I published a post back on August 10th (see here) critical of John MacArthur and Grace Community Church’s decision to defy state and local mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic and reopen without even any health safety protocols. On Friday, August 14th, a judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled that GCC could reopen. The following day, Saturday, August 15th, the California Court of Appeal overturned that ruling and directed GCC to abide by LA County health safety restrictions, which GCC, in turn, defied by holding public services the next day. The legal tug-of-war continues as I write these words. It’s interesting, in a very sad way, that in their fight against the state and local governments, MacArthur and GCC retained the legal services of the Thomas More Society, a Roman Catholic legal entity that specializes in religious freedom issues. I was listening to Catholic talk radio on Monday and one of the show hosts was boasting about the wonderful ecumenical partnership between GCC and Roman Catholics in this alleged “fight for religious freedom.” I find that development very regrettable.
Pope Alexander VI, aka Rodrigo de Borja, is symbolic of historical papal corruption.
Excommunicated Catholic priest, Jeremy Leatherby, exemplifies the views of many traditionalist and conservative Catholic clerics and laypersons who consider progressive pope Francis to be a heretic.
This article from the liberal Jesuit magazine, “America,” accuses traditionalist and conservative Catholic critics of pope Francis of dividing the Catholic church. Of course, those same traditionalists and conservatives accuse Francis of deviating from Catholic orthodoxy.
The Southern Baptist Convention has much bigger problems than its name, e.g., Rick Warren, Beth Moore, and ecumenist crusaders, Timothy George, Richard Land, Ronnie Floyd, etc., etc.
Catholic conservatives will back Trump while Catholic progressives will support Biden.
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin was celebrated by the Roman Catholic church on August 15th. The Roman church teaches Mary was taken up to Heaven bodily, either immediately prior to her death or immediately afterwards, it’s not quite sure which. Mary’s alleged assumption is one of Catholicism’s numerous “sacred traditions” with no basis in fact. Under normal conditions, Catholics are obligated to attend mass on the Feast of the Assumption under threat of eternal damnation, although relatively few comply.
Great list, brother!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the encouragement, sister!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Re: Assumption of Mary
More nonsense from Romanism unknown to the early church.
Epiphanius of Salamis (310/320-403): And there have been many such things to mislead the deluded, though the saints are not responsible for anyone’s stumbling; the human mind finds no rest, but is perverted to evils. The holy virgin may have died and been buried””her falling asleep was with honor, her death in purity, her crown in virginity. Or she may have been put to death””as the Scripture says, “œAnd a sword shall pierce her soul””” her fame is among the martyrs and her holy body, by which light rose on the world, [rests] amid blessings. Or she may have remained alive, for God is not incapable of doing whatever he wills. No one knows her end. But we must not honor the saints to excess; we must honor their Master. Frank Williams, trans., The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis: Book II and III (Sects 47-80, De Fide) 78. Against Antidicomarians, 78. 23 (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994), p. 619.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the good reference, SB!
LikeLike
Dropping by with a hi! Have a good lunch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
👋🏻
Thanks my friend! After a good lunch and some rest, I’m off to scrape paint off of windows!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes didn’t like the job of chipping old paint personally but I know it must be done
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was new paint on the window glass. Lots of lattice on our windows so lots of detailed painting and then a lot of scraping. More for tomorrow.
LikeLike
1. Wow so a RC talk show talked about ecumenicalism with J Mac? I wonder if J Mac realizes the implication of having lawyers from Thomas More society. I did hear before they do have some of the best religious liberties’ lawyers.
2. I remember learning a bit about Rodrigo de Borja in history class, crazy pope…
3. I agree SBC has bigger problem than their names…
LikeLiked by 1 person
RE: JMac
He probably views partnering with the TMS as the old adage, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” but this just adds to the disappointment. I never thought I would hear a Catholic apologist celebrating an ecumenical initiative involving JMac. I obviously don’t think he’s planning any visits to the Vatican as a result of this, but it’s still disappointing.
RE: Rodrigo de Borja
I watched a mini-series about the corrupt Borgias on Netflix four years ago. I would like to read about them someday. Borgia died in 1503 but when Luther visited Rome seven years later it was still an open cesspool. The open corruption shook him to the core.
RE: SBC
Yup, there’s definitely a growing liberal faction under the wide SBC umbrella.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are weird times which we live never would picture so many things this year
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, 2020 has been quite an unusual. In the past, we have spoken about the dramatic social upheaval of 1960s and this year definitely matches that level.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Was it like the 60s from your own experience?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, between the pandemic and the protests, this year definitely has the same “societal freefall” or “free-for-all” feeling that I remember from back in the 1960s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had no clue the Thomas More Law Center was affiliated with the RCC? I suppose the ADF is a mix of Protestant and Catholic as well? Hope your painting is soon done!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
RE: ADF mix of Protestant and Catholic?
Good question, Mandy! I don’t have any detailed knowledge about the ADF, but there’s a lot of “ecumenism in the trenches” between politically-minded conservative Catholics and evangelicals. I googled “ADF Legal Catholic” and I see there’s a lot of interaction. The 2017 article below reports pope Francis bestowed the Vatican’s highest honor upon ADF founder, Alan Sears.
https://www.adflegal.org/press-release/pope-bestows-catholic-churchs-highest-layperson-honor-adf-founder-alan-sears-wife
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that is fascinating! There is a time when I considered Law School solely to work with ADF or IJM. I’m sorry I didn’t just google that myself!! How’s the painting?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
RE: painting
Thanks for asking! Started at 9AM and finished at 5. Painted all the window trim (lots of lattice) and was then able to scrape half the window glass.
LikeLiked by 1 person
GCC and the Thomas More Society, a Roman Catholic legal entity. What! Very very upsetting. Thanks Tom for bringing this to light.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cathy. I was likewise very disappointed by JMac’s pragmatic ecumenism.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brother, thank you again for another stirring and informative post. I am disappointed with John Macarthur, he is contending in a worldly arena with the arm of flesh.
What will you gain if you win the battle but lose the unction of God?
And, as a side note, should we spend God’s money on lawyers to win a worldly battle?
Press on Tom …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lisa Beth! All good points. JMac has followed one bad decision with another. I am very disappointed in the direction he has taken. It’s now become his raison d’être. No doubt he is convinced he is in the right on all counts. I’ve seen other pastors go “off kilter” in dramatic fashion and it’s sad to see, but we press on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no Tom, not JM as well. 😢
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sad to see this, Crissy. I certainly don’t think JMac is going to start holding ecumenical services at GCC anytime soon, but this pragmatic compromise is very disturbing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! I totally agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Lord’s Day went well! Going to go walking aound the neighborhood to get some reading done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad your day went well! I need to start a new book after finishing the Jack Hyles-IFB bio.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! I’m about to finish quite a technical historical and theological book and can’t wait to read something next!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope your next books are more enjoyable. My next book is Benjamin Warfield’s “Counterfeit Miracles” which I expect to be heavy reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow is this your first BB Warfield’s book?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, I’ve come across many references to Warfield but never read any of his books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person