Two other pastors: Jeremiah Nortier (moderator) and Nathan Hargrave (oversees feed).
Purpose: Discuss and understand the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Opening Prayer: Thankfulness for God's revelation and seeking to learn more through important tactics.
Debate Overview
Topic: Is the Mass a Propitiatory Sacrifice?
Venue: 125 Church in Jon Boro, Arkansas.
Participants:
Affirmative: Joe Hesm, Staff Apologist at Catholic Answers.
Negative: Dr. James White, Director of Alpha and Omega Ministries.
Format: Two presentations, cross-examinations, closing statements, and Q&A.
Participants' Backgrounds
Joe Hesm
Works at Catholic Answers, defending the Catholic faith.
Former attorney and seminarian, education from multiple universities.
Focuses on explaining Catholic doctrines.
Dr. James White
Director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, professor of church history and apologetics.
Author and accomplished debater on theological topics.
Focuses on defending Protestant Reformation principles.
Debate Structure
Opening Statements: 15 minutes each.
Cross-Examinations: 15 minutes each, two rounds.
Closing Statements: 5 minutes each.
Q&A: 30 minutes, priority to in-house questions.
Key Arguments
Joe Hesm's Affirmative Argument
The Mass is viewed historically as a propitiatory sacrifice by the early Christian church and reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin acknowledged this.
Old Testament evidence supports a sacrificial system involving priests, seen in prophecies like Isaiah 66 and Malachi 1.
New Testament evidence shows early Christians practiced Eucharist as a sacrifice.
The logic of sacrifice includes both the act of killing and the offering, not just the death.
Worship true to biblical standards involves sacrificial actions, not just prayer and study.
Dr. James White's Negative Argument
The sacrifice of Christ is once for all, complete and perfecting.
Roman Catholic view of ongoing, unbloody sacrifices (Mass) contradicts Hebrews' teaching of a finalized sacrifice.
The concept of a sacramental priesthood and transubstantiation developed over time and is not present in the New Testament.
True Christian peace and salvation come from a finished work on the cross, not repeated sacrifices.
The New Covenant in Hebrews contrasts with the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament.
Cross Examination Highlights
Dr. White's Questions: Focused on the necessity of sacramental priesthood for the Mass and the development of Doctrine.
Joe Hesm's Questions: Probed Dr. White's interpretation of Hebrews and the timeline of Christ's sacrificial work.
Closing Arguments
Joe Hesm
Emphasized historical continuity and early church beliefs as aligning with the Catholic view.
Argued that the Protestant view lacks historical support and misunderstands the nature of sacrifice.
Invited attendees to witness a Mass to experience the practice firsthand.
Dr. James White
Reiterated the sufficiency of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice for salvation.
Argued that the Catholic system of repeated sacrifices undermines the gospel's assurance.
Emphasized the authority of Scripture in understanding and defining Christian doctrine.
Q&A Overview
Questions focused on issues like the role of priesthood, development of Doctrine, and interpretations of key biblical texts.
Both Debaters addressed questions regarding theological differences, historical interpretations, and implications for modern faith practices.
Conclusion
The debate highlighted significant theological differences between Catholic and Protestant views on the Mass as a sacrifice.
Both sides presented historical and biblical evidence to support their positions, with audience engagement in questions reflecting diverse interests and concerns.