For whatever reason KZfaq decided to show me Austin's video about a bible study when he first posted it about a year ago. I watched it, and continued to watch many of his videos after then. I've enjoyed it because I can relate to what he's gone through. Years ago I had a very brief dialog with a Catholic that sent me down a sort of existential spiral, having spent the first 30 years of my life in non-denominational evangelicalism and not really considering anything different. I got very close to converting at that time, but wasn't in a place where I was convinced enough to jump the chasm. I then proceeded to study classical Protestantism and Reformed theology, and spent the next decade of my life dragging my wife and kids through Presbyterianism and Anglicanism. We even dabbled a bit in Orthodoxy. At the time I did not realize it, but in retrospect I was doing my best to become Catholic without actually becoming Catholic. The idea of truly submitting to the Church was a very large pill to swallow, or at least it seemed like it -- even in Anglicanism and Orthodoxy you can always find another priest or bishop to give you different answers, or you can pick a jurisdiction that aligns more with your beliefs. To Austin's point, it was daunting and incredibly difficult to decide to throw my life upside-down -- I'd spent decades invested in the broader world of Protestantism, and friends and family would often say things like "well, at least you're not Roman Catholic" when we'd discuss theology. I remember many sleepless nights, getting physically ill at the thought of it all and even weeping and pleading with God to help me understand. But the paradigm change of Catholicism -- of "making my submission" as Robert Hugh Benson wrote -- was the best thing I've ever done, and it was easier done than said. Once we'd made the decision that our family needed to become truly Catholic and we'd explained it to our family and friends (many of whom were understandably dismayed), we spent a year praying, reading and learning before being confirmed. It's hard to express just how true it all is. When you start reading and learning about it, you catch glimpses and feel hunches, but once I was in, I could see the continuity from St. Clement, St. Ignatius, St. Irenaeus, St. Thomas Aquinas in a way I could never have seen before no matter how many classical Protestants, Reformed Scholastics or Anglo-Catholic tracts I'd read. I don't mean that to sound triumphalist -- most of my friends and all of my extended family are Protestant, going back to the reformation -- and there are so many true Christians deeply and profoundly committed to Christ in Protestantism. But in Catholicism, there's so much truth that is not apparent from the outside, and submission to the Church -- which is how Christ has asked us to submit to Him -- is the key that unlocks the door. Reading, studying and praying draws us close, but we have to decide to submit in order to see the truth. As St. Anselm said, "I believe so that I may understand".

My catholic journey is 10 years in the making. I'm halfway through RCIA. Hoping to be received into the church next Easter. I'm soooo glad I'm not Austin. It was hard enough being a nobody and making the change.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." ~ Philippians 4:6

Oh my dear Austin! It’s so interesting how most evangelical denominations incline towards the literal interpretation of the Scripture, however you almost do not accept the words of Christ (“This is my body..” or “whosoever do not eat my body and do not drink my blood..”), those statements being said in the most literal context you can find in any of the four Gospels. It would have probably been more plausible to argue about the literal meaning of other statements made by Jesus but definitely not those. I do like you Austin, you are humble and genuine..please listen to your heart!

Austin is Awesome. I think it would help him to speak to the folks over at The Coming Home Network about life after "Conversion to Catholicism". There are so many brilliant and wonderful young men of Faith and Character, like Austin, who have made this same decision. I think he knows and understands too much to go back ;) . It is only a matter of time. We will all welcome him and his wife with open arms. In the meantime...we will pray for him and his Journey :)

Excellent interview! I appreciate both of you so much. You both have a gift for being genuine and gracious.

I, very much like Austin was looking for the slam dunk answers at the beginning of my journey and have come to very much the same conclusion, there are good arguments, logical arguments for all of these positions. It starts to come down to how you weigh the evidence and what feels more right, which is difficult. For me, I admit there is even some despair in why in Christ's Church there aren't easier answers to be found. It's so easy to say the other side is dishonest, close minded, or not actually seeking truth, but that seems to be quite the prideful answer. I pray for discernment and grace that I don't deserve, Lord help me find your Church.

