The Most Remarkable Catholic Conversion Ever (w/ Ken Kopelson)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ค. 2024
- In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by the incredible Ken Kopelson to tell what I think is one of the most unique and amazing conversion stories I've ever heard.
Raised in a conservative Jewish home, Ken began asking questions about Christianity when a family member converted and began to share about Christ. Those discussions sparked a radical conversion to Christ and 45 years of serving as God's "errand boy" across all manner of ministries, crisscrossing the world, to go where God sent him - and do what God wanted him to do.
Then, prompted by the desire to plant a new church and found a new denomination that got back to Christian roots, Ken began to explore the Early Church. And, remarkably, discovered that it was Catholic.
This is an utterly fascinating journey. I hope you enjoy it!
Check out Ken's amazing book Sent Out: How My Journey as "God's Errand Boy" Totally Changed My Life on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Sent-Out-Journ....
Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com.
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This testimony rightly reflects what Mother Angelica said, “Catholics get the best Protestants but the Protestants get the worst Catholics.”
Who gets the best Christians?
@paulsmallwood1484
You clearly don't want to hear this, but the Catholics do. Why? Because these Christians are getting the fullness of the faith.
The way Jesus intended for it to be!
God bless you, my friend! 🙏
Wow. I never realized that, but it's true.
@@rosiegirl2485 You don’t even know me and yet you think you know what I do or don’t want to hear. I could care less where somewhere someone wants to go to church. Well since you feel free to tell me let me tell you. You don’t want to hear what I have to say because it takes you outside of your comfort zone and challenges your long cherished and held assertions.
Let's hear it@@paulsmallwood1484
That's my Dad!!!!❤❤❤❤
🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏
No way! 😄
❤
I am sure that you are very proud of him!
His story is remarkable! 😊
God bless him!!!!!🎉❤
When I went back and listened to this, I realised that I misspoke about who asked God for wisdom. When I was saying it, the thought was “it was David’s son Solomon”, but my mouth said “David”. It was Solomon who asked for wisdom.
Brain move faster than mouth syndrome.
My mouth moves faster than my brain all too often 😬😩
Looking forward to this testimony. After 10 years as an Evangelical Christian I reverted to Catholicism and my husband converted! I never get tired of listening to these amazing stories! 🙏🙏🙏
This is an amazing one!
wonderful
Yes!❤
@@TheCordialCatholic Perhaps invite them on.
Welcome home to you and your husband.
As a Jewish convert I had a similar journey: you can call us 'born again Catholic Jews!' 😄
🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏
Brilliant!
Or as Roy Schoeman says ‘Completed Jews’. What a beautiful thing. Exactly how it was meant to be. Rejoicing in your / our heritage coming to fruition.❤️
All souls need the Body of Christ, The One Appostolic Catholic Church ⛪️ welcome home 🏡 🙏
If you belong to God, He will call you back home. It doesn’t matter how long or how far you have gone astray. Welcome home 🕊️🙏
Well said!
I love this. God called me home after 40+ years. I always wonder why he gave me this grace. I don't deserve it at all. I am His!
As Catholics first we must give glory to our Almight God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom our Almighty God is pleased.
Amazing episode. Would be good to get him, or another Jew to Catholic convert to talk about Jewish sacrificial theology and the Eucharist because it would explain exactly why You Must Eat the Flesh of Jesus (and his Blood) for it to be effective.
Yes! He’s actually working on a book about this. Will definitely have him back on this topic!
@@TheCordialCatholic Yes. I heard. Would also be good to know when it is released which I guess we'd find out when he is back on.
Awesome testimony ❤
Amen!
Welcome home, Brother, Ken. great listening to your tale and you carried a message for a thing or two going on in my life too. I have to remember that it is not me who does it, it is God who does it; my duty is to trust Him and wait upon Him.
Amen!
My son showed me a picture today of the 4th of July in 1976 taken on Fayette Street, Conshohocken Pa.
I was raised in West Conshohocken, also known as West Conshy!
I told 😅him that the photo was taken of the Bicentenial Wagon Train that went cross country and ended at Valley Forge, pa. (Which is close to Conshohocken)
I was 15 years old. It was an exciting time for everyone! Decorating everything, painting firehydrants in patriotic colors and designs, everyone dressed accordingly, patriotism oozing from everyone and everything!
What a difference a few decades make!
We need to get back to those days!
The country hasn't changed. It's the way that people are thinking that has changed!
God bless America! 🇺🇸
This is the best testimony I’ve ever heard 😮.
Magnifique temoignage et discussion. À Dieu toute la gloire🙏🏽🙏🏽✝️✝️
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing this story! Very inspiring to a cradle catholic.
Great conversation and journey!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow, epic conversation. Many of the guests questions and hurdles hit me the same exact way when coming to the Catholic face. Especially John 6.
