5 Reasons to seriously doubt the Papacy

http://bnonn.com/5-reasons-to-seriously-doubt-the-papacy/

And more:

http://michaeljkruger.com/were-early-churches-ruled-by-elders-or-a-single-bishop/

Discussion about Sola Fide at Called to Communion

Discussion with Bryan Cross and another Roman Catholic about Sola Fide at Called to Communion:
Comments # 353 to 362
http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2009/09/does-the-bible-teach-sola-fide/#comment-180690

Addendum:  there is more after # 362 and more after this one below.

As I wrote before at Beggar’s All, and quoted Anthony Lane, the problem with infant baptism that is ex opere operato in Roman Catholicism: “the teaching on grace is pushed back to a forgotten infancy” Anthony Lane, see below. Psychologically, infant baptism, especially the ex opere operato type of Roman Catholicism, tends to lead to a kind of semi-pelagianism in history from the council of Orange in 529 AD to the time of Luther and then dogmatized in the Council of Trent. Wycliffe, Hus, Luther, Calvin, etc. were recognizing the eclipsing of the doctrine of justification by faith alone in accordance with grace alone. In RC circles, if a baby was already baptized, then their whole life teaching that they are getting is assuming they are already in a state of grace (because they were baptized and it regenerated them), and that tends to short-circuit the need for teaching on the essense of the gospel in evangelism. (that they are sinners, condemned to hell, and need to repent and trust Christ, and that justification is by faith alone in Christ alone – not prayers to Mary or good deeds, etc.)

“Another problem with the Council of Orange was that it said that grace comes to the soul in water baptism and begins regeneration and heals the will so that one can choose. (ex opere operato) And most everyone by that time in the western culture was baptized as a baby, so, the need to understand sin, repentance and faith for the first time in one’s life was hidden and non-discernable; and people began to trust in their water baptism as a baby – that it saved them. Sad. 

As Tony Lane wrote in his analysis of Orange in the section on the Council of Orange of 529 AD:

“The canons affirm our need for grace, but this grace is tied to the sacraments. Free-will is healed by the grace of baptism. With the grace of baptism and the aid and co-operation of Jesus Christ, we have the power to do all that is necessary for salvation, if we so desire. By this time infant baptism was universal, so the teaching on grace is pushed back to a forgotten infancy.” (Exploring Christian Thought, page 81)”

Earlier comment on Semi-Pelagianism and the quote from Anthony Lane.

Papal Infallibility: White vs. Staples

Here's an interesting one that's on Sermonaudio.com: Papal Infallibility (James White vs Tim Staples). A video of this would have been fascinating to see, but it's audio only. This link has some interesting comments in regard to the debate.

A way to celebrate July 4 with righteous anger

These three videos are just ways to express my frustration with the evil things that are going on today in our world.

I was born in 1961, and growing up in the 60s and 70s; I fully realize I am a baby-boomer and I have an internal skepticism of authority, especially our government, and most especially, our current government.  The stuff Nixon did at the time seemed really bad, but the stuff that goes on now, with the liberal media protecting the liberal politicians, is much, much worse.  Government take over of health care - ObamaCare, Benghazi- Gate, IRS scandals, Hillary lying Clinton, the Supreme Court's recent decision on so called "same sex marriage"; abortion that has been going on with government sanction since 1973, President Obama refusing to call Islamic governments, ISIS/ISIL/IS as "Islamic" and terrorists and other Jihadists - "Islamic".  For our current government to label what Nidal Hassan did at Fort Hood as "work-place violence" is one of the most disgusting things ever done by our liberal governement idiots.    Judges making laws, judges fining the bakers, photographers, florists - massive injustice!  Of course I also am angry at the evil racist white guy who killed those Black church folks in Charleston too!  (If I don't mention that, the leftist people will ask, "why don't you get upset with that also?"  Well, it is evil and wrong, and sad; but it was not caused by government force or institutionalized racism or "white supremacy" or a flag that just symbolizes history for most people.)



I realize that Randy Stonehill has been divorced, and that he had problems in his life also; but some of his songs, like this one, are just great.

"Be angry, and yet, do not sin"  - Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26

I like this song, for it communicates there is a time for righteous anger at sin and injustice and corruption.

