How on earth does that work? CRI published stuff a few years ago that systematically attacked every Catholic belief about the Virgin Mary. Now Hanegraaf has joined a church that dogmatically professes every one of those, except the Immaculate Conception. I don't get it. Mary wasn't a perpetual Virgin before, but now she is, but Hank's views haven't changed?
I think his Orthodox catechist and pastor maybe need to ask some more questions.
I think it is called acceptance. Sometimes the conversion process includes looking at religious practices in a new light, “with a contrite spirit and an open heart.” I understand the confusion of some wrt this, but then I have seen many accept the ‘new’ (to them), devotional practices that they then see can work. I vividly remember the condemnation of ‘worship of idols’ in the Church of my youth, but now see the icons as windows into heaven, and a demonstrable presence of the saints. YMMV
RE: How on earth does that work? CRI published stuff a few years ago that systematically attacked every Catholic belief about the Virgin Mary. Now Hanegraaf has joined a church that dogmatically professes every one of those, except the Immaculate Conception.
Here’s my view on this -— think about Martin Luther. Before he left the Roman Catholic Church, I believe he already held the view that Mary was not a perpetual virgin and that one does not need to venerate her or any saint to gain favor with God.
Yet, for a long period of time, Luther never left the Catholic church. He intended to reform it from within.
Maybe ( and that’s a guess which could prove wrong ), Hanegraaf might be thinking of doing the same.
If not, I am quite curious as to how he would defend the perpetual virginity of Mary and the veneration of her in his Bible Answer Man program.