Amazing, eh? Thanks for watching!
Annointed✨️🙌💖
Amen!
I'm listening to this on Amazon music. What a great episode.
Great guest would love to hear from him in future!❤ Thank you.😊
Awesome. Thanks God. GBU. Lord Jesus bless this channel. Amen.
Awesome story 👏
Thanks for watching!
I love this conversation, wow mind blowing!
I know! Thanks for watching!
This was great. Loved hearing the breakdown of the sacrifice and other things, especially with the Jewish lens. God bless
Oh my I did the same thing with the Eucharist wow❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Amazing 👏👏
Awesome Ken. I loved this interview. I learned so much. God bless the both of you.
😇 Great testimony😄Thank you for sharing, Love it. God bless you, your family.😍
Thanks for watching!
THIS MAN IS SO MUCH LIKE ME AND HE THINKS AND PREACHES JUST LIKE ME, AND HE'S RECIEVED FROM GOD SIMILAR GIFTS AND TALENTS AS ME! HE THINKS AND FEELS EXACTLY AS I DO!
Hello Steven! Would you like to chat online or the phone?
Amazing episode. Incredible story ❤
The Bruderhof (at least the ones in the Pittsburgh area about 10-15 years ago) are very Catholic-friendly. They were always at Theology on Tap. Such a beautiful community.
I'm so excited for this video.
Thank you
I hope you enjoy it. He has an amazing story!
Tell it ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I enjoyed listening to your conversion story. May God continue to bless you on your journey. 😅❤❤❤
Thanks for listening!
Hopefully not too long before he feels comfortable loving Our Heavenly Mother. St Louis de Montfort sould be my recommendation. ❤
37:10 THIS! I have nothing else to talk about. Why is it so hard to even talk about God with people at church???
This didn't help our Catholic culture in the USA: Our only other "Catholic" president in the 1960's basically said, "I will keep my Catholicism to myself." Sounds like he experienced the same type of thing in the Protestant world.
We had a Christian woman running for local state member in Victoria Melbourne and when people were all ‘Ooh can’t vote for her she’s Christian’ she assured them she keeps her politics separate from her Christianity. I never understood that. It’s not possible to separate yourself in this way unless you aren’t doing it authentically. Isn’t it your faith that SHOULD colour all you do, your beliefs, habits and mindset? Isn’t Christianity (if properly practiced) exactly WHY one is fit to represent the people and work for their best? So sad a witness when there was a great opportunity here win or lose the election.
May the Lord continue to bless your work 🙏🏼
Wiw, I love this story. Someone send this to Ben Shapiro! I need to get his boom👍🏼 Thank you for your show and great conversion stories! God bless. ❤
Thanks for listening
The most amazing conversion is St. Paul’s.
I have an interesting reversion story if you'd have me on!
Send me an e-mail!
@@TheCordialCatholic sooo you're telling me there's a chance(dumb and dumber).... Hahah
@@TheCordialCatholic having trouble finding a way to access a way DM or email you.
Amen 🙏
The most remarkable conversion ever was from Saul to Paul.. It is in the bible.
Yes, I'm glad mine wasn't as remarkable as Saul's, because I don't think I would have liked being blind. God was quite gracious to me, as to how he brought me along, little by little. While Saul did get knocked to the ground, I just got a little shove! So, I agree that Saul's was most remarkable.
I do believe that the Cordial Catholic was referring to the most remarkable he has personally heard, not in all of history. There have been some amazing conversion stories over the last 2000 years! So, I know he wasn't being 100% literal.
With his Jewish/Christian/Catholic experience, very curious about his thoughts on Extraordinary Form/TLM liturgy.
Why?
@@TheCoachsCoach933 why not?
Because the church’s magisterium and God’s duly authorized agent on this earth has issued authoritative statements on the subject. Nobody’s opinion should matter. Those that celebrate it without approval by their bishop create division and are protestant.
@@TheCoachsCoach933 I wasn't aware any authoritative document had been promulgated. If there is, of course that's what I'll go with. But again, I was just curious of his opinion of the traditional Latin mass based on his background. I'm pretty sure I have not broken any magisterial laws with my curiosity? But you do sound like quite an authority so let me know if I have. By the way, I attend a traditional Latin mass at my diocesan parish with full approval by our bishop. I certainly wasn't asking this new convert to tell me about his opinion of illicit traditional Latin mass he might or might not have attended, only licit ones.
@@ric5210 that’s great that you have your bishops approval and no i’m not an authority. I’m only a past member of a closed parish due to a lack of priests. We had one mass on Sunday and a couple during weekday mornings. The priest that closed our parish now has time to add an extra unpublished Sunday mass that is TLM at the neighboring parish that pulls folks in from all over neighboring counties who no longer support their local parishes. The papal document is Traditionis Custodes that places restriction on the tlm.
