Posted on 04/05/2005 10:01:52 PM PDT by Coleus
For the last quarter of a century, this non-Catholic has had a pope. Now that John Paul II is gone, I am even more of an orphan than the Christians in the Roman church. For they will surely have another pope, but that one may not be mine, since I haven't converted.
I am sure I am reflecting the views of many Protestants. Who else but John Paul II gave voice to my faith and my values in 130 countries? Who else posited personal holiness and theological clarity against postmodern self-deception and egotism? Who else preached the gospel as tirelessly as this man?
What other clergyman played any comparable role in bringing down communism, a godless system? What other world leader—spiritual or secular—understood so profoundly how hollow and bankrupt the Soviet empire was, so much so that this tireless writer never bothered to pen an encyclical against Marxism-Leninism because he knew it was moribund?
Has there been a more powerful defender of the sanctity of life than this Pole, in whose pontificate nearly 40 million unborn babies wound up in trashcans and furnaces in the United States alone? What more fitting insight than John Paul II's definition of our culture as a culture of death—an insight that is now clearly sinking in, to wit the declining abortion rates in the United States?
In Europe some time ago, a debate occurred in Protestant churches: Should John Paul II be considered the world's spokesman for all of Christianity? This was an absurd question. Of course he spoke for all believers. Who else had such global appeal and credibility, even to non-Christians and non-believers?
Of course, there was the inveterate Billy Graham. There were many faithful Orthodox and Protestant bishops, pastors and evangelists.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
This writer speaks for me and for millions. I was fascinated with John Paul II from the moment I first heard about him and followed his career with delight, gratitude, exasperation, and love until this moment. I, a Prostestant, fantasized about having an audience with him! Though it's the form for the monarch of England to style himself so, John Paul II was truly the Defender of the Faith.
He was our Pope. He was EVERYONE'S Pope.
God rest his dear soul.
I'm waiting for an apology from the Cromwellians......
I agree, Cromwell was a traitor to the Scottish covenanters and proved to be a false deliverer.
I agree.
Can someone please explain to the author of this article what the differences between protestants and Catholics are? I would but I'm tired and I'm going to bed.
Sola Gracia!!!!!!!!!
Soli Deo Gloria!!! Too
Ummmm...sorry, he was not my pope. I have never had one, nor do I intend to. No disrespect but simple fact. Priesthood of the believer!!!!!!
He has no need to feel like "an orphan;" he is a son of God and has Christ to act as a mediator between him and the Father.
There were no "millions of martyrs," except in the fevered brains of Protestant polemicists.
There were many thousands killed on both sides, though. When the Lutheran armies overran Rome in 1527, the Romans thought they were witnessing the Apocalypse. Protestants have a wonderful knack for forgetting the sins of their forefathers, or dissociating themselves from those forefathers entirely. (They weren't "real Christians," you know.)
My wife used to have a rather funny book of Anglican apologetics, which blamed the Reformation on Henry VIII, whom it described as (quoting) "a vicious man and a Roman Catholic". (If Henry VIII was a Roman Catholic, what does that make the Catholic martyrs Henry had beheaded because they refused to recognize him as "Head of the Church in England" [sic]?)
If you want a good contemporary reformed perspective on the glory of God check out John Piper's book, "Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist".
Your response reminds of a bumper sticker I once saw: "Jesus loves you...whether you like it or not".
Thats funny I thought the same about yours, It reads "Kerry/Edwards 04".
AMEN!! Nice to hear there are others that think the same way I do.
Odd - the last time I looked it was "BUSH '04".
... or dissociating themselves from those forefathers entirely ...
Your right it was damn foolish of Wycliffe to let himself be dug up and burned like that - that what you get after all for translating the Bible and Luther should never of stopped Tetzel after all indulgences are the best fund raiser since bingo.
Morn for your pope... just don't expect me to
Plus I REALLY don't appreciate the Pope's lack of support in the Iraq war. A BIG mark against him IMO.
Hehehehehehehe!
