In today's episode, we will focus on a specific aspect of Jesus. The name of Jesus evokes so many different responses from people. Have you ever wondered why? Why is Jesus so special? Well, we're going to explore some very tangible evidence that He is the promised Messiah. It's called prophecy. Whether you're a skeptic seeking evidence or a believer curious about Jesus' significance, these revelations will give you chills.

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In this bonus episode, Steve breaks big news for the Balance of Gray and discusses the odd circumstances that led to the long-overdue changes that will take place in January 2027. Don't miss the info in this one, folks!

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© 2024 The Balance of Gray. All rights reserved.

This is the full episode, folks. No tomfoolery - no news - no nonsense. Just an honest breakdown of the Roman Catholic Church, Protestantism, and why it matters.

Topic introduction (2:27)

What would make Steve convert to Catholicism (6:32)

Non-Catholics don’t go to heaven (11:43)

Francis Chan and the Eucharist (16:28)

Venerating Icons (24:18)

The “One true Church” and the first Pope (30:52)

When did Catholicism really start? (44:38)

The Magisterium and Authority (49:15)

Has the RCC ever been wrong? Impossible Hypotheticals? (54:43)

The Inquisition, Crusades, and provable falsehoods in the RCC (1:00:30)

Indulgences (1:03:25)

Catholic antisemitism (1:07:31)

Sola Scriptura (1:12:52)

Catholics knowing what the Bible actually says (1:27:19)

Catholic or Christian? Pride in Tradition? (1:31:21)

Canonization – who “gave” us the Bible? (1:49:59)

The Catholic loophole (2:01:54)

Obsessions with Mary (2:10:00)

Protestants can’t legitimately worship? (2:18:12)

Rules for thee, but not for me (2:26:42)

Pastor or Priest? (2:33:28)

Apparitions of Mary (2:38:18)

Worshipping created things over the Creator (2:41:04)

Closing thoughts (2:46:38)

Show Notes:

Francis Chan & Gavin Ortlund interview:

https://youtu.be/wNhqyRiIi9U?si=96PkZiiKm5aBHQzu

Trent Horn - Chatting with an Ex-Catholic (Michael Pagano) About Catholicism:

https://youtu.be/pDFz0qXZmn8?si=f3NS1wKKC4SYeaD_

Bryce Crawford – Trent Horn interview:

https://youtu.be/oNWseAsfcGM?si=Rti-R2BdABT3rlPS

Maybe God Podcast interview with Trent Horn:

https://youtu.be/Kv3Qq0FotEY?si=CMXmgoTO-D_YJIPP

Gavin Ortlund – Sola Scriptura:

https://youtu.be/rpmcr7jOev4

Send us Fan Mail

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Gray Zone! Please join the dialog where we discuss faith, God, and religion in the modern context of science, archaeology, and philosophy! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/rXD4vPYQiVdCCbSZ/?mibextid=JRoKGi

Website: https://thebalanceofgray.com/
Email: steve@thebalanceofgray.com
Don't forget to rate/review us and subscribe!
© 2024 The Balance of Gray. All rights reserved.

We’re finally here folks – the final part in our Catholic/Protestant series! Steve ties up loose ends and asks the question, “Are Catholics required to believe things the apostles never taught?” We examine teachings about Mary, saints, church authority, apostolic succession, and how faulty reasoning can turn extra-biblical ideas into required doctrine.

News (3:15)

Topic (18:40)

RCC required beliefs (20:28)

Beliefs about Mary? (23:18)

Ever-expanding salvific beliefs (26:24)

Church from Home? Double Standards (28:20)

Lone Ranger Christians (31:17)

The Bible isn’t good enough? (32:46)

Early Church History – 300 & 1500 year marks (37:26)

Early Church Fathers - not as unified as claimed (40:00)

Who gets to be in Church leadership? (47:20)

Mary – the creature worthy of worship? (54:32)

Literal Idolatry (56:28)

Conclusions (1:01:07)

Show Notes:

