When reason becomes madness

A process that started with reforms most found rational has led to Drag Queen Story Hour. It will no doubt go farther.

(Image: Teemu Paananen/Unsplash.com)

Why have people become so crazy when there is so much information and so many experts?

To answer, we need to know the basic understandings people rely on. These are evidently leading them astray. So here are some that now dominate public discussion:

Scientism. This tells us that modern natural science is our only source of authoritative knowledge. If we want to understand man and society, we should be scientific and rely on statistics, simple causal explanations, mathematical modeling, and the like.

Hedonism. Preferences can be observed and measured. Since we want to be scientific, we should take them as a guide rather than some broader and less concrete idea of the good.

Egalitarianism. All preferences are equally preferences, so they become equally entitled to satisfaction when the goal is satisfaction of preferences simply as such.

Technocracy. Accordingly, doing what scientific experts say will let us satisfy our preferences as much and as equally as possible is now considered the uniquely rational approach to human life.

These views have a lot to be said for them, at least from the standpoint of those who govern us. First, they seem clear and simple. If government today were based on something like natural law or the good of man, there would be endless arguments about just what they require.

In contrast, technocracy provides what seems a straightforward way to decide what government should do: promote equality and prosperity—along with related goods like safety and environmental protection—in the most technically effective way possible. To that end, experts should guide all aspects of life.

This last point is extremely important, because it gives our rulers an easy way to justify unlimited power and open-ended privilege.

Since our rulers are experts, or act on the advice of experts, the authority of scientific expertise means we should obey them without question. To resist would be ignorance, obstinacy, bigotry, or mindless self-seeking rather than a legitimate exercise of freedom. So what they say goes, and they answer only to themselves. We saw such arguments a lot during the recent pandemic, and more recently with reference to parents who complain about what their children are being taught in school.

At the same time, our rulers’ wealth and other privileges can be justified on the grounds that incentives are necessary to maximize production and enlist the best experts in the task of governing. How big they should be is, of course, up to the experts. So maximum equal preference satisfaction turns out to justify unlimited economic disparities—without them, everybody will be worse off.

That line of thought is basic to the alliance between billionaires and bureaucrats that has dominated the world since the fall of communism. They rely on each other, so they support each other.

In spite of its evident advantages for our rulers, technocracy has serious weaknesses that will eventually destroy it. One is that the standard of maximum equal preference satisfaction is less clear than it seems.

People’s preferences clash, and when that happens some must be sacrificed to others. But it is impossible to measure and compare them by size. Who knows whether my love of sleep is bigger than your love of loud, all-night parties? And in any event the world is too complicated to predict the ultimate results of suppressing one in favor of the other. It’s not even possible to show that focusing on preference satisfaction makes people more satisfied than some other principle.

But that means there’s no reliable way to compute and maximize satisfactions. Experts can do studies that claim to provide an answer, but the answers will depend entirely on the assumptions they put into the studies.

Even so, one preference or the other must win. In the absence of a principled resolution, government will inevitably support preferences that support the system. Rested and focused workers benefit the system, so sleep will no doubt win over noisy parties.

In general, though, the effect will be that people will be discouraged from becoming housewives, independent thinkers, contemplative monks, or supporters of natural law as the basis for government. Instead, they will be pushed to become careerists, consumers, lifestyle hobbyists, and politically-correct nags—pursuits that fit more readily into a technocratic system.

So it turns out that the principle of equal preference satisfaction suppresses certain preferences. Notably, it rejects those that are directed toward the objects like God, family, and traditional community that normally inspire the most devotion. Devotion is disruptive, and why would a system run on industrial lines by billionaires and bureaucrats want disruption? But suppressing devotion also makes for a weak social order, and people eventually lose patience when they are told they can have what they want while being denied what they want most.

Another problem is that what science can tell us is limited. Ideally, scientific expertise is based on mathematical relationships among quantifiable observations. That is how it attains the objectivity and exactitude that make it irrational, for example, to dispute what scientists say about the distance of the earth from the sun.

But there are very important things science can’t tell us. In particular, it can’t tell us about knowledge or reason because it can’t observe and measure them. It can only observe and measure opinions and preferences—the things people actually say and do. So if “knowledge” means “scientific knowledge,” then it can’t tell us about itself.

The result is that scientism eventually tells us that we don’t have knowledge, only opinion and preference, because these are the things science can tell us about. But then these have to do duty for knowledge—they are all that is available—just as preference satisfaction now does duty for the good.

Technocracy thus ends up with the same attitude toward truth as toward beauty and goodness: all are in the eye of the beholder. Our picture of reality—what we think we know—is something we make up to please ourselves.

This is paradoxical, since modern science originally wanted to make knowledge more objective and reliable. But the consequences are real. As the Supreme Court said in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, everyone is now entitled to define his own reality: “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.”

That is why, in the view of educated and responsible people today, a baby is only a baby if the mother says so, the mother is only a woman if she identifies as one, and two men make a married couple if that’s how they view themselves.

The problem is made worse by the tension within the technocratic view between human beings as resources and human beings as the creators of all values. The first means meritocracy—grading people by their usefulness to the system—while the second means an absolute right to define the world that turns each of us into a little god. And who can grade or make use of a god?

So a compromise is reached: people can be distinguished from each other, but only by purely technical criteria like academic certifications, and these must be equally distributed among all discernible social groups.

The result is that no one can define what a woman is, but if women don’t make up half of all fighter pilots, that’s wrong because they are not being treated as equal human beings.

