Yay, Baptists?

Baptists, the Only Thorough Religious Reformers
By John Quincy Adams
GLH Publishing (Kindle edition), 2012, 180 pp. (originally published 1854)

I was a member of the Roman Catholic church until the age of 27 when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior through faith alone. One of the prime tenets of RC-ism is baptismal regeneration, the belief that the waters of baptism in conjunction with the precise recitation of the baptismal formula – “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” – cleanses a person of all sin. The RCC claims that a person is “born-again” when they are baptized. Catholic sources report that 89% of Catholics are baptized as infants/very young children.¹ However, Scripture teaches that baptism doesn’t save. Sinners are saved only by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior through faith alone.

From Scripture, I understood that baptism is a symbolic ordinance, not a sacrament, by which a believer who has trusted in Christ publicly identifies with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. The Greek word, baptizo, means to immerse. Pouring or sprinkling is not immersion and cannot possibly represent Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Although paedobaptists attempt to argue the point, there is nothing in the New Testament explicitly supporting infant baptism or baptism of unbelieving young children.²

After I accepted Christ, I looked for a Gospel-preaching local church to attend. Entirely off of my list were any churches/denominations that practiced paedobaptism, the practice of baptizing infants or young children. The Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans/Episcopalians, and Methodists get this one wrong. Baptism is for believers only. Infants and very young children do not have the capacity to believe. The early Reformers retained some of the vestiges of Roman Catholic error with infant baptism being one of them. Baptist reformers rightfully challenged this paedobaptism holdover from RC-ism and were persecuted. We subsequently began attending an independent fundamental Baptist church. The three churches we’ve attended after that could all be categorized as Reformed Baptist.

In this book, a series of ten lectures delivered by Baptist minister, John Quincy Adams (1825-1881), not to be confused with the U.S. president of the same name, the author defends the doctrine of believer’s baptism aka credobaptism over paedobaptism, using several of the same points mentioned above. The author also discusses how Baptists were the original champions of religious freedom. The early Reformers and the denominations they founded also continued the Roman error of church-state alliance. Baptists resisted and were persecuted.

This Kindle ebook was a “somewhat” interesting read although there are some drawbacks. The flowery, 19th century prose takes some getting used to. Adams’ lectures come across as very prideful and even spiteful, rather than being presented in Christian humility. There are also many misspellings. I realize this ebook cost me only 99 cents, but it’s mind-boggling that “GLH Publishing” didn’t use spellcheck while transcribing this book to digital. While Adams proudly touts Baptists as always being altruistic, high-minded, and godly-minded reformers, history records that Baptists could also turn against nonconformists and minority groups in circumstances where they held the upper-hand. Baptist Jerry Falwell called for the re-alliance of church and state with his Moral Majority initiative, which has had a lasting, deleterious influence on Christians living in America. There’s a growing movement among Baptist churches in recent years to remove “Baptist” from their name in response to “negative public perception.”³

Trivia: The book’s Introduction states, “When the author was in London, in August, 1868, Rev. C.H. Spurgeon informed him that he had used “Baptists Thorough Reformers” as a text book in his Pastor’s College, regarding it as the best Manual of Baptist principles he had met.”

1. New Vatican statistics note ‘downward trend’ in Catholic baptisms worldwide ↩︎
2. Got Questions – Does the Bible teach believer’s baptism/credobaptism? ↩︎
3. Some churches dropping ‘Baptist’ from their names to gain new members ↩︎

A few thoughts on O.J. Simpson

Above photo: Following his murder acquittal, O.J. Simpson augmented his income by signing autographs for cash at sports memorabilia conventions.

Many of you saw the headlines a few weeks ago. Famous football player, broadcaster, actor, and marketing pitchman, Orenthal James aka O.J. Simpson, died from prostate cancer on April 10th. With all of his many professional accomplishments and accolades, Simpson will mostly be remembered for viciously murdering his ex-wife and her friend and improbably being exonerated of the charges through the efforts of his legal “dream” team.

