IT IS A GREAT THING to begin the Christian life by believing good solid doctrine. Some people have received twenty different "gospels" in as many years; how many more they will accept before they get to their journey's end, it would be difficult to predict. I thank God that He early taught me the gospel, and I have been so perfectly satisfied with it, that I do not want to know any other. Constant change of creed is sure loss. If a tree has to be taken up two or three times a year, you will not need to build a very large loft in which to store the apples. When people are always shifting their doctrinal principles, they are not likely to bring forth much fruit to the glory of God. It is good for young believers to begin with a firm hold upon those great fundamental doctrines which the Lord has taught in His Word. Why, if I believed what some preach about the temporary, trumpery salvation which only lasts for a time, I would scarcely be at all grateful for it; but when I know that those whom God saves He saves with an everlasting salvation, when I know that He gives to them an everlasting righteousness, when I know that He settles them on an everlasting foundation of everlasting love, and that He will bring them to His everlasting kingdom, oh, then I do wonder, and I am astonished that such a blessing as this should ever have been given to me!

"Pause, my soul! adore, and wonder!
Ask, 'Oh, why such love to me?'
Grace hath put me in the number
Of the Saviour's family:
Hallelujah!
Thanks, eternal thanks, to Thee!"

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

01:00:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Mother's Day is Coming

04/29/2005 - James White

   I confess, I had to look it up just to make sure I wasn't going to blow it this coming weekend. Don't panic completely, it's the 8th. So, going to send flowers again? My friends over at Solid Ground sent out a really counter-cultural idea. Hey, Mom can read! Yes indeedy, and if you are blessed, like I, with a mother who likewise is a Christian, how about a classic work for her? OK, I admit "Jabez Burns" is a name that is a bit tough in light of recent misuses of the name "Jabez," but don't let that stop you. Worried about post-modern fluffy stuff? Nope, not here. Four classic works...that last a lot longer than flowers!

23:26:49 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

The Mormon Issue

04/29/2005 - James White

   Mormonism is not Christianity. It is fundamentally different. While it differs in hundreds of minor details, what is most important to us is that it differs in the most definitional and fundamentalaspects from the Christian faith. Christianity worships one God. Christianity knows that there is one God who has eternally been God and is the Creator of all things exhaustively. Everything else in the Christian faith, from the Trinity to the atonement to the gospel to the resurrection, flows from and is defined by, this fundamental truth. And it is just here that we cannot help but hear the words of Joseph Smith when, addressing the idea that God has been God from all eternity, he said, "I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see." Smith cannot refute God's truth, and of course, he failed to do so. But the result is beyond question: Mormonism, the system he founded, is not Christianity. It is a false religion with a false god. And if Mormonism is a false religion, then the believing Mormon is deceived and lost. There can be no other honest answer.
   And if we are truly concerned with pleasing God and rightly handling His truth, we will have to go one step further. As we saw in Isaiah 41:24, choosing to worship a false god is a fearful choice. The true God takes His sole rights to worship very seriously. When speaking to the idols, God says, He who chooses you is an abomination (to-evah). The teaching that God was once a man, and that men can become gods, involves simple idolatry, for it makes of God something that He is not, and lowers Him to the level of His creation. There is no salvation in such a god, and those worshipping this god are under the wrath of the true and living god.
---Is the Mormon My Brother? pp. 169-170.

02:00:00 - Category: Mormonism - Link to this article -

Today on the DL

04/28/2005 - James White

   Was going to spend the whole time going through quotes from A Different Jesus? but forgot to sorta announce that we wouldn't take calls, so, we took calls anyway. Made for a little bit of a roller-coaster, topic wise, but hey, you'll survive. Good calls and my meanderings about Mormonism and the like, found here.

17:09:42 - Category: The Dividing Line - Link to this article -

NO COMPROMISE Bands Are In

04/28/2005 - James White

   With thanks to those of you who pre-ordered, we are thankful to announce that the NO COMPROMISE wrist bands arrived five days early. If you had been waiting to order yours until you knew they were actually sitting in the back room---well, they are sitting in the back room. And because a few of you noted that we were using the manufacturer's picture (what else could we use?), I snapped a shot of the real thing so you can see it.
   If you missed the announcement of these bands last week, I came up with the idea after watching so many in our post-evangelical age demonstrate that many no longer believe in Paul's own words, "For the gospel is the power of God unto salvation." Not "just any old gospel" but THE gospel. To compromise God's message of grace in Christ Jesus is to show tremendous disrespect to His Triune majesty and to a world in desperate need to hear the truth without diminishment. When you wear this band you are reminding yourself that the world will do everything in its power each and every day to silence you: to get you to compromise, not just on the essentials of the gospel, but in how you live in light of them--how you live consistently as one justified by grace through faith alone. And, of course, you are helping to support A&O.
   Quick note: some folks want to "personalize" their bands. Sorry, folks, that doesn't work. It's like asking to "personalize" a book by adding or subtracting chapters. These are manufactured elsewhere, so you really can't "change" things. Might we do something like a "Stand Firm | Hold Fast" type band in a different color? Sure, if Rich and I aren't left using these as super-duper rubber bands for our annual in-office rubber-band fight, yeah (he's got a wicked shot). I'd love to. Bright green or orange or something---but that all depends on this first run. I've got mine! Do you have yours?

13:04:36 - Category: Mormonism - Link to this article -

A Different Jesus? Eerdmans Publishes LDS Apologetics Work

04/28/2005 - James White

   As I look around my office I see literally hundreds of volumes produced by the venerable old Christian publishing house, Eerdmans. Many of my best resources bear that name on the spine. And I truly wonder what the founders of that company would think about its newest book.
   Robert Millet is the Richard L. Evans Professor of Religious Understanding and professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. A believing Mormon, he has been key in the dialogues taking place between certain non-LDS scholars and pastors and LDS scholars from BYU. His book, Another Jesus?, though advertised by Eerdmans as a work "intended to inform rather than to convince or persuade," is pure apologetic from start to finish. You could find this kind of work at your local LDS bookstore, but thanks to Richard Mouw of Fuller Seminary, now you will be able to find it in your Christian bookstore, too! Yes, friends and neighbors, not only has Richard Mouw apologized for all of us mean-spirited folks who have labored to witness the true God and the true Christ and the true Gospel to Mormons for decades, but now he has made sure to provide a "Trojan Horse Apologetic," a work that attacks the Trinity, deity of Christ, sola scriptura, justification by grace through faith alone, the sovereignty of God in salvation, the finished work of Christ on the cross---OK, like I said, it is an LDS work of apologetics, so it is pretty well opposed to sound theology at just about every point---and he has made sure that book will be right there in your local Christian bookstore (how many bookstore owners will recognize it for what it is? Then again, what section will they put it in anyway?). Cards, roses, and copies of the Book of Mormon can be sent to Fuller Seminary in thanks. ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

01:00:00 - Category: Mormonism - Link to this article -

Ol' Bob Ross Keeps On...Doing His Thing

04/27/2005 - James White

   For those of you who get Bob Ross' e-mail updates, yes, I know he's still on the warpath. I feel for him, but decided last year that he is beyond correction, and in light of his encouragement of Wilkin's efforts, and his manifest ignorance of Wilkin's views, and his continued comments about a debate he did not see or hear (there's a lesson in there somewhere), he's only proven my point. I shall let him continue on his rant undisturbed...he will move on to some other target eventually. Lord bless him.

10:54:14 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

A Quiz : Updated with Answer

04/27/2005 - James White

   Who wrote the following?

"...unconditional election of individuals to eternal life was not taught by the Apostles. God did elect or predestinate, that all those who would be saved, should be saved in Christ Jesus, and through obedience to the Gospel...."

Was it:
   1) Dave Hunt
   2) Adrian Rogers
   3) Benedict XVI
   4) Joseph Smith, Jr.
   5) Billy Graham
   You know what is sad? Any one of those listed could have said it. Obviously, Dave Hunt has said that, but just not in that exact form. The answer is 4, Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of Mormonism. I just finished reading Another Jesus?, the new Eerdmans publication by BYU professor Robert Millet. Yes, you read that correctly. It is a full-blown, no-holds-barred apologetic for Mormonism, very much like what you would pick up at your local LDS bookstore, except now you don't have to go there. You can get it from Eerdmans at your local "Christian" bookstore. The citation above is included by Millet (he is open in saying Mormons are much more favorable to Arminianism than Calvinism--which really goes without saying). More on this soon. Yes, the world has gone nuts.

01:00:00 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

Woops, Forgot Again

04/26/2005 - James White

   Man, too many things going on. Forgot again. Sorry. Here's today's DL...quick review of...stuff I'm doing, upcoming Long Island Debate, good calls on the Wilkin debate, Billy Graham crusades, and some Open Theism stuff. Wow, a true potpourri. Here it is.

17:49:17 - Category: The Dividing Line - Link to this article -

I've Been Animed!

04/26/2005 - James White

   We'll call him Machaira, since that is his IRC nick. Bright...no, brilliant young man from the Philippines. I didn't have any idea that he was an anime artist, and in fact, that he does this on his computer. I can't draw a decent stick figure on a piece of paper, let alone on a computer. This is simply amazing. Well, we've been talking about my Scottish heritage, and about my hoping to get a replica of the William Wallace sword someday, and visiting Stirling Bridge, Braveheart, the fact that I'm related to Rob Roy MacGregor, etc., and so...well, just remember, it's anime!

Oh, and no, I am not in the cast of "The Kingdom of God" and no, I haven't a clue how an ape got in there. Watching this come together, though, from rough sketch to final product, was fun (then again, I like watching the Bob Ross painting shows, so...).

11:35:19 - Category: Personal - Link to this article -

Bob Wilkin in Debate and in Exegesis (Part II)

04/26/2005 - James White

   First, we note the phrase "no one is able." The verb "to come" (evlqei/n) is filling out the verb dunatai, which is what you always expect: even in English when we say "able" we follow it with an infinitival phrase, "to do something." In this case, it is a negation, "no one is able to come to Me." Is there a context to "coming" to Christ in the preceding verses? Most assuredly. The present participle of this verb appears in John 6:35 in the phrase "the one coming to Me will not hunger." The present participle emphasizes on-going action. In the same way, the present participle is again found in John 6:37 in the phrase "the one coming to Me I will certainly not cast out." This appears right after a closely related term is used in the phrase "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me." It is important to note the contextual flow here, for this provides the context of the use of "coming" in 6:44. In 6:35 Jesus speaks of the one who comes to Him finding in Him true spiritual food; but in 6:36 He says these men are not so coming to Him, but are, instead, unbelievers. John 6:37ff must be read in light of the fact that Jesus has just identified these men who have listened to Him preach all the preceding day, and had wanted to make Him King, and who then followed Him across the lake, as unbelievers. They will, He knew, walk away at the end of the day. He contrasts their unbelief with those who are coming to Him, believing in Him, gazing upon Him (all present tense, on-going verbal actions in the text). So then, we must see 6:44 continuing the thought of 6:37-40, with 41-42 providing a descriptive interlude of the grumbling of the Jews over the claims of Christ, leading to further explanation of why it is that these unbelievers are not believing in/coming to Christ. ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

02:00:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Dancing in Mid Air

04/25/2005 - James White

   I was just writing a note to my friend Steve Camp when I saw an article pop up on Dave Armstrong's blog. He was talking about Dobson appearing on Hannity & Colmes and being asked about Al Mohler's 2000 statement about Rome being a false church (amen!) with a false gospel (amen again). (Just in case you haven't noticed, that conclusion is no longer allowable in public discourse, though, of course, it was widely represented amongst the Founding Fathers of this nation.) Dobson's response illustrates once again what happens once you abandon the gospel as the sole means of changing the heart (and hence society):

DOBSON: Well, first of all, he [Mohler] did not make a vehement anti-Catholic statement. He's a Southern Baptist, for Pete's sake. You expect a Southern Baptist to say that he does not honor the pope in the same way the Catholics do. It's a different theology. Is that not right? That's not an attack on the Catholic Church.

   Excuse me? How can any rational person switch "false church/false gospel" into "You expect a Southern Baptist to say that he does not honor the pope in the same way the Catholics do"? Those are not even slightly equivalent statements. Honor the pope the same way Catholics do? No kidding! Can you imagine if someone dared to read the language of the WCF/LBCF regarding the Pope as the man of sin? Goodness, you'd probably be arrested.
   Let's be real clear here. Al Mohler was right in 2000. Rome is a false church. Why? Because Christ's Church is subject to Christ's Word, and Rome is not. Because Christ's Church presents Christ's gospel, and Rome does not. And Rome's gospel cannot save because it tears the very heart out of the gospel and replaces it with a semi-Pelagian treadmill of sacramental forgiveness---or, in lots of places in the world today, has dumped that for an inclusivistic/universalistic mishmash of New Age philosophy and post-modernism that would make Pope Pius IX spit nails. In any case, the gospel of grace has been anathematized by Rome---and thrown under the bus by pseudo-evangelicals, but it remains the only power of God unto salvation.