Francis Chan & Gavin Ortlund interview:

https://youtu.be/wNhqyRiIi9U?si=96PkZiiKm5aBHQzu

Trent Horn - Chatting with an Ex-Catholic (Michael Pagano) About Catholicism:

https://youtu.be/pDFz0qXZmn8?si=f3NS1wKKC4SYeaD_

Bryce Crawford – Trent Horn interview:

https://youtu.be/oNWseAsfcGM?si=Rti-R2BdABT3rlPS

Maybe God Podcast interview with Trent Horn:

https://youtu.be/Kv3Qq0FotEY?si=CMXmgoTO-D_YJIPP

Gavin Ortlund – Sola Scriptura:

https://youtu.be/rpmcr7jOev4

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Gray Zone! Please join the dialog where we discuss faith, God, and religion in the modern context of science, archaeology, and philosophy! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/rXD4vPYQiVdCCbSZ/?mibextid=JRoKGi

Website: https://thebalanceofgray.com/
Email: steve@thebalanceofgray.com
Don't forget to rate/review us and subscribe!
© 2024 The Balance of Gray. All rights reserved.

Can religious tradition actually distract us from what God intended? We examine the biblical warnings against empty ritual, the similarities between Catholic tradition and the religious systems Jesus confronted, and why God has always cared more about a faithful heart than outward religion.

News (4:38)

Topic (19:46)

Ex-Catholic asks the hard questions (24:05)

Do most Catholics know the Bible for themselves? (26:15)

Loving the system over the King (29:26)

Catholicism mimics Judaism (33:09)

The RCC – NT version of Pharisaical system (40:23)

Catholic Monopoly (46:09)

The Canon opposes Catholic Teachings (47:30)

Tradition fails (53:36)

Terrible logic breeds terrible theology (1:00:56)

Show Notes:

Francis Chan & Gavin Ortlund interview:

https://youtu.be/wNhqyRiIi9U?si=96PkZiiKm5aBHQzu

Trent Horn - Chatting with an Ex-Catholic (Michael Pagano) About Catholicism:

https://youtu.be/pDFz0qXZmn8?si=f3NS1wKKC4SYeaD_

Bryce Crawford – Trent Horn interview:

https://youtu.be/oNWseAsfcGM?si=Rti-R2BdABT3rlPS

Maybe God Podcast interview with Trent Horn:

https://youtu.be/Kv3Qq0FotEY?si=CMXmgoTO-D_YJIPP

Gavin Ortlund – Sola Scriptura:

https://youtu.be/rpmcr7jOev4

Bigfoot News – Fox News:

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6394671167112

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Gray Zone! Please join the dialog where we discuss faith, God, and religion in the modern context of science, archaeology, and philosophy! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/rXD4vPYQiVdCCbSZ/?mibextid=JRoKGi

Website: https://thebalanceofgray.com/
Email: steve@thebalanceofgray.com
Don't forget to rate/review us and subscribe!
© 2024 The Balance of Gray. All rights reserved.

Does the Catholic Church possess an infallible authority passed down from the apostles? Or does final authority belong to God’s Word? In part two of our Catholic/Protestant series we examine apostolic succession, papal infallibility, troubling moments in Church history, and the biblical case for Sola Scriptura.

News (2:30)

Earliest church roots (18:15)

Bishops, Elders and church offices (22:09)

Who has Authority? (25:50)

Impossible Hypothetical? (33:11)

Has the RCC ever been wrong? (36:31)

Dark Catholic history (37:48)

Perfect Standards (42:13)

Catholics and Protestants are the same (46:39)

Sola Scriptura (50:10)

Jesus and writing His words down (52:57)

The Bible’s just a document? (56:47)

Show Notes:

