tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post7881389787480380583..comments2024-03-15T19:18:22.881-05:00Comments on Servant and Steward: I expected as muchRev. Daren J. Zehnle, J.C.L., K.C.H.S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12695652221601203187noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-80304389563274289542007-07-22T18:17:00.000-05:002007-07-22T18:17:00.000-05:00I agree with Brad. It'll get the truth out, for th...I agree with Brad. It'll get the truth out, for those who are ready to accept it. And, once again, you did a very good job on this.Jeffrey Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14421247665256446195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-11807792310617204642007-07-21T20:37:00.000-05:002007-07-21T20:37:00.000-05:00Excellent, Father! I read the whole thing while p...Excellent, Father! I read the whole thing while putting away a pint of strawberry Haagen-Dazs.<BR/>Just needs a good proof-reading (a few typos). <BR/>Not much chance you`ll get through to this guy. He`ll be convinced he`s right until he finds himself in Purgatory;) However, this letter could have a real effect on an intelligent and reasonably open minded reader.<BR/><BR/>10<BR/>2<BR/>4Brad Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17799084432981230598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-62639198903140598632007-07-21T15:14:00.000-05:002007-07-21T15:14:00.000-05:00I've always been surprised at how many Baptists cl...I've always been surprised at how many Baptists claim they're not Protestant. I believe it comes from not knowing the true origins of their theology.Jeffrey Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14421247665256446195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-21503477832798775442007-07-21T15:00:00.000-05:002007-07-21T15:00:00.000-05:00You are absolutely correct, Steve.In previous corr...You are absolutely correct, Steve.<BR/><BR/>In previous correspondence with this man, it is clear that he hates liturgical religion and beleives his own group - he has given a specific name - does go back to the Apostles. He, of course, can provide no documentation of this, but only his own ill-informed word. How can go after this?<BR/><BR/>I'm at a loss on this one. It is a Protestant, though he denies it to the end. He claims that there are Christians, Protestants and Catholics (that was new to me).<BR/><BR/>A previous letter from this man, with my response, can be read here: http://dzehnle.blogspot.com/2007/03/third-letter-to-editor.htmlRev. Daren J. Zehnle, J.C.L., K.C.H.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12695652221601203187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-76731435045539535942007-07-21T14:26:00.000-05:002007-07-21T14:26:00.000-05:00Fr. Daren,In your fourth paragraph, you mention th...Fr. Daren,<BR/><BR/>In your fourth paragraph, you mention that "[n]o Protestant denominantion existed prior to the sixteenth century." You are, of course, correct. However, my hunch is that the letter writer does not consider himself Protestant any more than he thinks himself Catholic. Based on the themes he emphasized in his own letter, I would guess that the letter writer is proud to belong to a so-called non-denominational church, one in which Catholic and Protestant traditions (especially those that are in the least bit liturgical) are rejected. <BR/><BR/>And, whether you want to admit it or not, a mainstream Protestant church with a strong liturgical tradition -- e.g., Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans -- has much more in common with Catholicism than any of the massively popular "non-denominationals" around today. (For that reason -- and, quite honestly, because I often identify more closely with Episcopalian theology than traditional Catholic theology -- I cringe at the idea of a further divide being driven between Catholics and their Protestant brothers and sisters. We are all, obviously, Christians, striving in our own way to practice Christ-like charity and love.) But anyhow, good job on refuting the sola Scriptura point.<BR/><BR/>SteveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-7446300998887694042007-07-21T08:40:00.000-05:002007-07-21T08:40:00.000-05:00Fr. Zehnle --You get right to the heart of the let...Fr. Zehnle --<BR/><BR/>You get right to the heart of the letter-writer's logical problems when you observe that the Scripture passages he cites “don't match his argument.” In fact, he repeatedly uses the Scriptures to refute his own position inadvertently. In response to Paul's advice to the Romans to avoid those who contradict “the doctrine which you have been taught,” the writer says that “we, as Christians, can mark and avoid those same people using the same doctrine that they had by holding them up to the Scriptures.” But that's not, in fact, what the first generations of Christians did. They did not test new teachings against the Scriptures, which meant for them (as you point out) only the Old Testament. They tested new teachings against Tradition – against the teachings of Jesus Himself, preserved and passed on by...the Church!<BR/><BR/>If it were true that “God chose the Gospels as the medium where the true church is described,” then the letter-writer might have a rational basis for his position. But for at least its first 100 years, the true church found itself described – and defined – not by the Gospels but by the teaching of Jesus as preached by that very same church.<BR/><BR/>The Scriptures did not give us the Church, as the letter-writer implies. It's quite the other way around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-70514822299556390352007-07-20T22:54:00.000-05:002007-07-20T22:54:00.000-05:00I've always thought every parish, and every organi...I've always thought every parish, and every organization, should have aomeone with connections to the media to grease the wheels in matters like this.Jeffrey Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13669565372315999650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-33120927222478043242007-07-20T22:24:00.000-05:002007-07-20T22:24:00.000-05:00Thanks! I'll certainly ask about being a guest ed...Thanks! I'll certainly ask about being a guest editorial when I meet with the publisher; I'm about through with the editor (though she doesn't alter the actual text of letters, at least from what I've seen so far).<BR/><BR/>To be honest, I've had other dealings with this man before - in public and in prive - and he'll not listen to - or read - a thing I say. I'd rather not have him at my Bible study; nevertheless, if he comes he'll be welcomed. The Bible study should be published in the paper. A news release was sent off this morning, at any rate.Rev. Daren J. Zehnle, J.C.L., K.C.H.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12695652221601203187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-72990074161762487022007-07-20T21:45:00.000-05:002007-07-20T21:45:00.000-05:00Excellent work, as usual! And I did read the whole...Excellent work, as usual! <BR/>And I did read the whole thing.Jeffrey Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13669565372315999650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10038924.post-55500994985110901192007-07-20T21:21:00.000-05:002007-07-20T21:21:00.000-05:00Fr. Daren,This is an excellent refutation! Check i...Fr. Daren,<BR/><BR/>This is an excellent refutation! <BR/><BR/>Check into the possibility of this being a Guest Editorial or something like that.<BR/><BR/>Not only would you have to split up this response into more than one letter, but chances are that your text would be butchered anyway (if they're anything like my local paper).<BR/><BR/>Fourth paragraph down should be "teaching church" instead of "teach church".<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you'd like to close the letter/article with an invitation to your Bible Study.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com