Yay two of my favorite guys! I love your dialogue and you were able to bring out a lot more from Austin than he said in his personal video. (Sorry Austin) And you all are some of my favorite and not just my Canadian favorite.😁😉

Austin always brings joy into my heart. I am Orthodox and his Orthodox interviews are some of the best Orthodox interviews 🤍what a beautiful journey for him and what a blessing that he shares with us. Great interview guys! Loved this

Austin appears to be a fine fellow so this comment is in no way to intended to be negative toward him. Only honest. Simply put his next step is to go beyond the intellectual and analytical approach and take that proverbial leap of faith, delve into the mystical, spiritual and complete surrender to our Lord. It's a HUGE step to take because it's an approach that those who are not there yet are obviously not familar with it. Once you surrender yoursel' completely and allow God to lead your life you're home safe. It's called FAITH in the true sense of the word. The worlds problems and personal problems will still be there and the world will continue to turn as it does but now there is no fear, no anxiety, no loneliness. Only peace. I leave you with the reflection by St. Paul the Apostle 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.'

Great conversation 👍🏼🙏🏼

I would recommend that @Gospel Simplicity picks up the newer work of Dogmatic theology titled "Truth is Synthesis" by Mauro Gagliardi. I think I recommended this to him about a year ago. The opening chapter delves deeply into the problems with protestant and orthodox conceptions of the Church and in addition it offers a comprehensive overview of Catholic theology in a clear, comprehensive and readable way.

Austin - you understate yourself. Your very intelligent and irenic (without being softball- you still ask the tough questions and don't duck issues) interviews of an amazing array of quality guests are arguably the best in KZfaq Christendom.

🤍🤍🤍 i really apreciate this conversation! Thank you both 🤍🤍🤍 you are two of my favorite KZfaq channels…

I’m not even halfway through this podcast, and I cannot even explain how much it is blessing me already 🙏 I stumbled on Austin‘s channel a couple weeks ago after watching an episode with Dr. Heiser, and Keith only stumbled on your channel and subscribed this evening because Austin comes up in my feed now. I’m sure you both mention somewhere but if I wanted to reach out and ask you both a couple questions off-line, do you have an email address that you don’t mind sharing publicly? I really appreciate the thoughtful approach and respect on both sides 🙏❤️

Great conversation! I love the guests you have on your channel. I learn so much from everyone. Thank you!

It's only a matter of time for Austin. God bless

Great interview with two humble dudes!

For those who are not Catholic, you are missing the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. My mother was not Catholic neither my father but my mother decided to raise me in the Catholic faith. This was the 1950s, today that would not happen. When my mother died, she was buried from an Episcopal Church. Something was different but I couldn't understand what it was. The following Sunday, I returned to my Catholic Church and I knew what was different. Jesus is presence in the Tabernacle in the form of bread.

Austin is a genuine good dude. I always enjoy when you guys get together, even just to referee Dr O and Joe! Thank you Keith

This was a great conversation, with lots of great questions! You two need to do more work together! I don't have any suggestions, just something. The best outcome of COVID was that my church went back to weekly communion.

Very interesting interview thanks !! Austin seems to have mischaracterized or misunderstood the significance/value of apostolic succession. He stated that the records are not pristine, that not every priest and bishop can trace ordination to Jesus or St. Peter, that sometimes there were different popes, etc. This argument from inconsistency of the historical record sidesteps and ignores the much bigger problem of innovation and novelty that characterized many of the pioneering beliefs coined by Protestant reformers. Prior to the 1500s in Latin Christendom there is no example of the rites, theology, beliefs, church governance, etc., coined by the reformers. This includes the distinct changes pioneered by Luther and other magisterial reformers in areas of the Eucharist, the saints, confession, Mary, and even things like indulgences. It simply had never been done before in Latin Christendom. This is the real strength and value of apostolic succession because it shows tangible continuity with Catholic beliefs over many centuries, unlike the Protestant reformers. For 1500 years there was no precedent or historical tradition in the west to support pioneering changes. The closest example in the area of the Eucharist might be Berengar of Tours but nobody paid much attention to him. So again lack of records showing pristine apostolic succession is a much smaller concern when compared to the much larger problem of the innovation and novelty of the beliefs pioneered by many Protestant reformers.

I think he is in a tough position. If he becomes Catholic, he fears he will alienate his family, his friends, and his entire life. Hard decision.

