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Did a Roman Catholic priest perform 'invalid' baptisms for years?

...ort-of “human sacrament” to the community etc., but I don’t believe that Jesus is not going to impart the Holy Spirit and his grace to the one being baptised just because the priest said the wrong words. This is not magic that needs the correct spell to be cast in order to make it effective. The faith and intent of all involved should suffice as far as this part is concerned. A few caveats though, as I don’t want my words to be misconstrued. There are correct words that need to be said for baptism to be valid on one very important level: what and who you are being baptised into. When being baptised, we are baptised into Christ in the name of the Father,...

Does Christmas have pagan origins?

...For most people, the question of the origins of Christmas is probably far from their minds. Some may recognise and give a cursory glance towards the Biblical narrative on the birth of Jesus as something to do with it (although a 2017 study showed that almost 1 in 20 Brits thought Easter was the birth of Jesus!);—but in some Christian circles the question (accusation?) that “Christmas is pagan” is at the forefront of their minds. Table of Contents When was December 25th celebrated? The Christian Calendar Concluding Thoughts Bonus Information Further Reading & Sources: As time goes on and we move further and further into the future,...

Lent: Day 7 - Ignatius to the Trallians

...thing but human in manifestation. There appeared to be those who taught “that [Jesus] only seemed to suffer” and if that were so, Ignatius argued, “then why am I in bonds … Do I therefore die in vain? Am I not then guilty of falsehood against [the cross of] the Lord?”. We don't see much of this heresy around today, though it has its forms here and there (such as within Islam), but it's not such a great threat to the Faith anymore. Even so, remembering the fact that Jesus was indeed “revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, [and] taken up in glory” (1 Tim 3:16) is the cor...

David, Saul, And How We Respond To Broken Leadership

...nise that human leaders will fail — even those God appoints. To stand for justice without hatred — interrupting injustice without mirroring it. To practice nonviolent resistance — peacefully demonstrating truth and righteousness. To trust God’s sovereignty — believing that God is ultimately in control of the rise and fall of nations. Peaceful protest, speaking the truth in love, standing firm for what is right in the face of evil — these are the tools of God’s kingdom. Violence, hatred, and bitterness are not. Paul summarises these ideas and the teachings of Jesus in his letter to the Romans, which I’ll quote in full bel...

Do Christians And Muslims Really Worship The Same God?

...speaks to humanity — He enters into it. He is not limited by his transcendence, but chooses to reveal himself out of love. This culminates in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, Immanual — “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). The Qur’an & Hadith: Allah Remains Hidden Islam strongly denies that Allah can ever become man, be seen, or take form. ❌ Surah 42:51 — “It is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil…” ❌ Surah 112:3 — “He neither begets nor is born.” ❌ Surah 6:103 — “Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives all vision.” However, Hadith liter...

Lent: Day 12 - Justin Martyr: First Apology, Chaps. 1-11

...peak of a human kingdom” but goes on to explain that it is not so with Christians, since their minds are fixed elsewhere. This ends the first eleven chapters of this massive apologetic work. Come back tomorrow for the next installment!...