21:36:50 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Bob Wilkin in Debate and in Exegesis (Part I)

04/25/2005 - James White

This picture sort of sums up the end of the debate: I'm listening to the moderator who is trying to make some serious closing remarks, and Wilkin is...well, I guess only he knows. At one point he was taking pictures of the audience. All I can say is that Dr. Wilkin evidently is not interested in convincing serious Calvinists of his position, for his presentation was fully intended to impress only the already convinced. That audience seems to be entertained by behavior that "my" audience would find not only distracting, but simply disrespectful.
   I really do not know how we managed to set up a debate that had no cross-examination, but there was none in the debate against Robert Wilkin in Oklahoma City (my fault, I'm sure: I was simply too busy to give it my attention until too late to do anything about it). Given the way it went, that was probably providential, in that I am uncertain Dr. Wilkin would have been able to muster the necessary restraint for it to take place. In any case, I did not get to engage him in his assertion that I was guilty of eisegesis in reference to John 6:44. Now realize, this was after Wilkin had already done the classic "John 12:32" end-around anyway, but his specific assertion was that the one who is raised up on the last day is the one who comes, not the one who is drawn, in John 6:44.
   The verbal elements of John 6:44 are: 1) du,natai evlqei/n (dunatai elthein); 2) o` pe,myaj (ho pempsas); 3) e`lku,sh| (helkuse), and 4) avnasth,sw (anasteso). Now, #2 (it is the description of the Father as the one who sent the Son) is not really directly relevant to our question, so we will focus upon the other elements. The last verb is "I will raise up" on the last day. This is the promise of Christ. He says He will raise "him" (auvto.n) up on the last day. Who is it that Jesus raises up? This is the big question. Is there a difference between the "him" who is raised up, and the "him" only three words earlier who is drawn? I say there is not, but the Arminian must insist that there is a major break here, and that the one who is drawn is not at all necessarily the same one who is raised up. Wilkin's assertion is that the one who is drawn is the one who comes, but that not all who are drawn come. Can this argument be substantiated by the text? [continued]

02:00:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Senator Salazar's (D, CO) Letter to James Dobson

04/24/2005 - James White

In case you didn't read it, you need to.

Chairman Dobson,
   I read in today’s newspaper a quote from your organization that said I should be “alarmed about the anti-Catholicism of some of [my Senate] colleagues.”
   Your newspaper and radio ads also target Christians like me and Senator Harry Reid. I am proud that Senator Reid is a devout Mormon Christian and strong family man and that we share the fundamental values of Christianity.
   I have not encountered any feelings of anti-Catholicism from any of my fellow Senators on either side of the aisle. Indeed, we have 24 United States Senators who are Catholic, both from the Democratic and Republican parties.
   In contrast, I understand you are helping lead the effort on a national telecast against Democrats in the United States Senate with Dr. Al Mohler, among others. In March of 2000, Dr. Mohler said “I believe that the Roman church is a false church and it teaches a false gospel. And indeed, I believe that the pope himself holds a false and unbiblical office.”
   My faith is the cornerstone of my values, as I am sure it is with you as well. I call on you to repudiate Dr. Mohler’s comments and hope you distance yourself from those who serve to divide the world’s Christian churches against one another.
   I would further encourage you to cease your unfounded attacks on the faith of my Democratic colleagues. The Senate controversy over judges is simply about whether the rules should be broken in the pursuit of power. The controversy has nothing to do with the faith of any Democratic U.S. Senator. Indeed, I would ask for your prayers that the United States Senate transcend the abuse of power at the root of this controversy, and move forward in a spirit of bipartisanship on the issue of judges, as well as the monumental challenges facing our Nation such as health care, transportation, energy, education, and care for our elders.    I am committed to helping find a solution to these challenges that confront us.
Sincerely,
Ken Salazar
United States Senator

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

13:39:09 - Category: Christian Worldview - Link to this article -

A Few Quick Notes

04/23/2005 - James White

   Back from Oklahoma City. Saw the memorial downtown and was quite moved! Very, very well planned and laid out. The museum was very well made, too. Can't believe that was a full decade ago now. My how the world has changed.
   I may hold off commenting more on the Wilkin debate till the DL on Tuesday. It is just hard to describe. Maybe some of the folks who were there will call in and share their views. The number of straw men that were left smoldering in the room almost set a new record. What was truly amazing is that while I briefly quoted, directly, with citation of page numbers, from Wilkin's book, he chose to quote snippets from debates, or snippets from the web, but not from my published, formal works! As a result, he questioned my understanding and commitment to the doctrine of imputation, if you can possibly believe that! Since Dr. Wilkin chose to go after me, as an individual theologian, it would have been nice if he had actually bothered to read one, maybe two, of my published works? Simple honesty, let alone respect for the audience, would seem to demand that. I do intend to go over his accusation of "eisegesis" at John 6:44---the facts are so easily documentable that it is he who is engaging in it. But we will leave that for the DL.
   Finally, I hope to comment soon on this article. It is truly amazing to me that a United States Senator would be so crass, and so out of line, as to do what Salazar has done. But it sure does make one think---if this is one of the 100 most powerful men in our nation, and he has power over "law" (since the Constitution is really an irrelevant document any longer, thanks to the run-away judiciary and their willing accomplices in the Congress), and he considers the theological conclusion that Rome is a false church something to "repudiate," how long till such truth-speak is defined as hate-speech by these same men?
   And finally, Dave Armstrong saw my note on Mary stains, and has fulfilled my wildest dreams by telling his fellow Catholics to get a grip (a little paraphrase there). Thank you Mr. Armstrong. Now, if you could be so kind as to go down to Chicago and try that out in front of all those folks lighting candles, I'd like to see their reaction. Or, how about cleaning the stain off the wall while explaining that? Yes, that would be interesting. But maybe Armstrong will comment on this amazing comment cited by Jimmy Akin about the same "stains"?

"You probably caught that 'Our Lady of the Underpass' story. I admit I tend to roll my eyes when people see the Blessed Virgin in pieces of toast and parking garage walls. However, lately I've been smiling at the idea of the Child Jesus scribbling pictures of Mommy all over -- just because he can, you know?"

   Um...yeah, wow. OK.

22:41:28 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

Wow, What a Night

04/22/2005 - James White

   Well, if I had written out how I expected the debate to go...I would have been wrong. I never expected legions of straw-men, enough ignorance of Reformed theology to make Dave Hunt proud, and a nasty, cutting presentation aimed not at the thesis but at me, in particular. But hey, I can roll with the punches, and once again, as in Debating Calvinism, the contrast between the two sides was very, very marked. While I accurately cited his book just briefly to give the audience context, he quoted snippets from debates, presenting a theology that had so little resemblance to what I actually believe it was almost like reading a comic-book. While I focused upon the specific thesis topics in my PowerPoints, he included one portion where he showed a large mansion, saying, "This is what Dr. White thinks his gospel is: glorifying to God and majestic. But since his definition of faith is rotten, in reality, this is Dr. White's gospel..." flipping to a picture of a run down, leaning over, rotten wooden shack in a field. Yes, this was the level of his presentation. I was simply amazed. Dr. Wilkin must have skipped the classes at Dallas where they actually presented Reformed theology, for one thing is for sure, he has a very, very warped view of what it is.
   More when I return. Thank you for your prayers, and a special thanks to Mark Bainter for driving up to OKC and video taping the debate. Mark may not technically work for A&O, but without him, and just a few others like him, we would not be doing what we are doing right now. God bless you all.

22:33:20 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Busier Than I Should Be

04/21/2005 - James White

   Sorry this took so long! I'm finishing my PowerPoint presentations for tomorrow evening's debate, and I forgot to blog the DL link. My mistake! Let's see, discussed the upcoming debate, then played a clip from Fr. Peter Stravinskas illustrating how tradition gets in the way of exegesis, and then we took calls the last half hour. Here's the program.
   I probably won't get a chance to blog while in OKC. I hope to be able to throw something up here Saturday night about the debate, we will see.

20:53:35 - Category: The Dividing Line - Link to this article -

Bob Ross Supports and Encourages Anti-Lordship Viewpoint

04/20/2005 - James White

I am not at all certain of Bob Wilkin's view on this matter, but I do understand that he does NOT hold that one can be a "regenerated unbeliever." To that extent, at least, we can agree with him. On the other hand, if he holds to the "unregenerated believer" view espoused by Dave Hunt in his debate with White, then we must disagree with that concept. -- Bob L. Ross

   Evidently Bob Ross is back on the warpath, accusing me of heresy and the like, and making sure to contact Robert Wilkin about our upcoming debate:

I have personally given notice to Bob Wilkin that what White holds on this subject is not creedal Calvinism, and should not be treated as such. In an email to me, Wilkin has assured that "I plan to mention once or twice that White's views are not those of all or even most 5-point Calvinists."

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

19:58:10 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

The Religion of Peace and Freedom

04/20/2005 - James White

   ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A Pakistani man accused of desecrating the Koran was shot dead Wednesday after being chased by an angry crowd.
   Ashiq Nabi, in his thirties, was accused of being disrespectful to Islam's holy book and had been in hiding since Monday, a senior police official said.
   "Today, a mob spotted him and shot him dead," said Mazahar ul Haq, police chief of Nowshera town, about 100 km (62 miles) west of the capital, Islamabad.
   Blasphemy, including desecrating the Koran, is a capital offence in deeply Islamic Pakistan and carries the death sentence, but convictions have always been turned down by high courts because of a lack of evidence.
   Witnesses said the man was chased through fields and climbed a tree to get away from an angry crowd of up to 500 men. When he refused to come down, someone shot him dead, they said.
   Human rights activists want the blasphemy law to be struck off the books saying it is often abused by people to settle personal disputes or religious rivalry.

   Keep in mind that there is a growing Muslim population in Canada seeking Shariah there. And for the believing Muslim in a Muslim nation, every single one of the articles I have written simply defending the NT and comparing it with the claims for the Qur'an could, and most probably would, be taken as blasphemy.

14:47:56 - Category: Islam - Link to this article -

More Mary Stains

04/20/2005 - James White

   You know, I would like to see some of the major figures in Roman Catholicism, the "out front" guys, the ones who promote Rome as infallible, her Pope as the head of the church, etc., just once come out and say, "Look, people, this kind of thing is absurd and ridiculous. Pure superstition, idolatrous, and worthy of at the very least church discipline." But no, you won't hear that. Instead, you'll hear, "Well, looks like a rather common water stain mixed with the salt from the road on an underpass, but hey, if it gives you warm post-modern religious fuzzies, that's great!"
   We hear all the time from RC apologists, "Oh, Marian devotion does not detract from Christ at all! Mary is our path to Jesus." Well, if that is true, and Mary leads everyone to Jesus, why are all these folks finding pictures of Mary in the grimy stains left by reconstituted water (Clearwater Florida bank window, remember?) or salt-filled road run off on a freeway underpass? Where is someone's mind if they can look at this stain and go, "Oh gosh, Mary has appeared under a bridge!" What on earth is she doing under a bridge? Western culture is on the slippery slope of post-modernism, sliding at high speed toward self-destruction, and Mary is busily arranging salt stains on a bridge underpass near Chicago? Hello? Anyone out there? No, Marian devotion does detract from devotion to Christ and to His Lordship in life. As I said in Mary--Another Redeemer?, a person who believes they need a mediator with the Mediator simply does not know the Mediator to begin with. And in case you haven't read that book, allow me a single quote to illustrate the kind of "piety" that leads people to light candles in front of water stains on the walls of freeway underpasses: ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

12:04:31 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Great Interview with Os Guinness on BAM / John Owen Speaks / You the Reader

04/20/2005 - James White

   I only caught the very first portion, but I really enjoyed what Os Guinness had to say on The Bible Answer Man broadcast today. At one point he said, "Modern evangelicals have traded sola scriptura for sola cultura." Bravo! I hear he will be back on tomorrow. Here's some info.
   Next, Richard Barcellos sent me a John Owen quote that is appropriate for today. It is from Owen's commentary on Hebrews 8:6:

And as to what concerns ourselves at present, we are taught by that means, that it is our duty and our safety to consent universally and absolutely in the ministry of Jesus Christ. That which he was so designed to, in the infinite wisdom and grace of God; that which he was so furnished for the discharge of by the communication of the Spirit to him in all fullness; that which all other priesthoods were removed to make way for, must needs be sufficient and effectual for all the ends to which it is designed. It may be said, "This is that which all men, all who are called Christians do fully consent in the ministry of Jesus Christ." But if it be so, why do we hear the bleating of another sort of cattle? What mean those other priests, and reiterated sacrifices, which make up the worship of the church of Rome? If they rest in the ministry of Christ, why do they appoint one of their own to do the same things that he has done, namely, to offer sacrifice to God?

   Finally, I really love this passage: ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

01:00:00 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

A Quote from the New Pope, Benedict XVI

04/19/2005 - James White

We shall break off at this point, for the chief goal of our considerations has been attained. We have seen that the New Testament as a whole strikingly demonstrates the primacy of Peter; we have seen that the formative development of tradition and of the Church supposed the continuation of Peter's authority in Rome as an intrinsic condition. The Roman primacy is not an invention of the popes, but an essential element of ecclesial unity that goes back to the Lord and was developed faithfully in the nascent Church.