Hello Austin. Walk by Faith. *Let the Holy Spirit guide you.* Go beyond your intellect. It's time to *ALLOW GOD* to lead you to His Church. *Silence is very powerful.* Being silent in your mind and heart will allow you to hear God's voice. He will lead you to *HIS Church.* 🙏 *Come Home to the Catholic Church.* 🙏

All paths lead to Rome. Eventually!

Austin, the Holy Spirit is leading and guiding you.

What a great guy!

Francis Chan, one of the greatest Catholic evangelists alive 🙏🏻 God bless

Austin is an amazing person! XOXO

15 years ago I went to a combined Max Lucado churches at a large coliseum in San Antonio TX. A friend from his church on IH10 invited me to attend. As we entered there were women at each side of the doors with KFC buckets. Inside of them there were little plastic containers, like a coffee cream you see at cafes. I asked the woman who offered them to me what was in them. She told me the body and blood of Jesus Christ. (She must originally have been a Catholic.) I chuckled and took at. Later while everyone was seated an emcee announced that it would be announced later in the service when all would consume or they could take it anytime they were moved to do so. It was a little thin wafer and grape juice in the little container. He also said if anyone wanted one and didn't have it people would be going down the stairs along the bleachers and give them out. Well, they did. They were like hot dog vendors and would toss the little containers to individuals in the bleacher seats. Obviously John 6 escaped Max!

Yes, for most priests and even bishops, apostolic succession cannot be traced name by name all the way back to an apostle. HOWEVER, that certainly can be done, name by name, for the bishop of Rome, the pope, despite some rare messiness with anti-popes here and there. How many non-Catholics are aware of that? Regardless of the religious implications, even from a secular perspective, that's pretty dang amazing and unique!

I love how ex-protestants make the best Catholics, being Canadian also helps, love this channel.

Yes! I was Protestant untilI married. To raise the children in Christian faith, my husband would never change so to keep unity in the family, I became Catholic without any teaching. I always had trouble understanding why they believed in the presence of Christ in the wine and host. I read different books about converts experiences without being told I even read Hanns book only to be disappointed in his realization of the presence of Christ in Eucharist. Finally, I found Brant Petrie’s book Jesus and the Jewish roots of the Eucharist : unlocking the secrets of the Last Supper. It is Jesus’s background, his path to becoming the sacrificial lamb,to fulfilling the Old Testament law and becoming the Messiah. It ties Christ life in the manna , Passover, and “I am the body and blood of Christ. Protestants use symbolic meaning in Matt 26 and Mark 14 ,Catholic’s use John 2 unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood for communion. Petrie has it nailed. Converts should get his view point taught to to them especially die hard ones. Excellent book!

52:50 Yes, the Mass forms us in the deepest way. The more one gives oneself to the mystery of the liturgy, the more one frequents it with "faith seeking understanding," the less one experiences it as anything like repetition or rote ritual. Rather the exact opposite - it is _the_ unique moment in time to celebrate the Alpha and Omega: this is the kairotic time, the apocalyptic hour you have to love, praise, and know Him! "Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb!" What an immense and incomparable privilege to be witness and participant in the in-breaking of God's reality into this world. The different dogmas all hang together with the Eucharist at the center. This is about a spiritual diet. And one has to stick to the diet before the transformations become palpable and real. One needs to understand how the body works in response to this food. Then one day one realizes that it is the Spirit within who prays, who sees, who understands, who accepts, who receives. Then the body is the Spirit's temple - this is not just a metaphor. The Mass becomes immeasurably more beautiful over time as we ourselves are sanctified in the Spirit. And there is no upper limit. Read _Jesus Our Eucharistic Love_ where Fr. Manelli recounts how absolutely dear the Holy Meal becomes in the sanctified heart. Because exactly right 58:53: the Mass decenters you. The center _is not you_ and should never be you! The center is Christ - the Proclaimed Word and the Lamb Who was slain. You're not there to be pleased and entertained; you're there to repent, glorify, and confer your entirety to God alone. You're not there to absorb but to be absorbed. It's not about the humans present, the preachers and the speakers and the musics and the whatever! It is about the real presence of the sacred humanity of Christ, His Body broken and His Blood shed for us. Just listen when the priest consecrates the Host and put yourself at Jesus's table, hearing those words, "Take... Do this..." Imagine you are there at his side until it is so. Because in the Holy Meal, it really is so. The Victor who became Victim for our sake is there. If we pay attention closely and grow in holiness and model our lives upon Christ and his co-heirs, the Mass comes to feel like the place-setting of Eternity. Each word of the Gloria means something incomprehensibly vast and meaningful. Each word of the penitential act should open our heart in humility and contrition about our failings. Each "you take away the sins of the world" astonishes us afresh. And each prayer for mercy is... really a prayer for mercy! Not just words, but an act of conferance. The liturgy constantly reminds us: we should be choosing for God, not self. It is not a matter of feeling and fun and manipulating the environment to produce affects. The 'emptiness' is inherent - like a test of sincerity, a test of focus, a test of love. Because like everything in Christian life the Mass is a matter of obedience. It asks for an act of the will of the whole person. It's set up to allow God's splendor to shine through the form and activity of the Church and its ministers. It invites us to commit and submit to God more totally, to be absorbed into his Body that much more thoroughly. It is our plea as creatures, from the abyss of our spiritual poverty, to receive God - and it is the event of God's giving us, who don't deserve it, absolutely everything. "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."