I have a few comments, but first a little history. One might assume that by living just 80 miles from the old War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York that I would have grown up a Bills fan. But when I first began following football in 1969, the Bills were one of the AFL’s worst teams. The Bills had won just one game in 1968, which allowed them to pick first in the ’69 draft and they predictably opted for the top college senior in the nation, USC running back, O.J. Simpson. Bills head coach, John Rauch, was in over his head and didn’t have a clue, but when Lou Saban took over the coaching reins in 1972, he declared the Bills would have just two offensive strategies: 1) run Simpson, and 2) run Simpson some more. The Juice spent 9 seasons in Buffalo and amassed 10,183 rushing yards.

Fast forward to June 13, 1994. O.J.’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were discovered dead outside her condo, both with multiple and very grisly knife wounds. The overwhelming forensic evidence all pointed to Simpson. He was arrested several days later after the entire country watched as he attempted to flee to Mexico in his Ford Bronco. Opening statements in the double-murder trial were presented on January 24, 1995. Simpson was ultimately acquitted of both counts on October 3, 1995. I had attended an off-site training class for work that afternoon and awaited the announcement of the verdict on the car radio. I couldn’t believe the decision. Simpson’s slick lawyers had played the race card and craftily turned his double-murder trial into an indictment of the L.A. Police Department. In contrast, on February 5, 1997, a civil jury unanimously found Simpson liable for the two murders. During all of the media frenzy it was also revealed that Simpson had a long history of physically abusing Nicole Brown Simpson while they were married.

Everyone in the country knew O.J. was guilty of double-murder, but for 28 years he walked the streets a free man (minus the 9 years he spent in prison for the unrelated crimes of armed robbery and kidnapping). O.J.’s “not guilty” verdict deeply offended my sense of justice. I was incensed.

But what about justice for me? Nope, I have never murdered anyone as O.J. Simpson did, but I have hated many people throughout my life. Anger and hatred were the sin-root that O.J. physically acted-out in June, 1994.

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. – Matthew 5:21-22

We judge from appearances, but God sees the heart (Proverbs 21:2). All of us are guilty of unrighteous anger and hatred.

We are all sinners and we all deserve eternal punishment, but God loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross of Calvary. But Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death, and offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all those who accept Him as Savior through faith alone.

Instead of being angry at O.J. Simpson and hating him, I should have prayed at least one prayer that he accept Christ.

Above: The Buffalo Bills continue to honor double-murderer, #32 O.J. Simpson, on the “Wall of Fame” at Highmark Stadium

Sunday video shorts with Dr. Leonardo De Chirico, #4: Did Thomas Aquinas teach justification by faith?

Welcome to our Sunday video shorts series featuring Dr. Leonardo De Chirico, Director of the Reformanda Initiative.

Some misguided evangelical scholars are enamored with Medieval Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, even to the point of identifying as “Thomists.”

In this 1:38-minute video-short, Dr. De Chirico discusses whether Thomas Aquinas taught justification by faith.

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Below is a link to the Reformanda Initiative website.

The Reformanda Initiative
https://www.reformandainitiative.org/

Welcome to the Weekend Roundup! – News & Views – 4/27/24

Above: Trees are blooming along the Erie Canal in Pittsford, NY

• Catholic charismatic renewal creates ‘church on fire’ with God’s love, says Catholic bishop

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal got its start on the weekend of February 17-19, 1967 when a group of Catholic Duquesne University students who were curious about the Pentecostalism movement that was making inroads into mainline Protestant denominations under the banner of charismaticism gathered at the nearby Ark and Dove Retreat House eagerly hoping to manifest the Pentecostal gifts. Over the past 57 years, the CCR movement has grown to 160 million members, including tens of thousands of priests and nuns. CCR followers tout charismaticism (aka receiving the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” resulting in speaking glossolalia and other Pentecostal practices) as a higher/fuller form of the “Christian experience.” The incongruity that Pentecostals and Protestant charismatics generally avoid is that CCR members continue to hold to the RCC’s false gospel of salvation by sacramentalism and merit. They are not born-again. Catholic prelates initially viewed CCR with great skepticism, but eventually embraced it as a useful tool for ecumenism. Neither Francis nor any previous pope has manifested glossolalia or other Pentecostal practices.