Can such a regime last? It’s doubtful, but the logic of its principles is too relentless for moderation. A process that started with reforms most found rational has led to Drag Queen Story Hour. It will no doubt go farther.

It seems clear that the accumulation of contradiction and unreality will eventually bring the system down. Until then, we can expect more and more desperate attempts to shore it up. Already we see, at the highest levels, hysterical attempts to control thought and wild accusations of terrorism against large parts of the population.

The Church stands for reality, so she will inevitably be a prime target in the struggle. To deal with the situation, we need to hold fast to the realities she has always spoken for. And we must stand our ground and never compromise truth for the sake of an imaginary peace with its opposite.


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About James Kalb 148 Articles
James Kalb is a lawyer, independent scholar, and Catholic convert who lives in Brooklyn, New York. He is the author of The Tyranny of Liberalism(ISI Books, 2008), Against Inclusiveness: How the Diversity Regime is Flattening America and the West and What to Do About It (Angelico Press, 2013), and, most recently, The Decomposition of Man: Identity, Technocracy, and the Church (Angelico Press, 2023).

61 Comments

  1. Excellent commentary!
    The elitists and technocrats have certainly strayed from the path of truth and reason. If only reality would slap them in the face before they take down the whole system, and us with them.
    Thank God for the Church!

  2. The Catholic church makes much of the idea that ‘natural law’ [NL] offers mankind a ‘moral’ foundation that is of God. Yet the moral corruptions, chaos and limitations of NL are more self evident then ever. Especially to the Catholic church and others plagued by the continuing peodophile priest crisis. I can only wonder if being subject NL is in fact the punishment imposed upon human nature as the result of the Fall. A nature sorely in need of correction and new direction!

    • Mr. Landbeck:

      The peculiar pattern of sex abuse that is manifest by those priests who have committed sex abuse in the Catholic Church is that it is over 80% homosexual abuse of teen biys by homosexual predator priests.

      The published data from the Catholic Church in both the US and Germany show the same peculiarity. This os peculiar because one might expect that the pattern would be the opposite in the general society (i.e., the vast majority of abuse in the general society is always purported to be heterosexual abuse).

      So as to the matter of sexual abuse, you are not addressing the reality of the situation in the Catholic Church.

      As to your apparent rejection of Natural Law, you have not expressed any reason why Natural Law is responsible for sex abuse in general, or the Church’s homosexual predation problem in particular.

      One speculation might be that you reject Natural Law because NL would also lead to the conclusion that the two given sexual identities, male and female, have an ultimate purpose in union, and that purpose is to transmit new life, and that behavior contradicting that purpose is an sbuse of sexuality.

      But, speculation aside, perhaps you might offer a clarification of what your argument is.

    • Sir,

      The “Natural Law” is the Divinely-revealed Order that was ordained by God for creation.

      This is not “physicalism” ( that would say that someone should bleed to death should they be cut with a sharp instrument ).

      The Natural Law is not the savage and cruel “Law of Nature”, as that tragically resulted from Adam’s rebellion against God.

      The “Natural Law” in the Catholic context refers to the expectations put on Christians when they are baptized.

      In a fallen world, obedience to the Divinely-revealed Natural Law is required more than ever. And it can indeed be observed faithfully – but only with the assistance of the Supernatural Grace of Jesus Christ.

      The problem of pedophile priests has nothing to do with the Natural Law. Deviants have been protected – and promoted to the Office of Bishop and Cardinal – by the present counterfeit Church authority that is waging war against the Lamb.

      The problem in the world today ( and the problem in the hijacked Modernist worldly church …) is the REVOLT against the full and authentic Gospel of Jesus Christ.

      The present Modernist counterfeit authority of the Catholic Church is waging was against the Natural Law, as they are attacking the True Christ in the name of a fake, reinvented, Marxist, transhuman,eco-witch “Jesus”.

      • As recently as a few weeks ago, I would have found Fr. Duffy’s comments extreme and objectionable. However, recent developments in the Church (McElroy, Zanchetta, Fernández Torres, Vatican and USCCB reactions to major SCOTUS rulings, liturgical outrages in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Pelosi receiving Holy Communion at the Vatican, inter alia) persuade me that his view is apt and proportionate. My present quandary is how, as Patrick Madrid would say, not to shoot myself in the foot by turning my back on Christ’s true Church. Please pray for me and others like me.

        • Listen to the words from today’s Gospel reading:

          “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you,
          cure the sick in it and say to them,
          ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
          Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
          go out into the streets and say,
          ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
          even that we shake off against you.’
          Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you,
          it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

          The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,
          “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
          Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
          Behold, I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions
          and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.
          Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
          but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

      • In the age known as the Enlightenment, the proponents – modernists of the time – heavily criticized the Catholic Church because they saw it, thanks to its dogmatism, as an oppressor of individual freedom and reason. The protestors were wrong. However, over time, clericalism and reliance solely on rituals began to stunt the spiritual growth of the Church. So, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Vatican II was born.
        Today, we see modernists oppose the Church because they erroneously believe that its endeavour to make us aware of our Lord’s emphasis on love, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion – reaching out to the lost souls – is a weakening of the perennial teachings of the Church. The truth is that it is not one or the other. The social teachings of today are important (as they were in the early days of the Church) as is doctrine.