Wow, great video! I really love both Keith and Austin’s style. I have a question for Austin: I might be understanding your view wrong, but I think you do believe in the bodily presence of Jesus in the Eucharist? But you aren’t sure if it has to be through the prayers of a priest with valid apostolic succession? If that’s true, and you do believe the Jesus is possibly present at some Protestant evangelical services, how do you feel about how the Eucharist is treated? Thrown in the trash, not venerated ect… Do you think Jesus is only present in the churches who believe in the real presence? Thanks for the good work you both do!

Awesome vid. Can you time stamp your vids to reference them? Make it easier to go back to a specific topic for discussion. Suggestion. Thanks.

I love Austin and his channel. When he said “one of them must be wrong or all are wrong” implying there cannot be one truth, he summarized protestantism. He himself gave the reason, while answering that question, of who protestantism is a false doctrine.

I wish that you would have touched more on the congregational argument when talking about church planting in relation to the early pre Constantine church

I admire your commitment to searching for the truth. I recommend Fr. Robert McTeigue and Gary Michuta "Revolt Against Reality", both excellent podcasters and authors with strong backgrounds in philosophy, logic and theology. They would make outstanding guests on your podcasts.

Three years gone by already no wonder I am getting older.👍

of course, we should desire that Austin (and others) embrace the fullness of the Catholic Church ---- the Catholic Church is objectively (that is, really and truly) the original, true Church of our Lord. it is not a matter of better opinion. yes, of course, the Lord (the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life) must move the heart ---- but we have a role in planting the seed (Mark 4).

Eu realmente gosto do Austin, e eu sinceramente acho que ele está protelando em admitir muitas coisas, o pq eu não sei, Deus sabe o que faz e quando faz, rezo para que ele não tente colocar empecilhos para A Verdade que está diante dos olhos dele. Abraços do Brasil. ( não vou traduzir pq eu já tenho que traduzir todos os videos para assistir, vocês que lutem para ler isso aqui! hahahahaha)

I'd like to know your opinion on Yuval Noah Harari's books

Not all followers of Christ are called to the Church He founded, at least in this lifetime. Let us pray for them and for ourselves for we will all have to face our Judge and give an accounting. 🙏❤️❤️🙏

As a youth pastor at a baptist church, this is helpful! I have been living in tension for a while as well. On Ash Wednesday I went to the local Catholic Church and I have never wanted the Eucharist more. Unfortunately, it is life situations that are keeping me from Rome not disagreement.

Skip to 6:50 to hear Austin speak

It's not about being smart enough to evaluate who is right. To a great degree, jumping in without full certainty is an act of faith itself. Also, remember this: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). Purify yourself, humble yourself, cleanse yourself, pray fervently. These are the things required; not intelligence, rationalism, and logic

Jesus started one church and said it would last forever The Roman Catholic Church

"Symbols are the most real things" Whats that even mean! - me too Austin, i ask the same thing.