• No Bias Found in F.B.I. Report on Catholic Extremists

There are many hardcore, far-right radicals in the traditionalist Catholic movement and the F.B.I. is doing its due diligence by keeping an eye on it.

• Kentucky Catholics say Pope Francis can be ‘ambiguous’ in his teaching

One of conservative Catholicism’s most cherished tenets is absolute fealty to the pope. With progressive pope Francis’ ongoing bending of doctrine, conservative Catholics are caught in a Catch-22. Many conservative Catholics consider Bergoglio to be a heretic, but they carefully couch their criticism and displeasure in such terms as “the pope is ambiguous in his teaching” or “the pope is causing confusion.” Of course, Francis is calculatingly shifting the RCC from doctrinalism to amorphous pastoralism in the effort to stanch disaffection among the general membership and to better poise the RCC as the leader in the world religion umbrella.

• Candace Owens joins the Catholic Church

Angry conservative political pundit and nominal Protestant, Candace Owens, recently converted to Roman Catholicism. We could see this train coming down the tracks back when Owens limply “moderated” a debate between her traditionalist Catholic husband, George Farmer, and her evangelical friend, Allie Beth Stuckey. Who would voluntarily choose the Roman Catholic shackles of salvation by merit? A person who doesn’t understand the Good News! of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

• DeSantis says Satanists can’t be part of school chaplain program; Satanic Temple responds

As I reported in a previous roundup, Florida (c)hristian politicos have concocted a plan to fund “chaplains” in public schools. Satanists want to participate in the initiative, but Catholic governor Ron DeSantis is attempting to exclude them. This is a good example of why taxpayer-funded government institutions have no business promoting a particular religion or religion in general. Let the church be the church and let the government be the government.

• God’s Word Shines Brightly at the Museum of the Bible

The Museum of the Bible, funded by the Hobby Lobby Green family, pays tribute to the Bible, but also works closely with the Vatican and has staged several exhibits promoting the Roman Catholic church, including “Treasures of the Vatican,” “Basilica Sancti Petri,” a history of St. Peter’s basilica, and “A Journey of Faith: The Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.” The Roman Catholic church acknowledges the Bible as Scripture, yet undermines the Bible with its spurious “sacred oral traditions.”

Brother Lawrence Dangerous Contemplative Mysticism Warnings / The Chosen / Joni Eareckson Tada (Doreen Virtue)

Below is a recent post from T.R. over at her excellent blog, Inside Cup, that’s well-worth-reading. T.R. raises a red flag regarding Joni Eareckson Tada’s new book, “The Practice of the Presence of Jesus” (photo above), with its unqualified recommendations of 17th-century Catholic cleric and mystic, Brother Lawrence, and Catholic Contemplative Prayer. Attached is an informative 17-minute video on the topic from Doreen Virtue. Regrettably, many evangelicals are getting sucked into this Catholic Contemplative Prayer movement at the behest of their Rome-friendly pastors and Christian celebrities. This isn’t the first time Eareckson Tada has advocated for Roman Catholicism to her readers and listeners.

Brother Lawrence Dangerous Contemplative Mysticism Warnings / The Chosen / Joni Eareckson Tada (Doreen Virtue)

A Blue Collar Answer to Protestantism, #11: Verses Versus Verses

Thanks for joining us today as we continue our Friday series examining Catholic apologist, John Martignoni’s book, “A Blue Collar Answer to Protestantism: Catholic Questions Protestants Can’t Answer” (2023). This week, Martignoni continues his “Problems with Protestantism” section with Problem #11, Verses Versus Verses.

Problems with Protestantism #11, Verses Versus Verses

Martignoni identifies the problem in this Verses Versus Verses chapter as Protestantism’s lack of an “authoritative” interpreter of Scripture. The chapters in Martignoni’s Part 1 section are typically around five pages in length, but this chapter totals a lengthy fourteen pages. Much of Martignoni’s argument is redundant and superfluous, so I will attempt to summarize it as briefly as possible.