   How would you respond? Where would you go for resources? How would you argue your case?
   The writings of Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI, are a rich storehouse of the most modern, up-to-date expressions of Roman Catholic theology and, since he has been for so long the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome (aka, the modern embodiment of the Inquisition), he is, by nature, an apologist: inwardly, and outwardly (but maybe, in a sense, more inwardly than outwardly). Therefore, his writings are significantly "easier" to interact with--they are laid out in such a fashion as to actually make a point and seek to do so with logical arguments. He is careful with his words--one debater can recognize another, and Ratzinger has debated. Maybe not so much publicly as in the halls of the Vatican as the chief "enforcer" of theology for Rome. Oh what I could do with a ton of time to dig through his writings! Well, enough for now....

22:02:58 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Quick Thoughts

04/19/2005 - James White

   I monitor nearly 30 blogs these days, thanks to the Sage plug in for Firefox, and some of them are already listing the "Pope-bashing" going on after the election of Benedict XVI. I couldn't help but be struck by the irony of the situation. I just saw a leftist blog using all kinds of profanity while mocking Ratzinger's German heritage. It is simply disgusting. Our readers know you can come to Pros Apologian and you will never be assaulted by profanity or that kind of behavior. And yet, if I factually and carefully document the vast difference between the gospel of grace and that of Roman Catholicism, critics respond with the same kind of venom currently being spewed at the new Pope. Odd, isn't it?
   I stand firmly against the teachings of Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. But the idea of mocking his heritage, his name, as if this were serious apologetic argumentation---outlandish! If you are going to oppose the man, oppose what he teaches, and do so accurately! For example, if I wish to address Benedict XVI's views on Mary, I have here in my library his work, Daughter of Zion (Ignatius, 1983). Quote the man, do so fairly, in context, and then provide a reasoned argument against what he says. At times these days I wonder if I've been transported to another planet given how rarely anyone argues that way anymore.
   On a completely different topic, just saw that reformedcatholicism.com is closing down. I can't help but point out that this experiment failed mainly because you can't create any kind of meaningful unity when you can't define truth. It's just not possible, and getting a bunch of folks together who only share a common commitment to the undefinability of truth isn't going to create long-term stability.

15:26:35 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

White Smoke and Marty Minto

04/19/2005 - James White

   Joseph Ratzinger, the chief theologian of the Roman Church, architect of the central document of Vatican II, the man behind so much of the theological documents of John Paul II, has been elected Pope, taking the name of Benedict XVI. Surely, the election of Ratzinger, at age 78, follows the normal "routine," and signals a "staying of the course" theologically.
   We likewise pressed on with the DL and had Marty Minto as our guest, and then discussed Ratzinger's elevation to the pontificate. Here's the program.
   Oh, and thank you to the 14,753.7 people (I'll let you figure it out) who sent me the reference to the Luther quote, which is, "Luther's Works. Weimar Edition. Briefwechsel [Correspondence], vol. 3, pp. 81f." Now I can put that on my quotation and feel good. Man I have a lot of net geeks reading this blog. :-) Geeks unite!
   And Also...Robert Lopez, a Roman Catholic who had written to me after the death of the Pope, just wrote to me:

Like I said before, here is just another proof.......On the day you planned to have Marty Minto on your radio show so you can use the poor guy for your own selfish motives to promote your false gospel, our Lord again puts another world wide event in your way, another road block, another brick wall, all to bring glory, praise and honor to the one and only true Church on this earth, the Roman Catholic Church...

   Mr. Lopez: and as I told you then, God's work goes on, no matter who is elected to the position of "Bishop of Rome." Yes, we will still have our program; I have no "selfish motives" for the program, it addresses a real and important issue; given that you yourself have not even tried to address the gospel with me, and have provided no response to the full explications we have provided, I can only give your accusation against the gospel the weight it deserves (which is none); and as to glory, praise and honor, I will stay with the saints and give all of that to God alone. Unlike you, I am not giving divine titles to a sinful human being today, Mr. Lopez. You should consider this fact.

09:08:16 - Category: The Dividing Line - Link to this article -

NO COMPROMISE: A Call To Faithfulness In the Midst of Apostasy

04/18/2005 - James White

   The prevalence of words and ideas borrowed from the world of battle and war and military training in the midst of inspired Scripture must bother a lot of post-modernist style folks. But they are there. I've been thinking a lot about those terms of late. Ever seen that picture (they used to have them on t-shirts back when I was in college) of the one fish swimming upstream against all the rest of the fish, and the rest of the fish look just a little less than...loving? If you've been following events of late, you can't help but feel that way. On every hand the lover of the old truths that kept Calvin going in the face of his enemies--that took Ridley and Latimer into the flames--that fired the preaching of John Knox--that empowered Whitefield as he traveled the world calling men to Christ with a clarion and clear gospel--that captured the hearts and minds of Londoners as they listened to Spurgeon preaching on them--find themselves opposed by the culture and by much of what calls itself the "church." Rome is as aggressive as ever, but now she is joined by so many who have given in to her on the "grand turning point of the cause" (as Luther put it to Erasmus) and in fact have traded the gospel itself for a pittance. Every day pressure is placed upon anyone who still believes the Bible to be the living, powerful, accurate, inspired, understandable Word of God to be quiet, to stop applying God's truth to the arena of ideas. "Don't let your worldview influence your thinking!" we are told. "Keep your religion to yourself!"
   It is one thing coming from the dedicated secularists, but it is even worse when it comes from those who pay lip service to those truths that give you life and are the object of your love and passion and study but who then turn around and subject those same truths to any range of human authorities and beliefs. If you dare follow in the footsteps of the Apostles, get ready for the normal arrows: Divisive! Unloving! Narrow-minded! Unkind! Arrogant! You think you are infallible! You are not spiritual! Etc. and etc. But when you turn to your Bible and simply listen to God speaking, you hear all about sound doctrine and divine truth and the Spirit's driving us ever deeper into the Word--not into man's shallow substitutes.
   The torrent of "forget the gospel, let's be nice, pass the Pope into heaven just to show how loving we are" of the past few weeks got me thinking, once again, about those commands of Scripture, like "stand firm!" "Hold fast!" Those are fighting words, words that speak to our battle, our warfare. Bunyan would be proud. And so, to encourage the small but dedicated band that read this blog and who seek to honor God by honoring His truth in their lives and their witness, we have ordered a press run of the very popular rubber-band style wrist bands in royal blue. And what is imprinted on them? Well, for this first run (we might do others, if these go well), I thought the best possible imprint would be, "No Compromise." Is that not right where the battle is today? Compromise your faith, compromise the truth, give in, go with the flow. May the Spirit keep us strong.
   Now, we had hoped to have them in today. We have been, shall we say, providentially hindered. But what we are going to do is start to take pre-orders for their arrival May 2nd. Obviously, if there is a response that warrants it, we can be better prepared for further orders this way. If you are familiar with these wrist bands, you know that they are generally associated with some particular charity or cause. Well, this one is, too. Aside from showing your commitment to remain steadfast, to stand firm, to not compromise, you are also standing with this ministry. You can order yours here. We will be asking only $5 (plus shipping), so if you know others who would appreciate that reminder and that call to faithfulness, don't forget them as well.

23:36:15 - Category: General Apologetics - Link to this article -

Luther's Never Documented Saying

04/18/2005 - James White

   Years ago I was listening to a tape of someone lecturing on Luther, and he gave a quote that I copied down. He did not give a reference, and I don't even remember who it was. But the quote went like this:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest expression every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace, if he flinches at that point.

   I decided to see if I could find a real source for the quote, since I have Luther's works in my Libronics library. Ironically, I only found two other folks citing the same words--without attribution. So, I can't prove Luther said those words (anyone want to bet one of our readers will turn it up, if it is genuine?), but whoever said them was right. A great thought.

23:20:00 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

Paul Owen: Leading Defender of Roman Catholicism

04/18/2005 - James White

   Dave Armstrong has it right: Dr. Paul Owen of Montreat College is, in fact, one of the best friends the Roman Catholic apologetics community has ever come across. It is always good to have folks "inside" the other camp to come to your aid, sort of like a fifth column ("men will arise from your own ranks"). The tactic is as old as the hills. Note Armstrong's glee:

Great article by our friend, Reformed professor Dr. Paul Owen: Five Reasons Why Paul's Anathemas Against the Judaizers in Galatians 1:8-9 Do Not Apply to Our Roman Catholic Brethren Read it! Master it! Share the information with your anti-Catholic buddies who don't understand this. You never know what effect you might have in the long run.

   And, not overly surprisingly, the article is hosted by TGE (is this all starting to make sense?).
   I have been waiting for Owen to put his theory in a form that can actually be addressed. He proposed his rather unique viewpoints on the NTRMin web board months ago. I got the impression he was going to publish his views. So this is either a summary of a longer article to come (this seems far too short for Owen), or he hasn't found anyone interested in his particular views. In any case, Eric Svendsen has already critiqued elements of this view, but I have been waiting for something more concrete. As the issues are grave, a response is necessary; but for the same reason, one will not be rushed. I will offer, for the moment, the following observation: the center of Owen's argument is that it was part and parcel of the Judaizer's position that the death of Christ was not necessary to salvation. He is quite right that Paul makes this very point in Galatians 2:20-21, but where he has completely missed the text (and surely, the insightful comments on Galatians provided by great men of the past) is that this is not Paul repeating, or summarizing, their arguments, but it is part of his argument. That is, the Judaizers would never dream of attempting to stay in the church while denying the necessity of Christ's death, for that was central to the public profession of the church itself (Gal. 3:1). Paul's argument shows Owen's is backwards: his argument is that the Judaizers are, by joining human actions and works with faith (Gal. 3:2), nullifying the grace of God and making the death of Christ of no effect. This isn't an argument if you as one of the Judaizers are already preaching that very thing! But it is an argument if it is showing that your confession and teaching are self-contradictory. It is very clear to the exegete-sans-ecumenical-agenda that Galatians 5:1-4 likewise undermines Owen's thesis, for Paul's concern is that the Galatians stand firm, not in defense of the necessity of the cross (a given), but in resisting being "subject again to a yoke of slavery." And what is the essence of this "yoke"? Verse two tells us that if they take that first step down the road of legalism, that first step in joining to the faith that everyone in Galatia claimed to have, including the Judaizers, any element of human action, law-keeping, etc., would place them outside the realm of Christ's grace (which, the Judaizers were obviously claiming to be in) and Christ would be of no benefit to them (showing again that they were not denying the necessity of a "benefit" from Christ---they were claiming faith in Christ, but were adding to what it takes to receive from Christ the fulness of salvation). These are observations that exegetes have made for many centuries, and only a strong desire to remove the multitudes of additions to faith dogmatically taught by Rome as the means of justification can explain Owen's viewpoint.

15:19:42 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Bill Hamblin Drops a Note

04/18/2005 - James White

   I used the term "enclave" instead of "conclave" real late last night, and just got a note from William Hamblin of BYU pointing out my error. It is so nice to know I am kept to such a high standard by so many. He also informed me he read Scripture Alone. Rather random note, to be sure. Glad to hear that, too.
   I think I may take some time off blogging to prepare for the debate. That Spurgeon quote I posted a while back is really coming in handy these days.

12:31:20 - Category: Mormonism - Link to this article -

A Real Important Debate This Friday in Oklahoma City

04/18/2005 - James White

   For those in the area, you are invited to attend the debate this coming Friday evening between myself and Dr. Robert Wilkin of the Grace Evangelical Society (Ph.D., Dallas Seminary). Here are the details as to location, time, directions, contact info, etc. I do not believe the debate will impact the Thursday DL, for those interested, as I fly over on Friday morning. The debate will have two parts. In the first I will defend the thesis statement, "Resolved that regeneration precedes faith." Then in the second Dr. Wilkin will be defending the statement, "Resolved that works are not an indispensable element of true faith." We will both be using PowerPoint presentations, and I expect the pace will be pretty fast. I'm really looking forward to this debate, and will have more to say about it either before or after, depending on our scheduling on the Dividing Line.

09:00:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

The Conclave Begins

04/18/2005 - James White

   I'm not going to be placing any bets on who the next Pope will be, nor how quickly he will be chosen. I only predict that someone will say "Habemus Papam" and the gathered crowd will cheer and the fellow will bless the crowd in a less-than-perfect fitting papal outfit. How's that for going out on a limb?
   In case anyone hasn't noticed, this doesn't look much like how things were done back in the days of the Apostles. You'll hear all about all the "ancient traditions" here, but the fact of the matter is, the bishop of Rome was chosen by the people of Rome for a very, very long time. But don't tell the folks at FOX News. I guess the "two thousand year tradition" line has been written into every other newscast.
   I will surely be watching with interest. Ratzinger would be quite the choice. You do realize that he heads up the modern incarnation of the Inquisition, yes? Not quite the organization it once was, but that would be ironic, to be sure. But far more interesting, to me, anyway, would be Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., Archbishop Emeritus of Milan. Why? Because he is one of the editors of the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament (4th Revised ed.). The King James Only folks (aka, Jack Chick, Ruckman, Riplinger, etc.) would have a spasm over his election as Pope. Either he or Ratzinger would keep the conspiracy mills going for quite some time.

