Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Gavin Ortlund responds to Ben Shapiro’s surprising comments on Protestantism and explains why the issue isn’t rituals themselves, but treating man-made ones as divinely required.
Videos Mentioned:
Would You Be Catholic or Protestant? | YES or NO: Ben Shapiro: youtu.be/DAuAHSyenG0?si=yanUnyul0zvN02z2
Evangelical Worship Needs Church History: youtu.be/EeM5u4A6KTY?si=Wzv4vvo9aY2bqVl8
How Many Sacraments Are There? 2, NOT 7!: youtu.be/l4ePRXGVu9Y?si=huU65E7MKwp33UK1
Clerical Celibacy: A Protestant Critique: youtu.be/D_r3BYsSgOc?si=A1WmO02h47BgQC3e
Penance: A Protestant Critique: youtu.be/z02UFv5fZ6Q?si=pfII36sDUQ0xQCOa
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunites-20
00:00 - Ben's Comments About Protestantism
03:56 - Summary of Argument
04:12 - Rituals are Good
06:54 - Empty Ritualism Is Bad
09:17 - Which Rituals?
11:42 - The Sacraments
13:33 - Clerical Celibacy
16:18 - Marian Devotion
20:25 - Penance
21:43 - Catholic vs Protestant Rituals
Gavin Ortlund responds to Ben Shapiro’s surprising comments on Protestantism and explains why the issue isn’t rituals themselves, but treating man-made ones as divinely required.
Videos Mentioned:
Would You Be Catholic or Protestant? | YES or NO: Ben Shapiro: youtu.be/DAuAHSyenG0?si=yanUnyul0zvN02z2
Evangelical Worship Needs Church History: youtu.be/EeM5u4A6KTY?si=Wzv4vvo9aY2bqVl8
How Many Sacraments Are There? 2, NOT 7!: youtu.be/l4ePRXGVu9Y?si=huU65E7MKwp33UK1
Clerical Celibacy: A Protestant Critique: youtu.be/D_r3BYsSgOc?si=A1WmO02h47BgQC3e
Penance: A Protestant Critique: youtu.be/z02UFv5fZ6Q?si=pfII36sDUQ0xQCOa
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunites-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunites-20
00:00 - Ben's Comments About Protestantism
03:56 - Summary of Argument
04:12 - Rituals are Good
06:54 - Empty Ritualism Is Bad
09:17 - Which Rituals?
11:42 - The Sacraments
13:33 - Clerical Celibacy
16:18 - Marian Devotion
20:25 - Penance
21:43 - Catholic vs Protestant Rituals
