This blog and Jesus

Well, my beautiful wife is working on this New Year’s Eve and I have the day off and the house to myself so I guess I can sit back and ruminate on the outgoing year and this blog.

In case you haven’t noticed by now, I love to read and I’ve written many book reviews at Amazon.com. Last year a friend accidently stumbled upon my reviews and, without referencing them, circuitously suggested I start a blog. So, after thinking about it for a long time, excatholic4christ was born this past July.

I’m sooooooooo grateful the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. I have no plea before a just and Holy God other than the imputed righteousness of my perfect Savior, Jesus Christ.

I created this blog to reach out to Catholics with the Good News! of Jesus. Catholics believe in salvation by sacramental grace and by “cooperating with grace” and perfectly obeying the Ten Commandments (impossible!) and church rules in order to merit Heaven.

The overwhelming attitude in religious circles these days is to push aside doctrine and embrace everyone who names Christ as a Christian. But one cannot claim Christ as Savior and then try to merit their own salvation. Does not compute. A person is either relying on Jesus Christ ALONE for their salvation (God gave us the thief on the cross as the perfect example) or they are relying on their own abilities to obey the Law (impossible!). It’s one or the other. It can’t be both.

I realize it’s not popular to defend the Gospel of grace these days. It’s so much easier to just embrace everyone who names Christ because “they love Jesus, too.” I don’t get a lot of “likes” for my posts, which is understandable given how “inclusiveness” and “plurality” are the gods of this day.

Many Catholics have submitted comments. Some of the comments I post, some I don’t, depending on the leading of the Holy Spirit. I initially debated with many who submitted comments but I’m now much less inclined to do so. I’d rather use my time and energy just getting the Word out.

My critics have had some valid points. Sometimes I’ve posted in anger. Sometimes I’ve posted in frustration. Jesus always taught using the truth of God’s Word in conjunction with His love for all. I have not always mirrored Christ’s love and I apologize for that.

I attended eight years of Catholic grammar school and four years of Catholic high school and was thoroughly indoctrinated into the religion. It’s hard for me to admit, but I’m grateful to the nuns and priests for teaching me some basic truths about God. Catholics correctly teach that Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to this world to die for our sins and was resurrected from the grave, conquering sin and death. Where the Catholic church stumbles is HOW to appropriate the gift of salvation. Catholics are taught they must ultimately earn their salvation while Christians just accept Christ by faith like the repentant thief on the cross and the repentant tax collector in Luke 18:9-14, acknowledging they have absolutely no plea of their own.

My posts won’t win this blog any popularity contests but I pray at least one person has been blessed by it. The Holy Spirit used God’s Word and MANY people and MANY circumstances over MANY years to show me my need for Christ.

Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. I don’t deserve your salvation or your abundant blessings!

I hope all of you have a blessed new year and that Jesus Christ will be glorified in your life as your Savior and Lord!

Tom