01:00:00 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

To Christopher MacDonald: You Win the Award

04/17/2005 - James White

   What award? The "New Lows in Nastiness for a Self-Proclaimed Christian" Award. Congratulations! Mr. MacDonald, evidently, has been imbibing in the Boar's Head Tavern so much that not only has he developed a very foul mouth, but his memory has been shot as well. I was given this link this evening---BE WARNED. Mr. MacDonald likes profanity (notice how regular that is these days amongst people who call themselves Christians, especially of the ecumenical/post-modern sort? I've been cussed out many times, but mainly by Roman Catholics, many of whom like "salty" language. But it's getting to be pretty normal for those who seem to drink a lot). Scarey thing, looking at his blog, he identifies himself as a former pastor. Former. Anyway, I'm given this link tonight and as I'm reading this distilled hatred I'm trying to think back to what on earth he's talking about. And then I remembered, and did some digging around. This fellow wrote a hit-piece on Steve Camp back in early 2003, and I had written to him privately to inquire as to his purposes. His initial reply to my entire e-mail was as follows:

I am glad you enjoy Steve's music.
Grace
Mac

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

22:26:49 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

The Secularist Jihad

04/17/2005 - James White

   The following I snatched from PowerLine (I was going to grab the original LA Times story, but they basically wanted a sample of DNA for their "free" registration, which obviously would have resulted in enough spam to fill a U-Haul, so I skipped it), and it makes me ill:

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Friday that his party would wield the Terri Schiavo case against Republicans in the 2006 and 2008 elections, but for now needed to stay focused battling President Bush on Social Security.
"We're going to use Terri Schiavo later on," Dean said...
"This is going to be an issue in 2006, and it's going to be an issue in 2008," Dean told about 200 people at a gay rights group's breakfast in West Hollywood, "because we're going to have an ad with a picture of Tom DeLay saying, 'Do you want this guy to decide whether you die or not? Or is that going to be up to your loved ones?' "
Dean, a practicing physician until he became governor of Vermont in 1991, added: "The issue is: Are we going to live in a theocracy where the highest powers tell us what to do? Or are we going to be allowed to consult our own high powers when we make very difficult decisions?"

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

13:49:35 - Category: Christian Worldview - Link to this article -

To the Catholic "Scholastic" on PlanetEnvoy

04/16/2005 - James White

   Just saw this, wanted to offer a response, and to once again invite "Scholastic" to join us on the Dividing Line. Might not work this Tuesday AM, as we hope to have Marty Minto as our guest, but surely on Thursday. 877-753-3341. Here's the comment:

How many times does James White have to paint caricatures of his Catholic opponents? (As a challenge to White enthusiasts, show me one Catholic opponent that White hasnt portrayed in an extremely negative light)

   Easy: Mitch Pacwa. Now, care to answer to the documentation I provided regarding the moderator of the board you are posting on, years ago, at this URL? :-) ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

20:00:48 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

A Note to Eric Rogers

04/16/2005 - James White

Dear Eric:
   Just a quick response to your kind note you posted over the the Boar's Head Tavern. I respond mainly because it continues to amaze me not only how folks in that Tavern behave, but also why they seem so dead set against reading words in their native context, and taking every possible response offered in the worst possible light. You opined,

This guy's about half a step away from "Bible-thumpin' fundamentalism," right down to his view about the RCC (according to some Plymouth Brethren I know, Jews are saved, and RC's are damned). If I ever respected James White for any reason, I've lost every bit of it. I was so angry last night I could hardly talk to my girlfriend without flipping out over his portentious, conceited, tactles, loveless response to Michael's essay.

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

18:00:37 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

Please Play the Theme to "Twilight Zone" While Reading/Note to Mr. Monk

04/16/2005 - James White

   OK, download the .wav file for that really neat Twilight Zone music and play it while reading the ravings of IM. See, after I dared to interact with one of his articles (no, no one there has bothered to actually read what I said and respond to it--the act of actually responding, without agreeing, is so hateful to them, so nasty, that to actually think it might be worthwhile listening is beyond the realm of possibility), IM closed down one of his blogs. Never crossed my mind that responding to a shot at "us Calvinists" would result in that, but hey, I've been accused of closing down publishing houses and book retailers, so why not a blog? So I've been reading some of the comments, just rolling my eyes at the utter lack of any serious interaction with anything I said, when I run across IM explaining why he won't re-open his other blog. Aside from various really bad things about me, he says:

So, here it is. Opening IM right now would mean my archives will be scoured by these people totally out of context and with malicious intent to portray me as an unbeliever, excerpts pasted and sent out to the Calvinist blogosphere, etc. Imagine what "I Hate Theology," "I Have My Doubts" and "When I Am Weak" sound like to people gunning for me as a burning partner for Brian McLaren?

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

13:24:38 - Category: Simply Silly - Link to this article -

An Old Debate Between Myself and Doug Wilson

04/16/2005 - James White

   Many of you were not familiar with A&O when this written debate took place. I thought I'd link to it for our newer readers. Here is a "Disputatio" between myself and Doug Wilson on the so-called "Ecclesiastical Text" issue.

01:27:38 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

OK, Someone Should Have Warned Me

04/15/2005 - James White

   OK, I made a mistake. I was completely unaware Mr. Spencer is a ticking emotional time-bomb, waiting for any slight motion to set him off. I would have avoided him like the plague if someone had just said, "Yeah, he's taken shots at you by name on important topics, but please, realize, if you respond, even if you do so in truth, fairly, and accurately, responding directly to his own words, he will slander you, attack your character, and spread untruths about you till the cows come home." But no one did, so I tried to respond in such a fashion as to focus upon the real issues, as I have done all along. And what do I now find? Read it for yourself:

Why close IM?
IM is going to be closed till this storm passes. I know what I'm doing. Trust me folks.
I will not have the IM comment threads turned into a James White debate. I know how he does this. It can destroy my audience. People don't want to read the comment threads that will result from this.
I don't want White into my archives right now. I'll open again shortly when he's moved on to something else and when I have prepared my boss and co-workers for the fact that White's supporters may start harassing the school.
I know what my next post is going to be and where I am going. It's my ship and I am still captain. I just engaged the cloaking device :-)

   "I know how he does this." Does what? And to insinuate that I have the slightest interest in his school is one of the most absurd things I've seen in a very long time. OK, lesson learned. Don't invest another 2 hours of your life seeking to respond to digital monastics. They aren't there to listen, just to talk.

11:07:43 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

Michael Spencer: Last Time (Updated, Expanded)

04/15/2005 - James White

   Last evening I spent a lot of time--way too much time, especially given how far behind I am on a number of things, to respond to the "Internet Monk" and his essay about why he is "different" than "us Calvinists." Now, I interacted with him, even told some of my own personal stories, all to point out that us "Calvinists" are not only human beings, but can stand toe-to-toe with such essays without compromising the gospel in the process. Read them for yourself. Up-front, but hardly "nasty."
   Well, evidently, the IM has adopted the viewpoint that he can dish it out--he can talk about the "Reformed Inquisition" and the like, but if someone responds, even in a fair manner, they are the equivalent of Nazi storm troopers. "Persecution!" is the call. He's so mean! What a nasty man! I.e., "I get to say what I want. I can demean you, I can attack your life, your character, and your theology, but don't you dare point out where I'm inconsistent, or I'll wrap myself in the robes of martyrdom, and that will get all my post-modernist friends in a real tizzy." Conclusion: the man has no interest in actually hearing the other side. His is the final word. The rest of ya, just clam up. I'm sure I'll hear about how I forced a kind, gentle person to shut down his blog because I'm just so mean. Sorry, but this is just silly. Mr. Spencer, if you are going to broadbrush an entire group of folks and attack their beliefs, don't be overly surprised if they point out your errors. That doesn't make you a martyr, that makes you a fuzzy thinker. Here's his commentary: ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

09:58:57 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

A Calvinist Responds to Michael Spencer, Internet Monk (Part II)

04/15/2005 - James White

I cannot comfortably say that the reformation of the church needs to remake it into the image of what I saw in the conservative resurgence in the SBC. I support much of that reformation, but where is the humility? The generosity of Jesus? The flavor and aroma of grace? I have had enough of war metaphors, because I have seen enough war. No more.

I'm not able to look into men's hearts like you seem to be able to so as to see their humility level. But this isn't why you are not like me anyway.

I am not like you because I constantly find Jesus taking me out of the places and labels other Christians find essential, and instead showing me that he is more, greater, deeper, wider than any way I can try to limit him. He was greater than my fundamentalism. He was greater than my Charismatic phase. He was greater than my liberal, seminary student days. He was greater than my years as a youth minister on church staff. Now I am finding he is greater than my years of Calvinism.

Again, lovely words, but I reject the idea that truth about Christ is a limitation of Christ. If He is "greater" that just means you were ignorant before...not that what you believed that was true is now false, or, worse, that nothing is true or false outside of your experience anyway.

There is a visible horizon with Jesus, because there are things I can understand and affirm in the creeds and confessions.

There's a spot where we are different: where did the inspired Scriptures go? ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

00:47:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

A Calvinist Responds to Michael Spencer, Internet Monk (Part I)

04/15/2005 - James White

   Michael Spencer, aka "Internet Monk," wrote an article that has been linked to by a number of folks today, so I felt compelled to respond. Just to do something different, my responses are in blue.

I'm Not Like You: An Apologia to My Readers (Calvinists especially)

Michael: No, you aren't. Though we have never spoken, at least to my knowledge, you seem to have a number of folks who, even though they don't agree with your current theological...direction, still like you a good bit. I had seen something you wrote last year and found a few things I like, some I didn't. BTW, why is it that if I challenge your statements about me, I'm inviting you to a chopping block? Is that just the "Hey, I'm emotional" and therefore massively inconsistent thing?

I am not like you. That's not an attitude of condescension, it's just a fact that I need to bring to the front of our relationship. You are writing me letters and notes about N.T. Wright, my views on inerrancy, my coziness with Catholicism. Your concern is appreciated, but now it's time to stop it. We need to accept that we are different, and we are not on the same page in this journey.

That's neat. Hope you don't mind, however, if we keep reading, first of all, and secondly, when we find you inconsistent with the truth, we point it out? I mean, you do seem to be suggesting that what you say is true in some sense, and Christian in some sense, so, unless you are saying that we don't have the right to address the same issues, it is alright if we speak our mind as well, yes?
...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

00:46:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Some More on the WORD-FM/Salem Firing of Marty Minto

04/15/2005 - James White

   Ask if Rome's gospel is biblical and what happens to you on certain radio networks? Well, we've found out. I imagine Marty would have gotten away with it if he had done just one program, but as I've discovered, in essence, if you believe Romans 1:16 is true; and if you believe Galatians condemns false gospels, and if you think it is a really bad thing for an apostle to tell you, "Christ will be of no benefit to you," then the combined viewpoint of Rome and the majority of pseudo-evangelicalism is, "Shut up!" "Keep it to yourself!" "We don't want to hear it!" The Church has become Protestants (what a silly word to keep using) and Rome. That is what you must now believe to be "loving and kind."
   First, Jason Engwer has posted some interesting information about this situation at the NTRMIN web board. Here's the link. I'll be asking Marty about this stuff next week, Lord willing.
   Secondly, hearing the WORD-FM folks talking about the "whole church" and "all Christians" made me think about a distinction Rome itself makes (and about which, I assume, most radio station managers are ignorant). While we as "separated brethren" (to use the post-Vatican II lingo) can be considered "Christians" due to our baptism, our churches are not truly churches. That seems to miss the attention of most. There is no equality here. Rome is the Church. We are "communities" or, when certain bodies are referred to, Churches, but only in so far as we mirror elements of Rome. Rome is the Mother. The wonderfully fuzzy ecumenical feeling that says "let's just all get together" does not seem to understand that for Rome, we can indeed get together: in Rome. Think that is just old-time Catholicism? Ut Unum Sint from May of 1995 says this: ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

00:44:00 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

A Wild DL Today

04/14/2005 - James White

   Wow, well, what do you do when you start the program and your microphone doesn't work? Well, in the radio world, you panic, and play music, and run commercials, and stuff like that. When you are doing a webcast you go, "Woops, folks, hold on, let's try this again." And then you play around with your connections, discover that the phantom power has failed on channel 1, move your microphone somewhere else, check to make sure it works, and fire her up again, just about five minutes late. Easy!
   So I start off on the Marty Minto situation, and yes, I started preaching about the gospel being thrown out again, and how I saw books on John Paul II on sale at the register at Berean today, and other related things, and then the calls came in. One fairly long call with a Seventh Day Adventist that is very educational, then shorter calls thereafter, all good. Here's the program.

17:43:03 - Category: The Dividing Line - Link to this article -

Quick Update: Marty Minto Rescheduled

04/14/2005 - James White

   I sort of expected this would happen, and in fact, I'm happy it has, in a sense. Marty has been swamped with requests for interviews, and is driving to do a television interview even now, so he won't be able to join us on the DL until next Tuesday morning. Pray for him as he has a unique opportunity to speak to an important issue. I will be addressing the topic anyway and taking your calls.

15:29:15 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Woops, the Tax Man Cometh

04/14/2005 - James White

   Just got a note from the folks at Solid Ground, who have been putting out all these great books of late, saying they are holding a quick, and I do mean quick, one day sale to try to generate some income to help cover a 2004 tax bill (golly, tomorrow is April 15th!). Some pretty deep reductions on certain books, so I thought if you've enjoyed some of the works I've recommended lately from them, you might want to take advantage and help out all at the same time. Here's their site.

15:08:44 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

WORD-FM in Pittsburgh Fires Marty Minto (UPDATE!)