Ken should become a Franciscsn priest - that is his spirit.
53:29. Would be great if this area can be fixed.. Audio/video freezes on your guest for a couple seconds and something important is completely missed. There are a few spots like this actually.. :(
❤
I liked the testimony up to the point where he says he was 'forced into marriage' and later on 'It didn't work out'. Remember the scripture where we are told anyone who puts his spouse away [except for reasons of adultery ...] causes that person to become an adulterer? The intimacy of the marriage situation becomes part of the person and when the spouse goes away, that part still yearns for that expression of love bonding. If one marries, IT becomes HIS main vocation ... and that does not change until the spouse dies. One can separate if absolutely necessary ... but that is a civil condition ... What God joins together remains in that condition. Serial marriage = serial bigamy = serial adultery. The job in marriage is to suffer and work together WITH God to build and maintain the FAMILY ... not an independent mission for one and not the other. Marriage is not a 'put your toe in to see if the water is the right temperature'. It is a life mission. When a married man feels himself called to the Roman Catholic priesthood ... it's not the Lord doing the calling. When a married man feels drawn to the celibate religious life ... only in extremely rare circumstances is it a valid call ... if so the spouse will agree to live apart but remain as sister and brother and chaste etc. So ... I have some serious reservations about the current 'path' Mr. Kopelson appears to be on. Prayers for us all ... I believe no one escapes this life without making some serious mistakes along the way. But maybe my discernment is wrong ... Lord don't give up on us. Batter up !!
Actually, without saying anything against anyone, the fact is, my wife left the marriage. I was quite unwilling for that to happen, but I really had no choice, given the laws of the land. The fact is, according to the Catholic Church, I am still married, even though the civil divorce happened over 35 years ago. Since I am vowed to celibacy, I may or may not pursue annulment, but I've been told that I do meet the requirements for annulment.
As for marriage being a man's main vocation, that was certainly how I viewed it, but the Protestant church does view these things differently. They do not have the idea of "no divorce". They do not see marriage as a sacrament. So, even though I had no such teachings as the Catholic Church puts forth, I knew that marriage vows are very serious. To a Jew, vows are very important. The Protestant churches also allow remarriage for those who are divorced. Now that I'm Catholic, I fully hold to the idea of no remarriage. I did not get remarried and that is why I took all the Evangelical Counsels. I actually took those before I was officially Catholic.
When I said I was "forced" into marriage, of course I did not mean that someone held me at gunpoint to get married. I did say how I was forced. When I met my wife, I was in ministry, serving as the founder and pastor of a new church, focused on reaching people in the Rock and Heavy Metal culture, and ministering to people on the streets. People told me that I really need to get married, since all pastors are married. It was "pressure" to get married, and that is what I meant by being forced.
All of these factors add up to a faulty marriage, according to the Church's determination. That allows for marriage annulment.
@@KenKopelson I truly appreciate the depth of your response. It clears all the concerns that came up in my 81 year old student mind. So the question now is whether or not God is calling you to some sort of Holy Orders ... or community. There are lay 3rd orders as well. I know the Carmelites have a 3rd order, as are the Oblates of St. Benedict, and likely there are others. Being an unattached agent for Christ also may be the thing ... lots of flexibility there. The annulment would clear you for permanent deacon or the priesthood ... but thats not for everyone ... Then there are group affiliations like the Apostolate for Family Consecration in Steubenville, Opus Dei, etc. Since our job is holiness development at God's design I pray the Lord continue to bless and guide you in His service and that ongoing conversion saga. Thank you again for your clear response.
@@michaelpcooksey5096 bless you brother! I'm sure you have a few great stories to tell, being 81-years young!
@@KenKopelson Aha ... you threw me a leader .... WELL, Quite a different trajectory than yours. After 3 years military service in Colorado the Lord drew me like a magnet to an iron filing into the Catholic and let me Feel His presence in the Eucharist. Later on was SEVERELY disciplined, but then in an emotionally shattered state the Lord assigned a wife for me [she had no idea ], let me know she was too young to marry yet, and allowed me to know the rough location in our college town where she was living in off campus housing. 51 years married now, 6 children; 3 survived, 3 miscarriages + possible [likely] unknown losses from ignorance and lack of information during 2 years on the pill. [My fault entirely]. Now, for the first time we may be going out of country on a pilgrimage ... we'll see if the Lord allows it. My Catholic education was initially non existent, although she was well educated during high school years with convent nun teachers [many had their masters degree]. And the saga continues [I left some parts out ... but thats an act of charity , Ha! ... besides, the only book I published was on Kindle 'More than 80 Security Officer Secrets'... not really a normal context for religious discussion ... but for me it was.
