Alpha and Omega Ministries

Rich and I were commenting after the show, "Why don't we do this more often? That was great!" Good calls on lots of topics as always. Two were on Reformed Baptists in churches of another denomination (one Lutheran, one PCA). Also calls on the early church writers, Mormonism, etc. Enjoy!

Spent a little longer than I intended to address the "controversy" on line regarding Skillet's great rendition of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and then moved on to comments made by Matthew Barrett on "conciliar authority" and being a Baptist. Right toward the end we mentioned the new trailer(s) for an upcoming Christian Nationalism documentary and how really dumb it is to say Christianity is "fake and gay."

Had to finally comment on the election of an open communist (I explain how democratic socialists are just communists without guns...yet) in New York City, and what that means for the future. Then I looked at the recent reception of Gio Benitez, an openly "married" homosexual, into the Roman Church, replete with access to the Eucharist, and how even Bishop Strickland raised the issue to the USCCB. Then we responded to Dr. Allen's comments on our challenge to Provisionists, discovering the new "hermeneutic of agnosticism" that they use to try to avoid actually telling us what texts mean (rather than just telling us what they cannot possibly mean).

Looked at some interesting developments in last week's topic of the Papal document on Marian doctrines, and then transitioned into the issue of historical anachronism, and how it is popping up all over the place on the Internet, and no one seems to be able to recognize it. Then we looked at David Allen and the topic of 1 John 5:1, providing a challenge to all Provisionists. Then we discussed the utter meltdown of Sam Shamoun in his attacks on David Wood, and finished up looking at what seems to be a relatively new note the Watchtower has attached to its translation of John 12:41 seeking to keep their followers in the darkness of error.

Yes, I did briefly mention communism rising in the nation, but I kept that short. Focused on reading from the new document from the Vatican, going over its assertions, and then moving on at the very end to a thread with Joshua Charles, a convert to Papalism, on the utter dogmatic necessity of anachronism in how Roman Catholics handle history.

A whole lot of Roman Catholics around the world awoke today to deep disappointment. Not only did the new Papal document, Mater Papuli Fidelis, not define the 5th Marian dogma, it was, evidently, meant to be the stake in the heart of the movement to have that dogma defined. This was quite a shock to many, but in reality, this new document proves once again one fundamental reality: Rome operates on her own authority (sola ecclesia) and does not have access to anything that is truly "Apostolic tradition." We dive into the topic, and the documentation, today on the program, but will need to finish up on Thursday. This is a pretty important discussion of a central and current discussion relating to modern Roman Catholicism.

So the net is abuzz with excited speculation about a doctrinal statement coming from the Vatican next Tuesday about Mary's role in salvation. Millions of Roman Catholics around the world have signed petitions over the past three decades or more requesting the definition of the "Fifth Marian Dogma" that being Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Co-Mediatrix, and Advocate for the people of God. Many are hoping this new document will dogmatize that teaching, though I find that doubtful. We discuss the issue on Reformation Day 2025. Enjoy!

Wes Huf posted a two sentence post on X a few days ago. It simply said, "Reformation is not an attempt at new Christianity. Reformation is retrieval of true Christianity." And boom---so far, 1,300 responses, mainly from Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, but also a number of Mormons jumped in for the fun of it. So we looked at the replies and tackled all sorts of topics during the Reformation week as we prepare for Reformation Sunday coming up!

Not really sure why but I started off talking about my earliest childhood memory from when I was 2.5 years of age. I even got to show a picture of what I saw that day in 1965. Then we looked at some issues raised regarding Eastern Orthodoxy, then read the anathemas from the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787. Finished up talking about the New Mormons and how to reach them.

Spent quite some time responding to some pretty triumphalistic comments from Roman Catholics, pointing out that there are clear dividing lines between biblical Christianity and Rome's modern state. Then we transitioned to looking again at David Allen's really bad book, and finished off with some ministry related announcements and requests. An hour and 15 today!

