Welcome to the Inverted Orthodoxy Podcast! We're Blake, and Kyle, the pastors from Living Springs, here to take you on a weekly adventure through the twists and turns of faith. Got questions? We've got answers, and sometimes more questions! Join us as we explore, celebrate, and embrace the beautiful complexities of belief. Let's dive in!

This weeks episode brings a lot of AER on Catholicism, answering the following questions:

1. This is only an fyi, the difference of the trinity was only a small part of the schism In the Orthodox Church. This is a really good article delineating some of the things I was told when visiting an Orthodox Church during “open doors”:

https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/07/exactly-divides-catholics-orthodox

3. A bit more pushback on the aer on Catholicism: I’m pretty sure Kyle, you said that those who are dead have the ear of GOD, SO YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD PRACTICE TO PRAY TO THE SAINTS WHO ARE DEAD—#391?— (AND THIS, BY THE WAY IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE FROM REVERING/communing with THE SAINTS). Paul told Timothy that "there is only one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). I think Catholic practice idolizes the saints from Jesus’ time.

4. AER - On last weeks episode 393 you answer a question about praying to the saints. Kyle mentioned the reference in Revelation about the prayers of the saints being poured out. Do you think that is just the prayers of the Saints (with an uppercase S), those who are recognized and named as saints? I always thought it was the prayers of all believers as saints… as Paul says we are no longer sinners, but adopted into his family, as in we are also saints (lowercase S) what do you think? And why?

5. Aer It was sad to see the past few episodes on Catholicism—especially the last one. The concerns that came in were real and genuine regarding the position Living Springs takes, as the podcast represents the church. Yet the response fell lame.

If the incident with Saul summoning Samuel from the grave isn’t enough, then surely the parable of the rich man and Lazarus—the beggar Jesus spoke about—should have settled it. We are not called to worship saints or Mary or to call on favours from them with God. In Revelation, as quoted on the podcast, the blood of the martyrs crying out to God for the persecuted is not the same as the dead hearing our prayers and presenting them to God.

Yet the position taken by the podcasters came across as wishy-washy, defending flawed reasoning to uphold an erroneous stance—as though they were trying not to ruffle the feathers of their neo-orthodox leanings, formed more by books and other podcasts than by the Word of God.

Throughout the podcast, it is very rare to hear the name of Jesus mentioned. Think about that—a church is watching. Is there any accountability or responsibility to present God’s Word correctly? Or is the aim simply to sound “different,” even if it confuses people?

Yes, Catholics need a Saviour to redeem them from their works-based theology—just as Protestants need rescuing from their smugness. But one must not be returned to works simply to vilify the other.

There is no comparison between a corrupt established church that grew monstrous in power—quelling the hunger of the people for God’s Word by keeping it in Latin, introducing penances, and adding layers of theology and trimmings that deflected from a personal relationship with God—and the truths of Scripture. The creeds and the canon of God’s Word came before this corruption, long before what later became the Roman Catholic–Orthodox split over doctrinal differences. A far cry from what the word catholic (meaning universal) originally meant in the creeds.

Jesus said, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions” (Mark 7:8). It seems the practices and traditions of the past are becoming gods of your present—replacing Christ Himself.

Sad. Use your platform well for Him and not flex intellectual muscle!

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