04/14/2005 - James White

   Some of you will remember the name Marty Minto. I was filling in for Marty when I interviewed Dave Hunt in 2000 regarding Calvinism. I was on Marty's show many times. In fact, it was a debate on Marty's show on KPXQ here in Phoenix that eventually led to the writing of The Same Sex Controversy. Marty left the area three or four years ago, and is pastoring out in Pennsylvania, but he also went to work at WORD FM hosting another talk program.
   I hope I had a positive influence on Marty. At least in one area it seems I did. Check this link out. WORD FM, a Salem Radio Network station, let Marty go after he raised the issue of whether the Pope went to heaven! What an amazing thing! I mean, good grief, Roman Catholic theology itself raises that question, but so-called "evangelicalism" cannot even allow the question to be raised, let alone discussed in a meaningful fashion! What an incredible insight into just how far "evangelicalism" has fallen from the evangel! More on this soon, as I'm really trying to get hold of Marty to invite him to be with me on the DL. I would love to talk to the folks who fired him as well, but I sorta doubt that is going to happen.
   UPDATE! As of 3pm EDT, Marty Minto is scheduled to join me on the DL this evening. He is, as you can imagine, a bit busy today doing interviews, but I have known Marty for years, and more than once dropped what I was doing to join him in studio, so I'm hoping not to get trumped by Nightline or something. :-) 877-753-3341 is the toll free number to call to talk to Marty and myself. It will be fun to have him on the other end of the microphone, so to speak, having been interviewed by him so many times! Be listening this afternoon/evening, 7pm EDT, 4pm PDT (and, of course, 4pm MST, the only time that doesn't change!).

10:13:35 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

I Run Afoul of The Internet Monk and His...Folks

04/14/2005 - James White

   I depend a lot on folks out there to send me url's and notes about who is saying what, and maybe the fact that it was not till today that anyone mentioned the "Internet Monk's" comments says something, I don't know. I guess the Internet Monk is a former Baptist, former Calvinist, now in that wonderful world similar to the rC's where you can glibly say that you have "differences and disagreements" with Rome but you must never, never allow those mere, trifling disagreements to become definitional of the faith. Everyone has differences, but nobody finds those differences to be of such a nature as to allow anyone to speak of such a thing as a "false gospel." The shrinking of the definition of "the gospel" down to "a very basic Trinitarian confession---but, you don't really have to understand it, just as long as you don't confess something non-Trinitarian---that includes something about faith, without getting real specific, is more than enough" continues on in some circles, it seems. Evidently, believing Rome's gospel is false---beyond anything the Judaizers ever dreamed of, is a mortal sin for those involved in the "we still say we believe in the doctrines of grace we just don't want to accept what they mean" movement. Here are some of the more...interesting comments I ran across.

Be a real evangelical.
James White is laying down the line in the sand for evangelicals who will comment on the impending/recent death of the Pope (depending on who you are reading right now.) This is an example. Apparently, any evangelical who doesn't point out all the relevant errors of the Roman Catholic Church at the time of the death of the pope is a weenie.
I'm gonna be a weenie.
When Billy Graham goes, send me a list of the Catholic web sites that announce his apostasy from the true church.

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

02:00:00 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

A Quick Late Night Note

04/13/2005 - James White

   I really wanted to put together an article on 1 Peter 2:8, or work on the materials I've downloaded from a few blogs, or something, but I am writing an article for the Reformed Baptist Theological Review, and I feel like I'm typing in wet cement. It is titled, currently, anyway, "Textual Criticism and the Ministry of Preaching," and since I am addressing particular kinds of textual variants, it is slow going. (For those who have procrastinated, www.rbtr.org to subscribe!). I guess I will simply note the following from John Armstrong, and hope to find time, someday, to comment fully:

In a way that is not easy to explain John Paul models something I believe evangelicals need very badly. He demonstrated that a Christian theologian can affirm the faith confessionally, including the distinctives of ones own tradition, while at the same time he can pursue the witness of the Spirit in unity with those who express significant disagreement. Simply put, unity can be pursued without embracing liberalism and the ecumenical agenda of the mid-to-late twentieth century. One does not have to deny the basic points upon which we remain divided while we also have meaningful conversation and relationship. The place to begin is with core orthodoxy, a classical Christian confession that inspires both faith and action (e.g., the Apostles Creed, The Nicene Creed, etc.). This man understood that point. His agenda is still to be worked out in the decades ahead but John Paul II set a new direction that many evangelicals, myself included, openly welcome.

   Just one comment: "Christian theologian," "affirm the faith," "witness of the Spirit," "core of orthodoxy." All mean "the gospel of grace does not define the Body of Christ." Just a thought.

02:00:00 - Category: Personal - Link to this article -

Today on the Dividing Line

04/12/2005 - James White

   Filled the phone lines today, but alas, none of the folks who like to post falsehoods on web boards had the temerity to call in and defend their accusations (try not to faint with shock). Lots of good questions, though, on the Papacy and one long one on justification. Here's the program.

17:17:34 - Category: The Dividing Line - Link to this article -

A Call to Faith

04/12/2005 - James White

   But I hear you say you cannot come alone, you cannot struggle by yourself, you cannot brave alone the thunderings and lightnings of Mount Sinai, you cannot stand with Moses on the smoking and the quaking summit, you must mingle with the multitude below. You are not even willing to be saved alone. Having followed a multitude so long to do evil, you still feel the need of communion and example, of mutual incitement and restraint. And you shall have it. You shall have it in perfection if you will but come. For ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven. The Church of Christ stands open to receive you, to protect you, and to nourish you. Her institutions, her examples, her worship, her ordinances, her communion, all, all are ready for you. This is a want for which the grace that rescues you has specially provided. You are not asked to be saved alone, though that were surely better than to perish. You may bring as many with you as you will, and you will find many entered in before you. When we bid you come, you are invited to a feast, of which many, thanks be to God, are after all partakers, and though many that are bidden make excuse or even venture to make light of it, the giver of the banquet shall be still supplied with guests; for while the broad way that leadeth to destruction remains crowded with infatuated victims, another concourse is seen streaming from the bye-ways and the hedges to the table of the Lord, where they shall sit down, clothed and in their right minds, washed and beautified, ennobled and refined, while many who appeared to be hereditary children of the kingdom, are excluded or exclude themselves from all participation in the banquet. Of the company thus gathered and transformed you are to form a part. The doors stand open, open to receive you, and yet there is room. If all obstructions have now vanished from without and from within, if atonement, and forgiveness, and renewal are accessible, and if the Church is ready to receive you into its communion of saints, what remaining pretext for delay can be imagined? Come, for all things are now ready.

   Theology on Fire: Sermons from the Heart of J.A. Alexander, available here.

02:00:00 - Category: Pastoral Theology - Link to this article -

Steve Ray Didn't Send the Troops

04/11/2005 - James White

   So Steve Ray writes to me and asks me to correct my blog since he didn't "send any troops." Well, we don't want anyone confused! Of course, I didn't say he did, I said the folks who were sending us e-mails came from his board, but he disavows any control over the folks who post there, so, therefore, he didn't send any troops. Glad we are all clear on that.
   Meanwhile, tomorrow morning, 11am PDT is another chance for ol' Doug C. or CatholicDude or GAssisi or any of the other "My I am brave behind a keyboard but please, please, please don't ask me to actually defend my slanderous writings since I can't really do that and I know it" folks to back up their claims in the only venue that matters: one where the truth can be told. The number is 877-753-3341. I'll be here, waiting. :-)

15:39:16 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

James White the Gnostic Heretic (Updated!)

04/11/2005 - James White

   My personal Alexander the Coppersmith, Paul Owen of Montreat College, has offered his views of my various heresies today. I note that the best that has come out of my bearing his animosity and constant vociferous hostility over the years is that he has been forced, for various reasons, to become ever clearer in revealing his theological positions, and for that I'm grateful. I would imagine blasts like the one below should help those who would involve themselves with him in any kind of church or conference setting see where he is really coming from. He is surely no friend to the vast majority of the apologetics community (they already figured that out for other reasons), but in reality, he is no friend to the largest portion of anything that would call itself "conservative Evangelical" or "conservative Reformed." I guess if something good comes out of his constant rants (i.e., the church is warned of a wolf in sheep's clothing), that is a good thing. Here's his most recent missive: ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

13:21:58 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Why Trying to Deal with rC's Goes Nowhere

04/11/2005 - James White

   Mr. Enloe just commented on the article I noted yesterday, and in so doing, demonstrated that I completely, and utterly, wasted my time in the recent discussion (well---at least as far as communicating with rC's, anyway). When someone has decided that they know what you believe, despite your repeated corrections, there really is nothing more you can do. Here is just one paragraph of the longest portion:

Dr. White lives in a world completely defined on all sides, pro and con, by theological extremism. As such he is an extremist and cannot help but present only extremist criticisms of everything that disagrees with his extremism. I agree with you: until he learns to tone his extremist rhetoric down and actually interact with what is being said, there's no reason to spend any serious time trying to deflect his criticisms of this website. Though most of what he says assuredly plays very well on the fears and radicalisms of the Fundamentalist crowd he serves, he has yet to hit us with anything substantive. For instance, looking with deep suspicion at the word "Catholicism" being joined to the word "Reformed" is hardly an argument, especially when it comes from a man who is willing to chop the Reformation off at the historical roots and treat the Scriptures like they are a mere piece of technology controlled by the levers and buttons of a high degree of competence in manipulating Koine Greek slaved to a thoroughly radicalized vision of "onlies". Mere self-testimonies about loving the truth and being unwilling to compromise simply don't cut it in the world of respectful theological discourse. This is a lesson which Dr. White needs very much to learn and begin to practice in his dealings with others.

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

13:05:21 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Spurgeon on Opposition

04/11/2005 - James White

When preaching in the Tabernacle in 1884, Spurgeon reflected on facing opposition in ministry (Oakley tip to SDC):

A company of mean-spirited, wicked men, who are no bigger than bees, mentally or spiritually, can get together, and sting a good man in a thousand places, till he is well-nigh maddened by their scorn, their ridicule, their slander, and their misrepresentation. Their very littleness gives them the power to wound with impunity. Such has been the experience of some of us, especially in days now happily past. For one, I can say, I grew inured to falsehood and spite. The stings at last caused me no more pain than if I had been made of iron; but at first they were galling enough. Do not be surprised, dear friends, if you have the same experience; and if it comes, count it no strange thing, for in this way the saints have been treated in all time. Thank God, the wounds are not fatal, nor of long continuance! Time brings ease, and use creates hardihood. No real harm has come to any of us who have run the gauntlet of abuse; not, even a bruise remains.

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

07:00:00 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

Nessie Spotted! My English Fam

04/10/2005 - James White

   Now, you have to look real, real close, but see how excited I look. I'm pointing at Nessie! She's right there! Some of you have been... somewhat dubious, I'm afraid, but all you have to do is look (with a little imagination!). Pastor Roger Brazier snapped this one at Loch Ness. Pastor Jack Seaton (he wrote the booklet for Banner on Calvinism) had run us out to the Loch while we waited for the mill store to open so I could load up on Tartan Ties before Roger and I flew back to London later that morning.
   And here is my English family, the Braziers. Not only are these faithful folks laboring for the Lord there in London at the Edmonton Baptist Chapel, but they proved their faith by being my English Samaritans, you might say. I mean, here I am, a man of strong Scottish descent, who often reminded Roger of the Battle of Sterling, and despite that, he and his lovely wife Priscilla and their son Justyn took wonderful care of me in my sickness, bringing me a doctor, medicines---goodness, even a box of Krispy Kremes! They bore with my physical weakness with tremendous grace. Priscilla became my English "mum," dutifully scolding me, if need be, when I did not follow her wise directions on how to get better. Justyn went far out of his way to be of assistance, even bringing me the Star Trek editon of "The Weakest Link" (Jordie just edged the Doctor 5-4 in the final round, winning answer "antebellum"). I'm sure my presence was a great disruption for all of them, but I never heard a word of complaint. Priscilla said I must bring my wife Kelli next time so they can go "accessorize." I'm not completely sure what that means, but Roger assures me it isn't good.
   It was a wonderful reminder of the supernatural nature of our unity in Christ that Pastor Brazier and I got in his car, headed out of Heathrow, and were chatting like long-lost brothers who were just now getting back together again. The ease with which we talked of the things of the faith, the state of the church, etc, and the brotherhood of faith we shared was just another example of how Christian unity is based upon the Holy Spirit's mutual presence in our lives and the resultant communion based upon truth that comes therefrom. I have thought upon that during these hectic days since my return especially in light of all of the hoopla around the "we wish we had a Pope but we don't so we will drop the centrality of the gospel and sorta join the movement" wave of religious insanity that has washed out of our collective television sets. I hope Roger doesn't mind my saying, but it is examples like him---steadfast in ministry in a small church there in London, godly family, a warm and compassionate heart---that is so very encouraging to me at times like these when the incoming shots from Catholics and "Protestants" show such animosity. Indeed, I thank all of those who have written notes of encouragement (there have been many). I do receive them, and thank you.
   Pastor Brazier just asked when I will be back for round #2! I do hope the Lord will open that door far sooner than later! Now, how do I work in a trip to Sterling?

