- March 26, 2012
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As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us
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From the recording Understanding The Lord’s Prayer by Dr. Scott Hahn. For this recording in its entirety or other great recordings, please visit lighthousecatholicmedia.org
- March 18, 2012
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The Mass In The Book Of Revelation
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From the recording Unlocking The Book Of Revelation by Dr. Michael Barber. For this recording in its entirety or other great recordings, please visit lighthousecatholicmedia.org
Many people associate The Book of Revelation with images such as the apocalypse, the Rapture, or the anti-Christ. But when you read the Book of Revelation as a whole, you will find most of these images to be of minor importance. For example, “666″ and the battle of Armageddon are only mentioned one time. Words like anti-Christ and Rapture are not even found in the Book of Revelation. If you read Revelation as a whole, you will find that there is only one image that appears throughout the entire book, and that is the Liturgy.
Revelation 1:10 says that the things that John saw were on the Lord’s Day (Sunday), just as Catholics celebrate mass on Sunday. Revelation 1:13, 4:4, 6:11, 7:9, 15:6, 19:13-14 show that special vestments are used, just like Catholic priests wear on Earth. Revelation 1:12 and 2:5 talk of lampstands, much like the Catholic mass uses candles. Revelation 2:5, 2:16, 2:21; 3:3; 16:11 show that there is a penitential rite just like in the Catholic mass. Revelation 2:17 says that there is manna in heaven given to the faithful, just as Catholics partake in the Eucharistic manna at every mass. The Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy”) is prayed (Revelation 4:8), as well as the Alleluia (Revelation 19:1-6) and the Gloria (Revelation 15:3-4). There is silent contemplation (Revelation 8:1). The perpetual sacrificial nature of the worship is evident because Jesus, in His risen, glorified body, still looks like a “Lamb that seemed to have been slain” (Revelation 5:6). The “Great Amen” is proclaimed and worshippers kneel (Revelation 5:14, 7:12). An altar is used (Revelation 8:3, 11:1, 14:18). Bowls are used (15:7, 16:1-4, 8, 10, 12, 17, 21:9), much like Catholics uses chalices in the mass. The Communion of Saints is clearly demonstrated in Revelation 5:8, 6:9-10 and 8:3-4, where heaven’s inhabitants offer prayers to God and petition Him to respond to things on Earth. We see that incense is used (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4). Catholic priests make the sign of the cross, very similar to the mark described in Revelation 7:3 and 14:1. The Blessed Virgin Mary is seen assumed into heaven in Revelation 11:19-12:5. Faithful virgins follow Christ wherever He goes and are given special honor (Revelation 14:4), much like Catholic priests today live the celibate life. And finally, heavenly worship is divided into proclamation of Scripture (Revelation 5:1) and a sacred meal (Revelation 19:9), much like the Catholic mass is divided into the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
If you would like to study more on the connections between Revelation and the mass, Scott Hahn has some great material out, such as the audio presentation The End – A Study on the Book of Revelation or his book The Lamb’s Supper.
- March 5, 2012
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Purgatory
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From a talk by John Martignoni. For this entire recording as well as other free downloads, please visit www.biblechristiansociety.com
One of the most shunned Catholic beliefs by fellow Christians is the doctrine of Purgatory. I have heard so many different things from various people attacking Purgatory. They will say things such as “The word Purgatory is nowhere to be found in the Bible” or “Purgatory is just a money making scheme invented by Catholics” or “Purgatory is just an invitation for Catholics to sin all they want and then get a second chance at heaven.” In this article, I would like to dispel many of the false things believed about Purgatory and set the record straight as to what Purgatory actually is.
So, before I begin by telling you what Purgatory is, let me tell you what it is not. Some people believe that Purgatory is this place “in the middle” where you go if you are not quite good enough for heaven but not quite bad enough for hell. But this is not nor has ever been Catholic teaching on Purgatory. Other people believe that Purgatory is some sort of “safety net” for Catholics, in which they can sin all they want in life and be given a second chance at heaven in Purgatory. Again, this is not nor has ever been what Catholics have taught about Purgatory, and any Catholic who believes this will have a big disappointment coming to them when they die.