        • Your false rendition of history reveals a level of foolishness that makes it easier to understand your Orwellian blindness on the current affairs in the Church, particularly with the modernist Pope Francis. Aside from your preposterous misunderstandings of the dichotomy between modernism and orthodoxy your understanding of who is guilty of which, is off the wall. At no time did the Church solely “rely on liturgy” and most certainly never clericalism.
          Modernism, rooted in atheism, contains premises within all philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, etc. that rejects immutable truth even when modernism is embraced by the professedly religious. Philosophers of the enlightenment were naturally a mixed bag, with the bad philosophy seeking, without admitting it, exoneration from moral norms (not authentic freedom) as phony philosophers have done throughout history. It’s called sinning. Only a bigoted mind uses a word like “dogmatism” to describe the witness of the Church that challenged their vanity. But sin never takes a holiday, and there are no pendulums in history where people are more bad or less bad and waiting around for special events to turn things around.

          Vatican II promoted as much human vanity, implicitly denying original sin, as it warned against when it did articulate orthodoxy, and it is foolhardy to think in terms of history turning on what you call “emphasis,” which you apparently have contrived as a way of blinding yourself to current events, to a pope who, despite your endless exaltations, has condemned objective morality, has done such things as squelching responsible moral witness against children buried alive. A Pope who speaks out of one side of his mouth, in one mood, about hitmen and abortion, which is thoughtlessly cruel to hurting women, yet he knowingly gets giddy over Marxist governments with compulsory abortion programs while in another mood.
          He has shown no ability to draw an obvious connection between the illicit sexuality of the sex revolution and abortion and its multitudes of other social destructions. Have you ever heard him say one word favorably about chastity? No, he insults those who exercise reason and authentic compassion about the meaning of God-given virtues. There is no such thing as “emphasis” in the Christian life as you and Francis would have it. We are accountable to all Christian virtues all the time.
          He’s gotten your Orwellian mind to call the orthodox modernists, and a modernist relativist like Francis, orthodox. Francis bellows about mercy, yet does it frivolously and so often his conditioned sycophants will never stop to ask the meaning of his merciless attitude towards broken first families and assumes perfect motivations in his reductionist pandering of Catholic concepts into self-serving amoral “discernment” when a man, abandoning his wife and children, shacks up with his mistress. They only fall for the one in ten thousand story of some imaginary man rescuing a broken soul as to turn God’s covenant of marriage upside down into more self-serving mercy stories to “accompany” sinners who want to just keep smiling while they ignore the faces of God in those left behind. A man can lose his soul in Orwellian Catholicism.

      • Father Duffy,
        I have a disagreement with your understanding of Natural Law theory. My understanding is that Natural Law is a philosophy that’s rooted in natural reason and logic based on the reality that surrounds us. It is not divinely revealed as you had indicated. Can you shed light on our discrepancy?

    • “ Yet the moral corruptions, chaos and limitations of NL are more self evident then ever.”

      Where are all these shortcomings of the Natural Law that you see so clearly?

      • Everything. Natural law is the love of God within moral action and responsibility. Any form of abusing another soul is the abuse of NL.

  3. While all preferences are equally preferences egalitarianism is an ideology that is not defined by equating preferences. It’s complicated. Lawful egalitarianism can mean absence of privilege [what is good for the goose is good for the gander], while social preferences seem to be what your formula reduces egalitarianism to. Not all social preferences are subject to equal rights protection although that where it appears we’re headed.
    The dilemma may be reduced social mores undergoing radical transition from tradition. Essentially, what determines or has determined mores in Western civilization is Christ’s revelation. With the abandonment of Christian principles of justice the hope of achieving equanimity under the law is impossible, since there’ll be those pursuing preferences that other preferences will conflict with. That is why we’re moving toward pursuing preferences outside the law ending in Chaos and madness.
    “The Church stands for reality” is the bottom line. Unfortunately that option for civilization is muted by a synodal Church in perennial discussion in the form of a think tank, rather than in convinced, exclusive, spiritual exhortation. And example.

    • “People’s preferences clash, and when that happens some must be sacrificed to others. But it is impossible to measure and compare them by size” (Kalb). Reading through the article again Kalb, on egalitarianism and preferences, says in more refined description pretty much what I said about inevitable conflict, i.e. on “clashes”.

  4. Observation of the behavior and trajectory of the pontificate of Pontiff Francis leads to the conclusion that his pontificate is a pontificate of madness.

    In Evangelium Gaudium he states, in the section heading preceding paragraphs 231-233: “Realities are more important than ideas.” In paragraph 231 he states: “Realities simply are. Ideas are worked out….”

    Obviously, the suggested opposition between “realities” and “ideas” is itself an idea, and can be categorized as an “ideology.”

    Right now, we have been offered a “special” manifestation of how this idea, this ideology, is being employed by the Pontiff Francis and his pontificate. This manifestation is the assignment of His Eminence Hollerich (SJ), who has pronounced (for instance) that the Church is in error to teach that sodomy is a sin.

    Fornication, adultery and sodomy are “realities” in our fallen world, aren’t they?

    And “Though shalt not commit adultery” is an idea, correct? (and per the New Testament, we shall not commit fornication or adultery or sodomy).

    Thus, the madness of the Pontificate of Francis is made manifest, because by its own formula, we can see its ideology in implementation: “The realities of fornication, adultery and sodomy are more important than the idea of the Sixth Commandment.

    Ambiguities are also “more serviceable” than clarity, for the 2013-cult.

    • It must have been that superb Jesuit training that allows Pontiff Francis to spout the most convoluted kinds of ideas with the desired intent of inducing confusion in the listener so that the latter just walks away scratching his head while saying to himself, “I don’t get it, that man must be brilliant and know what he’s talking about.”

      I’ve said it before: Pontiff Francis has a terminal case of logorrhea. A remedy for his affliction would be a silent retreat for the rest of his days.