@@michaelpcooksey5096thank you so much for sharing that brief synopsis of an entire lifetime! I'm sure you left LOTS of things out, not just a few ;)
Check out my reversion story guys. #makesundayholyagain
You need to look into Sci-Fi author John C Wright's conversion story. Will blow your mind.
I’ll do that!
I know how Ken feels. I don't care for frivolous chit chat...Iwant to talk about Jesus, the apostles, our Lady, the saints and doctrine.
👍
This guy's hilarious
Indeed!
It was Solomon, not David, who, when asked by God what he wanted, replied wisdom.
Yes, you will notice that I caught my own error, if you review all the comments above. I also explain that my brain was thinking faster than my mouth, as I was thinking in my head, "David's son Solomon", but only "David" came out.
Well my mouth has a tendency to think faster than my brain which is way worse 😂
I mean book, not boom. Sorry…
Instead of anglican, may it be the Orthodox church? They also say are the first church.
Both are part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church but are in schism. Our Lord's desire is that we should be one in Christ as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one. May God heal our divisions and unite us in truth and love.
No, it was the Episcopal Church.
Your Lutherans, we own ya.We won
1:00:40 lutherans
All true followers of Jesus respect and admire the blessed virgin Mary but non catholic do not pray to Mary or worship her like many catholic do because the Bible reserved Only God to be worship and pray to. All true Christians whether catholic or not should Do the Right Thing and Pray to and Worship God Alone! Not the blessed virgin Mary and the saints! God put them to rest, so let them rest until Jesus comes back and wake them up! God bless you all! Jesus Loves you all very very very much today and forevermore in Jesus Most Precious and Most Wonderful name way way Way above All other names 🙏 Amen 🙏!!!!!!!
They don't worship Mary.
@@ElisWrite I know that not all catholics worship Mary but some and I believe many do worship or venerate the blessed virginMary. (Veneration is basically worship in Disguise). I guess you have heard of the memorarium. They say it all the time on the powerful and very influential radio station network Relevant Radio : home of Patrick Madrid, Cale Clark, Drew Mariani, the priest father Rocky and one of the main sponsors of the 80,000 expected crowd at the Eucaristic event in Indianapolis in July . The prayer that is Often Repeated on Relevant Radio is All to Mary nothing to Jesus! It ends by asking Mary to Hear and Answer the prayer! No wonder the Bible says that God is a Jealous God. When His creature, the blessed virgin Mary is given prayer and adoration that that should Only be given to God there is a very serious problem about true and false worship! The true worshipper will worship God and God alone!!!!!!! In Jesus Most Precious and Most Wonderful and Most Holy name way way Way above All other names 🙏 Amen 🙏!!!!!!!
@@michaelstanley4873 Veneration is NOT worship in disguise. The fact that you think this says a lot.
@@ElisWrite Then please do tell! Please explain what is veneration?
@@michaelstanley4873 If you aren't willing to do research on the internet, I can't help you.
Single? Married? 😂
Civil Divorced. No annulment, so still married, but living as Celibate. Married to God.
Congratulations Ken now maybe you might go the whole hog and become a traditional Catholic
which you can't even advertise in your church bulletin...I know, my parish has an asterisk...
What is a traditional Catholic? One that submits to the church’s authority or one that thinks they know better and does their own thing?
@@TheCoachsCoach933 smirk...
As a Protestant, I was pretty much my own Pope. I decided which interpretations I thought were right. I decided which church services I attended. When I became Catholic, I had to truly believe in the authority source and structure of the Church. I had to agree that the Apostles, and all their successors (bishops/priests) had the authority to BIND and LOOSE. Here is the thing I had to realize. I had to accept that Jesus was not going to determine the particulars of how the Church would grow, how it was structured, which laws would be enacted and repealed, etc. In other words, the Magisterium is Infallible precisely because it has authority to decide those very things. It is not merely striving to hear what Jesus thinks, and then repeating it. God wants the Magisterium to decide issues of FAITH and MORALS, as well as operational things like Rites, Rubrics, etc. Jesus gave them the foundational teachings. The Dogmas can't be changed. From there, the Magisterium can decide. They are the Church's Legislature.
So, if I believe all of this, then I must do several things:
1) I must aim to accurately understand what the Magisterium (including the Pope) has decided and written. I find that many Catholics misunderstand the writings of something like Vatican 2. I'm not sure exactly why, but it seems that people do not read the documents carefully like a lawyer would.
2) When it comes to dogma and doctrine, I am bound to defer my own personal interpretation to that of the Magisterium. This is fundamental to Catholic understanding of authority. If I believe that God setup the Church's authority structure, then I will not be faulted by God if I simply accept what they say. Jesus told Israel they must obey the Sanhedrin, because they sit in the Seat of Moses. This gives us clear instruction.