Martignoni’s Argument

Martignoni’s argument proceeds as follows:

A. “According to Protestant theology, every person has the right to read and interpret the Bible on his own as he feels led by the Holy Spirit.”

B. “In a Protestant theological framework, there is no way to ultimately and authoritatively resolve disputes on doctrinal and moral issues.”

C. “Since Protestants are indeed fallible in their interpretation of Scripture, then by definition their interpretations of Scripture, which are the sole basis of their theological system, could be wrong.”

D. “There is a lot of evidence (historical, scriptural, logical)” that the Roman Catholic church “was founded by Jesus Christ and is guided by the Holy Spirit and operates with the authority of Jesus Christ which He Himself gave to it.”

E. Conclusion: “If the Catholic Church was indeed founded by Jesus Christ and is indeed guided by the Holy Spirit, then my theological system is indeed without error (my emphasis – Tom) . . . The Protestant relies on himself. I rely on the Church.”

My Rebuttal

The ascendant Roman Catholic church consolidated its power by elevating its magisterium (the teaching office of the pope in union with his bishops) to co-equality with Sacred Scripture. Untethered from the constraints of Scripture, the RC magisterium introduced multifarious extra-biblical and even anti-biblical beliefs and practices under the mantle of “sacred oral tradition” and veered from the New Testament Gospel of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, to a false gospel of salvation by sacramentalism and merit.

The Head of the genuine church is Jesus Christ and His work is done through the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The unsaved/natural man, which includes Roman Catholics, cannot conceive of a religious institution without an authoritative human hierarchy, yet it was the RC hierarchy which broke from authoritative Scripture and fabricated “oral traditions” and practices that have no basis in God’s Word. As Dr. Leonardo De Chirico has ably pointed out, one of the two basic theological constructs of the RCC is the Christ-Church Interconnection whereby the RC church usurped the offices of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.¹

Gospel Christians cling to Scripture/the Bible/God’s Word as our sole rule for faith and practice. Within the patchwork quilt of Gospel Christianity, with no hierarchy and no central authority, is where the Holy Spirit does His work and souls are saved.

“But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. – Matthew 20:25-26

Historical Roman Catholicism was/is the antithesis of Matthew 20:25-26

If any Roman Catholics are saved, they are saved in spite of their church. By trusting in his church’s magisterium rather than Scripture, Martignoni is one of the blind following the blind (Matthew 15:14).

In contrast, God’s Word commends the Bereans for comparing Apostle Paul’s preaching with the divine standard of Holy Scripture.

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” – Acts 17:11

Martignoni boasts of the RC magisterium being the only authoritative interpreter of Scripture. There is disagreement among Catholic Bible scholars on the exact number of Scripture verses that have been infallibly interpreted by the magisterium, however, the number appears to be less than ten.² Hence, Martignoni’s claim of infallible interpretation is hollow.

Catholics blindly follow the RC magisterium, but Gospel Christians follow God’s Word and God’s Word alone.

With the current controversial papacy of progressive Francis, many of Montignoni’s conservative EWTN peers have gone silent with claims about the RCC being inerrant, indefectible, and infallible. Maybe Montignoni hasn’t gotten the message? Or more probably he’s guilefully shielding his readers from the ongoing jousting between conservative Catholics and pope Francis and his progressive allies.³

While Montignoni continues to boast chapter after chapter of the inerrant, indefectible, and infallible authority of the Roman Catholic magisterium, we have presented many examples in our previous posts in this series demonstrating its errancy, defectibility, and fallibility. Rather than re-present the same examples, I found the informative and revealing articles below from Keith Piper at gospeloutreach.net.