I think we can say legitimately that, "There is a time for righteous anger" - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  (a time to kill and a time to hate = killing murderers and wars against evil regimes and hating sin and evil are good things)

"You who love the Lord, hate evil"  - Psalm 97:10


Angry Young Men
by Randy Stonehill

He wants some angry young men
Ones who can't be bought
Ones who will not run from a fight
Ones who speak the truth whether it's popular or not
Ones who'd give up anything to walk in His light

Chorus

Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll be looking for some angry young men

He wants some angry young men
With fire in their eyes
Ones who understand what Jesus gave
Ones who have grown weary
of the world and all its lies
Ones who won't forget they've been
delivered from the grave

(Repeat Chorus)

They say if you don't laugh you cry
I say if you don't live you die
Well, well, the road to hell is paved with
some impressive alibis
But unless you thirst for Jesus first
Man, heaven will pass you by
Heaven will pass you by

You'll be tempted, tried and tested
There'll be wars the devil wins
But God's love is not a license to lie 
there in your sins
He understands the human heart
His mercy is complete
But His grace was not intended
As a place to wipe your feet

(Repeat Chorus)

He wants some angry young men
Who love the Lord they serve
Ones who'll do much more than make a speech
Ones who'll act their faith out with a passion it deserves
'Cause if we cannot live it
Tell me, who are we to preach?

(Repeat Chorus)  

Just Gimme Some Truth!!  

Here is another song - John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth" (from 1971).
I realise that Lennon was talking against Nixon ("Tricky Dicky"), the Vietnam War, hypocrites in government, and that he is seen as an icon of the left.  I also realise that if Lennon was alive today, he would more than likely approve of, at least, the freedom for homosexuals to have "same sex marriage".  Though he was the most radical of the Beatles, and sometimes a real jerk to people, full of anger, sometimes he was refreshingly honest.  The most famous of Lennon's songs, "Imagine", is the leftist anthem of all that modern liberals want and desire and love.  Many people think "Imagine" was Lennon's best song, rivaling McCartney's "Yesterday".  Bolderdash!  Lennon's, "In My Life", "Nowhere Man", "Strawberry Fields", "I am the Walrus", and "Beautiful Boy" were much better than "Imagine".  "Imagine" is a terrible song, because of the words and the philosophy it espouses.  Good music, terrible words.  Leftist utopian dreams, a unity without truth.  Lennon and Harrison were hypocrites also, committing adultery many times and being very rich, but criticizing others who had wealth.  But I do like a lot of their music; I just wish they had come to know Christ before they died.  

But since the left interprets the Constitution in opposition to its original intent, then I am going to interpret Lennon here against his original intent, and say to President Obama, the liberal Supreme Court Justices, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, Jonathan Gruber, nbc, cbs, cnn, abc, etc. - "I am tired of your hypocrisy and lies - gimme some truth; just gimme some truth".  



Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

A scene from the movie, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", starring Jimmy Stewart.  He was a "boy ranger" (like a boy scout of the old days) who went on to be a senator and fought the evil graft and greed and control of politicians by corrupt businessmen and newspapers.

I interpret Mr. Smith as speaking truth to the power against all the lies of Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, and the other leftist liberals and democrats who don't seem to understand that we cannot have a good government when we don't believe in good vs. evil anymore and are throwing out the moral foundation for our society.  Mr. Smith is like a mouse with truth, standing against the large elephants of the government and media, and corrupt business men and women - we take him for our cause and say to all who have shoved so called "same sex marriage" down our throats, - repent of your evil and go back and read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.  "the laws of nature and nature's God", "endowed by their Creator", etc.

Celebrate the 4th of July by watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, focusing your anger against sin and lies, scream "Gimme some truth", and praying for our leaders.  (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

I realize I wrote about "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" before on July 4.    And yeah, I know Frank Capra was Roman Catholic, etc.  Read the comments there, if you want to bring that up again.  I appreciate the Supreme Court Judges who are Roman Catholic - Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and sometimes Roberts.  I like the media cultural commentators also who are Roman Catholic and those that are conservative Jews, like Dennis Prager and Michael Medved.  We can agree with each other on those things - moral values and small government, etc.  It is great to have that political freedom, without persecuting or killing one another, as in the theocracy days of Roman Catholicism, and, to a lesser extent, Calvin's Geneva.