I LOVE R. C. Sproul!

[mercygate]

I LOVE R. C. Sproul, the Evangelical teaching pastor of Ligonier Ministries!

He’s a card-carrying *sola Scriptura/sola fide *Protestant who never misrepresents the Catholic position on any issue and frequently acts as an apologist for Catholic teaching.
Go to his web page (ligonier.org/radio/index.php), and click on “Past Radio Broadcasts” in the upper right corner of the screen. Go to yesterday’s (December 21) broadcast: “Mary: The Messiah’s Mother.” Sproul gives an explanation of the title, Theotokos – Mother of God, that would make any Catholic PROUD!

 

[Fidelis]

I also enjoy listening to R.C. and have never heard anything anti-Catholic in his broadcasts. I have heard, however, that in many of his writings he is not quite as kind to Catholic beliefs.

Does anyone have any info on this?

 

[hlgomez]

Then, what’s preventing him from becoming Catholic? Does he believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist?

Pio

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

You both are missing the point. If Mr. Spoul was that sympathetic to the CAtholic apologetic, he would himself BE Catholic. There is a difference between representing theology accurately, and actually believing it.

 

[space_ghost]

Don’t be deceived by the wolf in sheeps clothing

http://nexus.polaris.net/services/image-archive/animals/wolf.jpg

 

[mercygate]

Scott_Lafrance:

You both are missing the point. If Mr. Spoul was that sympathetic to the CAtholic apologetic, he would himself BE Catholic. There is a difference between representing theology accurately, and actually believing it.

Hey, Scott! This is a troubled and divided world where much hostility to the Catholic faith is based in mis-information. Sproul at least gives us a square deal. He’s a Protestant. If you go to a Protestant source, what do you expect, The Baltimore Catechism?

I give him BIG points for just being objective and honest. Did you listen to his “Mother of God” talk? He’s probably got half his Protestant listeners in a sizzle over the “catholicity” of his position (although it agrees with Ephesus and should therefore be perfectly acceptable to mainstream Protestants).

 

[mercygate]

hlgomez:

Then, what’s preventing him from becoming Catholic? Does he believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist?

Pio

Probably not. He’s a Presbyterian, after all. WYSIWYG.

 

[Michael_C]

I used to listen to him alot, but I got tired of him always talking about the early Church fathers but never what they said that in support of the Catholic Church. After awhile it just didn’t sound right.

Just my opinion - Peace.

 

[davy39]

Scott_Lafrance:

You both are missing the point. If Mr. Spoul was that sympathetic to the CAtholic apologetic, he would himself BE Catholic. There is a difference between representing theology accurately, and actually believing it.

Hey Scott, I actually agree with you. Some of these broadcasters almost sound pro-catholic, but I always thought it was just to get catholics to listen and then let their guard down. To me, most of them are just in it for the MONEY. Why liisten to them when there is good, catholic programming avaliable on EWTN, etc?

 

[Contarini]

You have no business attacking Sproul’s integrity when you obviously know nothing about him. It’s silly and juvenile to assume that just because someone takes historic Christianity seriously he must either be on the way to Catholicism or trying to lure Catholics in by deception. Sproul believes that Mary is the Mother of God because this is the historic Christian position–and that includes classic, historic Protestantism. It has nothing to do with him having some secret leaning toward Catholicism, and it’s not a gimmic. It’s simply that he holds to an orthodox Christology. Sproul is very hostile to Catholicism on issues like soteriology. But he’s a fair opponent.

In Christ,

Edwin

 

[michaelp]

Contarini:

You have no business attacking Sproul’s integrity when you obviously know nothing about him. It’s silly and juvenile to assume that just because someone takes historic Christianity seriously he must either be on the way to Catholicism or trying to lure Catholics in by deception. Sproul believes that Mary is the Mother of God because this is the historic Christian position–and that includes classic, historic Protestantism. It has nothing to do with him having some secret leaning toward Catholicism, and it’s not a gimmic. It’s simply that he holds to an orthodox Christology. Sproul is very hostile to Catholicism on issues like soteriology. But he’s a fair opponent.

In Christ,

Edwin

Edwin, I am gaining more respect for you everyday (not that you are dying for it but . . . ). Thanks for your humility and gentleness.