3) If I have a contrary opinion to that of the Magisterium, it is similar to me having a contrary opinion to that of the Supreme Court of the U.S. It really doesn't matter what my opinion is, because I have not taken the time and effort to get myself appointed as a Bishop (or a Supreme Court Justice).
4) If I really, truly feel that the Church is off-base on some doctrine or other teachings of the Magisterium, I am free to write a respectful letter to them, detailing why I think they may be wrong. I should NOT get on TH-cam and publish my ideas to the world, because that has no benefit for the Church, and it is only for the reason of garnering attention. Here is how you can gauge that in your own heart: if you had a family disagreement about how things are done in your family, would you write a big public letter, or make a public video, promoting your own side, and lambasting your other family members who think differently? Would you drag your dad's good name through the mud, just to get likes on TH-cam?
5) If there is actually troubles within the Magisterium, such as grossly sinful bishops, the best thing for the laity to do is PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Pray with tears, because Jesus's Body is compromised! Cry out to God to clean up HIS Church! Remind him that he said the Gates of Hell would not prevail over the Church! Spiritual Battle must be fought Spiritually!
@@KenKopelson nicely put, celebrate y'all, after only a month of wrangling back and forth, my ex-coworker decided he is entering RCIA...and he KNOWS his Bible..
Can anybody tell me why would the " true church who supposedly wrote the Bible " persecuted and put to death So many people for simply wanting to read, translate and print the Bible and for simply trying to serve God different from the established church? Jesus and His disciples and the apostles Never Ever persecuted or killed anyone who didn't follow their beliefs! On the contrary Jesus and His precious followers were always the ones being persecuted and killed, made martyrs by the powerful union of church and state as the catholic church has done in the past and is prophesy to do again when those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast will be persecuted and won't be able to buy and sell!
Remember! You should know the Truth/ Jesus and the Truth will set you free! As wonderful as the blessed virgin Mary and the saints are, they can't hear us or help us because the Bible Clearly teaches that they are sleeping in the grave awaiting Jesus to return and the glorious Resurrection Day! So my dear catholic brothers and sisters please keep your eyes Only on Jesus because He's is the Only One Who died for your sins and He hears and answers your honest, sincere prayers! God bless you all! Jesus Loves you all very very very much today and forevermore in Jesus Most Precious and Most Wonderful name way way Way above All other names 🙏 Amen 🙏 Amen 🙏 Amen 🙏!!!!!!!
I’ve done several reels on this topic on Instagram if you want to follow me there. I will also be having historian Steve Weidenkopf on the show who talks about these exact topics - most of which are myths.
My simple question for you (a small doubt)...
Why even Protestants church's do not using Tyndale's Bible? ... Because its full of errors...
William Tyndale was not the first one who translated the Bible into English...
seventh-century Whitby monk Caedmon and St. Bede in the eighth century produced English translations of the Bible. (Where We Got the Bible, 104, by Graham)
The Catholic Church has always supported the translation of Scripture into the vernacular, because it is charged by Christ to spread the Gospel throughout the world. It has opposed only faulty vernacular translations by heretics who used them to spread their errors.
It is widely believed that, to facilitate the lay reading of Scripture, Luther was first to translate the Bible into German. He was not (Contrary to popular belief, Luther’s German translation was not the first in that language, as there were thirty-six previous translations).
The first Bible in the German vernacular was produced in the eight century at the monastery of Monse. (Luther’s German Bible: A Historical Presentation Together with a Collection of Sources by Johann Michael Reu )
By the fifteenth century, there were 36,000 German manuscript bibles in circulation, and a complete printed Bible in the German vernacular appeared in 1529-five years before Luther’s translation was published.
(The Gutenberg Bible is an edition of the Latin Vulgate printed in the 1450s by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, in present-day Germany.)
there was a Gothic translation of the Bible in the fourth century. See James Hitchcock, History of the Catholic Church (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012)
The first effort to publish a vernacular version of the Scriptures was commissioned by Pope St. Damasus I (AD 366-383), who employed his brilliant yet irascible secretary St. Jerome (AD 342-420) to accomplish the task. Jerome learned Greek and Hebrew to properly translate the word of God into the vernacular Latin....
In short, the Catholic Church made Scripture accessible to laymen long before Luther and the Reformation did....
have a nice day .
Fundamentalists often challenge the Catholic practice of asking saints and angels to pray on our behalf. But the Bible directs us to invoke those in heaven and ask them to pray with us.
Thus, in Psalm 103 we pray, "Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will!" (Ps. 103:20-21). And in the opening verses of Psalms 148 we pray, "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!"
Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us. In the book of Revelation, John sees that "the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8). Thus the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth.
Angels do the same thing: "[An] angel came and stood at the altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God" (Rev. 8:3-4).
