#71 A Pharisee’s Test for Catholics, Protestants, Mormons & Muslims - Joe Heschmeyer
Apr 4, 2024
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The podcast features Joe Heschmeyer, a theologian and author, discussing a test from Acts 5 by Pharisee Gamaliel to assess the credibility of religions like Catholicism, Protestantism, Mormonism, and Islam. Topics include the survival of the Jewish people as proof of divine intervention, contrasting beliefs on authenticity and apostasy in different faith traditions, addressing the need for reform in Protestantism, and exploring church unity and succession in Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism.
Religious movements should display unity and endurance as indicators of divine origin.
Maintaining doctrinal unity and leadership succession is crucial for a religion's credibility and legitimacy.
Deep dives
Gamelio's Assessment of the Early Church
Gamelio reflects on the early church's unity and endurance, contrasting it with other religious movements. He highlights Acts chapter 5, where the Apostles' unwavering commitment to preaching despite threats shows their firm belief. Gamelio's observations emphasize the church's survival and oneness as indicators of divine origin, differentiating it from other faiths.
Succession and Schisms in Religious Movements
Gamelio warns against succession schisms and denominationalism within religious movements. Drawing parallels between Islam, Mormonism, and Protestantism, he illustrates how infighting and lack of unity signal deviation from God's plan. The contrast underscores the importance of maintaining doctrinal unity and leadership succession.
Opposing the Church as Opposing God
Gamelio suggests that opposing the church may mean opposing God himself. He underscores the significance of the church's divine foundation by pointing out that if it is of God, attempts to overthrow it will fail. His statement reflects the belief that the church's enduring presence and divine protection align with God's will.
In Acts 5, when the Apostles are on trial before the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel (the same Gamaliel that St. Paul studied under) provided a simple test to determine if a religion really came from God or not. So what was his test, and what does it mean for the credibility and legitimacy of Catholicism, Protestantism, Mormonism, and Islam?
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