A Protestant Minister's Unusual Sermon on Reformation Sunday

Patrick Madrid ^ | 10/26/2009 | Patrick Madrid

[Patrick Madrid]

A few years ago, I slipped into the back of a large Methodist church in the area to hear a sermon delivered by the pastor which had been advertised for several days on the marquee on the lawn in front of the handsome Neo-Gothic stone edifice. I really wanted to hear what he had to say on that particular Sunday.

The occasion of this sermon was what Protestants celebrate as "Reformation Sunday," in remembrance of the sad, tragic rebellion against the Catholic Church. Of course, that's my take on what Reformation Sunday symbolizes. The pastor whose sermon I heard that day had a much different view. . . .

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Teresa of Avila is incorrect. There is no perfection on this earth. Only Christ was perfect and He resides in heaven. We Christians have the Holy Spirit, but He exists spiritually and is in a constant struggle with our fallen nature. By the grace of God through sanctification, as Christ increases in us, our fallen natures decrease.

Terry should have read her Bible.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." -- 1 John 1:8-10

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Would you cut out the rhetoric? You and I come from different traditions.

lol. Yes. I come from the tradition of reading the Bible and using it as my rule of faith and practice. You, not so much, apparently, by your own admission.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

There’s no righteousness in error, schism and heresy.

Two out of three correct. But as far as "schism" is concerned, we are to separate ourselves from false gods such as "infallible" popes and "infallible" magisteriums, and false worship such as praying to Mary.

"And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city." -- Matthew 10:13-15

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Amen and bump to your wonderful post. Thanks, Alex.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Calvin, Luther and other Reformers pointed back to the Scriptures to declare the Catholic Church’s departure from the very truths that self-elevating organization claimed to have delivered to the world. No one “follows” Calvin. Your post, however, shows just how desparately speakers of truth were were needed then and are needed now.

I’ll tell you what is “too vast” for Catholics to comprehend...they are trapped in a self-serving cult of man made tradition and demonic doctrine. This post exposes their love of their own organization over the Scriptures and over truth delivered by the Apostles. We now see that the Catholic Church views ITSELF at the center of its theology, the true CENTER of the universe.

I’ll also tell you the Scriptures teach the true means of salvation, and it has nothing, repeat nothing to do with that hideous self-aggrandizing thing in the Vatican. The Bible teaches that salvation is according to pure and utter grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ, and that not of yourselves, lest Rome boast like it this. The darkness is on the land from Rome, the Catholic Church, the Vatican or whatever name it wishes to claim.

Amen, Dutchboy! No king but Christ!

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“Mr. Rogers’s answer suffices beautifully.”

Mr. Roger’s answer simply rings hollow.

“Please refrain from mind-reading and making things personal by offering comments like “The Cross was a tree. Would you show respect for it? Probably not.””

That is neither an example of mind-reading nor an example of making things personal. You have made this bizarre and baseless accusation a number of times. I suggest you take it up with the moderator.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Mr. Roger’s answer simply rings hollow.

I expected no less from you.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." -- Hosea 4:6

[RobbyS]

No, you FOLLOW a school of interpretation that is, if not specifically. much he same as that of the reformers. Lutheran in the most general sense. And,like those who do likewise, do not see this as a break with the past but as a “return” to the faith and practice of the “primitive’ Church. The problem—the insuperable problem—is that the Bible was never intended to serve this purpose. Jews argue endlessly over the meaning of Scripture, because they do are the people of a book. But they do not divide endlessly.

[Religion Moderator]

Statements couched as questions seldom qualify as "mind reading."

For instance, "Do you worship rubber ducks?" is not reading the mind of the other poster but "You worship rubber ducks." is mind reading.

And when the poster speculates an answer to his own question, he is expressing his own mind not reading the other guy's mind, e.g. "Do you worship rubber ducks? Probably."

However, if he said "Do you worship rubber ducks? Yes, you do." it would be mind reading. It is the equivalent expression to "You worship rubber ducks."

[Dr. Eckleburg]

lol. Me and my rubber duck thank you. 8~)

[vladimir998]

Thank you!

[Religion Moderator]

I thought you might appreciate a little late night humor.

[Salvation]

Thanks so much!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

the Bible was never intended to serve this purpose.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." -- Psalms 19:7-11

---

" Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." -- Matthew 22:29

[Petronski]

So Mary is God? Amazing.

What's that?

Another brazenly-false insinuation about the Catholic Church from Dr. Eckleburg?

Must be a day ending in "y."

[Dr. Eckleburg]

[Cronos]

well, wmfights says that Baptists are descended from Donatists, Cathars, etc.

[Cronos]

Take my word for it - the vast majority of Baptists have never even heard the words “Donatist” and “Novation”! I have, but off the top of my head, I couldn’t tell you anything about either

well, wmfights says that Baptists are descended from Donatists, Cathars, etc.

[Cronos]

What’s MBBC? Maryland BBC?

[Cronos]

MB: I belong to a SBC and we do read our Bible from cover to cover

What about the American Baptist Convention groups? Or the Conserative Baptist Fellowship? What about the General Baptists of the Primitive Baptists or the Old Regular Baptists? My point was that you can say it's true that some read from cover to cover but you can't say that about the umbrella term Protestants or Baptists.