Jesus himself warned us not to offend small children, because their guardian angels have guaranteed intercessory access to the Father: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 18:10).
Because he is the only God-man and the Mediator of the New Covenant, Jesus is the only mediator between man and God (1 Tim. 2:5), but this in no way means we cannot or should not ask our fellow Christians to pray with us and for us (1 Tim. 2:1-4). In particular, we should ask the intercession of those Christians in heaven, who have already had their sanctification completed, for "[t]he prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects" (Jas. 5:16).
The host is so talkative. Why can't he let the interviewee talk more than he does. He is annoying
Sorry but he lost me when he laughed about marrying someone and then it failed.. His biggest calling was to the community of his family.. Just saying.. 🙄🤷♀️🙏
If you love your father and mother, or children and spouse more than Jesus, you're not worthy of him.
Actually, I was not supposed to get married, and so that is why that short marriage will be annulled. My laughter was not because I thought it was funny, it was because I thought it was wrong to get married for the reasons that I did. That was laughter of disgust at my own foolishness, even though that was over 35 years ago.
I think you would need to hear the full story in order to understand it accurately. But, I'm not going to discuss those details here in a public forum. Aside from the marriage failing, I was a highly attentive and involved father, and I still am. And just so you know, when that whole thing went down, I cried my eyes out profusely, like never before or since.
So, if you feel like you need to sit in judgment, and that my whole testimony to God's glory is worthless because of a failure, then you are most certainly entitled to do as you desire.
As a gentle reminder, people laugh for all kinds of reasons, so it's probably best to not make assumptions about why people laugh. I've met many people who laugh when they are super sad.
Another individual conversion. In the USA, the fastest growing religious demographic is the "nones". The Catholic church is shrinking in the USA. I am from St. Louis, that diocese just went through a giant downsize. Every major metro area in the country is closing Catholic churches, combining parishes.
Celebrating the individual protestant conversion says nothing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tell me why Catholicism is so necessary to salvation. That shouldn't be so hard, except that it's not necessary for salvation as it claims.
I understand your thoughts on this brother. I really do. For most of my life, I would have said, "Amen, brother! Preach it!" The thing I had to understand is that Salvation truly IS a process. I hadn't realized it at first, but the Protestant churches all confirmed this to me. They taught that we WERE saved from the Penalty of Sin, ARE BEING saved from the Power of Sin, and WILL BE saved from the Presence of Sin. So, they confirmed that Salvation is a Process.
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Catholicism Statistics
As far as statistics go, the recent Pew Research survey numbers show that the Catholic population has remained at around 20% since 2014, after dropping off from 24% at around the turn of the century. Catholicism is still the largest denomination in the country, but the ethnic and geographic distribution of the Catholic population has changed. Now 29% of all Catholics in the U.S. live in the South and 24% live in the West. Only 26% live in the Northeast and even fewer, 21%, live in the Midwest.
According to Vatican analyses, the Catholic Church is actually GROWING everywhere except for Europe.
www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/catholics-grow-on-every-continent-except-europe-1744
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Benefit of Telling Individual Testimonies
You also said, "Celebrating the individual protestant conversion says nothing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Well, I think it does. People are encouraged by hearing testimonies, and that encouragement can actually help bring more people in. Why do you think the Catholic Church celebrates Saints at all? Paul told us to, so that people have examples to follow... real breathing, living people. The main benefit of testimonies is it tells the details of conversion stories, especially where a Protestant or Jew becomes a Catholic. The details of each person's journey is actually very powerful at helping people deal with their own hurdles. I found it very helpful to know that others were having the same hang-ups, or difficulties as I was.
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Parish Closings
Also, I see no indicator that parishes are closing or consolidating in San Diego, California. In fact, this past year, the parish I attend has had an enormous RCIA class, where the staff are wondering what is going on. They say it is highly unusual.
So, what is the Gospel, actually? What is the GOOD NEWS?
1) Protestants Say: Jesus, who is God the Son, came to earth as a human being. He was crucified and raised from the dead, in order to pay the price for our sin. Because of this, God forgives all our sin, past, present, and future. If we put our faith and trust in this death/resurrection of Jesus, God will write out names in the Lamb's Book of Life, and we will enter heaven upon our death, and be with the Lord forever.
2) Catholics Say: Jesus, who is God the Son, came to earth as a human being. He was crucified and raised from the dead, in order to save us from our sins. Saving from sin involves 1) Forgiving our sins, 2) removing the eternal punishment for our sins, 3) removing the temporal punishment for our sins, 4) removing our desire/inclination to commit the sins, 5) helping us walk in true holiness. Our past sins, including our original sin, are forgiven and forgotten when we are baptized. Then, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we once again have our past sins forgiven and forgotten by God, each time we confess them.
