Internet Monk Radio Podcast #123

podcast_logo.gifNon-Catholic experts on Catholicism. Sacred Space.

NOTE: Yes, I kept saying it was episode 124. It’s 123

Our sponsors are: Rhodes: The band with our great intro music.

New Reformation Press. Order your copy of the Treasury of Daily Prayer from NRP. And do it soon.

Zaccheus Press– Fine Catholic Books, including Priestblock 25487.

The Theology Program: Get into classes by Tuesday of next week!

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Damning With Faint Protestant Praise and a Question for My Catholic Friends

Hello Catholic friends. I’ve got a good one for you.

The passing of Fr. Richard John Neuhaus has been noted on many Protestant blogs, and, unfortunately, some of the commentary has been a far cry from the classy tribute of Paul McCain.

More typical is this post by Greg Gilbert, who can’t quite see how Fr. Neuhaus could become or remain a Catholic. But with the quoted material from 2001’s Death on A Friday Afternoon in mind, there’s “some hope” that Neuhaus was saved by believing the Protestant Gospel.

When I come before the judgment throne, I will plead the promise of God in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I will not plead any work that I have done, although I will thank God that he has enabled me to do some good. I will plead no merits other than the merits of Christ, knowing that the merits of Mary and the saints are all from him; and for their company, their example, and their prayers throughout my earthly life I will give everlasting thanks. I will not plead that I had faith, for sometimes I was unsure of my faith, and in any event that would be to turn faith into a meritorious work of my own. I will not plead that I held the correct understanding of “justification by faith alone,” although I will thank God that he led me to know ever more fully the great truth that much misunderstood formulation was intended to protect. Whatever little growth in holiness I have experienced, whatever strength I have received from the company of the saints, whatever understanding I have attained of God and his ways—these and all other gifts I have received I will bring gratefully to the throne. But in seeking entry to that heavenly kingdom, I will, with Dysmas, look to Christ and Christ alone.

Then I hope to hear him say, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” as I hope with all my being—because, although looking to him alone, I am not alone—he will say to all.

Gilbert’s comments are also typical of the mindset of many young, restless and reformed, who believe the RCC is absent the Biblical Gospel.

So my Catholic readers, here’s your chance to speak directly to many young Protestants: Is the Neuhaus quote true to Roman Catholicism and what the church teaches, or is it an example of bringing the Protestant Gospel into one Catholic’s experience, but real Catholics know it’s not what the church teaches?

Three Obstacles to Good Preaching

loudBefore I talk about preaching, a bit of context for new readers.

1) In the course of my job, I hear, at minimum, 6 sermons a week. (Monday – Thursday, then two on Sunday.)
2) At least two of them, sometimes 3, are preached by me.
3) These sermons are preached to an audience of approximately 350, mostly students, fairly evenly divided between unbelievers and marginally professing Christians on the one hand, and fairly serious, committed believers on the other.
4) These sermons come from a Southern Baptist context and culture in regard to preaching.
5) The intended topics of these sermons vary widely, from textual exposition to moral exhortation to evangelism and apologetics to contributions to the culture war.
6) Before long, I will have preached my 3,000th sermon, so this is something I actually care about.
7) At this point in my life, mentoring preachers is important work for me.

It seems to me that most of the preachers I hear face three major obstacles regarding preaching itself.Continue reading “Three Obstacles to Good Preaching”

The Theology Program: New Classes Start Tuesday

Regular IM readers know that I’ve promoted Michael Patton’s ministry at The Theology Program. It’s the finest seminary level educational opportunity I know of and easily accessible in several differing formats.

Online classes are the best way to experience The Theology Program, and four online classes are set to begin this Tuesday. You still have time to register and you will be glad you did.

In these economic times, everyone is looking for a bargain. The Theology Program is an INCREDIBLE value compared to any class, seminar or conference.

Some Mistakes to Avoid With Young Adult Children

1. Assuming they don’t want to hear that they are loved. (Dads….are you listening?) No one is as mature and “beyond” the need for affection as they appear to be. There are some hard cases, but most of us are never too old to treasure those people who tell us they love us.

2. Assuming they no longer appreciate a hug. Ditto from above. It’s a small thing, but there’s something primal about it. I sure didn’t ask for enough of these from my mom and dad. My loss.

3. Assuming all they want is money and material possessions. Such an easy mistake for us to make because that it is such an obvious and frequent place to hear the words “I need…,” and so much conspired to tell us this is what “love” means in our culture. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.Continue reading “Some Mistakes to Avoid With Young Adult Children”

Refelctions on Being the Parent of Adult Children

When you are a 52 year old dad, and you have a 20 year old, college student son, it’s not all that unusual if you don’t have many one-on-one, personal conversations. But my son and I had a good one today, and it left me with an abundance of things to reflect on.

1. I’m incredibly grateful for my children. I love them both. Without a moment’s hesitation, I’m more proud of being their dad than of any other calling in my life.

2. When you have small children, you can simply never realize what it is going to be like to one day face them, as adults, with the realization that YOU have shaped them into the persons they will be for all of their lives. If we realized what it really means to create, nurture and shape another person in the deepest of human ways, we’d be frozen with fear. So much of what they are comes from us in ways that were unintended, or unknown or unplanned. Your children are truly a legacy of the kind of person you really are, and of how you’ve lived, how you’ve loved and what you’ve considered most important.Continue reading “Refelctions on Being the Parent of Adult Children”

The Question is God; the Answer is Jesus

Anything that one imagines of God apart from Christ is only useless thinking and vain idolatry. 

– Martin Luther

* * *

It’s been a very interesting day. I can’t tell you much about it, but I can tell you something.

When a discussion starts about God, the Christian is not faced with the same choices as other people.

Most people can go wherever they want in the discussion. They can talk about “God as I understand him” or “my higher power” or “my church says that God….” and so on. Really, the choices are practically infinite.Continue reading “The Question is God; the Answer is Jesus”

Open Mic At The iMonk Cafe: A Question About Apologists

Tonight’s “Open Mic” question is a simple one. If you don’t get it, I’m not going to help you.

Catholics, I thought about this just being about your team, but that wouldn’t be fair.

OK. Here it is. Tonight’s iMonk Cafe Open Mic Question:

“Why are apologists….you know…..why are they the way they are?”

Some help is available here.

“It Was There, So I Ate It”

Philippians 3:17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite (belly), they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Let me describe the essence of Christmas holidays in our house:

“It was there, so I ate it.” (Or in the case of egg nog, “It was there, so I drank it….and bought more….and drank it.”)Continue reading ““It Was There, So I Ate It””

Salvation: Is It So What? or Whatever?

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Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

I’ve taught an adult Bible study here on our campus for the last 15 years. Right now we’re in the middle of Galatians, chapter 3.

I can’t read this paragraph without thinking about the “seeker sensitive” decision to attempt to create interest in Jesus through various kinds of felt needs.Continue reading “Salvation: Is It So What? or Whatever?”