The Cordial Catholic

282: From the Messianic Movement to the Catholic Church (w/ Dr. Matthew Wiseman)

Keith Little, Mathew Wiseman

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Matthew Wiseman for one of the most phenomenal conversion stories we've had on this podcast. Raised in a devoutly Southern Baptist home, Dr. Wiseman and his family, seeking a deeper understanding of the Bible, found themselves immersed in the Messianic Movement – also known as the "Hebrew Roots" movement – and seeking to put into practice the Old Testament Jewish laws as New Testament Christians.

What transpires from here is nothing short of incredible. Listen and learn what drove Dr. Wiseman deeper into his Christian faith, what put him at odds with trying to follow the Bible to the "letter of the law," and how the same problems with plague Sola Scriptura Christians found their way into those trying to practice as pure a Christianity as possible – in the Messianic communities.

Ultimately, learn what led Dr. Wiseman to embrace Catholicism and its natural outgrowth of Judaism and how it all came together to make sense in the culmination of his story.

Be sure to check out Dr. Wiseman's book The Two Jerusalems, out from Ignatius Press.

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