I am a PRJ (Protestant Radio Junkie).
The Berean Call is a Protestant ministry business with a radio show that I’ve listened to for years. I heard a show some time back that stuck in my mind, and I just found it on YouTube (video below).
The hosts were discussing the “problem” of Evangelicals converting to the Catholic Church. Is it even possible? Can a true Bible-believing, born again, Evangelical Christian really be a Catholic? Why is it happening?
The hosts have realized that history (reality) is an incredibly large stumbling block for true Christians to get over. Reading the writings of the Early Church Fathers (ECFs) is, as the host said, “not recommended” because they tend to show that the nascent Church was [Gasp!] Catholic. So what if the ECFs added flesh to the vocabulary of the Bible! So what if such men still heard the echo of the apostles! So what if they were successors of the men Jesus appointed to preach the Gospel! And so what if they are the body that actually created the Bible!
As expected, the hosts’ presentation of some Catholic beliefs are just as cray cray as their fear of history, as well as their excruciating critique of the ECF’s “non-Catholic” beliefs; but the irony of the show, of course, is that a huge reason why Evangelicals are converting is precisely for the reasons that the hosts are unknowingly exhibiting, which is that Protestantism thrives on ignorance.
Just an additional ironical side note about the Protestant genetical disorder: The name “Berean’s Call” is a reference to Acts 17:11 where Jews in the Greek speaking world referred to “the scriptures” to see if “what they were being taught was true”. Protestants often refer to the passage as a “proof” of “the supremacy of scripture” in the early Church, even though the verses are a supporting narrative of how Sacred Scripture actually validates Sacred Tradition (Even modern Catholics are able to verify that Jesus is the Christ using the “scriptures” that the Bereans used–which is what was “being taught.”). The cray cray irony of the popular “proof” is that the Bereans most likely used the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, which is called the Septuagint. Jesus and the apostles also read and quoted from the Septuagint. But since our hosts are so fearful of history, ECFs, and reason, they are unaware that the Septuagint included the evil books that the evil Catholic Church added to the Bible!
Catholics don’t refer to the Bible?? We wrote the Bible!
Poor Kim. You must care about reality. I will pray for you.
…and apparently, a “cursory” view at the ECFs stood against Catholic dogma. Yet he tries to keep fellow Evangelicals from taking a “cursory” view.
…and…
“Catholicism comes out of Augustine.” Hmmm… I guess SAINT Augustine was born about 350 years earlier than I thought!
This is a really great post! Evangelicals are just as bad as atheists in indulging in their pride.
Thanks, Jordan. The two groups are similar in lots of ways.
Did you notice that in the voice reading the letter changed “Catholicism” to “*Roman* Catholicism”?
Well, I’ve noticed that the word “Roman” is inserted as much as possible by anti-Catholics (romanism, romanist, spirit of rome, etc.) as a way to try to connect in the paganism of ancient Rome with the “Roman Catholic” Church.
They’re so transparent.
I think it’s more than the connection to pagan Rome. I think it’s also a very understated form of bigotry based on nationalism. “They’re not us. They’re something other.” You don’t find that same tone used with groups identified as English Lutherans or American Baptists. It’s those pesky, oily, third worlders in the mediterranean who are trying to control your lives.
Good point–almost like “evangelicalism” is more “americanist” than Christian. But seriously, do you think that the opening “question” was even a real question that someone sent in? It seems way too staged and within the host’s themes (they slam Catholics in nearly every show) for me to think that someone sent it in–as if one would not know the hosts’ answers before hand.
…dang Papists!
I first listened to this strawman festival when Beckwith backstroked the Tiber. Tempus fugit, but the lameness remains the same. Their opening remark about “notable” Evangelicals converting does beg the question: where are the notable Catholic converts to Evangelicalism?
Great way with words, and a great point at the end.
I guess Chris Castaldo would be a good example? He’s the only one that comes to mind so far.
But he was not notable as a Catholic as far as I know. So he does not compare to the many former pastors and professors converting to Catholicism.