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Why is the Catholic Necessary for Salvation? The EUCHARIST.
John 6:53-58
53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.
56 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
Just read the Bible, and accept what it says, and you'll see clearly that the Catholic Church is the Original Church, the Church made by the Apostles, the Church that Preserves the Deposit of Faith, the Church that has the 7 Sacraments.
@@KenKopelson Salvation as a process is whose doing? Would you say we are saved by the only one Who can save us, and He does it through a process? Or would you say you cooperate with Him in saving yourself? The Council of Trent anathematized anyone who didn't agree that the individual must do good works inspired by love. I find that in violation of St. Paul and the Gospels in a number of places.
Pew Research has stats, but do they reflect the number of "Catholics" who don't attend Mass on days of obligation and don't go to confession or even feel contrite about missing Mass? Do the numbers include "Catholics" who use birth control, support abortion or at least the powerful in our culture who support abortion? Do the numbers include the "Catholics" who don't believe Jesus is really present in the Sacrament of the Altar?
Comparisons between the number of Catholics 50 years ago who were not guilty of such disobedience compared to the number of self identifying Catholics today that are guilty would be the real measure of American Catholicism. Not the Pew Research results. Look outside of San Diego. The facts are for the USA, the only place Catholicism is holding it's own is among the TLM crowd. All others are shrinking, and the closing and consolidating of parishes is the evidence. In Africa it may be growing. Over all it's still the largest along with Orthodoxy.
I'll concede the value of testimonies, but I find them only valid when they focused on Christ and not the person converting. As I think I said. My Lutheran parish is comprised of about 1/3 ex-Catholics. Lot's of conversion stories there.
When answering your own question "what is the Gospel, actually? What is the GOOD NEWS?" You presented your take on the Protestant answer and the Catholic answer. I'm not speaking for or defending a Protestant view. I am an Lutheran. But your view on a Protestant answer is insufficient.
As a LCMS Lutheran, I agree with you on the importance of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is necessary, but it's necessity doesn't make Catholicism necessary. I have a valid sacrament in my church.
Just reading the bible is what caused me to leave Catholicism. Catholicism presents itself as savior. I prefer Christ because He alone makes the claim.
@@KenKopelson - Wonderful testimony. Thank you for the insights and your teachings.
Welcome home, brother. And may the Holy Spirit of our Lord Christ✨ be upon you.
Protestant response. Catholic conversion? If he was a true believer, he was already fully united to Christ and to his one holy Catholic (universal) Church. He had the conversion that matters for all eternity when he converted to Christ. Changing to Roman Catholic does not have the same eternal consequences. He was part of Christ’s church before he decided to join the Roman Catholic Communion. Christ’s church is not synonymous with any one Christian Communion.
Paul, the idea of “Catholic” as merely universal is a bit of a misnomer. When Igantius of Antioch first used the term he clearly defined it as the church everywhere UNITED TO THE BISHOP. When the creeds were written this was also, explicitly, the definition they used. It’s incorrect to redefine “Catholic” to mean MERELY the universal body of believers united to Christ. That is not its definition.
@@TheCordialCatholic Of course I have read Ignatius. Really my friend, just because we come to different understandings doesn’t’mean I am just winging it while you are the “expert” who has actually read Ignatius. Actual published Ignatius scholars disagree. Sorry my friend but when Ignatius used the term bishop he was referring to what today we’d call the pastor of a local congregation or parish. In the New Testament the term bishop means overseer. The terms elder (Presbyter), pastor and bishop all refer to the same office namely an office of the local congregation or local church. Nearly all references to The Church in the NewTestament are to a local church or congregation. There were no diocese or archdiocese in Ignatius’ day. That came later. In Ignatius’ day, the bishop or local pastor had no authority beyond the local congregation (although that was about to change). In fact in Ignatius’ day some local congregations were ruled by a plurality of bishops or pastors. Single bishop rule was just starting to appear in Ignatius’ day. The monarchical episcopate as my Roman Catholic friends understand the term did not yet exist in Ignatius’ day. You mischaracterize my comment. I certainly do not believe the term catholic simply or merely means universal (although it certainly does mean that). Christ’s Holy Catholic Church is visibly present in the world. His church has a visible component. It isn’t just an invisible “organism” although it has an invisible component to it (only God knows for certain who is truly a member of his church). No my friend, Christ’s one true church is visibly present in the world wherever baptized believers gather together in local assemblies (according to the mind of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit) and the Gospel is rightly proclaimed through Word and Sacrament. My congregation where I attend Divine Services is a full and complete visible expresspion of Christ’s Holy Catholic church and yes we look to our bishop (pastor) to represent Christ to us and to be Christ’s messenger to us. We support and love him. Christ himself who is the head of his church and the head of each local, visible expression of His one church has personally called our bishop or pastor to provide Godly leadership in His church. You want Ignatius to be Roman Catholic. I get that. Please find a single reference in Ignatius’ writings to the papal institution. Sorry my friend but it did not yet exist in Ignatius’ day. No, Ignatius doesn't refer to anyone as "pope." While in all his other letters to various (local) churches, Ignatius names the "bishop" of that particular congregation, Ignatius does not name any bishop of the Romans. Some people have viewed this as an acknowledgment that there was no single "bishop" of the Romans in Ignatius' day. Yes the primitive Christian church came to be called catholic. I have no problem with that. I consider myself to be catholic. Equating that solely with your particular Christian communion is where we part company (as friends of course). The primitive church is our common heritage. She is the mother of the three major branches of the Christian faith (RC, Protestant and EO). None has an exclusive claim to her. Blessings brother
Did you listen at all to the testimony he gave?