You seem to think that Catholics worship the Pope. WE don't.
Certainly, we revere him. Certainly he is held in the highest of esteem, but "worship", no.
Worship is reserved for God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
And Mary.
worship
noun1. The act of adoring, especially reverently.
2. Deep and ardent affection.verb
1. To regard with great awe and devotion.
2. To feel deep, devoted love for.
Devotion for Our Lady. Worship for Our Lord.
Funny I was listening to the John Batchelor Show on WABC radio today and Lawrence Kudlow a recent convert to Catholicism twice mentioned that he worshipped the late Pope. Not withstanding your statement I wonder how many other Catholics would make the same claim?
I can't answer that, but I can tell you if they do, they shouldn't.
OTOH, it may be a term of endearment, in much the same way we might "worship" a girlfriend, football team, or even a political figure.
Uhhhhh....1st Pea in the Pod didn't say that.
My apologies if I misread, but I took the strong inference.
Looks like you read something into it.
Amen to your post!
We are not talking about the religious wars, but those who the Church deemed heretics and killed.
That stated very early and didn't end until the religious wars put an end to Rome's reign of terror.
Pope John Paul II was responsible for all that?
Please, wait until at least next week before you dance on this great man's grave!
Amen!
I know you're a good person, AD, and I respect Catholics like you. Please bear with us Protestants here. The concept of pope is one many of us likely will never agree with, because, to cut to the chase and put it in simplest terms possible, Catholics and Protestants come from different belief systems.
While I don't consider John Paul II "my" pope, I recognize he was *the* pope, a title which carries deep meaning for folks all over the globe. And while I consider people like those I see in church every Sunday as being on an equal level with the pope in terms of relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ, I recognize many other people looked towards John Paul II as the literal and/or symbolic leader of Christendom.
So it doesn't have to be a bad thing to disagree over this, as long as we're willing to put aside personal pride.
You don't pray to her? (Hail Mary full of grace...)
She isn't considered the 'Queen of heaven'?
We do, and She is.
We pray that she will intercede with Her Son to grant our petition. No suggestion that She is God.
They don't consider Jesus sufficient. They feel they need another heavenly intercessor.
I certainly had no intention of entering a full-blown theological debate when I first posted.
I respect all Christians of good-will, I merely point out that I regard the Pope as Christ's representative on earth, but a human being all the same. I do not expect His Holiness to rise from the dead anytime soon. Why would he? He is already with his Lord.
You said you only worship God, yet you pray to Mary, which is itself act of worship that should only be directed to God Himself (1Tim.2:5)
Jesus loves His mother. We may stand a better chance if She puts in a good word on our behalf. It's a simple proposition.
Intercessor: "For there is one God, and one mediator (intercessor) between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5)."
Catholics lack assurance...thus, their flailing around for methods which might give them a "better chance".
The only chance you have is thru the righteous blood of Christ, that's it. Don't try any other work.
This is part of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.
Catholics are often accused of being "anti-women". Perhaps we should lay claim to being too far the other way!
The second the title hit my eyes, I knew it was going to be a hairy thread. :-]
Oh, and I believe the Pope is with the Lord too. :-)
Catholics, like everyone else, are at the mercy of God.
Thankfully, He is a merciful God!
"This is part of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity."
How's that?
One Protestant's thoughts on the Pope...
"I am more afraid of my own heart than of the Pope and all his Cardinals. I have within me the great Pope, Self. "
-Martin Luther
True...but only to those who trust in Christ's righteousness. That is the only way to Heaven. Don't try another way. Christ is it.
In addition to Paul's words in I Timothy, regarding prayer, the author of Hebrews tells in Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"
That's better. Technically correct grammar on this point and all that.
They don't consider Jesus sufficient.
Please speak for yourself. This statement is just plain absurd!
They feel they need another heavenly intercessor.
See above.
I will point out to you that in Christ and his Grace, we have many, many brothers and sisters - as well as a mother - and angels to boot, in heaven to help us out here on Earth. We're one big happy family!
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