      • I think “logophobia” – an irrational fear of the truth – might be a more accurate diagnosis for Francis. But I agree with your proposed solution. Or like my mom used to say, just ignore them and they’ll go away.

      • Even Satan would want Pope Francis, the good Christian, to go on a silent retreat for the rest of his days. However, I believe that our Lord wants his “rock” to be there for a while longer.

        • Mal,
          I performed intellectual gymnastics for several years in trying to reconcile Francis’s words with the Gospel message. Eventually, I came to realize that Francis is simply not very smart. But, with time, I’ve come to realize that this is also wrong and that Francis is probably a wolf in sheep’s clothing who’s looking to devoir the sheep.

          The best thing he can do for both our souls and his own is resign or go on a permanent silent retreat.

          • Steve, it seems that you were doing incorrect exercising. If you had prepared yourself honestly you would have found a very faithful and wise Catholic; a person whose understanding of Jesus and his Church far surpasses that of his critics. And so to his commitment to our Lord.

        • “I believe that our Lord wants his “rock” to be there for a while longer.”

          And you come by this belief how? There is a difference between personal preferences and matters of belief.

          REPLY

    • Chris,
      I liked your post. I wish to add that the Sixth Commandment and Sodomy are both ideas and realities. The reality of the Sixth Commandment condemns the reality of sodomy.

      • Thank you.

        Snd of course, you and I believe that the commands of God are real.

        My point, as you know, is that the reigning Pontiff and his cohort don’t believe it, which is patently obvious to all who behold his promotion of sodomy, etc.

        His is yet another pontifical pornocracy, and he will forever be remembered as the champion of subversion by his hand-picked army of co-idolatrous sycophants.

  5. The Church and our faith has been assaulted non-stop by the so called “one we’ve been waiting for” {Obama} since 2008.The only thing different today? Is its intensity.

  6. Parents, defund the American public schools and universities and you take back the nation. Vouchers, not government unions!

  7. More often than sensible those who appeal to ‘science’ seldom understand science. They do not want to understand things that potentially could introduce doubt concerning their proclaimed positions on issues. I see this as a profound failure of modern education; that it does not bring to students a passion for questioning one’s own ideas. Hence we have ‘educated on paper’ extremists who tout their ‘scientific validity’ without the ability to even read the science they claim founds their ideas. But, even more serious is their position that they should not have to. They have been trained to ‘self express’ without concern that what they express might be idiocy – humility is no longer possible for them.

    • You can be sure that many of these people have never heard of Karl Popper’s criterion of falsifiability for the demarcation between science and pseudoscience, which in its first form attempted to answer the question, “Why is Albert Einstein a scientist, while Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud are quacks?”

      Queen Elizabeth II knighted Karl Popper for his “services to humanity”.

  8. Presuming that the current culture of societal irrationality has within it the seeds of its own demise, we are faced with a choice. Do we – the ones who possess rationality and navigate in the realm of reality – do a defensive holding action and simply hold our ground by presenting Truth as we know it? Or, do we hasten the inevitable demise that comes with living in a state of hyper-unreality by any and all means possible?

    And. When it comes to those in our Catholic Church who also inhabit the world of unreality (yes, we know who you are), I say to other traditionalist/restorationists: hold on, hold fast to your beliefs, don’t be dismayed by what you hear from lofty precincts. Those living in a state of “Catholic unreality” will self-destruct as do all forces aligned with the Father of Lies.

  9. God lays matters out so that we can make an informed decision. In the end, the battle belongs to the Lord and he will win.

    Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!

    John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

    1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

    2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

    The battle ensues for eternal soul. Satan wishes to destroy us. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to save us. Which is preferable? Jesus offers salvation.. Let all renounce folly and take His hand of friendship and pardon. Our Creator loves us and wants us to come to the knowledge of truth and eternal life. Yes, choose life.

    Romans 10:9 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

    Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

    Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

    John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

    Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

    Blessings of discernment, understanding, insight and knowledge as we learn of His grace and glory.

  10. Then there was Martin Luther, an Augustine monk, who in his self-righteousness and arrogance started a new reform church and inspired many others. The tragedy of this evil age is that in the hierarchy of the church itself are conceited corrupted egotists who are obstinately convinced that they have to stay in the Holy Church and transform her, the Mystical Body of Christ, to dim the bright light of truth, into their own will and evil desires defying the truth revealed by the prophets and Christ Jesus who is the Truth. Nevertheless, no doubt, Jesus Christ our Lord is in control. As the light of truth has been dimmed, the glory of the divine holy fire of the merciful Heart of Jesus will illumine the darkness of the present age. Christ Jesus will enkindle the fire again. The darkest night will see the brightest sunrise! I am convinced, there will be a divine intervention. The King of the hearts of men will expose the lies and insanity of this present world and His Truth will shine as bright as ever.

    • Would you address a point where you feel” Martin Luther, an Augustine monk, who in his self-righteousness and arrogance started a new reform church and inspired many others.”?

      It is important for those who love God, to know where Luther mis-stepped. Correcting error is an onerous task so take the point that you view most egregious and elaborate.

      Thank you and God bless you.

      • The grievous “mis-step” was to leave the Holy Catholic Apostolic Church, the TRUE CHURCH, the MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST ITSELF. GOD Incarnate Christ Jesus established the new covenant in His BLOOD, to nourish us with His Body and Blood; His holy Will accomplished by installing the Priesthood who make present the Eternal Sacrifice offered up to the Eternal Father every day around the globe for sins of the people and nourished by consuming Body and Blood of Christ Immortal they also can wash their sins away in Holy Confession with the Precious Blood of Christ the Son of the Living God. That shows that Luther and followers are not a church of Christ at all but best a hymn chanting scripture reading fellowship, defying the Words of Christ and refusing to believe them is a dangerous thing. God bless you Brian.