Two renowned theologians go head-to-head in a rigorous, respectful debate on one of the most discussed passages in Scripture—**John 1:1–18**.

Listened to Yuvul Harrari once again laying out the future of a dehumanized earth, and how to "hack" people. The WEF is straight out of a Bond movie, it really is. Then we looked at a number of Roman Catholic claims and Todd Erzen's (Steve Deace's producer) claim that lying is a "sacrament in James' church," and that I "blaspheme" the Roman Church "daily." We examined this attack in context, and then I invited Todd to come on the program, or, to have me on his, to discuss these issues. We will see if he takes me up on it!

When I saw a clip on line about Wes Huff causes a "demon" to come out of Amman Hallman, I had to click. Once I figured out the context, I noted that I was going to comment on it on today's DL. Wes contacted me and wanted to know if I would like him to join us, and of course I said yes! So we managed to snag a full hour from the busy young man as we talked text criticism, translation, and the odd, odd story of Amman Hallman and his amazing attacks upon Jesus and the Christian faith. All Greek geeks, TC aficionados, etc,. will love this one!

Everything sort of hooked up nicely today on the show, from talking about a Baptist converting to Anglicanism, into providing a response to a Roman Catholic on what true peace is (and how we obtain it) to my responding to Doug Wilson's comments to Ross Douthat on what it means to be a Christian and whether Roman Catholicism presents, or obscures, that reality.

Considered issues relating to Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy today, looked a bit at the new "Gay-washed" translation of the Bible accepted by the USCCB (the NRSVue), watched a video with someone washing the foot of a dead saint and then people fighting to get some of the water that fell from the foot, etc., all in reference to veneration and worship.

Started off talking about the passing of Russell Nelson, the 17th prophet of the LDS Church, and talking about the succession crisis in Mormonism, as his successor, Dallin Oaks, is 93 years of age. Then we looked at the newly installed Archbishop of Canterbury, a wild-eyed leftist woman, who truly seems to mirror the denigration of the UK in general, and the Church of England in specific. Finally, we looked at a bad week for Pope Leo, including the really weird blessing of "the waters" via a block of ice, and the unrolling of a big long (sorry, but it looked to me like a) slip-and-slide that the people in the audience (including Arnold Schwarzenegger!) then lifted up and down to make it look like flowing water. It was truly that bad. We talked about how Leo is truly the continuation of Francis, and how given his younger age and evident health, could present a long pontificate during which to confirm Francis' plans and change of direction of the Roman Church.

Two main topics today thrust upon us by recent events: the sudden ecumenical surge ("Yeah, the differences between Roman Catholics and Evangelicals really aren't definitional at all") and how it is being propagated, together with the furor over "Is Mormonism Christianity?" that has been prompted by Senator Mike Lee's promotion of Mormonism as basic Christianity in the aftermath of the Michigan tragedy. An hour and twenty minutes on topics we have addressed for decades.

I heard of the home-going of our dear brother Voddie Baucham right after I finished setting up the fifth wheel here in Oklahoma on my fast trip home from the East Coast. This is another audio-only edition, only thirty minutes in length, but I felt it was appropriate to comment on the brother's life and ministry and how we should think about the loss of men like Johnny Mac, Charlie Kirk, and now Voddie Baucham.

Trying to get back across the US two days faster than I had planned, so each day is a long one, and I am not feeling well. So, audio only, but did want to address a few topics like the Kirk memorial and how people are viewing how the gospel was presented, etc., and then also talked about Tucker Carlson's comments on Shariah law. Also addressed the "black culture" claims out of Ogden, and finally, about how Romans 12 is not about a general call the unbelievers to hate evil, etc. Just under forty minutes in length.

Today on a Road Trip DL from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, we report on ministry here and then talk a bit about Acts 20 and the words of Paul to elders that echo today loudly, to be sure. We talked a little more about Charlie Kirk, a little about "Defiant Baptist," and a bit more about Pope Leo and developments regarding whether he is, or isn't, continuing the policies and perspectives of Francis.