22:00:00 - Category: Personal - Link to this article -

More on Why "Reformed Catholicism" is Just Simply...Catholicism

04/10/2005 - James White

   The title should have warned me, "This article ought to make us yearn for unity...we are not as separated as some would have us be." Yeah, that non-perfecting, repetitive sacrifice of the Mass is just real close to the Reformed doctrine of atonement. Right next door. Anyway, the article is "more of the same," but the paragraph chosen for posting on ReformedCatholicism.com ended with the following words:

For his fans, Karol Wotjyla is the prophetic figure who, at the close of the bloodiest and most barbaric century in human history, in spite of an assassin's bullet and Parkinson's disease, missionized the world in an exhausting and unprecedented series of travels; inoculated the Church against mutated strains of the same heresies Leo and Gregory combated centuries ago; began the painful process of reconciliation with both the Jewish people and separated Christian brethren; and played a decisive and perhaps pivotal role in the defeat of that twentieth century version of barbarism known as Soviet communism. That the latter happened, in our Strangelovian age, with nary a shot being fired might well be regarded as an event only modestly less miraculous than the Resurrection.

   How anyone, and I truly mean anyone, cannot see how that is so outlandishly blasphemous as to result in an unvoluntary groan of disgust I honestly cannot understand. Evidently, writing for a blog named for an utter oxymoron eventually dulls you to such things.

16:46:35 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Sermons to the Natural Man (Shedd)

04/10/2005 - James White

   The awakening, then, of the human soul, to an effectual apprehension of eternal realities, must take its first issue from some other Being than the drowzy and slumbering creature himself. We are not speaking of a few serious thoughts that now and then fleet across the human mind, like meteors at midnight, and are seen no more. We are speaking of that permanent, that everlasting dawning of eternity, with its terrors and its splendors, upon the human soul, which allows it no more repose, until it is prepared for eternity upon good grounds and foundations; and with reference to such a profound consciousness of the future as this, we say with confidence, that the awakening must proceed from some Being who is far more alive to the solemnity and significance of eternal duration than earthly man is.

William G.T. Shedd, Sermons to the Natural Man, 129-130, available at Solid Ground.

02:00:00 - Category: Pastoral Theology - Link to this article -

Islamic Apologetics and New Testament Transmission (#21)

04/09/2005 - James White

   It's been a few weeks since my last installment in this series. As you can see, I've been a bit busy with other topics. As we return to the lengthy quotation from Bentley on a, we recall that we have already documented the less-than-accurate perspective offered by Bentley (which is probably why our Muslim authors chose this citation). This continues in the following section:

   Even more strikingly, because Codex Sinaiticus was worked over by correctors long after it was first written, one can actually see this process of alteration for doctrinal reasons at work. Two examples make this abundantly clear. In both cases later correctors have objected to the text as preserved by the great codex. The first example concerns Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives.
   According to the text of Codex Sinaiticus, St Luke's Gospel records that 'there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground'. This text, with its suggestion that Jesus needed the support of an angel, and that before his arrest and trial he was in agony, is not to be found in the Vatican codex. Codex Sinaiticus clearly shows that the debate about them affected later scribes. One of them has placed dots beside the text, indicating that it ought to be deleted. A yet later scribe has carefully tried to erase these dots.

   Bentley's assumption may or may not be true, in the sense that it is always easy to speculate as to why scribes would read a text in a particular fashion, why they would, or would not, seek to harmonize it with a parallel account, etc. One of the problems with focusing upon a particular manuscript and taking it outside the tradition as a whole (as Bentley does) is that you then get a distorted view of the process. This is the case as well here. a is not the only text to contain this variant, though Bentley only mentions a single other text (B). As a result, one is given a very skewed picture. ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

02:00:00 - Category: Islam - Link to this article -

More from the Catholic Web-Board World

04/08/2005 - James White

   Sometimes, you just have to shake your head. Remember Doug C. from Houston, who launched into me on Steve Ray's board? Here's the original, here's my reply to his letter, also posted on Ray's board. Now, if you haven't ever ventured into Steve Ray's web-board, let's just say it is well known for two things: 1) hotheads, 2) massive volume. I have a vague recollection of actually posting on it briefly, years ago. I could be wrong, but I have a memory of sitting in the Denver airport on my laptop attempting to find time to keep up with a discussion on that board with one of the female regulars regarding, if I recall correctly, Irenaeus' view of tradition, or something like that. In any case, I just checked to see if anything more had been said regarding the fact that the letter Doug C. posted really had nothing whatsoever to do with his original slanderous and false statements. The first response, from "Donna," provides this insight: ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

20:50:31 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Documenting the Apostasy

04/08/2005 - James White

   One of the first things I said last week regarding the death of John Paul II was, "Sit back and start taking notes. How many, anywhere, even in 'Christian media,' will address the only relevant issue regarding the death of John Paul II?" I was such an optimist! I hadn't yet realized that not only would the gospel be ignored, it would be thrown under the bus. Well, maybe I should rephrase that. You can't throw something under the bus that you don't possess, and evidently, a very, very large portion of "evangelicalism" surely does not count the cross, the resurrection, justification, faith, atonement, substitution---sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus, soli Deo gloria---as something "precious." In fact, they act as if they've never even heard of it.
   The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is a splinter group from the Southern Baptist Convention. I was just directed to "Pope John Paul II - A Baptist Response" found here. Some of the more revealing comments: ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

20:22:04 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Campi Steps Out Front to Take a Few Tomatos (Tomatoes? Tohmatohs?)

04/08/2005 - James White

   My bud Campi (Steve Camp), never one to shy away from controversy (hey, the guy can make me cringe, and that's not easy to do!), has stepped out front to take a few of the incoming...rotten vegetables aimed the direction of the few of us who have simply refused to compromise the Gospel and jump onto the "I may be a Protestant but he was my Pope too" bandwagon. Here's his article.

17:06:27 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Giving a Pass?

04/08/2005 - James White

   I have had a few folks write to me and ask why I gave Dr. Al Mohler a "pass" in the blog article on the Dobson program. While I did not mention Dr. Mohler's participation in the program by name (which, given that there were two priests and Dobson, did not amount to a major portion of the show), I did say that the position of the program was set in its opening comments, and there was really nowhere to go as far as the truth was concerned at that point. Since Dobson closed the door on the reality of the situation at the start, it was simply painful to hear Dr. Mohler attempt to say anything meaningful in an already compromised situation. Since it had already been established that the gospel was off the table as far as defining the faith, what more could be said? Dr. Mohler is on the board of Focus on the Family. The issue of Rome's gospel should have been dealt with in that context, not the context of a national radio program with two Roman Catholic priests on the line. Hence I did focused solely upon the real issue: the fact that a large portion of "evangelicals" have concluded, not by serious reflection upon the gospel itself but due to social and cultural concerns alone, that all the additions to the gospel that are reflected in Rome's teachings, and embraced by John Paul II in his life and teachings and practice, do not in fact vitiate the gospel, but amount just to "differences" that are not definitional. The gospel has been whittled down to the LCD (remember that from school? Least Common Denominator) of "Jesus." Don't try to ask who Jesus is; don't ask what He did. Just as long as a person "believes in Jesus," all is well.
   I personally appreciate what Dr. Mohler has said on his blog. He has a massive audience, so I can just imagine the response he has gotten for attempting to bring any kind of biblical thinking to the topic. I will never be asked to be on boards and do the things he is doing or has done, so I have it "easy." We are a small ministry because 1) I'm not bright enough to have a big one and 2) the bigger you get the more you have to think about "constituencies." I can say what I need to say when I need to say it, and for that, I'm thankful.

11:25:39 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

A Sample of Roman Catholic "Apologetics" in Action

04/07/2005 - James White

   I just read through this thread, and once again, I am simply left speechless. Obviously, what we do in apologetics just isn't intended for most of these folks. Put on your asbestos gloves prior to clicking this URL, and thanks to the couple of non-Catholics who took the time to say, "Uh, wait a minute, that's just silly...." BTW, to all the people on that thread: it never, ever, ever crossed my mind that Ray closed down his forum because of me, and only the most extremely bigotted mind could possibly find in my words any indication I was suggesting such a thing. I think I should re-think even inviting "CatholicDude" to call the program, for it seems rather clear, reading through that thread, that nothing would be accomplished by even attempting to speak to him. Sad, once again, very sad. I can only trust that others observe this kind of attitude and go, "Wait, that's wrong---so why are my fellow Catholics so afraid of this man, and why is it they have to so clearly misrepresent everything he says? Why is there no substance in their replies, but only bravado-filled dismissals?" That is what makes it worthwhile! The Lord has His way of making all things work to the good, as the Word says.

19:42:35 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Today on the Dividing Line

04/07/2005 - James White

   Well, of all the folks I have challenged to call in and back up their various statements out there in cyber-land, only "Maximus" had the intestinal fortitude to do so, and he's not a Roman Catholic, he's an Arminian who had some less-than-kind things to say about me and my interaction with Dave Hunt. We had a nice chat for the first half of the program. Then Ben asked about the issue of authority in the early church, which led to a brief discussion of reading the early church writers. We will keep the phone lines open Tuesday morning for "Catholic Dude" and "Doug C" and all the rest of the kind folks, like GAssisi and others, to back up their statements. :-) Here is Thursday's program.

17:15:27 - Category: The Dividing Line - Link to this article -

They Went Out From Us

04/07/2005 - James White

   Evidently there is no "tolerance" amongst the uber-tolerant "Reformed Catholics" for believing that the gospel is what defines the Christian faith. One of their number, who has moved a very, very long way away from where he once stood and from what he once professed, taught, and even preached, recently wrote an article titled "Noisy Gongs and Clanging Cymbals." In it he makes oblique reference to me, of course, and my stand on the fact that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, the gospel is definable beyond "Jesus is Lord," and Rome's gospel is not the gospel once for all delivered to the saints. I guess there is tolerance amongst the rC's for Papal Infallibility, Marian devotion (goodness is there with this fellow!), Masses and purgatory, but none for believing the solas of the Reformation are true and actually matter. In any case, it is a very sad, but very sobering example of not only the double standard inherent in all such ecumenical, truth-compromising movements (You conservatives are so mean! You are so intolerant! Purgatory isn't all that bad! But if you hold firm to your beliefs, we will call you noisy gongs and clanging cymbals and deny that you do what you do out of love!), but in this case, how far one will go from what one once professed.
      We are not the first generation to see this, but until you do see it, close at hand, the words of Scripture can tend to remain somewhat distant. John, the last of the apostles, as an aged man, well knew this truth. He wrote to the infant, small, struggling church, wracked with heresy and division (1-3 John). And he had to write about those who had once been a part of their fellowship, even those who had stood before their congregations, joined in the Lord's Supper, sang the hymns---but who were now false teachers, leading many astray. He spoke of those who had gone out: ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

15:19:26 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

What a Difference a Blog Makes

04/07/2005 - James White

   You may recall that yesterday I noted the kind words of one Doug C. from Houston:

   Second, Tim Staples told me that White got his clocked cleaned by a friend of his in a debate on Peter being the rock. After the debate, White admitted that he had to uphold his anticatholic position or he has no ministry.
   White is a master spin doctor and a very prideful man. A very good friend of mine (she's excatholic) was actually friends with him. She attended one of his debates in California and she approached him a few days later, asking why he was so arrogant and rude during the debate, and why he kept changing the subject. He told her not to speak to him again.

   Now, these are not kind words (let alone that they are unfounded rumor and simply dishonest). So I invited Doug C. to call in on The Dividing Line to substantiate his rumor-mongering. Well, just a little while ago, johnMark, who seems to spend a large portion of his life surfing the net for interesting things, pointed me to a letter from Doug C. to myself. I don't know about anyone else, but if I didn't see the name attached to the following letter, I would have a hard time thinking the same person wrote it. What a difference having your obviously unguarded words posted on a well-read blog makes! ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

12:00:00 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

How to Remove the Gospel from the Center

04/07/2005 - James White

   James Dobson of Focus on the Family had a program featuring two Roman Catholic priests in memory of Pope John Paul II (4/6/05). The program started out all wrong, as Dobson said, and this is a quote,

His impact on people everywhere has been profound, and there are many areas wherein we found common cause with him and the other Catholic leaders. I'm a Protestant, and most of our listeners know that, I think, and I do have significantly theological differences with my Catholic brothers and sisters, but I'm grateful, and I say this with great meaning, I'm grateful for the moral force of Pope John Paul and especially his advocacy for the culture of life rather than the culture of death which has us by the neck here in the United States and other places around the world.