Errors of the Roman Catholic Church, Part 1
https://www.gospeloutreach.net/romanerr1.html

Errors of the Roman Catholic Church, Part 2
https://www.gospeloutreach.net/romanerr2.html

1. Leonardo De Chirico, “Christ unfurled or the Roman Catholic Christ – Church interconnection” ↩︎
2. Matt Slick, “Infallibility, Fallibility, and the Roman Catholic Church” ↩︎
3. “Letter signed by more than 1,500 accuses Pope Francis of the ‘canonical delict of heresy.” This is just one of many examples of conservative Catholic opposition to pope Francis. ↩︎

Next week: Protestant Problem #12: They Don’t Even Make the Claim

Throwback Thursday: “10 Reasons I Love Being a Christian”

Welcome to this week’s “Throwback Thursday” installment. Today we’re going to revisit a post that was originally published back on July 2, 2017 and has been revised.

A few people have written to me asking why I critically examine Roman Catholicism. They advise that I should expound only on the positives about my faith in the Lord and attract people to Christ that way.

But God’s Word commands us to mark false teachers and false teaching (Romans 16:17) and as one who was raised in Catholicism, accepted Christ in my late-twenties, and then read extensively on the differences between Scripture and Catholicism, I have a perspective that many don’t.

However, contrary to what some may think, I don’t sit around all day long cogitating on the errors of Roman Catholicism. I have a sweet relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, which is daily becoming sweeter through Him. I love the Lord, Jesus. I love being a Christian. I’m so grateful to Jesus my Savior.

Here’s “10 Reasons I Love Being a Christian” by Will Graham over at Evangelical Focus, which I can say a hearty “Amen” to and I hope blesses you as well. Thank you, Jesus!

1.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I can enjoy a relationship with God Almighty.

2.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I know Jesus has forgiven me.

3.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because the Holy Spirit abides within me.

4.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I have a whole new world-wide spiritual family.

5.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I’ve got an exciting mission to carry out on earth.

6.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I’m free to live in truth and holiness.

7.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I can use my gifts and talents for God’s glory.

8.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I’ve always got a reason to smile.

9.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I know I’m never alone.

10.- I’m glad I’m a Christian because I live with the hope of coming glory.

10 Reasons I Love Being a Christian
http://evangelicalfocus.com/magazine/2645/10_Reasons_I_Love_Being_a_Christian

Jehovah’s Witnesses 2

Jehovah’s Witnesses
By Robert M. Bowman, Jr.
Zondervan, Cults & Religious Movements series,1995, 88 pp.

I recently borrowed an introduction to the Jehovah’s Witnesses by academic, George D. Chryssides, from the library and reviewed it a couple of weeks ago, here. Chryssides’ objective was to write an impartial overview, but by embedding himself within several Kingdom Hall congregations for research purposes, he ended up compromising his integrity and presented a sympathetic analysis.

I desired to read a summary of the JWs from an evangelical perspective and found this one at the library. Author Robert M. Bowman Jr., executive director of the Institute for Religious Research, put together this booklet, which is part of Zondervan’s Cults and Religious Movements series. The publication is written in outline form, which is a little cumbersome. The bulk of the booklet (54 of 88 pages) is devoted to comparing the major doctrinal differences between The Watch Tower and Bible Tract Society and Gospel Christianity. Bowman presents the JW positions using various Watch Tower publications and the JWs’ New World Translation Bible. He counters with Scripture passages from the NIV.

While I was hoping for an introduction to the Watch Tower, this book is intended more for people who are already familiar with the JWs and are looking for good debate/discussion strategies.

It’s interesting that Zondervan put together this Cults and Religious Movements series featuring booklets focusing on thirteen groups/movements, including the JWs (20M members), of course, and the Mormons (17M members). I checked Zondervan’s website and their only book “critiquing” Roman Catholicism is “Talking with Catholics about the Gospel” by Chris Castaldo, a bottom-line ecumenist who accepts the RCC as a Christian institution. I checked Bowman’s Institute for Religious Research website and while there’s a lot of information on the JWs and Mormons, there’s nothing about the Roman Catholic church (1.4B members) and its false gospel of salvation by sacramental grace and merit. It’s revealing that Gospel Christians focus on the JWs and Mormons, whose combined membership is only 3% of Roman Catholicism’s lost souls, but give the RCC a pass. Ecumenical Judases (Graham, Colson, Geisler, Packer, Stott, Craig, Strobel, etc.) have definitely had an impact.

