Posted on 04/14/2005 2:46:44 PM PDT by metalmanx2j
PITTSBURGH -- An evangelical Christian talk show host who questioned the beliefs of the Catholic church and entertained a caller's question about whether the late Pope John Paul II would go to heaven has been fired.
Marty Minto, 39, a senior pastor at a New Castle church, was fired Friday after three years as a host on WORD-FM in Pittsburgh. He said he was told that he was alienating listeners.
"As far as I'm concerned, I was doing what I've always done on the radio -- look at events around the world from a biblical perspective. I've always been willing to talk about controversial subjects," said Minto, who has had shows in Albany, N.Y., Denver and Phoenix.
Last week, Minto questioned some of the Catholic church's beliefs, such as purgatory, and fielded a question from a caller who asked whether the pope would go to heaven. Many evangelical Christians believe that someone must be a "born-again" believer to enter heaven.
Minto, who is also senior pastor of the 100-member Turning Point Community Church, said he told the caller that whether someone was born-again was personal and "between an individual and the Creator."
Chuck Gratner, general manager of WORD-FM, didn't dispute Minto's description and said he was let go because of differences in how he conducted his show.
"WORD-FM needs to function in this city in support of the entire church -- that means everybody -- and not focus on denominational issues," Gratner said.
Exactly my point in post #16.
The Pope is NOT in hell. He's spending time talking with the Lord about the religious error he promoted and the millions of people he mislead. It's going to take a while.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
It is Catholic theology; only God can judge. Many Protestants that I have talked with "know" that they're saved, so I'm not sure regarding their theology.
I used to listen to James Kennedy on the radio. Every once in a while he would get into a weird strain of Calvinist thought in his monologue. I still liked him overall. Now, the only protestant I like listening to is Ravi Zacharias.
Catholics believe thatfith cooperates with grace and that faith without works is dead. That is all found in Scripture, along with the belief that God WILL judge us according to our deeds.
Works naturally follow in the life of a saved person.
But, it has nothing to do with salvation.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Faith without works is dead.
I don't know the guy, no. I'm surprised he got fired, though. There's a vocal minority of protestants who say these kind of things all the time.
Yet Scripture has it that we will be judged according to our deeds:
27 And he hath given him power to do judgment, because he is the Son of man. 28 Wonder not at this: for the hour cometh wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. 29 And they that have done good things shall come forth unto the resurrection of life: but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. 30 I cannot of myself do any thing. As I hear, so I judge. And my judgment is just: because I seek not my own will. but the will of him that sent me.
John 5: 27-30
Why, then, does St. James say "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?" (Jas 2:21)?
Eph. 2:8-9 is talking about initial justification. Catholics agree that we do not merit the initial grace of justification. Trent says:
And whereas the Apostle saith, that man is justified by faith and freely, those words are to be understood in that sense which the perpetual consent of the Catholic Church hath held and expressed; to wit, that we are therefore said to be justified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation, and the root of all Justification; without which it is impossible to please God, and to come unto the fellowship of His sons: but we are therefore said to be justified freely, because that none of those things which precede justification-whether faith or works-merit the grace itself of justification. For, if it be a grace, it is not now by works, otherwise, as the same Apostle says, grace is no more grace.
That does not exclude further justification, through the grace of God, after one has been justified: else we must practically discard James, as Luther did. Thus, Eph. 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them." and "God: Who will render to every man according to his works. To them indeed who, according to patience in good work, seek glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life;" (Rom. 2:5b-7)
Let me add that the statement made earlier on this thread that you only go to Hell if you have "so many mortal sins ... outstanding" is not quite correct: anyone who has committed any mortal sin and has not repented by death will go to Hell.
I agree we are not SAVED by works, but Scripture has it time and again that we WILL be judged according to our deeds:
21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that DOETH the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. 24 Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these my words and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand, 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.
Scripture also says faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
Yes, it is right. I'm a Catholic. And I have always been said in my Catholic school and by my priests that the only ones to go straight to Heaven are Jesus and the Virgin Mary. All the rest of the mortals, even the saintest saint go through purgatory. What happens is that nobody knows exactly how it works. Is there time there and the better you are the least time you spend there?. Or is there no time there and the better you were in life the less you suffer in Purgatory?.
No, he's being fired for insulting about one billion people.
Worked for me! 37 years Catholic and going strong! ;-)
Please read Eph 2:8-9. It states source of Salvation in two clear and distinctive sentences. Also, GVenesis 10-12 somewhere says that Abraham was counted "Rightous" because of his faith - period.
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