To be Protestant requires great patience, first you have to wait 400 years for the Bible to appear in Greek then Latin, wait another 200-400 more years for the post temple Rabbinical Old testament to appear, then you can seriously get down in the starter blocks 17 centuries after Christ when the basis of Christianity arrives in Paul's native language English.

quick note on Methodists: UMC affirms the Real Presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper. they refuse to define precisely in what manner, and explicitly deny "transubstantiation" and Thomas' explication thereof. Lots of love from a Catholic who runs a Methodist Bible study

@46:06" they see the importance of succession". lol. I hope so.

Popes have often been wrong about any number of things, not however, when speaking from the seat of Peter. Important distinction.

Can you interview me why I am not a Roman Catholic?

May Yahusha, our Passover, and His Word, indwell you richly. All who are immersed in His Name and guard His Commandments may observe the anniversary of Yahusha's death. #natsarim BARUK HABA BASHEM YAHUAH!

Apostolic succession can be losed only if the person rejects the priesthood like protestant did or bishop do something really serious and got excommunicated, tough we can't trace every name back to the apostle yet we can know when the succession get broken. Anglicans did had apostolic succession when they did commit schism until they rejected the priesthood.

Whenever listen to Austin I try to pray for him to make good decisions. I.e. become Catholic. :P

Justin the Martyr my friend. I think he answers the question about what is supposed to happen at “church” that was the whole point of his letter. Also I think apostolic succession really addresses the issue of sin. In other words, in the evangelical world when a pastor is in obvious sin, parishioners start bailing. They feel that their church is no longer a valid church. In Catholicism we understand that everyone sins, whether others are aware of those sins or not. Even the pope has a confessor. In other words when there is apostolic succession Christians are not dependent on finding a leader whose sins they don’t know about.

That analysis of the office vs. doctrine is serious-not to be dismissed or blown by in real practical situations. Here's a conundrum that the "churches formed by apostolic succession only" causes... what of the small band of underground believers gathered around a single section of the gospels or Peter's gospel message to the Jews? Is this not the church whether or not it is "a" church? This is what's behind the Protestant view-that a group of believers, say in the old American frontier, are not unable to "have" church because they recognize that they "are" the church. This is the NT view in addition to discussions that may be had about orthodoxy and authority. Nevertheless...

The discussion about 53:00 the mass repetition and it forms you. It’s suppose to do that as you both said, but I know so many Catholics in my family that do all the traditions and customs and practices. But they live 2 different lives, they have zeal for their church and God. But in a sense I don’t see deep change with so many of them. It’s just them living 2 different lives, and these are life long baptized since babies Catholics. They are devoted and go every Sunday without missing a beat, part a 4000 member church in our city. Unfortunately with some not all of my Catholic family members I kinda have to be on my toes when it comes to talking about their faith or mine. They definitely don’t see me in being part of the (true) church. It might be hard to believe me, but will always be respectful to their traditions and approach them gently. Take what I say with a grain of salt, I’m just reporting from what is actually happening, boots in the ground. Not saying it doesn’t happen in my Protestant church it really can and does. But honestly I’m really close to Catholics and Protestants, I see way more humbleness, passion to follow Christ’s example, following the commandments because of Christ’s work in a grateful saving manner than my Catholic friends and family. (Could just be my own perspective I know) but this is just my story. I know there are passionate deep changed Catholics out there. I know that. But for me the only Catholics I’ve met with this deep lifestyle change from the inside out (that I know of) were 3 aunts I have who are nuns! (I love talking to them about Jesus, and Christianity) They are from San Francisco by the way. Again not saying it doesn’t happen in my Protestant church. But I see it way less in my community. Been learning so much about Catholicism, and I love you friends. And because of my theology and doctrine I can see you all as brothers and sisters in Christ part of the universal church. :) But last thing I can say to my Catholic readers is be being in a Protestant tradition, (Baptist affirmation at that) with no religious background. I have been able to give my life to Jesus and declare him Lord of my life. There is deep change within me to serve him and his commandments because of his act of grace he had for me. My traditions included after that, reading scripture daily, deep prayer daily, fasting, creating disciples, taking communion, being in church community (accountability) and worship (for everything), music, food, clothing, ect.

