COFFEE & CRUCIFIX

Thoughts unravelled about Christianity and Western culture

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Hey everyone! Some exciting news! My blog will now be hosted on Patheos!!If you’d like to subscribe to my writing, here’s the link to opt in to receive my newsletter!

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Anti-Protestant Discrimination Bothers Me

I have every reason to be thankful for my formative Evangelical years, and it would be a slap in the face to them if I was not appreciative of God's grace working through them.

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As a Catholic blogger, much of my writing content centers around explaining Catholic beliefs in a way that can be relatable for non-Catholic Christians. Given this niche topic, harsh criticism is always to be expected. Most Protestants generally disagree with much of Catholic doctrine, though I think it’s important to understand that not all of them expressively hateCat…

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Is Prayer Equal To Worship?

What often irritates me when Catholics try to defend their use of prayer is when they claim they don't actually pray to the ones they pray to.

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As a cradle-Catholic who had converted to Evangelical Protestantism in my late teens, one of the factors that led me to consider abandoning the faith of my heritage was the seemingly unbiblical practice of praying to Mary and the saints.

After attending a youth Bible camp for a couple summers, I learned from my Christian peers about the implications of prayer. Because…

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A Response to John Piper on Catholicism

I have no doubt in my mind that many have come to faith in Christ through his sermons and articles. But ecumenicalism aside, I believe Catholics ought to always be prepared to give answer whenever false allegations cross our path.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

When dealing with Protestant criticisms towards Catholic beliefs and practices, us Catholics are often met with a high level of smug cynicism. While they are often well-meaning in their pursuit for truth and sharing the Gospel, it can often be challenging to respond to fundamentally dishonest allegations in a charitable fashion.

John Piper, a Calvinist and…

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My Thoughts on Immigration Control

My Thoughts on Immigration Control

“You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” – Exodus 22:21 RSV

I grew up on a farm that bordered a trailer park of a hamlet in Central Alberta. While living out in the country may seem like a far more isolated lifestyle compared to urban life, it didn’t mean we were always safe. In the small towns surrounding my rural community, the young people…

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A De-Caffeinated Reflection on Lent 2016

A De-Caffeinated Reflection on Lent 2016

I have always been a bit of a coffee fiend. Okay, maybe more than a bit. I’ve had my first cup when I was only 8 years old. I remember seeing my grandpa having his afternoon coffee and then asking my grandma if I could have one too, just to be like him. Without hesitation, grandma would give me a tall glass mug with a dab of honey in it and send me back home to my parents afterwards. That might…

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Why I Don’t Celebrate The Reformation (And Neither Should You)

There is no denying that the persecution has gone both ways.

When I attended an Evangelical summer youth camp when I was 17, we had a theme called ‘couch potatoes.’For those of us who spend copious amounts of time watching television, playing video games or scrolling through social media, it’s easy to allow ourselves to sit on the couch while not considering the content we absorb from the screen. Whether it’s watching or reading a news story, a kid’s show…

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Is Cannabis Usage Morally Acceptable?

Is Cannabis Usage Morally Acceptable?

To start off, I’m going to say that I have never smoked pot, but I’ve had several opportunities throughout my life where I could have easily taken it up. My first second-hand experience was in grade 8 during a track and field event at a neighboring school. When my friends and I wandered into the bushes nearby the event, one of them pulled out a pipe along with what appeared to be three small…

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My Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation

My Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation

In any given multicultural society, there is always an exchange of ideas, traditions, customs, clothing, food and even philosophy and beliefs – especially here in North America. Although I’m not an expert in Canadian or American history, I do understand a lot has happened in our country in the last few hundred years that has led to much tension between cultural groups – most notably between First…

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My Thoughts on Progressive Christianity

NEW BLOG! In my perspective, what many people call 'Progressive Christianity' is only a means to an end.

Ever since I was young, I took great satisfaction in creating my own path and not conforming to the expectations of my peers. I’ve always had this ongoing desire to go against the grain and fight the status quo. Although being a ‘trail-blazer’ was more like an act of defiance while living life through trial and error, it was what I considered to be a way of being ‘progressive.’

In my last year of…

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My Response to Clerical Sexual Abuse

Reading the details about cases such as these viciously challenges my staunchly pro-life worldview.

Although I have had my share of bad experiences with people within religious communities, I have been fortunate enough to never have suffered any kind of sexual abuse from anybody. But knowing that people are capable of committing such heinous acts, especially those who hold a trusted position of authority, brings an overwhelmingly sick feeling to my stomach as I can’t help but think of my own…

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My Perspective on Abortion

My heart aches for those women who have felt compelled to believe abortion to be the only viable option.

The topic of abortion has become one of the most heated issues of our time. As a male, I have felt hesitant to be openly vocal about an issue that seemingly affects women far more than men. In addition to that, I’m also not very well-read when it comes to issues of health or biology. But the more I’ve listened to both sides of the issue, the more I’ve been finding that it is virtually impossible…

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My Thoughts on Calvinism: PART VII - In Summary

My Thoughts on Calvinism: PART VII – In Summary

My Christian worldview initially aligned with Calvinism after I first gave my life to Jesus when I was 17. But over the course of my journey, it evolved to align more with Arminianism, yet there were elements of Arminianism that I struggled with as well (which is a topic meant for a separate article of it’s own). But wrestling with these theological issues actually led me to…

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My Thoughts on Calvinism: PART V - Perseverance of the Saints

My Thoughts on Calvinism: PART V – Perseverance of the Saints

When I think of the Perseverance of the Saints, the first verse that comes to my mind is,

“But he who endures to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 24:13 RSV

Calvinists, Arminians and Catholics would unanimously agree that this verse describes our lives on earth as a marathon, in which the prize of eternal life is at the end of the race. But what Calvinism teaches is those who are truly saved will…

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My Thoughts on Calvinism - PART V: Irresistible Grace

My Thoughts on Calvinism – PART V: Irresistible Grace

Many Christians use the phrase ‘Once saved, always saved’ as a way to summarize how salvation in Christ is eternally secure. One of the most common verses from the Bible used to support this doctrine is:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them…

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My Thoughts on Calvinism: PART III - Unconditional Election

My Thoughts on Calvinism: PART III – Unconditional Election

To a certain extent, Unconditional Election makes sense. I agree that God loves us unconditionally and wants to have a relationship with us. I agree with St. Paul when he says,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God— not because of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9 RSV

But if God designated certain people to go to…

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My Thoughts on Calvinism: PART IV - Limited Atonement

My Thoughts on Calvinism: PART IV – Limited Atonement

God is supposed to be omnipotent and omnipresent, which means all-knowing and present everywhere in space and time. Considering this, Calvinists have the notion that God had already chosen who He was going to save before the universe was created. In effect, Jesus’ death on the cross would only be valid to those that God had already chosen outside of the realm of time. This would mean that Jesus…

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