Category: Reformed

  • Russia to become majority Catholic?

    Today, March 25th, at approximately 1:30pm EST, Pope Francis will say a special prayer consecrating the whole world, but particularly and explicitly Ukraine and Russia to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. The official title of the prayer is The Solemnity of the Annunciation, for the Celebration of Penance and the Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the…

  • Problems in Roman Catholic Theology

    As a Reformed Protestant, it should be no surprise that I have numerous problems with Roman Catholic theology. We actually agree on some things, such as the Real Presence of Christ in communion. Roman Catholics describe this process as transubstantiation whereas I prefer to keep it a mystery and eschew the outdated Aristotelian categories of…

  • Justification: by works or by faith?

    Justification by faith alone (Sola Fide) is the sine qua non (the essential thing without which it cannot be) of the Protestant Reformation. It is this doctrine upon which the Reformation stands or falls. However, there is sharp disagreement with the Roman Catholic church on this topic. What does the Bible say? Who is more…

  • Bach and Theology: Was Bach and his music anti-Semitic or anti-Judaic?

    Baroque composer primus inter pares J.S. Bach was a man of the deep and profound Christian faith. He believed the chief aim of music is to glorify God. Bach would write on his musical manuscripts: SDG, Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone the Glory, and JJ, Jesu Juva – Jesus Help. The topic of…

  • Justification and the Gospel – A Response to N.T. Wright

    Is justification part of the gospel? Or is it a separate transaction? Is (final) justification delayed until the future when we face God’s judgment? What did the apostle Paul mean when he wrote about justification? Do we receive Christ’s imputed righteousness? N. T. Wright, a world-renowned (yes he’s very popular, but Arius was even more…

  • Teaching Authority

    We do not have an infallible authority for science or mathematics, yet we are able to discover truth through our God-given faculties! It is a very false Catholic assertion that we cannot know any Biblical truth without an “infallible Magisterium” (a teaching authority). See Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 2035. They just choose to…

  • Sanctification Considered

    Sanctification is the spiritual process of us sinners becoming holy by the work of God as we are in union with Christ. When we are first regenerated and born again (second birth) we receive justification and initial definite sanctification. But as we live our Christian lives, we engage in progressive sanctification whereby we are made…