A Canadian friend asked me how Matthew 24:4 applies in our day. "For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and they shall give great signs and miracles, and in this manner to deceive if it was possible even the elect."Jesus Christ: Matthew 24:4 This is the essence of my reply to him today. …
Category: Roman Catholicism
Infallibility back on the agenda
Three mistakes within five minutes on the BBC lunchtime news today. An EU spokesman excused the EU Commission's mistake in triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol last Friday by saying that "only the pope is infallible". This is the first mistake. He is not infallible. The BBC newsreader carried on the theme and …
Biblical repentance
Roman Catholic doctrine continues to be seen in the presbyterian practice of repentance. Whereas presbyterians may preach biblical repentance, some presbyterian procedures involve Roman Catholic penance in practice. Whereas preaching may not be legalistic, practice can be. It reminds us of the Saviour's warning to do as officialdom says, but not to do as they …
Compounding one error with another
As if it was not bad enough to discover child abuse scandals in the Church of England, but its General Synod meeting in York has voted to formally recognise monks and nuns for the first time since the 16th-century European Reformation. These two errors are compounded by trying to justify one for the sake of …
Misreading public confession
The predictable media storm has erupted around the notable example of public confession by Liam Neeson that he once felt that he wanted to kill a black man and that he harboured the intent for about a week almost 40 years ago. The reaction on social and main stream media is predictable. The public opening …
How far does shame go?
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, said that he has "learned to be ashamed again of the Church (of England)" after three weeks of studying the accounts of sexual abuse by Church of England clerics. How does this compare with Roman Catholic cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who regularly studied the accounts of abuse by Roman Catholic priests …
The Protestant reversal
The Protestant Reformation was a revival of biblical scholarship which led to the recovery of the Gospel. Nowadays things are not so clear. There are many documented examples of Roman Catholic clerics being ignorant of the Bible at the time of the 16th-century European Reformation, and in such an environment it was relatively easy for …
What is Islamic Reformation?
Tonight, 14 Feb 2017, BBC Newsnight's Viewsnight carried an opinion that Islamic State is a Reformation in islam. Canadian author Graeme Wood compared the similarities of the rise of Islamic State (ISIS) with the Protestant Reformation under Martin Luther, pointing to 1. the call to return to the original sources (the Bible and Quran) to …
Patrick’s Places – the difference between Law and Gospel
Patrick’s Places – the difference between Law and Gospelby Patrick Hamilton, 1527. We are not saved by keeping rules but Jesus Christ shows us that the way to heaven is by following Him. Patrick Hamilton laid out this contrast in two lists given below in the language of his times. Patrick Hamilton was Scotland’s first …
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Pope Francis’ defective theology
In his inaugural address on 19 Mar 2013, Francis the new Roman Catholic pope in Rome finished by praying to the dead. He said: "I implore the intercession of the virgin Mary, saint Joseph, saints Peter and Paul, and saint Francis that the Holy Spirit may accompany my ministry..." So he thinks that the Holy …
Donald's Thoughts 