Amazing video. This was the most true and rich content I’ve experienced here on your channel. Austin is awesome. I feel like I’m in a similar position as Austin, but on the opposite side. I’m devoutly catholic, but interested and curious about these other denominations and what they believe and how they worship the Lord. Thank you so much!

C.S Lewis describes Christianity “as a hallway with many doors.” But there’s no fires and fellowship in the hallway. It’s in the rooms. You got to make a choice at some point. Roll with it. And let the Lord lead you.

37:37 39:30

26:15

Why would Jesus start a vicariate role for Peter as leader and pivot of unity for the disciples in his age, and not for the rest of the Church in the rest of history for all Christians? didn't Jesus say the power of death would not overcome it? What makes the first Christians unique? Especially having regard to Jesus wish that his Church would remain united like he and the Father, until he comes again. How is that achieved without Peter in our midst? Where are the keys of the Kingdom now then? Buried with Peter under the basilica??

Austin @ 16.58. "I've tasted that. Tastes like a wafer". Was that a consecrated host?

I grew up an evangelical protestant Christian who converted to Orthodoxy. I struggled quite a while between Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Ultimately, it's a difference between external unity (Catholic) and internal unity (Orthodoxy). Catholics view the person of Peter as the focal point, while Orthodoxy views the faith and proclamation spoken by Peter that Jesus is divine as the focal point. Rome asserts an external worldly Monarchal structure of administration, while Orthodoxy, while acknowledging the Monarchy of Christ, takes a conciliar approach in the world. This conciliar approach was recognized by the West for quite some time before Papal elevation began developing as a later innovation. The fathers talk about the conciliar approach, St. Cyprian of Carthage for example. Even St. John Chrysostom, whom Roman Catholics commemorate, explicitly says that it was the faith of Peter and his recognition of Christ as divine that was the Rock upon which the Church will be built. It was not the personality or geographical location. If it was the personality or geographic location of Peter, one could also argue that he was in Antioch before going to Rome. But these external criteria for Peter's primacy is not how Orthodox Christians understand the passage about Peter holding the keys and being the rock. It was his confession of faith, his confession and recognition of who Jesus was. This and only this will be the basis of the True Church.

Austin just made a video stating he is still not sure about Catholicism..he said he could not been able to continue in his university if he becomes Catholic..and he likes better the cults in the protestant church.

Several interesting points and I appreciate his journey (he's a lot farther along than I was at year one!). However, as long as "I don't have a problem with that," remains one's theological standard, one won't be Catholic. That's the issue he really needs to wrestle with.

I think Austin’s problem with apostolic succession seems weak. The continuous line of Popes is very clear, and that authority passed to Bishops and Priests. I don’t see it becoming weakened over time as Austin suggests.

Oh no. We're only a few minutes in and he's already attributed the name of the state of Maryland to the Virgin Mary instead of the queen of England, Henrietta Maria. This is so basic, it doesn't bode well for any of the other claims we're likely to hear in the rest of the video.

Austin's story...interesting at the beginning.....Now what?

Every priest is ordained by a bishop who has apostolic succession. Every priest can trace his linage back to the apostles.

Look at the first 7 Ecumenical Councils. Remember, someone in the Hierarchy of the Church, choose what Books were acceptable and what Books were not acceptable to make up the New Testament Canon. Philosophy is the Love of Wisdom. But, Biblical Faith is [ Trusting ] in something you cannot [ Explicitly Prove. ]

52:30 I invited my protestant friends to a Low Mass. Yep, they didn't find it cool. They found their knees aching :'D

I would figure that, after all these in-depth looks at Christianity, Austin would become Anglican more than anything else.

"Why aren't you Catholic?" My own personal experience. Condensed version. I grew up in a Roman Catholic home. I can remember being about 19 years old and wondering if Jesus had been crucified in Rome or in Jerusalem. Such was the dire state of my knowledge of God's Word (the Bible). And of my parents (who were committed Catholics) and every other Roman Catholic I knew, as far as I could tell. Never a Bible verse was spoken. Came to realize I didn't know what I believed, that I was agnostic. Deep dark depression. Met a Christian. Showed me God's Word. Got saved. Praise God forevermore, and his Son. I've never gone back to that religion. Am now 68. 44 years with the Lord. So blessed. One other thing. Before encouraging anyone to become a member of the Roman Church, first consider your own clergy. Bishops and priests. The celibacy requirement will be remembered as one of the worst man made disasters of all time. Facts are facts. These are God's requirements for church ministers: ""An overseer (Bishop), then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach..." 1 Tim 3:2 "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:5‭-‬9 "Husband of one wife" and "above reproach". The "above reproach" requirement would exclude several Popes of the middle ages who were, please excuse the expression, absolute moral monsters and definitely NOT followers of Christ. But don't believe me. Do yourself a favor and check it out for yourself. Thank God that Jesus is the Savior and not some imperfect religion. Praise Him forevermore.

