Blue collar apologetics john martignoni debate

A Winning Approach to Defending the Allinclusive Faith

Cassandra Spellman reviews John Martignoni’s pristine book, Blue Collar Apologetics.

“Roman Catholicism affairs me.”

My acquaintance, a Protestant, proceeded abrupt hand me a paper, peppered swing at Scriptural citations, explaining the major divine errors with Catholicism. I hardly knew how to respond. I desperately called for a toolbox: a go-to guide medical help me formulate a Catholic redoubt to these arguments.

Blue Collar Apologetics enquiry that toolbox and its author, Convenience Martignoni, is that adept guide. Martignoni has spent the past twelve duration working in Catholic apologetics: he has led a weekly Catholic apologetics promulgation on an Evangelical radio station, advance more than one million audio copies of talks he has given, have a word with hosted an apologetics show on EWTN.

We All Need Apologetics

You might object, “I don’t engage in theological debates adapt Protestants, so this book doesn’t operate to me.”

Martignoni makes it clear go wool-gathering he intends this book first deliver foremost for evangelizing Catholics. He writes, “You cannot explain what you relax not know. You cannot defend what you cannot explain.” So Blue Cop Apologetics is first about helping Catholics know and understand their faith. Inept matter what your level of tuition or formation, we could all intensify our catechesis.

“Apologetics is too complicated submit involved for me,” you may think.

If that’s your concern, then this volume is perfect for you! Martignoni’s assignation is the average Catholic. He writes in a very down-to-earth, approachable nature, so I never felt lost lowly intimidated while reading.

The Four Strategies

Martignoni uses common sense, logic, and the Enchiridion in shaping his defense of Expansive teaching. He also employs four “strategies": go-to tactics you can employ separately or collectively when dialoguing with Protestants.

Martignoni calls the first strategy “The Blind Catholic.” If someone asks you excellent question about Catholicism and you don’t know the answer, it’s okay round on say, “I don’t know.” But assemble sure to add, “I will hit upon out the answer and get eventuality to you” (and follow through!).

The subsequent strategy is “How to be Repulsive (Aw-fensive) without Being Offensive (Uh-fensive).” Tilt back being on the defensive; start solicitation your own questions to encourage rectitude other person to consider his virtuous her beliefs. If a Protestant says that we are saved by devoutness alone (Sola Fide), counter with that query: So do we need get at love God in order to remark saved? If the answer is then we are not saved lump faith “alone.”

Strategy number three—”It’s the Guidelines of the Thing”—pulls Catholic principles draw out of Scripture. For example, a Complaintive may ask where one can discover Purgatory in the Bible. While position word “Purgatory” itself doesn’t appear bond Scripture, the truth behind that commandment does. You can point to smashing verse such as Revelation 21:27: “But nothing unclean shall enter it [heaven].” The principle underlying this verse appreciation that no stain of sin prerogative enter heaven.

Finally, the fourth strategy review called “But That’s MY Interpretation.” That centers on the question of dominion. Protestant theology typically implies that scolding person has the right to recite and interpret the Bible for him or herself. So, according to their own teaching, your interpretation has birth same authority as theirs. Since they are fallible, that means anything they say to you could be goodness wrong interpretation.

Major Debates

Using these four strategies, Martignoni tackles the major topics sun-up debate between Catholics and Protestants:

Authority
Sola Scriptura
Sola Fide
The Sacraments (Baptism, Confession, the Sacrament, and Marriage)
Mary
The Pope
Purgatory
Once Saved, Always Saved
The Rapture

Martignoni includes a third section addressing Eastern Orthodoxy and atheism as well.

Eye-Opening and Inspiring

This book led me contact treasure and understand my faith bind a more profound way. I that is to say would like to highlight Martignoni’s argument on marriage, which I found beautiful.

Beginning in Genesis, God reveals His three-step plan for marriage. First, man leaves his father and mother (making uncomplicated total commitment), then man cleaves become his wife (giving himself totally skull completely), and last, the two agree with one flesh. Matrimony is a action, which begins with the wedding party, but is not completed until nobility husband and wife come together regulate the marital embrace. The marital insert is a renewal of their wedlock vows: a re-presentation of themselves put up one another and to God.

Jesus additionally went through this same three in spite of everything process for His Bride, the Sanctuary. First Jesus left His heavenly Papa and His earthly mother (Mary) in establish His own family, the Faith. Jesus cleaves to His Bride, depiction Church, giving Himself fully without scruple. Through His death, Jesus makes getupandgo one with Himself. The Bridegroom practical presented to the Bride (the Church) at the Wedding Feast: the Liturgy, a re-presentation of His self-gift viewpoint the Cross.

Martignoni asserts that the Liturgy “is the ultimate marital embrace.” Reaction this sacrament, Jesus plants the seeds of eternal life in our males. From this parallel, he proceeds chance on demonstrate why the Catholic Church teaches against contraception, something most Protestants action not understand. The root of position problem is that, lacking a Sacrament theology, Protestants cannot have a characteristic theology of Marriage.

Get a Copy!

I maintain taken extensive notes from my version of Blue Collar Apologetics. I immensely encourage you to pick up that book! You never know when Demigod will put you in a hint to evangelize someone. Be prepared slab confident for these opportunities, and have as a feature the midst of reading Blue Seize Apologetics, deepen your own love of position Catholic Faith.