Misreading James 2:24

A few days ago, the YouTube channel Lutheran Satire (makers of the wonderful "Saint Patrick's Bad Analogies" and "Horus Reads the Internet") released a video in which Martin Luther schools Pope Francis on the proper reading of James 2:24.

James 2:24 has always been a sticky wicket for those who ascribe to the doctrine of justification by faith alone.  It's the one place in the Bible where we find the words "faith alone"... but they are preceded by the words "not by".

Luther's first instinct was to cast doubt the inspiration of the book - calling it "an epistle of straw" and not of true apostolic origin (he was later talked out of it).  But since then, more inventive ways have been found to defuse the troublesome passage.

That's what I want to look at today:

A Roman Take on the Romans Road

The letter to the Romans is commonly viewed as friendly to non-Catholic views on salvation and hostile territory for us Papists.  For instance, the epic story of Martin Luther’s crusade to reform the Church supposedly began with him finding a dusty, long-lost copy of Romans and subsequently rediscovering the true Gospel (tm).

In more recent history, there is a tract which used to be common in Evangelical circles called “The Romans Road”.  It uses selected verses from Paul’s letter to the Romans to spell out their doctrine of salvation and guide a person into become Christian.  But it does this while skipping over large swaths of perfectly good Scripture.

Today I wanted to offer a Catholic take on “The Romans Road”.  One which I believe reflects more accurately the intention of Paul’s letter.

Luther's Blindspot: Why the Church had to say "no"

The 500th anniversary of the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses is coming up next year.  This is marked by many as the dawn of the Protestant era.

Today I wanted to look at a question which is rarely asked:  Why did the Catholic Church reject Luther’s doctrine of “faith alone”?  Was it because they were pure evil?  Or was there was actually something wrong with Luther’s philosophy?

That’s what I want to explore today.

How Does a Catholic Read: Ephesians 2 and Matthew 25 together?

Recently I had the idea to canvas some of my non-Catholic Christian friends and ask, "What verses of the New Testament do you think Catholics simply don't get? You look at it and think, 'Are Catholics unaware of this verse? What do they do with this?'"

One suggestion was to look at the combination of verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 compared to Matthew 25:34-46.  These passages present apparently opposing messages regarding how much our moral efforts have to do with our salvation.

So today we're going to examine the passage, apply it to the controversy... and answer the question:

"What the heck does a Catholic do with Ephesians 2 and Matthew 25?"

How Does a Catholic Read: 1Peter 3:20

Recently I had the idea to canvas some of my non-Catholic Christian friends and ask, "What verses of the New Testament do you think Catholics simply don't get?  You look at it and think, 'Are Catholics unaware of this verse?  What do they do with this?'"

One passage suggested to me was 1Peter 3:18-21 – a passage which concerns the role of Baptism in one’s salvation.  So today we're going to examine the passage, apply it to the controversy... and answer the question:

"What the heck does a Catholic do with 1 Peter 3:18-21?"

How Does a Catholic Read: Romans 10:9

Recently I had the idea to canvas some of my non-Catholic Christian friends and ask, "What verses of the New Testament do you think Catholics simply don't get?  You look at it and think, 'Are Catholics unaware of this verse?  What do they do with this?'"

One passage suggested to me was Romans 10:9 – a text which is often used to support a certain version of the doctrine of justification.  So today we're going to examine the passage, apply it to the controversy... and answer the question:

"What the heck does a Catholic do with Romans 10:9?"

What of the Man on the Island?

One of the most controversial topics in the Christian world is regarding the fate of non-Christians.

Is God really going to condemn every single person who did not come to a conscious belief in the Christian faith?  

The question presents a conundrum for Christians who love God and take their faith seriously.   On the one hand you want to affirm the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation.  On the other hand, you want to affirm the unlimited mercy and love of God.  Considering the fate on non-Christians seems to drive a wedge between the two beliefs.

This is especially the case when we’re considering the fates of decent people for whom hearing the Gospel was completely impossible or for whom believing it is an unreasonable expectation.

That is what I wanted to look at today.  What principles can the Bible give us when considering this problem?  And how is this reflected in the teaching of the Catholic Church?

Short Answer: Are our good works really "dirty rags" before God?

Dear Apologist, I was told all of our good works are "dirty rags" before God.  What does that mean?

The Catholic Church and Suicide

Depression and suicide come into the news periodically - particularly when a famous person ends his life.  A recent example was the late Robin Williams. 

These instances point us back to our own lives.  One fact I cannot get accustomed while in high school youth ministry is the staggering number of kids who have battled depression and suicide.  It seems to be everywhere.

I'm no expert on the psychology of suicide or depression, but perhaps there is one thing I can usefully shed some light on.  Today I wanted to examine what the Catholic Church teaches regarding suicide.

The Catholic Church and Justification

Today I can finally post a project I've been working on for a month.  Here is the first part of my detailed explanation of the Catholic Church's teaching on justification and salvation.

The first video of this two-part series will cover Original Sin, Free Will, and Baptism.



Part I

Part II

Short Answer: What Does the Catholic Church Teach Regarding How People are Saved?

Dear Apologist, What is the Catholic perspective on how a person is saved?