“This inflexibility of the Church may seem narrow and intolerant, but only to those who do not stop to reflect that Christ promised that the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth, would guide His Church forever. This guidance is precisely what will cause his Church to forever adhere inflexibly to what it has always taught to be the true doctrine of Christ. Its very inflexibility is our security that what it teaches today is exactly what it taught in all past ages. What it teaches today is what it taught when the Protestants separated from it. It is what it taught when the Arians separated from it. It is what it taught when the Marcionites separated from it. It is what it taught before anyone separated from it. It is what it taught in the very beginning. How else could God expect his Church to act? There is no such thing as progress in religion. Change is only progress when it is in the right direction. If one already has the truth change is not progress. It is departure from-the truth. The Church began with the true version of religion. Christ Himself taught it. The Church has been teaching it ever since. Departure from its teaching constitutes departure from the truth. It constitutes a false version of religion. Christ Himself has told us what those things are that God expects of us. His version cannot be improved upon. Those who think that the teaching of the Church should be modernized and brought "up to date" should reflect that God is still God, that human beings are still merely His creatures, and that religion is what God expects human beings to know. Circumstances may have changed but God has not. He still expects human beings to do what He tells them, and not merely to do it under certain circumstances. Those who sincerely intend to do whatever God expects of them do not complain that the Church still teaches what Christ sent it to teach. On the contrary they are glad it does. It makes it possible for them to be sure they are on the right road.” - Fr. Gordon Knight - Rational theology Apologetics

On the topic of Apostolic succession. I see what you are saying Austin with the perspective from Gavin Ortlund. However, I believe you have to ask is God the same yesterday, today and forever, and did Jesus establish a faith that is once and for all handed down to the saints. This is where I humbly have to say it is not up to me to just start my own church, but rather I have to humble myself to the faith that has been passed down to me. And there is a freedom found in not being a slave to novelty and new doctrine, which is the biggest reason I went away from Protestantism. Holy tradition is this river of life, this is why I fall more and more in love with the Orthodox Church. In addition you should talk to orthodox priest, they can tell you the exact apostolic lineage they come from.

my non denominational church administers the Eucharist, or communion, every week

Austin thinks tracing parish priests from Apostolic succession doesn't go that far. Surprise, surprise! It does go that far. Check out one of the videos of Fr Casey Cole of the channel Breaking in the habit. He shares that around 80% of modern priests around the world now seem to go back to just this one bishop.

This video made me realize how arrogant Catholicism still is. It's like they learned nothing before, during, or after the Reformation about being humble.

This is going to sound uncharitable, but I don’t really care if Austin becomes catholic. People need to stop acting like their faith rises or falls based on whether such and such celebrity decides to become catholic

Canadians aren’t exactly known for being pushy. Lol 😂

I’m completely convinced that the churches that Paul wrote to, and that John wrote to in Revelation, knew nothing of a priestly, sacerdotal system. I also find the reasons given by Catholic apologists for why the specific Greek word for “priest” is not used by New Testament writers to describe a church office to be desperate, weak, and implausible.

Austin seems like he's slowly accepting the teachings of the Church. Ha!

1:03:25 I agree that this question is the lynchpin in the appraisal of the Roman Catholic Church by merit of just how much of the theology and traditions weight rests upon it. I feel a need to say, though, that I felt "Apostolic succession" was the most important aspect of the Orthodox Catholic Church as well as a means of deriving just how trustworthy these traditions were, coming from the Protestant perspective. I did much research before I ever stepped foot an Orthodox church, and I believed that to be the case all the way up until that first divine liturgy. For me, the fullness presented with the liturgy, iconography, and hagiography rendered these questions of authority irrelevant.