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.
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you many know that you have eternal life."
It does. Scripture also says: "But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come." (Ps. 105:30-31) That's a work, but one not of himself, but of the grace of God.
I'm a Protestant and I share your feelings. I was dreading the day JP II passed, as it would bring nuts out of the woodwork, aided by a media which reaally don't like people of Faith.
I'm going to stop doing good works and the right thing. I'm going to do whateverthehell I want,when I want. As long as, at some point, I accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I'll be born again and go straight to heaven.
Hmmm...that just seems so wrong! I spend my whole life being bad, and right at the end say Jesus is Lord, and I'm saved? Sorry, just can't wrap my mind around that.
Live a good life, do the right thing, atone for my sins, follow the 10 commandments, and realize there's no e-ticket to heaven. Heaven is a reward to strive for.
As I said earlier, I have great respect for those non-Catholics who respect my faith and do not try to tell me how wrong it is. You've not seen me saying anything trying to convert Protestants or Jews, have you?
I don't live in Pittsburg, but do live in a market where Salem owns a station, and have heard hosts ask pointed questions about the Catholic faith, whether salvation exists under that theology and the fact that the Pope was a man of great Catholic faith, and christians need to be cautious when elevating this man beyond being a man of great Catholic faith. I don't think I've heard a host directly question the salvation of the Pope. However, since most of the shows both purchased shows as well as locally produced shows lean toward questioning the Cahtolic faith I somehow doubt this guy was dropped because of his comments. Many of the talkers are "pay for play" participants. They purchase their air time rather than being paid employees. IT could be that this guy was way behind on his show fees and the station simply decided to drop the show because of that issue and it 's coincidence his comments and the show being cancelled are closely related. Salem has never shied from discussing their concerns about salvation and the Catholic faith.
Frankly, this Popes passing should be a time when all people of all faiths would spend some time relooking at what is really the essentials for salvation, how a Christian needs to live to maintain salvation (I know, some believe salvation can never be lost) and what are the duties and responsibilities of a Christian in the world and in the chruch. And does the responsibilities inside the Church take precedence over the responsibilities of the world. If there is a balance between the church and the world, are those repsonsibilities exclusive or duplicative.
This is saying that whether a believer or non believer, it doesn't matter. If you engage in the above, neither class of people will not inherit the Kingdom of God (be saved). Paul doesn't qualify whether saved or unsaved. He just categorically says (1 Cor 6:9-20 NIV) Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders {10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. {11} And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. {12} "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. {13} "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. {14} By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. {15} Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! {16} Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." {17} But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. {18} Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. {19} Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; {20} you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
You go to purgatory....where you go to clean up your sins..
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Wow,, I didn't know Jesus had a place set up for those who could do it for themselves.. a Purge-a-tory... No thanks..
Dear Jesus:
Thank you for dying for me and "All" my sins, sins of omission and co-mission. I thank you for allowing me to see that I can't absolve/save myself, neither can anyone else through prayer. Thank you for your precious blood that washed me clean and allows you live in my heart.. Thank you.. Jesus for your mercy and grace. AMEN...
But, don't worry about me, Trad....I have trusted in the finished work of Christ upon the cross, and I will stand with Him in that day - based on His sufficiency, and not of my measly works. Am I therefore to neglect the work He has given me? God forbid it! But the good that I do is in response to His great gift to me, and my obedience will be rewarded according to His judgements in heaven.
To Him Who sits on the throne, and unto the LORD - be all glory, majesty, power, and honor, forever and ever. Amen.
Are you a Roman Catholic?
Dan
There are few things as nauseating to me as the religious circus freak shows on TBN. People want to believe that they themselves are the center of the universe, that God is all about them. The "Demand Your Miracle" school of "theology" is basically the usual pagan attempt to manipulate God, dressed up with christian clothing.
The only thing happy to report, is that of the many hundreds of evangelicals I know, I can't name 3 who would waste their time on this fraudulent garbage.
Yep. This is the bad side to not having a central administrative authority. "Evangelical" is not trademark-able. Perhaps somebody should organize a public education campaign with billboards or something to put it out there that these people do not speak for Christians, evangelical or otherwise.
“Salvation” in this verse is used in a general sense. Paul is talking about working out their problems which they had in the church and working out the problems in their own Christian lives. He is not there to help them and is not sure that he ever will be there again because he is in a Roman prison. So he tells them to work out their “own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Dr. McGee tells the story of a preacher who was reading this verse of Scripture in the morning service. A little girl whispered to her mother, “Mother, you can’t work out salvation unless it has first been worked in, can you?”
Poor James, his must be the most misunderstood letter in the New Testament!. What he's saying here is that real faith results in works. Therefore, if anyone claims to have faith but there are no works, that faith is not real, is dead. But notice that he does not say that without works there's no salvation! He might have put it a little bit different than Paul did, but they both were in the same wavelength, both inspired by the Holy Spirit so they could not contradict each other.
That said, my personal opinion is that salvation by works is a human invention, to make salvation easier to understand. I was brought up Roman Catholic and sometimes I am kind of "jelous" of my mom because when she needed something she would bring out the candles, ribbons rubbed on this or that relic... It is harder to just trust Jesus to keep me in the palm of His hand, to trust like a child, without trying to take matters into my hand.
I was brought up Roman Catholic and sometimes I am kind of "jelous" of my mom
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I was RC too. I was taught that the devil wasn't real. That it's all you and what you make of it. Well, I saw her, my mother a RC, mocking The Holy Spirit one day. I realized the devil was working through her even. Only God could give me this revelation and that she did know what she was doing. It brought tears to my eyes and pierced my heart seeing her standing in the kitchen with her arms lifted up making fun of me for my desire to worship GOD. Yet, Catholic priest's who lay prostrate before Popes are acceptable.
Um.....if you read on, he says, that is what some of you were, but you were washed and sanctified.
A truly saved person would not have a lifestyle sin like homosexuality.
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