Now that we have cleared up what Purgatory is not, let us discuss what Purgatory actually is. Catholics agree with non-Catholics that ultimately, there are only two eternal destinations, heaven and hell. When we die, we will be immediately judged and know the eternal destination of our souls (Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:10). If hell is our destination because we die unrepentant in a state of mortal (deadly) sin (1 John 5:16-17), then it is for all eternity and there is no way to ever get out. If we die in a state of grace and friendship with God and heaven is our destination, this also is for all eternity. But before getting into heaven, there may be some type of purification process to be able to enter heaven. Think of it as taking a shower before getting in a public pool. Purgatory is just getting you cleaned up for heaven. It is a temporary state before you receive your eternal reward.
A good question to ask anyone who doubts that purgatory exists is “Are you perfect?” I am sure that most people will say no to that question. Scripture tells us “If we say, ‘We are without sin,’ we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8-9). So nobody should say that they are perfect because everyone sins. Next, ask them if they will be perfect when they are in heaven and come into God’s presence. Most people should say yes to this. Revelation 21:27 tells us that nothing unclean will enter heaven. So it only stands to reason that if a person is not perfect now, but will be perfect when they enter heaven, then there must be some process that cleans them up and gets them ready for heaven. Hebrews 12:22-23, when speaking of heaven, tells us about “The spirits of the just MADE perfect” (emphasis added). You can call this process of being made perfect whatever you would like, but Catholics call it Purgatory. When you think about Purgatory like this, how could anyone NOT believe in it?
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- January 24, 2012
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Call No Man Father
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From the end of the talk called Sola Fide by John Martignoni. He invites a 13 year old girl named Leah on stage to talk on the topic of Catholics calling their priests “father.” For this entire recording as well as other free downloads, please visit www.biblechristiansociety.com
A common practice by Protestants and people against the Catholic Church is something called proof texting. Proof texting is when a single verse is taken from the Bible, usually out of context, to try and prove something. People often do this to “prove” that the Catholic Church teaches or does things that go against scripture. One such example is Matthew 23:9. It reads “Call no man your father; you have but one Father in heaven.” Protestants will claim that this proves that Catholics are wrong in calling our priests father. On the surface, this looks like a convincing argument. A Catholic that is unfamiliar with the Bible or this verse may begin to doubt his or her faith. But by digging a little deeper and reading the Bible as a whole (as opposed to pulling out individual verses like so many people do), you will clearly see that this argument is quite shallow.
It should be obvious from reading this verse in context that Jesus does not literally mean to not call any man father. If that were the case, it would be a sin to call your male parent father. The Bible would also be wrong because it tells us to “Honor your father and your mother.” Some will try to argue that Jesus is saying that we should not call any of our spiritual leaders or pastors by the title of father. But that is not what the text is saying. If you insist on interpreting the Bible literally word for word, then you must admit that the text says “Call no man your father” and not “Call no spiritual leader your father.” If you continue reading, it says “Do not be called master.” The word master is where we get our English word mister. So is it a sin if we call someone mister? Verse 8 also says “Do not be called Rabbi,” which means teacher. So is it a sin to call someone on Earth teacher? The word doctor also comes from the Latin word for teacher. So is it a sin to call someone doctor?
When Matthew 23 is read in context, it should be clear that Jesus is not condemning the use of these particular words, but the attitude behind them. He is rebuking the hypocritical Pharisees who “preach but they do not practice” (verse 3). They love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect and called rabbi (verses 6-7). The Pharisees were trying to usurp the fatherhood of God by pridefully seeking titles and attention. Jesus is simply telling us in these verses to not put any human being on the same level as God. He is saying to not look at any human as a father in the same way that you look to God as a father. All authority comes from God and not from man, and we should never allow someone on Earth to command what God forbids.
By Catholics calling our priests father, we are certainly not trying to say that they are on the same level as God. Notice in the Bible how Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:14) while at the same time asks other humans to shepherd His people (John 21:15-17, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 5:2). Priests are here to help shepherd God’s people on Earth. Just as a biological father provides food for his family, a priest feeds his spiritual children with the word of God and with Jesus’ body and blood in the Holy Eucharist. A biological father must also provide counsel and encouragement to his family as well as live a good Christian life as an example to his family, much like priests are called to do. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you…” The Old Testament shows us that priesthood and fatherhood have always been linked. Judges 17:10 says, “‘Stay with me,’ Micah said to him. ‘Be father and priest to me.’” Judges 18:19 says “Come with us and be our father and priest.”