   Once again, there is everything good about standing for life, whether a Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, or plain old pagan. But you will note that Dobson laid the foundation of the rest of the program right at the start. Some might think it is wonderful that Dobson raised the issue of theological differences. Then again, don't we all have theological differences, even between the closest friends? Reformed Baptists have a "theological difference" with their Presbyterian brothers on the issue of baptism (paedobaptism vs. credobaptism, baptism of covenant children vs. baptism of disciples alone), but that is all just "in the family" is it not? Theological disagreements are a dime a dozen.
   What Dr. Dobson did by raising the "theological disagreements" between "Protestants" and Roman Catholics in the context he did was to remove the gospel from the definition of Christianity. How so? Well, he referred to our "Catholic brothers and sisters." There's the issue. If they are our brothers and sisters, then the gospel does not define who our brothers and sisters in the Christian faith are. Now, I truly doubt Dr. Dobson holds to the Federal Vision view of covenantal baptism that made up the substance of my debate with Doug Wilson last year, so I doubt he is using the term in the nuanced fashion it is used by FVists. And since it seemed to me, listening to the program, that the faith of the Pontiff, and his acceptance into the presence of God based upon the orthodox understanding of Roman Catholic theology and practice, was a given, it seems obvious that Dobson views Catholics as fellow Christians, heirs of grace, outside the proper realm of "evangelization." The Roman gospel of the Mass and Mary and purgatory saves, it seems, according to Focus on the Family, or, at least, James Dobson. And having set that tone, what came after could hardly change it.
   I likewise note the fact that one of the two priests on the program, Frank Pavone, is involved in the Roman Catholic apologetics movement. In fact, he will be on the Catholic Answers cruise in November (along with Michael Medved). That means he is hardly one of those Roman Catholics who is going to say that Protestant theology is "just fine." It would be nice if there had been a real debate on that program between Pavone and a Protestant who would stand firm and say, "No, I'm sorry, as much as common grace led John Paul II to do things that are moral and 'good' from a human perspective, the gospel he embraced, and his dedication to Mary, is completely inconsistent with the Christian faith." But that would have been pretty hard, given Dr. Dobson's opening lines.

07:00:00 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Now THIS Speaks Louder Than Words

04/06/2005 - James White

   
This image expresses what I have been trying to say for a few days now. This image appears in rotating fashion at www.catholic.com, the Catholic Answers website. A number of years ago I wrote the following in my book, Mary--Another Redeemer?:

It is general knowledge that Pope John Paul II is highly devoted to the Virgin Mary. He credits Mary with saving him from an assassin's bullet early on in his pontificate. His personal motto, inscribed upon his blue-and-white coat of arms, Totus Tuus sum Maria, means Mary, I am totally yours. He has visited just about every Marian shrine in the world, and has done much to revive and foster Marian devotion in the Roman Church.

   John Paul II's devotion to Mary, especially his belief in her as co-redemptrix, co-mediatrix, and advocate for the people of God, portrayed in this image (which, I am told, has appeared not only on the Catholic Answers website, but others as well), illustrates perfectly what I am talking about when I speak of how Rome's gospel gets in the way of Christ. Remember the words of Liguori in The Glories of Mary:

On this account it was, says St. Bernard, that the Eternal Father, wishing to show all the mercy possible, besides with giving us Jesus Christ, our principal advocate him, was pleased also to give us Mary, as our adwith Jesus Christ. There is no doubt,the saint adds, that Jesus Christ is the only mediator of justice between men and God; that, by virtue of his own merits and promises, he will and can obtain us pardon and the divine favors; but because men acknowledge and fear the divine Majesty, which is in him as God, for this reason it was necessary to assign us another advocate, to whom we might have recourse with less fear and more confidence, and this advocate is Mary, than whom we cannot find one more powerful with his divine majesty, or one more merciful towards ourselves. The saint says, Christ is a faithful and powerful Mediator between God and men, but in him men fear the majesty of God. A mediator, then, was needed with the mediator himself; nor could a more fitting one be found than Mary. (pp. 195-196)

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

17:43:36 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

And Now a Word from our Sponsors

04/06/2005 - James White

   We are greatly thankful for the huge outpouring of interest in the sermon we posted recently and in our effort to urge all believers, in light of the events in Rome, to resist the urge to compromise the gospel at this important time. Now, if you have read this blog for any period of time at all, you know I don't talk about money and fund raising. It isn't in my nature. I don't even do what I should in that area (i.e., let folks know the basics). But I just wanted to make note of the fact that just posting that one sermon on our Real Audio server has required us to upgrade that server, and that isn't free. We don't do the "The World is Ending! Send in your money today or the sky falls!" thing. I just felt it proper to let our readers know that this is a small ministry. No, a tiny ministry, but with a big outreach. We don't have some big supporter or group of rich folks underwriting this work. We do what we do through the book ministry, the mp3's and CD's, and through the gifts of regular folks who stand with us. And that group is small, let me assure you. So, if you have first and foremost supported your local church to which you are responsible (Hebrews 13:17), and you wish to support the Lord's work in apologetics, and have benefitted from aomin.org, there's a little "Support Us" button down there to the left. We'll be good stewards of what you entrust to us. You can always count on one thing: we will not compromise.

16:34:23 - Category: Misc - Link to this article -

Final (and I Do Mean Final) Response to Mr. Enloe (Part III)

04/06/2005 - James White

I close with some questions to Dr. White. If he denies that he practices nuda / solo Scriptura, why do his apologetics against Roman Catholics and other Protestants denigrate all authorities except Scripture?

   Answer: If saying all other authorities are not theopneustos equals denigration, then I guess I'm guilty. But as I have noted, Mr. Enloe simply has no idea what he is talking about when he says I denigrate all authorities except Scripture. Such is simply a straw man misrepresentation. Goodness, he knows I'm an elder in an LBCF Reformed Baptist Church--how could I hold the views he ascribes to me?

What other publicly-binding authoritative entities does Dr. White recognize than the local church?

   If I have defended the doctrine that the Apostles established the eldership of the local church as the highest ecclesiastical authority, why ask such a question?

How does his understanding of the local church not ultimately reduce to the "local" individual?

   I've published on the subject. I invite Mr. Enloe to read. ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

02:00:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

The Most Pathetic Post I've Ever Seen...

04/05/2005 - James White

   ...at least from an "apologist." This just appeared on Dave Armstrong's blog. You remember Dave Armstrong. Yes, he's the fellow who kept stealing Angel's artwork, having a four-year old butcher it, and posting it on his blog. Same fellow who melted down into a puddle of apologetic goo when I finally invested the time to start working through his book, The Catholic Verses, and that after years of wanting to "debate" me in writing (but, of course, never in person). Same fellow who then took an oath to stop interacting with "anti-Catholics" (convenient use of terminology)---which had the not overly unexpected result of basically killing his blog, which then went into hibernation during Lent anyway. And so now what do I find but a listing of my books and their Amazon sales ranks compared to who else, but DA! Honestly, how utterly pathetic can someone become? It was bad enough that his work was shown to be consistently shallow, and worse that his attempts to respond were shrill and panic-filled (leading to his melt down and his unwillingness to even attempt further defense), but evidently he was stewing a good deal more than anyone knew to stoop this low. Of course, there's a little problem: Amazon is not a major outlet for my works. My own ministry, other Christian ministries, and bookstores (including academic ones: a number of my works are used as textbooks in various Bible schools and seminaries) make up the majority of my distribution. Now, I don't personally care if Mr. Armstrong does in fact outsell me: the Prayer of Jabez sold more books than I will ever sell in my entire lifetime, and it remains a vapid waste of paper. But it truly amazes me that someone who utterly lacks the tools to do the work he claims to do with such expertise continues to be dragged along by the rest of his compatriots. Just another example of "as long as it is in the service of Mother Church, it is all good." What a contrast: we seek to be consistent in honor of the truth, which at times requires us to speak to less-than-popular topics (such as our exposure of the many errors of Dave Hunt). Where is that kind of consistent dedication to truth on the "Roman" side?

21:14:55 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

A Catholic Who Wants His Letter Posted

04/05/2005 - James White

   Christopher Hunt of Hanceville, Alabama, evidently is a strongly believing Roman Catholic. He wanted to make sure his letter appeared on my blog, so who am I to rob him of such a blessing? Of course, this is my blog, so, I get to respond.

Dear Mr. White, I have heard some of your debates, and know that you are knowledgeable. This also makes you responsible for the truth.

   Quite true, Christopher, but that goes both ways. If you've listened to those debates, then you will be held accountable for what you heard as well. ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

16:19:33 - Category: Mail Bag - Link to this article -

What "Reformed Catholicism" Does

04/05/2005 - James White

Tim Enloe writes on Dave Armstrong's blog:

   I also as a Reformed Christian want to say to my Catholic brothers that I strongly disagree with the views of my Baptist brothers Drs. White and Svendsen, and all their like-minded friends from other denominations. Nobody on either side of the divide needs to be "reminded" that the issues that separate us are very serious; much less does anyone need to be "reminded" of this at a time of great personal sadness when brothers have lost someone they consider to be their beloved Pastor and Father.
   The stark insensitivity to basic human compassion that is produced by this utterly radicalized "timeless truth" version of justification by faith alone, where "Good News" supposedly consists of mercilessly beating other image-bearers over the head with abstract, impersonal Doctrinal Propositions and congratulating oneselves for superior fidelity to "Truth", is not even remotely close to the position and spirit of the Protestant Reformers. Combined with a failure to appreciate the very good things that John Paul II did—things which only someone in the pope's position of cultural visibility could have accomplished—it is a gross discredit to the Protestant cause today.
   Thankfully, things are changing within our ranks.

   If I might just say, Mr. Enloe is not in my "ranks," nor is Paul Owen or all the others who have decided that compromise and a gospel without substance is all they have to offer to the world. I openly, if with sadness, draw the line where it must be drawn. He went out from us so that it might be demonstrated he was not of us. I still love the gospel more than the approval of men. No compromise.
   John Calvin (who, until recently, was considered a Protestant Reformer):

This much it seemed proper to say in passing, that my readers may understand how very widely the Roman See, as it now exists, differs from the ancient See, under which it endeavours to cloak and defend itself. But whatever they were formerly, as they have no true and legitimate office in the Church, they only retain a colour and empty mask; nay, as they are in all respects the opposite of true ministers....I now leave all the pious to judge what the supreme pinnacle of the Roman hierarchy must be, to which the Papists, with nefarious effrontery, hesitate not to subject the word of God itself, that word which should be venerable and holy in earth and heaven, to men and angels. (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, vii:30.

15:31:58 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

See, I'm Not Alone

04/05/2005 - James White

   If you have time, you might wish to listen to the late Greg Bahnsen's sermon on Roman Catholicism, available here.

13:00:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

Today on the Dividing Line

04/05/2005 - James White

   Well, we opened the lines, and got some good calls, but the folks who have been willing to throw out the most vile personal attacks must have been too busy to get to a phone today, so I guess they will call on Thursday night (don't forget, 7pm EDT!), 877-753-3341. Here's today's program. It's also available on MP3 here.

12:15:00 - Category: The Dividing Line - Link to this article -

Further Response to TGE (Part II)

04/05/2005 - James White

1) Did Hebrews 8 have a meaning when it was penned originally under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God? Yes. (But that meaning isn't necessarily identifiable with the assured results of the distinctly Modern and scientific type of hermeneutics that Dr. White practices.)

   What is "modern" about the examination of the text in its original context? Isn't the whole point of exegesis to allow us to "hear" the text in its ancient context, in its ancient setting? Isn't the imposition of some later tradition truly the "modern" viewpoint, the "modern" concept?

2) Was that meaning understandable to the audience to which it was written? Yes. (But Dr. White doesn't think about Scripture or live it out like that audience,

   How does Mr. Enloe know this? Does Mr. Enloe think about Scripture or live it out like the original audience of Hebrews by making reference to a Presbyterian form of church government?

for whom Scripture was part of a full-orbed culture, not a standalone text conveying all things only with its bare words interpreted via grammatical techniques.)

   I reject this repeated, yet, honestly, meaningless mantra. Standalone? WCF 31 is the context of the text to the original audience, perhaps? Bare words? We keep asking for where this "clothing" is---what clothing did the text have for the original audience that I have stripped from it that Enloe has kept by holding a particular ecclesiology or by studying the views of people who lived 1200 years after the writing of Hebrews?

3) Is that meaning obtainable today? Yes. (But perhaps it’s somewhat harder to do so than Dr. White appears to think it is?)

