seems preposterous to them.

So... where do we get that idea from?  Is it just an assumption thrown onto the text out of nowhere?  Today I want to go over one piece of evidence for this belief.