Is praying to saints a biblical Christian practice or a departure from Scripture? In this episode, we explore Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant perspectives on the intercession of saints, examining Scripture, Church tradition, and the question of whether asking the saints to pray for us honors the communion of Christ's Church or crosses a line that belongs to God alone.

What is sin, and what does Jesus save us from? In this episode, we explore how Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and various Protestant traditions understand sin—as rebellion against God, a spiritual disease, a condition of human nature, and a power that damages our relationships—and how each tradition understands the healing, forgiveness, and transformation found in Christ.

This episode explores the debate between just-war theory and nonviolence, examining whether violence can ever be morally justified to protect the innocent and defend against injustice. Through a Christian perspective, it considers whether nonviolent resistance offers a more ethical and lasting path toward justice, reconciliation, and true peace.

What exactly do Christians mean when they talk about “salvation”? In this episode, we explore eight major Christian perspectives—from Lutheran and Reformed to Catholic and Eastern Orthodox—looking at what each tradition believes we are saved from and what we are ultimately saved for.

What does it mean when we say that God’s love is unconditional? In this episode, I explore three major Protestant approaches to God’s love and compare them with Catholic and Eastern Orthodox perspectives.

Before we begin exploring Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the questions that separate these traditions from Protestantism, I want to introduce myself and explain why I’m taking this journey.
In this short introductory episode, I’ll share where I’m coming from, what Fide Ex Gratia means, and what I hope to discover along the way.
I don’t know where this journey will lead. But I want to pursue the truth faithfully, honestly, and above all, in pursuit of God.
Welcome to Fide Ex Gratia.