        • Thank you Edith, I have admired a number of your comments, yet on this matter, we might discuss it a bit further if you wish! Would you bring scripture to buttress your view point, alternatively church tradition?

          As I see it, Luther was against buying indulgences. Additionally he came to the conclusion that Holy Scripture was the guide to salvation and peace with God, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Further he was of the opinion that the Catholic Church was mistaken in some areas. Mistakes are part of life for me!

          In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI spoke on Luther’s convictions. it is insightful and helpful.

          Church Tradition should compliment scripture giving us insight and peace of mind. Allow me to offer scripture that is foundational to the faith!

          Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

          Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

          John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

          2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

          Galatians 2:21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

          2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

          We probably find concordance in these verses. My goal is to praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit and bring a closer bond in the unity of Jesus Christ.

          Looking forward to your response,

          Brian

          • Hi Brian, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…(Acts 16:31)
            What happens if one BELIEVES in the God Incarnate Christ Jesus? If you truly believe then “you sell everything” and follow Him, you love Him with all your heart and you defend His Truth and obey His Word. Martin Luther was a man of the Church especially his early writings are commendable. The Church is full of sinners, and the Church has fierce struggles through the ages. If your mother does or say something wrong, do you leave her? This is crucial: The Church is the mystical Body of Christ; “In him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts17:22) You have to be a living member of the New Temple, the Body of God Christ. Nobody can cast out the words of Christ in John 6 when He states: I am the bread of Life! “”Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood you shall not have life in you” (Jn 6:54). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (your quote) You are in Christ when you eat and drink Him. This is His Holy Will to feed us with Himself! He is the Divine Bridegroom; it is about a wedding becoming one with God Christ. We have to be vigilant, the devil does not sleep; he kept the faculties of angels and his deceptions and lies are malicious. I did not mean to preach to you, Brian, but so many people find something wrong with the Church and leave. “He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb 5:9) “Whoever loves me, will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” (Jn 14:23, 24) Do you believe to gain immortality or do you love him? “Whoever rejects me…the Word I spoke, it will condemn him” (Jn 12) “If any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world.” (Jn 6:52). This divine nourishment is made available on the altar of the Catholic Churches. “He belongs to the Father from eternity and could not give Himself away to any human being. He could only incorporate the persons who wanted to give themselves to Him into the unity of His Incarnate Divine Person as members of His Mystical Body and in this way bring them to the Father” (Edith Stein). “For it is love that I desire.” (Hosea 6). And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all thing to the Church , which IS HIS BODY, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” (Eph 23). Brian, God is love, he searches the hearts of men for love. Take another look at the Catholic Church; sometimes her divine beauty is unrecognizable. I pray for you, to come and taste the sweetness of the Lord. God bless!

          • Hi Brian, one more thing! At the Passover of the Lord they brushed the blood of the lamb on their doorposts (souls) to be saved from death, secondly, they had to partake of the lamb, they had to eat of the lamb. the question is, do you believe in the Words of God Christ Jesus to eat of the Bread of Heaven, the Lamb of God?

    • The tragedy of this evil age is that some members of the Church are convinced that they know more than the Apostles of the Church, including the rock.

      • Blessedly, God knows everything and he shares His eternal knowledge with us. When we ask we receive. When we wrestle and reason with God, He rewards those who diligently seek Him. His word is a lamp and Joy of joys, He never misleads us.

        Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

        2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

        Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

        John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

        John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

        Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

        God bless you

  11. As always a fantastic insight into the worldview that governs modern public life (in my country, Australia as well and in all the Western world). The answer seems to me to build up communities of families and faithful in parishes where the Catholic Worldview can be offered to people (including children) as the sane alternative and those that want to live the Catholic Worldview can be encouraged and supported in doing so. From these communities we can reach out evangelistically and be ready to welcome people as the absurdity of liberalism proper becomes increasingly more apparent to people.

    • A heart-felt comment dear Tom.

      Only problem is “the Catholic worldview” in many of our Aussie Catholic parishes is no longer founded on the Apostolic teachings of The New Testament, nor on the magisterial instructions of The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

      From archbishops, to bishops, to priests, to religious sisters & brother, to deacons, to seminarians, to Catholic college & university professors, to RE teachers & catechists it is quite common to find disbelief in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ and a general diminishment of His Person and His Word. Unitarianism, universalism, syncretism, and spiritism are not infrequently proselytised. Morality among many Aussie clerics is: ‘whatever I can get away with and whatever my brother clerics will cover up’. It has become a zoo; it goes from bad to worse.

      Lay movements like ‘Emmanuel Ecumenical Covenant Community’ and ‘Charismatic Healing Ministries’ originally provided a very attractive revival of true Catholicism in Australia but lost most of their people (after years of faithful membership & major financial giving) once it became clear the leaders were committed Freemasons and had absorbed an anti-Christ spirituality (as inducted by leading clergy).

      It’s a precious blessing indeed to locate an Aussie Catholic parish where the priest preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ without fear or favour and lives a lifestyle of exemplary morality and humble loving integrity. Such clergy will one day hear those infinitely valuable words: “Well done you good & faithful servant. Now, enter the joy of your Master!”

      As for the many others: we should pray that they repent before it’s too late. Facing King Jesus Christ, our Master, they will be cut off and thrown among the eternally lost (Luke 12:46). For the many exploitive abuser clergy and those who collude: it will go even worse for them than to have a millstone tied around their neck and be thrown into the sea (Luke 17:2).