Francis Chan & Gavin Ortlund interview:

https://youtu.be/wNhqyRiIi9U?si=96PkZiiKm5aBHQzu

Trent Horn - Chatting with an Ex-Catholic (Michael Pagano) About Catholicism:

https://youtu.be/pDFz0qXZmn8?si=f3NS1wKKC4SYeaD_

Bryce Crawford – Trent Horn interview:

https://youtu.be/oNWseAsfcGM?si=Rti-R2BdABT3rlPS

Maybe God Podcast interview with Trent Horn:

https://youtu.be/Kv3Qq0FotEY?si=CMXmgoTO-D_YJIPP

Gavin Ortlund – Sola Scriptura

https://youtu.be/rpmcr7jOev4

Ai data center news - ABC News:

https://youtu.be/_E_LvmziGDo?si=V2poFeB0Y3HOiQqH

Cat Problem - WCAX Channel 3 News:

https://youtu.be/Wq8qLQEOCb8?si=5dQltuKrIr3TGvGv

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Gray Zone! Please join the dialog where we discuss faith, God, and religion in the modern context of science, archaeology, and philosophy! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/rXD4vPYQiVdCCbSZ/?mibextid=JRoKGi

Website: https://thebalanceofgray.com/
Email: steve@thebalanceofgray.com
Don't forget to rate/review us and subscribe!
© 2024 The Balance of Gray. All rights reserved.

(4:50) News

(21:25) Topic intro

(31:00) Salvation and being Catholic

(35:40) Official Catholic Teaching vs Claims

(40:00) Denied the Eucharist

(43:50) Venerating Icons

(48:25) Accepting the Catechism

(50:25) One true church and Peter

(54:20) Matt 16 – Upon this rock

(56:43) Gates of Hell

Is the Catholic Church the one true Church established by Jesus Christ? In Part 1 of this series, we begin examining that claim by looking at Catholic teaching alongside Scripture.

We’ll discuss salvation and the Church, the Eucharist, the veneration of icons, and the Catholic claim of authority through Peter. We’ll also take a closer look at Jesus’ famous words in Matthew 16: “Upon this rock I will build my church.”

This isn’t about attacking Catholics or defending Protestantism at all costs. It’s about asking an important question honestly: What did Jesus mean by His Church, and where do we find it today?

Francis Chan & Gavin Ortlund interview:

https://youtu.be/wNhqyRiIi9U?si=96PkZiiKm5aBHQzu

Trent Horn - Chatting with an Ex-Catholic (Michael Pagano) About Catholicism:

https://youtu.be/pDFz0qXZmn8?si=f3NS1wKKC4SYeaD_

Bryce Crawford – Trent Horn interview:

https://youtu.be/oNWseAsfcGM?si=Rti-R2BdABT3rlPS

Maybe God Podcast interview with Trent Horn:

https://youtu.be/Kv3Qq0FotEY?si=CMXmgoTO-D_YJIPP

Gavin Ortlund – Sola Scriptura

https://youtu.be/rpmcr7jOev4

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Gray Zone! Please join the dialog where we discuss faith, God, and religion in the modern context of science, archaeology, and philosophy! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/rXD4vPYQiVdCCbSZ/?mibextid=JRoKGi

Website: https://thebalanceofgray.com/
Email: steve@thebalanceofgray.com
Don't forget to rate/review us and subscribe!
© 2024 The Balance of Gray. All rights reserved.

News (4:20)

Topic (20:30)

Social media algorithms, political division, poor communication, and our own biases can quietly train us to see everyone outside our box as ignorant, unreasonable, or even the enemy. For Christians, that can lead to something far more dangerous than simply being wrong. Our love can begin to grow cold.

In this episode, Steve looks at three fascinating psychological tendencies and puts them alongside biblical examples. Before we write someone off as an idiot, maybe there’s a better question to ask: What if there’s something I don’t know?

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Gray Zone! Please join the dialog where we discuss faith, God, and religion in the modern context of science, archaeology, and philosophy! Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/rXD4vPYQiVdCCbSZ/?mibextid=JRoKGi

Website: https://thebalanceofgray.com/
Email: steve@thebalanceofgray.com
Don't forget to rate/review us and subscribe!
© 2024 The Balance of Gray. All rights reserved.