True
This video reminds me of a friend of mine who is a nondenominational bible christian (non-religious but spiritual), always ends up saying something negative about “works”, and it has always puzzled me why he always goes there. Now I know. They are refering to all things Catholic: sacraments, sacramentals, holy days, the mass, etc. I’ve never thought of these as works, but as outward signs of inward grace. I don’t know any catholics that consider these works and if they are good enough. But they insist that we do. All I know is faith without works is dead and that salvation can be lost if we turn away from God. I’m going to ask my friend to define “works” next time he brings it up. It should be interesting to see what he comes up with. btw, my friends church had a billboard on I-75 and mailers advertizing thier church, it said, “Is religion getting in the way of God? Then come see us.
Its so indicative of our culture. Protestantism has reduced God to a bumper sticker, a short sales pitch, and self help. Thanks for coming back, Dave.
I wonder if your neck of the I-75 woods is the same as mine. A rock n’ roll Bible school has a couple billboards up advertising their new entertainment facility…er, I mean ‘church’, with phrases such as “Church for people who don’t like church.” They like to refer to themselves as “churching the unchurched”, but as a friend of mine once said, seeing as how so many Catholics now attend their concerts…er, I mean services, they’re actually “unchurching the churched”.
And yes – you never hear of prominent Catholic voices leaving to join them, but their intellectuals convert to Catholicism much more frequently. Because study of the faith ultimately leads to Truth. Which goes to show that way too many people are taking the wide road of “easy spiritualism” rather than the narrow road of taking the time to actually learn what the Church teaches. Fast food religion – so unhealthy.
And Happy New Year, Kim and Pat!
Their show reminds of the stuff I hear on local Fundie radio which I listen to regularly for its blend of news, gospel music and preaching. Most of the time I’m asking the preacher: do you understanding what you are reading at all? I come home and tell my wife how my 6th grade catechism class has more Biblical substance in an hour than the radio preachers do all day.
I listen to fundie radio, but only for laughs. I checked out your book on amazon last night. Looks like you filled a really important niche with it. I’ll be ordering one soon. Congrats!
You made my day! Let me know of anything you think stinks.
Superb work, as always, Patrick. Gonna go share now.
Thanks, Dave!
The irony is not so much that the Bereans used the Septuagint. The irony is that the Bereans would have remained Jews if they would have adhered to the “sola Scriptura” principle. While the apostolic Gospel was foreshadowed in the Old Testament, it could not be deduced from it; so the Bereans read Scripture in the light of the apostolic preaching and rejoiced at the fullness of meaning Scripture had suddenly acquired. Perhaps their experience could be compared to becoming Catholic.
You just took the words out of a post that I’m writing! You stole my thunder, Cornelis.
Thanks for coming by.
Oh, I’m sorry! Well, you should still be able to post it; more people will read your posts than the comments beneath them.
Just teasin’ you
Your point is exactly right!
Patrick,
I found your blog post on FB through Dave Armstrong. I was raised listening to these guys, and reading their publications. Now that I have come home to our Mother Church, the fullness of truth is like a warm blanket! All I can do is shake my head in wonder…
Thank you for pointing out the Berean reading of the Septuagint in learning Tradition – an interesting fact often overlooked… I guess it is history, so we shouldn’t look.
I love your sarcasm and writing style. Keep up your “good works” powered by God’s grace
Wow, thanks Jason. Best to you and your good works too!
Chris Castaldo was never a “notable Catholic”, by his own admission he went to Mass twice a year only since his confirmation. Yet he writes a new book that describes himself as a “devout Catholic” before his conversion to Calvinism. At 19 years of age, Mr. Castaldo was afflicted by a serious illness (meningitis?) which required a hospitalization. During his time of convalescence he began to question life’s meaning. “Why was I alive? Is there a God and if so does he to be care to be involved in my life?” This led to a spiritual quest which explored transcendental meditation, the writings of M. Scott Peck and Deepak Chopra and Buddhism. This spiritual search makes me seriously question his claim to be a devout Catholic. How does one go to Mass only twice a year since confirmation, then pursue new age philosophies questioning the existence of God, all at the same time considering oneself a devout Catholic?
My readers may think I am being too critical at this point but it is very important to challenge Mr. Castaldo here. It changes the entire way in which one approaches the reading of this book.
As I stated above, the testimony of a devout Catholic who fully understands and embraces his faith and walks away from it to become a devout evangelical Protestant carries a lot more weight than the nominal young Catholic, poorly catechized (taught) and not sure if God was even real or interested in his life. (cf. my review of Castaldo’s book Holy Ground)