      Subtending the deadly problems faced by our Church there’s a failure (individually & collectively) to LISTEN TO & VALUE the Word of Christ and to joyfully OBEY. What a pernicious deception, when so many Aussie Catholics say: “That’s too difficult!” The truth is The Lord Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light.” All we need is to be willing. The choice is ours.

      Blessings on all those who hear and follow The Lamb; with love from marty

    • Yes, yes and yes again. This should be a necessarily deliberate effort and one that is laity-led. Don’t expect nor count on clergy to take the lead. Here in Front Royal, VA there is an ever-increasing population of faithful, traditional, large-familied, and dare I say “restorationist” Catholics. It’s not uncommon for there to be pro-life marches, Corpus Christi processions, “Catholic night” at the local minor league baseball park, and long lines DAILY for confession at the local parish. Yesterday I was there for confessions at 9 am. It was First Saturday and the Church was packed. This is the kind of community building that all Catholics ought to be promoting.

      • Hi, Deacon. It’s hard to tell when someone is commenting on my comment. Perhaps you are 🙂

        I often think about where truths come from. I am fine with all truth emanating from God. But from there, it seems that Truth splits into many forms, expresses itself in many ways: through literature, prayer, scripture, relationships–the list goes on.

    • To use a plural form of ‘truth’ is imprecise. To say ‘there are many things that are true’ is more accurate. As such, one definition of ‘truth’ is just the conformity of the human intellect with what the thing perceived actually is.

  12. Once considered a deprecating, disgusting act of sodomy for a man, is now in the new World order of Sodom and Gomorrah proclaimed an act of heroism. Once the First Principle of all existence is abandoned all order beneath it collapses.

    • Well put dear pastor and brother.

      1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

      Ephesians 4:7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

      1 Corinthians 14:12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

      Blessings upon blessings

  13. Yes Brian. There’s a marked difference from cultures that didn’t know the true God like the Greeks and Romans prior to Christianity, who were inclined to develop ordered cultural principles seen in Plato, Aristotle, Virgil, Cicero, whereas those cultures that were embedded with belief in the revelation of Christ and an established order then abandon it the downward spiral toward chaos becomes exponentially rapid.

    • Good scholarly, logical comment Fr Peter, sadly founded on a common Catholic (& Orthodox & Protestant & Pentecostal & Jewish & Moslem & Freemason) fallacy that assumes our divinely-given vocation is RENOVATION of the world.

      In sharp contrast, our unique New Covenant Christian calling is not that of winning the world but of witnessing to the world, as it self-deifyingly devolves into utter destruction. See Matthew 7:13-14; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Revelation 20:11; etc.

      Our precious task is to extend a hand of love to every person who realizes they need SALVAGE by following Jesus Christ’s way, truth, & life.

      With this Life-giving vocation, why do so many ‘believers’ major on minors?

      If we don’t hear, follow, & proclaim Jesus above all things, we’ve nothing eternal to offer the people of this passing world; and, we too will be found wanting.

      In summary: WITNESSING not winning; SALVAGE not renovation.

      Take care. Stay well. Always in the love of The Lamb; blessings from marty

  14. Dear Edith, it is such a joy to read your comments, where they are built on the Apostolic revelation of The New Testament. Few Catholics today seem to have taken the trouble to immerse themselves in The New Testament, and even fewer show they love The Word as much as you so evidently do, so encouragingly. How many of us realize that The Catechism of the Catholic Church is built on more that 3,500 references to The New Testament?

    Yet, you don’t say anything about an issue that you, Sister Edith (like many sincere believers), will certainly have thought about. What can we say re: the increasing numbers of Catholic bishops, priests & congregations who do not believe in the Real Presence of King Jesus Christ’s Body in the consecrated wafers and His Precious Blood in the consecrated chalice of wine?

    How should we Catholics think of those Anglican and other Protestant ministers and congregations who, following 1 Corinthians 11:23-34, DO sincerely reverence the reality of Jesus Christ’s Flesh and Blood in their Holy Communions?

    My understanding is that Jesus instituted God’s NEW COVENANT when He first gave us His Flesh (Real Food) and His Blood (Real Drink) at the Last Supper. At Holy Mass, obedient to the New Covenant, we joyfully receive this Food and so covenant to be humbly obedient to God’s commands; with this Drink we covenant to love as He has loved us. This is clearly the central and most significant part of our life in Christ. Why would one think that Protestants are excluded by God from a living participation in the New Covenant of Jesus’ Body and Blood?

    Revelation 12:17b (NRSV) – “. . her children are those who keep God’s commandments and hold the testimony of Jesus.” Apostle John is saying that the children of our Most Blessed Mother Mary are those who obey God’s rules and witness to the truth of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I see it (please feel free to correct me) that excludes quite a few disbelieving Catholics and includes quite a few believing Protestants.

    Insistence that one’s organisation is the only legitimate one has led to terrible wars and unspeakable cruelty between Catholic Church factions; and also among different Protestant churches (even today: Russian Orthodox and Ukrainian Orthodox ‘christians’ are slaughtering one another).

    Surely, far better to say: “A Christian (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, etc.) is as a Christian does!” This is affirmed by Jesus’ teaching that we can only know His true followers by their good fruit. Affiliations and affirmations can be deceptive – whereas love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, generosity, faith, humility, and self-control are incontrovertible signifiers of Christ’s living Presence in a person.