Michael

 

[mercygate]

Contarini:

You have no business attacking Sproul’s integrity when you obviously know nothing about him. It’s silly and juvenile to assume that just because someone takes historic Christianity seriously he must either be on the way to Catholicism or trying to lure Catholics in by deception. Sproul believes that Mary is the Mother of God because this is the historic Christian position–and that includes classic, historic Protestantism. It has nothing to do with him having some secret leaning toward Catholicism, and it’s not a gimmic. It’s simply that he holds to an orthodox Christology. Sproul is very hostile to Catholicism on issues like soteriology. But he’s a fair opponent.

In Christ,

Edwin

Go get 'em, Edwin. I do not consider Sproul an “opponent” because I believe him to be honest and fair. Although he makes incomprehensible jumps to flat-out Lutheran soteriology, he explicates the common ground of Christian theology with great integrity and care (as in the Mother of God talk) .

 

[CatholicMatthew]

I also enjoy listening to RC on the radio. However, I always have the caveat that he is not Catholic. He is pro-reformation in the back of my mind and run everything he says in that context. While he may not be doing this conciously he does frame things in a very peculiar way that is desgined to sway Catholics/Former or non-practicing Catholics/people who know a likeable Catholic. That is to say he often will say something like this:

“What all you protestants believe about Catholics is wrong…they really don’t believe this but they have gone past biblical authorization here but they aren’t contracdicting it here.”

I have heard him say we are wrong a few times but he tends to be very emphathetic. I believe this to be the persuasive technique (knowingly or unknowingly) the empathy-step gain.

Matt

 

[mercygate]

CatholicMatthew:

I have heard him say we are wrong a few times but he tends to be very emphathetic. I believe this to be the persuasive technique (knowingly or unknowingly) the empathy-step gain.

Matt

Right. Sproul says the Church is wrong quite often – why wouldn’t he?. As for the empathy-step gain, I’m lookin’ at it from the other side. If he’s got empathy, maybe someday he’ll figure out where he needs to be!

 

[Booklover]

Why would a Catholic want to listen to a Protestant apologist or whatever anyway even if he appears sympathetic???

 

[mercygate]

Booklover:

Why would a Catholic want to listen to a Protestant apologist or whatever anyway even if he appears sympathetic???

Sproul might not be a great idea for someone who is not well catechized, but for those who can tell where his Protestant theology departs from orthodoxy, he often states the orthodox position on common doctrines with exceptional clarity. Did you listen to the talk I linked in my original message?

 

[Michael_C]

Booklover:

Why would a Catholic want to listen to a Protestant apologist or whatever anyway even if he appears sympathetic???

Sometimes I listen to the protestant radio station here in NY when I need a break from the world. Sadly we don’t get Catholic radio in the North East where there are many Catholics.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

An opponent of the Church is an opponent of Christ, regardless of how “fair” he/she is.

“He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Contarini:

You have no business attacking Sproul’s integrity when you obviously know nothing about him. It’s silly and juvenile to assume that just because someone takes historic Christianity seriously he must either be on the way to Catholicism or trying to lure Catholics in by deception. Sproul believes that Mary is the Mother of God because this is the historic Christian position–and that includes classic, historic Protestantism. It has nothing to do with him having some secret leaning toward Catholicism, and it’s not a gimmic. It’s simply that he holds to an orthodox Christology. Sproul is very hostile to Catholicism on issues like soteriology. But he’s a fair opponent.

In Christ,

Edwin

 

[mercygate]

Scott_Lafrance:

An opponent of the Church is an opponent of Christ, regardless of how “fair” he/she is.

Opponent?

CCC:

**819 **“Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.” Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves calls to “Catholic unity.”

I would never deny the graces I received before I became Catholic – nor would I deny that they derived from Christ or that they had been transmitted to me by the Catholic Church – if only because the Church gave us Scripture.

 

[davy39]

Michael C:

Sometimes I listen to the protestant radio station here in NY when I need a break from the world. Sadly we don’t get Catholic radio in the North East where there are many Catholics.

If there are no local catholic radio stations avaliable in the north east, buy an inexpensive short wave radio, and send for ewtn’s frequency guide, and you’re in business. As far as Mr Sproul, I think I’ve only heard him 3 or 4 times, but enough to know that in my opinion, he is trying to lead people away from the church. That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.