Blog - Page 35 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Jesus Prays for His Own – A Sermon (John 17)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:29-05:00June 6th, 2014|Categories: ACT 3, Death, Gospel/Good News, Homiletics/Preaching, Love, Personal, Prayer|

The life of our Lord Jesus Christ had an intentionally designed dramatic climax. He was “born to die.” This was not just any death for any person but a death which revealed the depth of God’s love for the world (John 3:16).

In John’s Gospel the glory of the Savior ultimately is his cross. In the death of Jesus we see his glory in the cross for at least five reasons:

1. His greatness is revealed by dying.

2. His work is completed by his dying.

3. He must obey the Father and thus glorify God by dying.

4. His cross is not his end – the resurrection will follow. Vindication is real. It is as if God pointed at the cross and said, “This is what men think of my Son.” But God pointed at the resurrection and said, “This is what I think of my Son.” The glory of the resurrection removed the shame of the cross turning it into glory.

5. The cross is the way back to God. The gateway to glory.

John 17 gives us […]

Must the Reformation Wars Continue? (Thirteen)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:29-05:00June 5th, 2014|Categories: Church History, Current Affairs, Evangelism, Faith, Missional-Ecumenism, The Church, The Future|

Earlier this week Pope Francis spoke to the 37th Convocation of the Renewal in the Spirit, the International Catholic Charismatic meeting held in Rome. Fifty-two thousand people from fifty-five countries gathered for the two-day meeting at the Olympic Stadium. The pope’s address (transcript by AsiaNews) is below. It must be noted that such gatherings and messages clearly indicate to Christians who are not locked into a warfare mindset of the historical past that something amazing is spreading in our time in history. This is most certainly a work of the Spirit, thus a movement of true grace. Millions of Christians are tired of the older battle lines of the past and see a world that is looking for a message of true hope which points them to Jesus. The Father is seeking lost sheep from every nation, tribe and people group and he is calling us to work with him. Read this address and you will hear the heart of a Christian shepherd who is clearly a faithful man of God.

Pope Francis’ Address

Thank you so much for your […]

Must the Reformation Wars Continue? (Twelve)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:29-05:00June 4th, 2014|Categories: American Evangelicalism, Faith, Missional-Ecumenism, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

The various comments that were made on the iMonk site (April 24) – the post where Michael Mercer responded to Tim Challies’ negative post on Pope Francis – the most substantive concern expressed was about the Council of Trent (1545-1563). It is widely believed by evangelicals that the Council of Trent closed the door to the gospel of grace, leaving the Catholic Church in denial of the good news of God’s grace in Christ. It is always widely believed that this door has never reopened after nearly 450 years.

Here is the way Tim Challies expressed his point in he original blog where he said that Pope Francis is “the head of a false church.”

For all we can commend about Pope Francis, the fact remains that he, as a son of the Roman Catholic Church and as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, remains committed to a false gospel that insists upon good works as a necessary condition for justification. He is the head of a false church that is opposed to the true gospel of […]

Robert Barron on Effective Evangelizing in Our Modern Context

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:30-05:00June 3rd, 2014|Categories: American Evangelicalism, Ethics, Evangelism, Gospel/Good News, Love, Missional Church, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, The Church|

I am in the midst of a blog series titled: “Must the Reformation Wars Continue?” Today I share a short video that is worth watching if you want to see how an outstanding Catholic communicator, and a really good friend, speaks about doing evangelism effectively in our time. There are some exceptional insights here for all Christians.

The life of the Christ does not begin with the law but with Spirit, with profound joy and really good news. Joy begins in God because God alone is our true human joy. What Fr. Barron says about evangelization needs to be heard by both Catholics and evangelicals. When you begin with the law you turn people off, you skew the entire mission project. Begin with joy and you will get to ethics and obedience through the right path. This was precisely where the early church did in a most hostile context. It is also where the American church must go in our increasingly secular context.

The Catholic Church in America, only a few decades ago, was all about defending the law, about concentrating on (especially sexual) ethics. That face of the church […]

The Luminosa Award for Unity

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:30-05:00June 2nd, 2014|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism, Personal, Roman Catholicism, The Church, Unity of the Church|

I announced, several weeks ago, that I would be in Hyde Park, New York, on June 21-22, to take part in the annual Luminosa Award weekend. The Luminosa Award recognizes persons, or associations, whose life and work have given a significant contribution to universal brotherhood – the Focolare Movement’s goal – by building bridges of mutual understanding and concern among various Christian churches, major faith traditions and people of good will, in all aspects of social life. Award recipients, for over twenty-five years, have been representatives of various Christian churches and faith traditions, of the film industry, educators, national leaders and highly esteemed peacemakers.