    I love my Catholic Church heritage, but shed many tears over the Church’s treacherous disobedience to our King, Jesus Christ; and its arrogant claims to have exclusive rights to His dispensation of Divine saving love. Hopefully its not too late for the Church to return to Jesus’ way of leading by being the slave-servant of all others.

    Take care, Stay well, dear Sister. Ever in the love of The Lamb; blessings from marty

    • Blessings Dr Marty. It is good when brothers strive together to honour the Lord and come to fuller understanding of the Lord’s gracious and enduring word. Do you believe to following words of the Lord? It stands to reason that you proclaim them and live by them!

      John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

      1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

      Romans 15:7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

      Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

      Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

      Romans 10:9 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

      Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

      Romans 2:11 For God shows no partiality.

      Matthew 7:1-29 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. …

      Jesus came to fulfill the law that He gave. He would not recommend in anything that would mar His testimony. Would you elaborate on 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 and say where it goes beyond the symbolic remembrance of His broken body and shed blood?

      In the peace and bond that is Jesus Christ.

      Brian

      • Dear Brian,

        It is so refreshing to read your life-giving & believing lifting up of some of the most encouraging and instructive texts in The New Testament. God blesses those who honour God’s Word. Not only that, but God has filled those texts with the answers we need for the serious problems facing all of human society.

        You are a special blessing for us Christ-loving Catholics, Brian Young, since in our Church the clergy not infrequently starve us of the daily bread of God’s living word. So often they themselves, unbelieving, will not enter in to the sanctuary of God’s Holy Word and they may even forcefully keep us true believers out! May they repent and be forgiven.

        Your question about 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 highlights an old Catholic/Protestant dispute over whether the consecrated bread is actually the flesh and divinity and the consecrated wine is actually the blood and life of our Lord Jesus Christ; or, just a symbolic remembrance of His atoning & saving sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

        It would be naïve of us to ignore the centuries of disputation and the controlling subtexts of political power struggles between nations and denominations. Power blocks attempted to affirm their own exclusive rights (with all the commercial benefits); others tried to wrest that authority from them and establish their own political authority and commercial viability. In my mind, a thoroughly disgraceful misuse of biblical exegeses centuries ago, and almost as disgraceful still, today.

        From decades of being in love with the glorious Apostolic revelations and instructions of The New Testament, and from deep immersion in Catholic and Protestant commentaries and concordances, with references to the original Greek texts, etc., one concludes that no text has been given to us to stand on its own; every text we refer to (no matter how precious and prescient to us personally) MUST BE exegeted in the light of the whole of The New Testament witness. Almighty God never disagrees with Almighty God.

        While Jesus was teaching at the synagogue in Capernaum, Apostle John recalls some universe-changing commands (see John 6:53-58), that so deeply shocked His Hebrew followers that most of them rejected Him from then on:

        “Very truly I tell you unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you have no Life in you. Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood have eternal Life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for My Flesh is true food and My Blood is true drink. Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood abide in Me, and I in them. Just as the Living Father sent Me, and I live because of The Father, so whoever eats Me will Live because of Me. This is the Bread that came down from Heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this Bread will Live forever.”

        That surely helps us see that Paul’s: “For all who eat and rink without discerning The Body, eat and drink judgment against themselves” refers to the reality of Christ’s Person in the consecrated Bread and Wine. Communion is not just a fond recollection about our wonderful Saviour, it is He Himself, given for us.

        Can we see how incredibly powerful Jesus intended this to be: 1. He was prepared to lose all of His followers simply on this point; 2. At the most poignant moment of His whole ministry to the Apostles, He summarized and actualized the physical reality of all He had so lovingly taught them.

        As our sister, Edith, remarked: we too can experience this by participating in Holy Communion as celebrated in a properly constituted and believing community.

        What could a theologian add? Maybe that by recognizing and entering into the New Covenant that Jesus gave us we are certain of our salvation. Receiving His Body and Blood we are renouncing the World and accepting Jesus Christ as our Head, with the eternal benefits that carries.

        But this is where some extraordinary Catholic ignorance intervenes. So often. clergy teach that Christ’s Presence in us depends on our making regular good communions. That contradicts His instruction: it is by obeying His commands that He (and The Father) come to dwell in our hearts (see John 14:23). His commands were summarized as: loving God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength; and loving our neighbour (even our worst enemy) as we love ourselves.

        The tension here can be resolved where communicants totally identify with Jesus by humbly receiving His Flesh (real Food) as a way of reaffirming their obedience to God’s commands; and, humbly receive His Blood (real Drink) as a way to reaffirm their intention to love in the way He has instructed and shown us.

        A ‘power-over’ tradition, sees only Catholic priests as able to give us Jesus Christ as the food for our souls; and they ‘keep Him’ under lock-and-key in a tabernacle! A ‘power-under’, whole New Testament view, assigns a servant role to clergy. They are presbyters who we believers accept to preside (for the sake of good order) at our holy communions.

        In ‘power-under’ Eucharists both the presider and the lay community gather, as mutual servants, to liturgically reaffirm The New Covenant that exists between us and Jesus who dwells within the hearts of all true believers (see 2 Corinthians 13:5).

        People can (and do) theologize and opinionize until the cows come home. However, Brian, there’s nothing to be compared with receiving Holy Communion, presided over by a sincere servant of Jesus Christ, among those who truly love and obey The Lord. To anyone who has not experienced a Catholic Eucharist among true believers, I would recommend they take it as a priority. Taste and see that The Lord is good.

        Please feel free to respond to this (enormously lengthy response). And, thankyou for all the sincerity of your valuable and encouraging comments.

