The Bible Says Christians Can Drink
Conversations that Christians have about drinking alcoholic beverages usually revolve around Bible passages that never condemn drinking wine, but warn against abusing it. Examples include Isaiah 5:11, Amos 6:6, and Proverbs 20:1—just to name a few. And apologists have...
When NOT to Pray?
A common charge against the rosary is that it violates Jesus’ prohibition of “vain repetition” (Matt. 6:7, KJV). Catholics often answer this charge by pointing to the fact that Jesus isn’t condemning repetitious prayer as such, but mindless prayer—prayer that involves...
Catholics and Protestants Agree! Kind of . . .
Both Catholics and Protestants of the Reformed tradition actually agree on something pretty important: when we’re initially justified, we become a “new creation.” To back this up, both sides regularly point to two passages from St. Paul: 2 Corinthians 5:17—“Whoever is...
Did Martin Luther King Jr. Get it Right?
Martin Luther King Jr. is best known as a man of action. He didn’t merely write about injustice—he took to the streets, protesting racial “laws” that undermined the dignity of African-Americans. But unlike many current cultural protests we see today, King’s activism...
You’re Not Ungodly Anymore
he Catholic Church teaches that the grounds for our justification—a theological term that generally refers to a Christian being in a right relationship with God—is our interior state of holiness, which God brings about within us when we are initially saved. As the...
Firstborn Jesus’ Brothers and Sisters?
There’s no shortage of biblical objections when it comes to Mary’s perpetual virginity. A common one comes from Luke 2:7, where Luke writes, “And she gave birth to her first-born son [Gk. prōtotokos] and wrapped him in swaddling cloths.” Some Christians argue that the...
Yes, It’s Okay to Venerate the Saints
The Catholic Church has defined the essential difference between the honor we give to God through prayer and the honor we give to the saints. The Second Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (787) defined the “adoration” we give to God alone as latreia (Greek) or latria...
Mission Impossible: Baptism
The Church teaches that anyone can baptize in extraordinary circumstances (CCC 1256). Thus, grandparents often find themselves wondering if they are permitted to baptize their grandchild when his parent doesn’t want him baptized. And not just grandparents, but also...
Jesus Heals the Deaf Mute
For many, the Gospel portrait of Jesus as a miracle worker smacks of legend. Raising the dead, healing the blind, making the deaf hear—these don’t seem like the stuff of history. But the Gospel narratives themselves include clues that point in a different direction....
‘You’re Not Perfected by That’
Hebrews 10:14 says Christ’s sacrifice has “perfected” for all time those who are being sanctified. Yet when Catholics leave Mass, which they believe is the single sacrifice of Christ re-represented (CCC 1364), they aren’t completely perfect. Protestant apologist James...