Sorry, I don’t mean to get off-track. This book’s chapters are listed below:

• Part 1: Introduction
  • I. Historical Background
  • II. Distinctive Practices
  • III. Vital Statistics
• Part II: Theology
  • I. Authority
  • II. The Trinity and the Deity of Christ
  • III. Death, the Soul, and Hell
  • IV. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
  • V. Salvation
  • VI. Christ’s Return
• Part III: Witnessing Tips
  • I. Suggested Approaches to Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses
  • II. Approaches to Avoid When Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Part IV: Selected Bibliography
  • I. Works Written by Jehovah’s Witnesses
  • II. Works Written About Jehovah’s Witnesses by Non-Witnesses
• Part V: Parallel Comparison Chart (JW vs. Bible)

Sunday video shorts with Dr. Leonardo De Chirico, #3: What does Catholicism believe about the Word of God?

Welcome to our Sunday video shorts series featuring Dr. Leonardo De Chirico, Director of the Reformanda Initiative.

In this 2:16-minute video-short, Dr. De Chirico discusses what Catholicism believes about the Word of God.

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Below is a link to the Reformanda Initiative website.

The Reformanda Initiative
https://www.reformandainitiative.org/

Welcome to the Weekend Roundup! – News & Views – 4/20/24

• Majority of U.S. Catholics Express Favorable View of Pope Francis

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 75% of U.S. Catholics view pope Francis favorably. That’s down 15 points from his peak favorability rating of 90% in early 2015. There’s no doubt that many conservative Catholics are fed up with Bergoglio’s doctrine-bending, progressive reforms. While it’s significant that a sizable percentage of U.S. Catholics don’t like their current “Vicar of Christ,” we note that the genuine Gospel of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone can’t be found in either conservative or progressive Catholic camps. The survey also revealed 6 in 10 U.S. adult Catholics believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

• Catholics show lowest attendance of any US faith in survey

Roman Catholics are obligated to attend mass every single Sunday under threat of eternal damnation. However, a recent Gallup poll revealed 50% of U.S. Catholics seldom or never attend Sunday mass. Only about 1 in 4 U.S. Catholic adults attend mass each and every Sunday as they’re required to. Truant Catholics ask themselves why they should adhere to the Sunday mass obligation when the pope and the rest of the Catholic clergy teach that all non-Catholic religionists and even “moral” atheists can also hopefully merit Heaven if they are “good.” Credulous Catholics rave about the transformational experience and ecstasy of consuming the “transubstantiated” Jesus wafer. One would think 100% of Catholics would be queued up at the church door at 6 a.m. on Sunday mornings to “receive Jesus.” But the vast majority of Catholics stay home. They know a mass-produced bread wafer when they eat one.

• Pope Francis recovers the title “Patriarch of the West”

This article states, “Pope Francis reinstated the title ‘Patriarch of the West’ for the first time since 2006 as an ecumenical gesture to the Orthodox Church…In the Orthodox Church, the pope is seen as just one more among the patriarchs, rather than a superior figurehead.” Pope Francis is constantly working towards reunification with the Eastern Orthodox and undiscerning Protestants.

• Anti-Semitism on the rise among conservative/traditionalist Catholics

This revealing article from a Catholic source notes that conservative/traditionalist Catholics are becoming increasingly enamored with the anti-Semitic vitriol of Irish Catholic priest, Denis Fahey (1883–1954).

• Chuck Swindoll stepping down as senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church

Decades ago, Chuck Swindoll was one of the leading personalities on Christian radio with his popular “Insight for Living” show. Swindoll was an outspoken admirer of Catholic priest/mystic Henry Nouwen and a passionate advocate of Catholic Contemplative Prayer (see here). Other popular “evangelical Protestant” pastors who pushed Catholic Contemplative Prayer were Rick Warren and Tim Keller.