Considering Catholicism

The Cost of Discipleship, Part 2 (#356)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Continuing their conversation Secret Compound, Greg and Ed tackle the deeply personal challenges of considering Catholicism when opposition comes from within the home, particularly from a spouse. Responding to a listener's email about navigating a Protestant spouse and a complex marriage situation, they explore the emotional and spiritual dilemmas of pursuing the Catholic faith in a divided household. Greg emphasizes the Catholic Church’s teaching that salvation is fullest within the Church, yet not a binary exclusion of non-Catholics, using the analogy of concentric circles. Ed shares his approach of moving slowly and respectfully to avoid conflict with his wife, while Greg advises presenting one’s faith journey as a pursuit of becoming the best version of oneself for the sake of the marriage. They also address the high bar of Catholic teachings on marriage, acknowledging the pain of irregular situations and the crosses some bear, like a cantor who faithfully serves but cannot receive the Eucharist. This episode offers hope and practical wisdom for those wrestling with family dynamics while seeking the fullness of Christ’s Church.

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The Cost of Discipleship, Part 1 (#355)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg and Ed the Protestant return to the Secret Compound and dive into the real challenges faced by those considering Catholicism, especially when it means navigating opposition from friends, family, or fellow Protestants. They explore the emotional and social costs of pursuing the Catholic faith, drawing from listener emails about anti-Catholic sentiments and personal struggles. Greg shares his own experience of losing professional relationships upon converting, while Ed reflects on the liminal space of being drawn to Catholicism while still tied to Protestant roots. They discuss how Jesus warned that following Him would come with a cost, citing biblical examples like the apostles' martyrdom and encouraging listeners to respond to criticism with gentleness and respect, as advised in 1 Peter 3. This episode offers a compassionate yet bold look at the sacrifices of discipleship and how to stand firm in faith despite pushback.

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Protestant Games, Part 2: The Berean Gambit (#354)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In Part 2 of a two-part series, "Protestant Games," Greg dismantles the Protestant “Berean Gambit”—their claim that Acts 17:11 proves sola scriptura. Far from a mic-drop, this move backfires, showing the Bereans trusted Paul’s oral apostolic tradition—resurrection, Trinity, Gentile inclusion—checked for consistency with the Old Testament, aligning with Catholicism’s view of Scripture and Tradition as one. Check out episodes #133, #134, #220-246, and #299 at ConsideringCatholicism.com for more on the Bible and the Church!

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Protestant Games, Part 1: Why Play By Protestant Rules? (#353)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In Part 1 of a two-part series, Greg tackles Protestant apologist Gavin Ortlund’s 5 Reasons I Am Not Catholic, which shakes cradle Catholic Iris and others with evangelical critiques. Instead of playing the “rigged game” of proving Catholicism by Protestant rules (sola scriptura, sola fide, Bible-only faith), Greg flips the script, showing these premises are unbiblical, ahistorical, and rejected by most Christians across time. Tune in to Part 2 for a deep dive into Acts 17:11 and the Bereans!

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Evangelicals and Israel, the Alamo and End Times (#352)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Why do American evangelicals passionately support modern Israel, especially in conflicts like Israel-Iran? In the final part of our Seeking Roots, Finding the Church series, Greg Smith shares why Americans, including evangelicals, admire Israel’s pioneer spirit and military prowess, akin to Davy Crockett at the Alamo. Buy notes that dispensationalist theology, tied to their chase for Jewish roots (Episode 1) and reliance on the Masoretic Text (Episode 2), also fuels their political commitment, contrasting with the Catholic view of the Church as the New Israel. Responding to claims like Senator Ted Cruz’s, Greg shows why the Church, not a nation, is the true fulfillment of God’s covenant.

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Why Do Protestants Choose the Bible of the Rabbis Over the Bible of the Apostles? (#351)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Why do evangelicals trust a Jewish canon finalized centuries after Christ over the Bible of the apostles? In part two of our Seeking Roots, Finding the Church series, Greg shares his journey from a Calvinist seminary where the Masoretic Text was taught as the “authentic” Old Testament to Catholicism, where he discovered the Septuagint’s role in the apostolic Church. Explore how evangelicals’ search for “Jewish roots” leads them to a post-Christian Rabbinic tradition and the myth of the “Council of Jamnia,” missing the Church’s authority as the New Israel. Discover why the Septuagint, affirmed by early Church councils, offers the true Christian canon and covenant, rooted in the apostles celebrated on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.

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Why Evangelicals Choose Galilee Over St. Peter’s (#350)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Why do American evangelicals love Holy Land trips, seder dinners, and supporting the modern state of Israel? In this first of a three-part series, "Seeking Roots, Finding the Church," Greg explores how evangelicals, seeking a faith with gravitas, embrace a romanticized pre-Christian Jewish identity, imagining a simple, intimate faith free of “elaborate” Catholic or Orthodox traditions. He shares a story from St. Peter’s Basilica that reveals their crisis of imagination and explains how their focus on Old Testament promises overlooks the Church as the New Israel. Discover why the apostolic tradition, founded by Christ’s apostles, fulfills Israel’s story and offers the true heritage they seek.

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Who's View of Sex is Stranger? Catholic or Protestant? (#349)

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg tackles Catholic and Protestant views on sex, asking: whose take is stranger? From marriage as a sacrament to celibacy as a gift and Mary’s perpetual virginity, he defends Catholic teachings as biblical and healthy against Protestant critiques on divorce, contraception, and more. Using the Cathar heresy as a cautionary tale, Greg shows how Catholicism balances sex’s sacred purpose. Perfect for curious non-Catholics, skeptical Protestants, and Catholics rediscovering their faith.

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Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/

Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com