@@paulsmallwood1484 i’m not sure what your end game is but what did Ignatius have to say about the Eucharist in his letter to the Smyrnaeans chapter 7? He definitely wasn’t referring to bishops, deacons and presbyters as anything other than Catholic bishops, deacons, and presbyters. He actually called all other so called believers “heretics” as stated in the chapters title.
@@borquelepork1057 I responded to the part that mattered to me. So what? I am not required to justify my comments to you my friend. You don’t need to justify your comments to me. I take them at face value.
Jesus said to Search the Scriptures if you want to see Him! Not the early church fathers! We are called Christians because we follow Christ! Not a bishop, a pastor, a priest or a pope. We should Follow JESUS! IT IS WRITTEN! THUS SAID THE LORD! Great passion Mr. Ken but you need to go back to the drawing board that your passion will be for Christ Jesus Who Absolutely TAUGHT and PRACTICE SOLA SCRITURA! By the way, it was king Solomon who prayed for wisdom Not king David. King Solomon was given wisdom by God, more than anyone before him or after him and in Ecclesiastes 9 : 5, 6, 10. God through Solomon CLEARLY stated that the dead, ( whether saints or sinners) KNOWS NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!! JUST AS LAZARUS WAITED IN THE GRAVE FOR JESUS TO WAKE HIM UP SO ALL THE DEAD GOOD AND BAD ARE ASLEEP IN THE GRAVE AWAITING THE RETURN OF JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION! AND EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS COME! AMEN 🙏! JOHN 11. JOHN 5 : 25 - 29. Revelation 21 and Revelation 22! In Jesus Most Precious and Most Wonderful and Most Beautiful and Most Blessed and Most Holy name way way Way above All other names 🙏 Amen 🙏 Amen 🙏 Amen 🙏 Amen 🙏 Amen 🙏 Amen 🙏 Amen!!!!!!!
Just curious…where in scripture does Jesus state SOLA SCRIPTURA
Yeah, I lived according to all that for 45 years, and then, when I went to Jesus, asking him about living in community, and also about the Eucharist (interpretation of John 6), Jesus told me to seek out HIS Holy Catholic Church. I have a long history of hearing the Holy Spirit's guidance and voice, as I explained in the interview. He is the one who led me into the Catholic Church. I follow the Holy Spirit, who brings the Rhema Word of God to each of us. I get my specific instructions from him, and they ALWAYS line up with the Bible.
Actually, No, Jesus did not practice Sola Scriptura. For example, the whole teaching on the Resurrection of the Dead, does not exist in the written Torah of the Old Testament. Also, many of Jesus's lessons that he taught in parables do not exist in the written Torah. For example, not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing, is not taught in the written Torah, but it IS taught in the Oral Torah, which is the equivalent of Sacred Tradition under the Old Covenant.
Yes, it was Solomon. Before I read your comment here, I had already explained in the comment above, that my brain said, "It was David's son Solomon", but my mouth said "David". Perhaps you have done that before also, where your mouth didn't say what your mind knew and thought.
As for Solomon, he was flat wrong about his understanding about the state of the dead. Solomon had not been there, and he had certain beliefs which were simply wrong. We know from the Bible, and especially Jesus (who is God, and how KNOWS the state of the dead), that there are those in Hades, those in Abraham's Bosom, and those under the Altar in heaven (which may be the same as Abraham's Bosom under the New Covenant).
Except for prophesy, I put my main understanding on the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. That is the NEW COVENANT. The Old Covenant is no longer in force. The teachings in the Old Testament are a true representation of what various prophets and kings thought/believed. Clearly, we see that Solomon turned away from God, and did many things that were wrong. He was not a flawless human, and certainly not everything he wrote was perfect in every way. Solomon wrote what he THOUGHT was true about the dead. But, we have other witnesses to this issue, and plenty of people who have died to only come back and tell what they experienced.