   Why? Why can't Mr. Enloe show this from my written works? Even if, as it seems obvious, Mr. Enloe has not read any of my recent works, surely he has enough to work from to demonstrate something concrete here, but he simply refuses to do so. This has been one of the great problems in attempting to dialogue with Mr. Enloe over the past many months: asking for concrete examples is met with this kind of nebulous response, and when this is pointed out, we are told that *we* are the ones who believe in abstract "eternal truths" that "float about in our heads." It truly makes it impossible to come to any conclusions when one side simply won't touch down to earth long enough to provide solid examples to examine. Elsewhere Mr. Enloe commented, "Several, including me, have said that proper exegesis is more difficult than the methodology James White uses." OK, which specific elements of my hermeneutic methodology are wrong, Mr. Enloe? Is it the examination of lexical meanings in a historical context? Semantic domains? Syntactical analysis? Discourse analysis? What is it? Can you answer, directly, clearly, specifically? ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

12:00:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

More Insight from the Mailbag

04/04/2005 - James White

   Most of these speak for themselves. I comment only when needed. ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

21:34:42 - Category: Mail Bag - Link to this article -

Insight Into the Roman Catholic Mind

04/04/2005 - James White

   The posting of my sermon from yesterday (here in Real Audio, but it is on our mp3 page as well) has generated an incredible response, both positively and negatively. Combined with the blog entries over the past few days, our incoming e-mail has been hot and heavy. But so also have been the Roman Catholic web boards. While Steve Ray shut his down, the Catholic Answers forums and those at Envoy Magazine remain open. It is indeed a fascinating contrast to compare what I have written and said over the past few days (and will discuss tomorrow on the DL, inviting all of these Roman Catholics who are so very...vocal...on web boards to call and explain their accusations directly to me) with the responses I have garnered. While I have focused upon the gospel, my detractors have focused upon...me, of course. While hardly one of them has ever met me, and are doing nothing but repeating unfounded rumors, they are certain that their ad-hominem just must be true. How else can you explain someone who has been so consistent over the years? While John Paul II's consistency in his beliefs indicates he was great, my consistency indicates I am arrogant. While John Paul's focus upon Mary means he is spiritual, my focus upon the gospel means I'm hard-hearted. Well, you just can't win for trying, I guess.
   Here's an example from the Catholic Answers forums from a "Catholic Dude":

   I dont understand your deep rooted hatred for the pope in such hours of pain and suffering? There will come a time when your on your death bed, is the pope going to laugh at you, and trash you like you do? When your wife or kids is suffering are Catholic papers going to smile, the way you do at such suffering?
   The pope speaks to the world, and has done what he could to promote peace. The Catholic Church is the ONLY church screaming about abortion, and the Pope made that very clear it is one of the gravest evils of our time. Do you guys care? NO! Go and clap your hands while the True Church is feeding the hungry, giving housing, schools, running orphanages, disaster reliefe, etc. YOU HAVE DONE ZERO TO PROMOTE THE GOSPEL. GREED IS ALL YOU KNOW. All you do is run a company to make money for yourself, all in the name of Jesus. Your nothing but a buisiness man selling your version of Chirstianity, you have no history, no respect. In the end you have no future.
   Who stood up for Terri? THE CATHOLICS, to you Prots she was a nothing, you prots didnt care. You Prots are destroying Christianity, every day more and more divisions, look at you how old is your made up self appointed excuse for a church. Read this to your congregation to show how evil us Catholics are, I dare you, read the whole thing in front of them. Highlight the part about spreading the Gospel to the poor, and you spreading the wealth to your pocketbook.
   In the end who are you...your a nobody, no voice, you will be forgotten. Catholics are the ONLY group who respect life and stand up for it.

...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

17:27:34 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

The Gospel and John Paul II

04/04/2005 - James White

   Yesterday morning I chose to "take the risk," scrap the message I had been prepared to deliver, and speak to the folks at Cornerstone Baptist Church about the gospel and John Paul II. Not knowing the congregation, it truly was a bit of a gamble, but the fine folks I had talked to gave me the confidence to go through with it. The gathered believers not only received the message with great interest and attentiveness, but this morning their sound man, Glen, contacted us and provided us with the sound file of the sermon itself. I really appreciate the timely manner in which Glen provided us with this sermon. Click here to listen in Real Audio format, or, if you'd rather, we have placed it on our mp3 page as well.

09:11:01 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Further Response to TGE (Part I)

04/04/2005 - James White

   In Dr. White's latest reply to me he says that I provided only one example of his misconstrual of sola Scriptura: his position on paedobaptism. He claims that his exegetical work on Hebrews 8 and 10 in the Reformed Baptist Theological Review proves that my accusation is false. It may be that he didn’t argue that way in the particular article that he references, but he has on many occasions in his chatroom argued that way.

   I'm sorry, but I truly feel like I am on solid ground to point out that if you are going to accuse someone of holding to a particular viewpoint, documenting it should not be so very difficult, especially when I have written so many works that provide page after page of exegesis. If I do not practice sola scriptura, then should it not be possible to demonstrate this rather easily? And yet we have found it very difficult to get straight answers on what should be a rather easily documented allegation. When I say a Roman Catholic, or a Mormon, or someone else, is violating the principle of sola scriptura, I am able to demonstrate it by reference directly to the scriptura. If one cannot do so, one might wish to avoid addressing the issue.

Certainly his recent blog post on removing the "trailer" (tradition) from one's "boat" (theological system) before sailing the boat supports what I’ve said about his attitude toward other Protestants.

   I am sorry the humorous story has proven so very difficult for folks to understand. Whether someone gets the illustration or not seems to provide some indication of how deeply one has been influenced by various traditional viewpoints. You are not supposed to put a boat in the water with the trailer still on it. The boat was not designed to function in that fashion. But you see, the folks driving the boat around didn't realize it was not supposed to be attached. See? They expected the boat to function in one particular way, but it could not do so. They did not understand the relationship of the boat to the trailer. See? I have no idea what TGE thinks this means, but once again, I am one of those who believes that Scripture, and Scripture alone, is theopneustos. If you join to that which is theopneustos that which is not theopneustos, you are joining things that are not meant to be connected, and that is true even if you do not realize your error. Are there Protestants who do this? Yes. Is TGE disputing this? ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

02:00:00 - Category: Reformed Apologetics - Link to this article -

The Wonderful World of NSA

04/03/2005 - James White

   A certain set of folks will surely chalk this up to my innate stupidity, blindness, and general lack of in-depth knowledge of the sewing methods of French nuns in the northwestern corner of France in the year 1219, but I just read Peter Leithart's comments on the death of John Paul II, and I am once again launched off into the netherworld of utter confusion brought on by "reformed Catholicism." I'm sure it is very "broad minded" to speak this way, but honestly, I just don't get it. Here's the final paragraph of the commentary:

Flawed though his theology was, he remains far and away the greatest Christian leader of the past century. No Protestant comes anywhere close. Billy Graham may have preached more (maybe!), but Graham had nowhere near the political weight or the theological depth of Pope John Paul II. John Paul II's life is not only testimony to the wonders that God can perform through imperfect instruments but an inspiration for all Christians, whether or not we aspire to pope.

   Let me see if I can figure this out. What makes a great Christian leader has nothing to do with the gospel. It has to do with political weight and theological depth. I guess it follows that "theological depth" is also disconnected from the gospel, too. You can be "deep" theologically without having any depth at all regarding such topics as the sovereignty of God in salvation, God's self-glorification in salvation, justification by grace through faith, the cross, atonement, substitution, the imputation of righteousness, forgiveness, the nature of adoption, sanctification, glorification...well, it would be easier to just say "the entirety of soteriology, ecclesiology, and the vast majority of eschatology." I guess that leaves theology proper, and ethics, as the realms of John Paul's "depth." But, oddly enough, I don't think you can be "deep" in either if 1) you don't see how God's triune nature is involved in the gospel itself, and 2) you can't do ethics outside of a proper view of man and God that again involves the gospel. So I'm at a loss as to what this "theological depth" is all about. But I'm just a Baptist, so that is probably just a given anyway. ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

23:14:00 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Steve Ray Sends the Troops

04/02/2005 - James White

   I arrived in Detroit from speaking at the Toledo Conference and I get a text message from our massive AOMin headquarters high atop the AOMin towers (uh, yeah), "The hate mail is pouring in." Seems one of my comments from yesterday was posted on the Steve Ray "Catholic Convert" message board. Now, if you've ever visited that web-board, you know that many of the folks who frequent it are...less than...subtle, shall we say? And so the hate mail has indeed been pouring in. Of course, none of it even tries to deal with the issues I have raised, but what do you expect from hate mail anyway? Though I have stayed focused upon the issues raised, the gospel, etc., these folks know nothing but ad-hominem and insult. Says much about what fills the heart, to be sure. So I popped on over to the web-board, and found it to be filled with all sorts of fair, even-handed, theological comments, like this one from Doug C. in Houston:

   Second, Tim Staples told me that White got his clocked cleaned by a friend of his in a debate on Peter being the rock. After the debate, White admitted that he had to uphold his anticatholic position or he has no ministry.
   White is a master spin doctor and a very prideful man. A very good friend of mine (she's excatholic) was actually friends with him. She attended one of his debates in California and she approached him a few days later, asking why he was so arrogant and rude during the debate, and why he kept changing the subject. He told her not to speak to him again.

   Just a note for ol' Doug. Twice a week I do a webcast called The Dividing Line. The number is toll-free, 877-753-3341. Next one will be Tuesday morning, 11am PDT. How about having the integrity to call? What you are doing above is called rumor-mongering. It is also called "lying." I'll be looking for your call, or, if you can't make it during the morning, try Thursday, 4pm PDT, which should be about 6pm your time. In either case, I look forward to your having the integrity to attempt to back up your rumors. :-) ...
[Click Here to Continue Reading]

19:44:54 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Thoughts On the Death of John Paul II

04/02/2005 - James White

   Sit back and start taking notes. How many, anywhere, even in "Christian media," will address the only relevant issue regarding the death of John Paul II? And that issue?
   Well, it isn't the length of his Pontificate, one of the longest and most stable in centuries.
   It isn't the fact that as far as Pontiffs go, he was a great administrator, traveler, even uniter of a very factionalized church. His "greatness" as a Pope isn't an issue.
   It won't be that he was a nice man, or that he took courageous stands on controversial issues.
   No, the issue almost no one will speak about is very simple: the gospel of Jesus Christ. It will not be spoken of for the simple reason that very, very few today believe the gospel can be known with sufficient clarity and depth to even address the issue of Rome's teaching. Further, many do not believe one must believe almost anything beyond a very basic, basic summary of Christian beliefs, hence, since the Pope "believed in Jesus," they will ignore the specifics of Rome's teachings and pass him directly into heaven without the first thought of what the New Testament as a whole teaches on the subject (proving that many today fear men rather than God, and do not care at all about the sanctity of His truth).
   As I have noted on the Dividing Line, the passing of John Paul II opens up a tremendous opportunity for dialogue. Are you prepared? Can you address the issue of the Papacy, the sufficiency of Scripture, and the reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how Rome does not possess that gospel (but instead dogmatically denies it)? The mp3 files available on this website, providing debates on all of these issues, would assist you greatly. The Roman Catholic Controversy would assist you as well.
   Please remember that many Roman Catholics today have known no Pope but John Paul II. They have a very, very strong attachment to him on a personal level. Your task is to be gentle yet direct in your seeking to proclaim God's truth to Roman Catholics. You can address the Papacy without addressing John Paul II individually. But the better you know your faith, and the better you know the teachings of Rome, the more confidence you will have in addressing this topic.
   I will address the issue of the Papacy and the death of the Pope when I return to Phoenix and get the chance to do the Dividing Line on Tuesday morning, 11am PDT, 2pm EDT.

13:02:40 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Pat Robertson Lauds the Pope

04/01/2005 - James White

   I just listened to Pat Robertson throw the gospel in the trash heap. The stampede to make sure the gospel is utterly irrelevant to salvation is on. Watch as evangelicals go on record as non-Protestants.

19:19:56 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

The Pope to Be an Intercessor?

04/01/2005 - James White

   A Vatican official just said that we need an intercessor in heaven who understands the problems of the 21st century on earth. He was talking about John Paul II going to heaven to be an intercessor.
   I assure that official that the Lord Jesus knows all about the troubles of the 21st century.

13:17:18 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Peace

04/01/2005 - James White

   We are hearing a great deal about the Pope dying in peace. And for what reason? Because he has suffered. You will be able to see, and hear, just how badly understood the gospel is amongst evangelicals and others as you listen to the commentary on the Pope. The specifics of the gospel will be buried under the emotionalism of death. The Pope's salvation will be guaranteed not because his faith is fixed solely upon the finished work of Christ (which, in light of the devotion to Mary, belief in the Mass, purgatory, etc., it clearly is not), but because of his suffering, his "goodness," a goodness not determined by reference to God's holiness, of course, but by reference to other men.
   I wonder...how many evangelical leaders will honor God rather than men and say what needs to be said? "Unless the Pope believed the gospel, he, like any other person on the planet, died under the wrath of God, outside of the only way of salvation God has provided in Jesus Christ!" And how many will cave in to the fear of the face of men and do what society demands by compromising the gospel, showing a greater love of the acclaim of men rather than the approval of God? Remember, friends:

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

13:02:20 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

Reports on the Pope's Death

04/01/2005 - James White

   As most of you know, various news sources are reporting Pope John Paul II has died, while others, including the Vatican, are denying this. However, the Vatican has confirmed that he is dying, and that it is only a matter of time. I am in Toledo, Ohio, preparing to speak this evening at the Toledo Reformed Theology Conference, so I am watching the coverage at Fox News, and it is truly fascinating.
   It is truly amazing to listen to them promoting Mary as Mediatrix, the Rosary, etc., and, of course, he is being passed directly into the presence of God with no stops in purgatory. In fact, one of the commentators (Monsignor Lisante) said that John Paul must have released many from purgatory due to his own sufferings (see how relevant the topics have been in our debate series on Long Island?). It is truly amazing to observe and even sadder to realize that so few of those who are hearing this have any idea what is being said or what it means.
   Now a Vatican representative is saying that Mary has opened wide the door to heaven to John Paul, who dedicated himself to Mary (a reference to the Papal motto, Totus tuus, "totally yours," addressed not to Jesus, but to Mary). If you are likewise watching, do not hold your breath waiting to hear about repentance from sin, the perfection of the work of Christ, the imputed righteousness of Christ. But you will hear much of Mary, far more than of Jesus. The true faith of Rome is on display in this situation. American Roman Catholic apologists seek to diminish the centrality of Mary in Roman theology, but here you see how foundational Mary is to the piety of the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in Rome itself.
   I will continue blogging live observations as time allows until I have to leave to speak this evening.

12:22:00 - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article -

<< Previous Month Next Month >> Blog Archives