This award is sponsored by the Mariapolis Luminosa, the Focolare’s little city for North America, located in Hyde Park, NY. Both the Award and the Mariapolis take their name from Margarita Bavosi, called “Luminosa” because everything about her was luminous. She died in 1985, offering her life for the cause of unity. A native of Argentina, she directed the Focolare in Spain for many years.

You are cordially invited to share in this lovely […]

Must the Reformation Wars Continue? (Part Eleven)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:30-05:00May 30th, 2014|Categories: ACT 3, American Evangelicalism, Faith, Missional-Ecumenism, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

It might seem, at least to some of my evangelical readers, that I blame evangelicals alone for the kind of warfare lingo of the “Reformation Wars” that I pray will cease. Let me begin this post by stating that EWTN (Catholic) and Relevant radio (Catholic) can be equal opportunity offenders in these “polemical wars” in a way very similar to conservative Protestant programming on various evangelical networks. The program “Coming Home,” hosted by Marcus Grodi, is one of the most egregious examples I know, though it is set in a very gentle tone. (You can read Grodi’s conversion story online.) This program is well-produced and includes an occasional account of conversion from no faith to a living Christian faith. (The majority of stories, however, are from ex-Protestants!) Grodi, himself a former Presbyterian minister, came to a personal crisis about what he believed while still in the ministry. He had clearly confessed personal faith in Jesus. But he saw some major problems in his Protestant faith. (I’ve seen the problems that he saw and agree with much of his analysis of the problems, though […]

Must the Reformation Wars Continue? (Part Ten)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:30-05:00May 29th, 2014|Categories: ACT 3, American Evangelicalism, Faith, Missional-Ecumenism, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

I referred earlier to the way in which apologists for Catholicism and evangelicalism often employ methods that are not helpful to the better understanding of our real differences. The style chosen does not help to tamp down the rhetoric of theological warfare and thus fosters further misunderstanding. By saying this I expect that some, on both sides who have a vested interest in these “Reformation Wars,” will take offense with me. I expect some friendly Catholic readers will take offense if I provide an example that bothers me from their side of the dialogue/debate. I shall take the risk and beg for your forgiveness if offense is given. I assure you that none is intended. (If you read me regularly you must know I mean this and have demonstrated it time and time again.) I have in mind the doctrine of the Mass.

Popular Catholic apologists have a lot to say about “the real presence” of Christ in the eucharist. When they present their Catholic view in various broadcasts as the center of their Christian faith (I strongly disagree […]

Must the Reformation Wars Continue? (Part Nine)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:30-05:00May 28th, 2014|Categories: ACT 3, American Evangelicalism, Faith, Missional-Ecumenism, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

I begin this post by sharing, as openly as I know how, that I have seriously considered God’s call on my life in terms of the very pressing questions that I’ve engaged with in this series. I have earnestly considered my relationship with Christ’s Church on earth, including both the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. I think everyone who takes the visible church seriously should at least remain open to these questions. This is especially true if you have encountered all three of the great traditions personally as I have done through my charism that has led me to work for unity. Those who have struggled with these ecclesial questions, and many of you have who are my faithful readers, know that I regard your own journey with utmost respect. There are readers here who have become Catholic and still others who have become Orthodox. Your “conversion” is something that I have celebrated with you as my friend if we know one another. (This stance confuses people who are resolutely opposed to every side but their own. For […]

Must the Reformation Wars Continue? (Part Eight)

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:14:30-05:00May 27th, 2014|Categories: ACT 3, American Evangelicalism, Faith, Missional-Ecumenism, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, The Church, The Future, Unity of the Church|

The comments made on Michael Mercer’s April 24 blog about the Catholic and Protestant wars of the last five hundred years – “Memo to Tim Challies: The War is Over” – allow a person to encounter a number of all-too-common responses to Catholic-Protestant disagreements. Some of the comments at this blog were astute and thoughtful. A few revealed raw prejudice. Most simply revealed various forms of what I would call an all-too-common ignorance. Some of this ignorance, such as what we can see in the original blog written by Tim Challies, is egregious. Tim Challies has recently gone from bad to much worse in his spirited and unpleasant post against Lectio Divina. Read Mark Moore’s fine comments for a thoughtful evangelical writer’s response to the Lectio Divina discussion.

Most of the comments made on these several sites about the pope and Catholicism are quite innocent. There is a particular kind of innocent ignorance that is common on both sides, at least among everyday Christians. The more egregious kinds of ignorance are far less tolerable. These variety of […]

Center Quest – An Ecumenical Hub

By John Armstrong|2015-01-23T16:23:59-06:00May 23rd, 2014|Categories: Uncategorized|

My friend Wil Hernandez is doing an outstanding work of mentoring leaders. His Center Quest mission is well worth your consideration if you are looking for an excellent place to receive ecumenical training in Christian leadership. You can see his School of Spiritual Direction (SSD) at the Center Quest site. I cannot think of a better resource for this type of training anywhere in the U.S.