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- January 12, 2012
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Is There A Hole In Your Life?
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To hear this recording in its entirety as well as other free downloads, please visit www.biblechristiansociety.com
John Martignoni, the president of Bible Christian Society, shares his conversion story. He describes a time in his life when he appeared to have everything (nice car, nice house, lots of money, many dates, etc). Yet with all of this, there was still a hole in his life. No matter how much money he made, how many things he bought, or how many dates he went on, nothing seemed to fill this hole. He still felt empty and alone. He even reached a point in his life where he did not want to live anymore and asked God to just take his life. Little did he know, God would take his life, only not in the way that he had planned.
So let me ask you something. Does this describe you? Do you appear to have it all on the outside, but inside of you there is a hole that nothing seems to fill? Have you tried your whole life to fill that hole with money, sex, drugs, or something else, but nothing seems to fill it? Now let me ask you this. Have you ever considered letting God into your heart and seeing if His love can fill that hole?
Throughout human history, people have scoured every nook and cranny of the globe in search of peace. But every new road eventually leads to the dead end of dissatisfaction. The only true and lasting peace comes from God. We are all made in the image and likeness of God, so to do anything against His will is to go against our very nature. This kind of life will never lead to true joy or happiness (despite what society might tell you). The greatest foolishness of man is the fantasy that we can find a lasting happiness separate from God.
A wise man once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results each time. So many people are unhappy with their lives, yet continually try to do things their own way instead of God’s way. So, if you are continuing to live your life how you want and you are still miserable, why not try giving God a chance. What have you got to lose?
- January 12, 2012
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Was The Good Thief Saved By Faith Alone?
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From the recording The Seven Last Sayings Of Christ By Dr. Scott Hahn. For this recording in its entirety or other great recordings, please visit lighthousecatholicmedia.org
I am sure that everyone knows the story from the Bible about the good thief. Jesus is crucified in the middle of two thieves. One of the thieves is only concerned about himself, saying “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us” (Luke 23:39). But the other thief rebukes him, saying “We have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal” (Luke 23:41). The thief then asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into His kingdom. Jesus replies “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Many people use the story of the good thief to attack various Catholic beliefs. They will say things such as “It is obvious that the good thief was saved by faith alone. He did no good works while on the cross, but because he believed that Christ was Lord, his faith saved him.” They may also say “How can you claim that baptism is necessary for salvation when the good thief obviously was never baptized” or “How can you claim that people need to go to church when the good thief never went to church and was still saved” or “How can you believe in Purgatory when the good thief obviously went straight to heaven because Jesus said ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise’.” Let us investigate these claims a little further.
The first thing that we have to remember with the good thief is that he was nailed to a cross when he accepted Christ, so therefore could not be baptized, go to church, or do good works. But what excuse will you and I have when we face God when we die. When God asks us what we have done while on Earth to be allowed into heaven, what will happen if we do not have a good response? As Jesus tells us in Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” If you have been taught about Jesus from an early age and have accepted Him into your heart at a young age, then much will be demanded of you. The good thief’s situation is an extraordinary circumstance and should not be applied to all humans.
Also, who is to say that the good thief did no works? He defended Christ and rebuked the bad thief. He accepted responsibility for his own sin. This seems like a pretty good work seeing as he had nails driven into his hands and feet and fluid building up in his lungs as he was hanging from a cross. It was difficult for him to breath, much less talk. He had to push himself up on his feet with a nail through them to speak every word. Furthermore, we really do not know what type of works the good thief did before being crucified. It is very possible that the good thief already asked God for forgiveness and did works of penance and charity before he was nailed to a cross.
Another important note is that before Jesus was raised from the dead, He had not established His Church yet, so it would have been impossible for the good thief to be a part of it. The people were still under the Old Covenant. While baptism is necessary under the New Covenant, circumcision is how people entered into God’s Covenant in the Old Covenant. Was Abraham, Moses, or David baptized? They were not because, like the good thief, were under the Old Covenant, yet Abraham, Moses and David were saved.
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