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What does The word "Catholic" mean?

  For many people today, non-Christians and (low Church) Christians alike, when They hear The word “Catholic”, certain images spring to mind: The Pope, The rosery, Catholic school, big old Churches buildings, choirboys, maybe monks or statues of Mary even; and sadly more recently, sex abuse scandals. But, generally speaking, all of These are actually aspects of Roman Catholicism — a particular branch of Christianity, and not what The word “catholic” truly means as we’ll see when examining how The early Church used The word and what The original Greek word means. καθολικός (katholikos) The Greek word where we get The English word “c...

The Coming of Jesus: Revelation Fulfilled?

Don’t let The title put you off, we’re about to go on a mad journey through The annuls of history and The Roman Empire, contrasting what John saw in his vision with what has already played out on The “world’s stage” and what we possibly have to look forward to! First though, let’s look at a little history concerning The book itself before delving into its contents. Why do this? For a couple of reasons really: one, Revelation has some dispute over The year in which it was written, which can impact on The interpretation. Two, at various points in early Church history, The book was held in suspicion of being spurious and almost...

8 Most Controversial Topics In The Church Today

What are Christians' thoughts on homosexual marriage? Are spiritual talents biblically sanctioned? Can Christians have alcohol? These are some of The issues that frequently spark passionate debate inside The Church today. Christians hold widely varied views on These matters, and both sides cite Scripture to buttress Their positions. Even within a community of Christians in today's world, discernment is unquestionably required. Whatever your thoughts are on each of those issues, studying this list of areas wherein The Church regularly reviews division will hopefully inspire us as Christ-followers to strive for unity within our personal Church buildings or even a...

Lent Day 18: Cyprian: On The Unity of The Church: 1-9

Day Eighteen: St. Cyprian: On The Unity of The Church: 1-9 Who: Third century bishop of Carthage (in modern Tunisia), and martyr from Africa What: A letter to encourage The unity of The Church against schisms and heresy during massive Roman persecution Why: A disturbance had happened in The Church because of a priest called Novatian — a schismatic of The third century, and founder of The sect of The Novatians. Cyprian wrote to counter this and argues that There can only be one united Church, and The Novatian breakaway was a false Church and that Novatian was an antipope.When: Around 249 AD You can find today’s reading on page 92 here: lentfaTherscomplete...

American Gun Violence and The Early Church on War and Violence

In light of The sad, recent events in The Las Vegas shooting — and similar events in America— I often see Christians across social media jumping to The defence of gun ownership whenever There is even a slight hint at gun control in America. But how has gun culture become so ingrained in American Christianity when we can observe a clear Theme and pattern of thought in The first few centuries of The Church, which goes completely against this? Update 7th Nov 2017: It's so sad to have to update this post on The same subject so soon, almost a month to The day. Yet anoTher shooting, this time in Texas where 26 people have been shot dead in a Church of all pl...

Great Lent: The Season of Fasting

Fasting A spiritual and physical discipline If you are looking for a Lenten reading plan, make sure to check out my book, 40 Days with The FaThers: A Journey Through Church History, which will take you through The first 400 years of Church history in forty days! Lent is upon us once again (according to Western tradition), and so I thought it’d be good to write something on The discipline of fasting, which is often neglected or overlooked in many Protestant Churches. And much like any major holiday, There is The usual arguments and accusations about how it's all just pagan festivities with a "Christian mask". Easter is no different, and usually gets hit...