        Stay well. Always in the grace & mercy of Jesus Christ; love & blessings from marty

  15. Dear Dr Marty:

    Praise and honour and thanksgiving be unto our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

    You are a son of the most high as you strive to serve Him in spirit and truth. This forum is instructional and it attracts those who love the Church of Rome, love Christ and put their intellect to work to discern right from wrong and to be a blessing to others. Yes, as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

    Thank you for your perspicacious and God honouring response. it helps me to better understand the rational for the catholic position. Though there may be more to be said on the subject and I welcome your input, the matter falls into the realm of disputations and I feel our conversations should ones of mutual blessing and edification.

    You search the scriptures to bring clarity and hidden meaning that honour God. Though we may not find concordance on every subject, it does not matter. My late and best friend was of the catholic faith and I don’t think you would want to meet a finer man. He and his wife made life better for those they came into contact with. We had differences of opinion and yet, our mutual respect for God, His saving grace and the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ was what mattered.in the end. Friendship is respecting the other person and cherishing the gifts that God has given the individual.

    Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

    John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

    1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

    Proverbs 27:9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

    God bless you my brother,

    Brian

    • Hi! Brian, I found your words in relation to friendship interesting while you also quoted John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” As quite recently a comment was directed at me on another site by John which also incorporated John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 12:24). But, this line from scripture is not true, almost true, but not quite. It is merely a restatement of conventional wisdom”.

      My response: Thank you, John, for your comment “But, this line from scripture is not true, almost true, but not quite”

      I disagree with you John as Jesus’s teaching relates to our relationship with our Father in heaven and our potential brothers and sisters in Christ, as they demonstrate (If lived) our sacrificial love and friendship with Him.

      “You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant, does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.…

      When we knowingly via the Holy Spirit walk in friendship with Jesus (God) we are also prepared (God willing) to lay down our lives (Suffer) in obedience while dwelling in humility to His Will in extending this offer of His friendship to mankind, yes Jesus died on the Cross for the salvation of all of mankind in offering His friendship/reconciliation to them, but as Christians, it is through our participation in His friendship that His ‘presence’ is made known to a fallen world when we bear witness in our friendship with Him.

      And yes, Brian my friend I found Bishop Fulton Sheen’s final sermon very moving indeed and hope to reflect on other ones of his in the near future, thank you.

      kevin your brother
      In Christ

      • Greetings my Brother:

        You have heard of the great sacrifices by the saints of the church. Missionaries, priests and sisters who have willing given their lives to proclaim the gospel.

        We have heard of other selfless acts, someone jumping overboard to save another or an impending car accident involving a child! Yet, if we don’t believe God and we feel something is misplaced, His whole word becomes suspect.

        John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

        John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. …

        John 15:1-27 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. …

        John 17:1-26 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. …

        Isaiah 40:1-31 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

        Did Jesus lay down His life for His friends, which include you and I?

        Blessings my brother,

        Brian

        • Thank you, Brian, for your comment and final question “Did Jesus lay down His life for His friends, which include you and I?

          I will assume Brian that this question comes from your enthusiasm to spread His Word rather than a reflection on my post because as stated in my post above

          “When we knowingly via the Holy Spirit walk in friendship with Jesus (God) we are also prepared (God willing) to lay down our lives (Suffer) in obedience while dwelling in humility to His Will in extending this offer of His friendship to mankind, yes Jesus died on the Cross for the salvation of all of mankind in offering His friendship/reconciliation to them, but as Christians, it is through our participation in His friendship that His ‘presence’ is made known to a fallen world when we bear witness in our friendship with Him”

          So yes, Brian my brother as in (Also)

          May God bless you now and always
          kevin your brother
          In Christ

          • Dear brother:

            From time to time the computer runs amok and my response vanishes like a vapour. This is what happened earlier today as I responded to you. Sometimes a disappointment is actually a blessing!

            In rethinking the matter, it might be better to ask you how you arrived at this conclusion regarding John 15:13, “My response: Thank you, John, for your comment “But, this line from scripture is not true, almost true, but not quite”

            Rather than me defending the said verse it should be incumbent on you to elaborate your hypothesis with scriptural reference that supports you in this view. This should not be too difficult because the catechism affirms the bible is the consummate authority for the church, If I am not mistaken!

            The catechism is a very important document, perhaps the penultimate in aiding the believer to a higher degree of faith.

            Yes, I do like to proclaim the gospel. It belongs to the church and brings eternal life to all who believe.

            For us to share is important. It strengthens the bonds between those who love Jesus and to meditate upon His inviolable word.

            Always a pleasure to talk with you and I much look forward to your thoughts!

            In the peace and love that is Jesus Christ. Your brother,

            Brian

  16. Brian JULY 9, 2022 AT 6:09 PM
    Thank you Brian my brother for your comment it should be incumbent on you to elaborate your hypothesis with scriptural reference that supports you in this view Yes you are right as my post does not fully convey what I intended saying in regards to this Truth given by Jesus Christ.

    15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends”

    Which was debased by another Poster (John) on another site in these words “But, this line from scripture is not true, almost true, but not quite” (John 15:13): John had come to this, his sincere conclusion in these words “Jesus expanded the scope of his love beyond the intimate circle of his friends. Jesus laid down his life, not for his friends, but for his enemies”

    I then responded as in my post above “I disagree with you John as Jesus’s teaching relates to our relationship with our Father in heaven and our potential brothers and sisters in Christ, as they demonstrate (If lived) our sacrificial love and friendship with Him”……………etc

    I hope this gives you some clarity Brian in relation to what I was attempting to say while apologizing for any misunderstanding.

    Sincerely
    kevin your brother
    In Christ

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