How should Christians navigate real-life questions about faith, family, dating, and church differences—especially when Catholic and Protestant worlds overlap?

In this Q&A episode, Emily joins Mark to wrap up the “Why Protestantism?” series by moving from theology to wisdom. Mark responds to practical questions that surface after discussing Catholic and Protestant differences, particularly for those who grew up Catholic, have Catholic family members, or are navigating close relationships across traditions. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes starting with the gospel itself—personal faith in Christ—before addressing church affiliation, practices, or tradition.

Mark also tackles sensitive topics like honoring Catholic parents, engaging family conversations with humility, dating across theological traditions, and how to approach disagreements with both clarity and charity. He concludes by addressing questions about biblical authority and the Catholic canon, explaining how Protestants understand Scripture, canon formation, and the ongoing need for reform within the church. The episode closes with a hopeful reminder that Christian unity matters deeply, even as real differences remain.

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Introducing the Q&A: moving from theology to pastoral wisdom
02:00 — The foundational question: what truly saves a person?
03:30 — Can someone be a genuine Christian within the Catholic Church?
05:50 — When gospel clarity matters for spiritual growth and church health
06:45 — Honoring Catholic family members without compromising conviction
08:00 — “Show and tell” vs. “argue and yell”: a wiser approach to family conversations
10:05 — Dating across traditions: when differences become directional conflicts
11:00 — Mark’s 0–5 dating framework and why long-term direction matters
15:30 — Why Mark advises against serious dating between Catholics and Protestants
16:45 — Do Catholics have a different Bible? Understanding the Apocrypha
18:30 — How the church recognized Scripture—and why Protestants affirm sola Scriptura
23:40 — Learning from church history: where Protestant churches can drift too
26:00 — Why Protestantism allows for reform and self-correction
28:30 — The danger of trivializing worship and doctrine in modern evangelicalism
30:15 — Charity, clarity, and Christian unity in a secularizing culture

Resources

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online
• Gavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)
• Michael J. Kruger, Canon Revisited
• Michael J. Kruger, Christianity at the Crossroads