https://wjla.com/news/local/fa...to-pennsylvania-teen

This man never came onto my radar, but he was evidently a pretty big deal. No doubt considered a "man of God" by many people for many years.

I am sure many people put their faith in Christ as a result of his preaching. Praise God.

As with any such instance, it can serve to provoke consideration and conversation.

I was told by someone that knew more about the man, that he had a stroke a couple years ago.

In any case, as long as our sights are set on the Lord, a fallen man ought not cause us much trouble or distraction. There's always something to learn though.

Keep him, his family, his congregation, and anyone in his sphere of influence in your prayers.

If he's saved, he's saved. Being a leader, he has (had) a special responsibility and will be held accountable in a special way at the Judgement Seat.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KSGM,

https://www.ncronline.org/opin...in-tasks-leos-papacy

Third paragraph, first sentence:

"Thanks to various theological developments in recent decades"

That strikes me as a very odd thing to say.

At the request of my mother, I have started reading Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn. It's certainly readable and interesting. I am not very far into it yet. I don't find much of his Protestant experience to be especially relatable, which may hinder its overall impact; we'll see.

It’s probably just me but I didn’t find the book very useful and regret purchasing it. If compelled to read it, I’d try to find it at the library first.

The book is getting spicier.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
and
2 Thessalonians 2:15

I understand and agree that scripture out of context or without context is really no scripture at all. So, is there context that I don't understand that takes the wind out of Scott Hahn's sails, when he takes these bits into account?

It says all scripture; not only.

The mentions of tradition, word of mouth and letters are straightforward.

Obviously, both references serve to challenge the Protestant "sola scriptura" position. The boiled-down challenge presented to Mr. Hahn by a seminary student was something like Where in the Bible do we see reinforcement of the sola scriptura position?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KSGM,

I have taken a hiatus from the Hahn book.

On a related note though...

John 6:60-69 is the weighty Eucharist moment.

Of course the bread and wine as the body and blood at the last Passover is corroborated in all four Gospels.

I suppose it's the Protestant position that the events of John 6 were a challenge of faith (trust), with the last Passover dialogue being the culmination with confirmation of the symbolic nature of the matter?

A believer, during the John 6 discourse, would have been of the following attitude:

"Well, that's a hard teaching, but I trust Christ, and I'm not going to waver. I'll remain steadfast, and see where He takes me."

The same believer, during the last Passover, would have had the attitude:

"Ah, this is what He meant."

Any new thoughts?

I recently joined a men's Bible study group. Loving it.

Men! I am so sorry I haven't been checking this thread. I sometimes get discouraged by a lack of participation, and will cease to check for a while.

Leave it to our resident atheist to return to the thread when I am not! You da man, sigfreund!

I recently shared this in the election thread, and figured I'd paste it here too, for potential follow-up conversation that may be more appropriate in this thread...

Original location...
https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...935/m/7930037225/p/8

The world is in a bad way…

1JAMES 5:19
"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness."

John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11
Satan is repeatedly referred-to as the "prince of this world".

Ephesians 2:1-2
"And you (believers) hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience."

…But...

Romans 13:1-2
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God"

Daniel 2:21 and 4:17
The prophet Daniel reminds us that God "removeth kings, and setteth up kings", and that He "ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will".

John 19:11
Jesus tells Pilate..
"Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above"

...and ultimately...

Galatians 1:4
Jesus Christ "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father".

Romans 12:21
"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Matthew 5:14-16
"Ye (believers) are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."


Sin has a stranglehold on the world. Satan influences us through our sinful nature, in his effort to combat God's plan of salvation for all.

We might be surprised, confused, or discouraged by who's in charge, but we can take comfort in the fact that they're there because God intends them to be, as part of His plan to reach receptive and responsive hearts.

God gave his Son as a perfect sacrifice and His Spirit as a guide for us. So that we can be reconciled unto Him and be cooperative in His plan to draw and save whosever will come to Him in repentance and faith.

If you're a believer, and you're temporarily distraught because of politics, focus instead on obedience and cooperation with the Holy Ghost, so that He may fan His flame inside you, and you may go forth personifying Romans 12:21 and Matthew 5:14-16.

My brother is an atheist democrat. Even with that being the case, he can't deny the good that obedient Christians inject into the world. He has expressed a desire to participate in similar good works. I encouraged him to join a secular effort or, at the least, perform small acts of compassion in his own daily sphere of influence. I periodically inquire as to his progress. The answer is always nothing.

Regardless of how you politically or spiritually affiliate, be the change you want to see. Even if it's in just a small way. Be sympathetic and empathetic, and then inject action to create a compassionate response.

Even in matters outside a humanitarian compassion sector, take a degree of personal responsibility for the way you feel about the world, and take an action (besides clicking a box next to a name of someone who says they're gonna do it for you) to effect the change you want to see. Even if it seems so small as to be insignificant.

quote:

Originally posted by KSGM:
You da man, sigfreund!

I continue to remain interested.

A friend recently gave me an inscribed copy of Cold Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels by J. Warner Wallace. I read parts at times and although nothing has changed my beliefs, I consider it worth the time.

One of the strongest comments in our me s fellowship was “Follow the Cross, not the Flag.”

The Republic fell a long time ago.

We need a better term between the “Protestants” which consider themselves links to the early church - Lutherans, maybe some others - which hold to some form of Body and Blood and still do place value on church traditions- and say Methodists/Baptists which have a definite and intentional break with the traditional churches.

LCMS position on “sola scriptura.”


https://resources.lcms.org/rea...hority-of-scripture/