Monsignor Pope Ping!
Now if the Msgr would understand John 6 in context he'd be getting somewhere.
Seems like a strawman set up to knock down to me. I’ve never associated the “gates of hell” with gates to hell, and haven’t heard people teaching to that effect.
Saying certain circles is a dead giveaway it is a strawman, for in “certain circles” you can find, in the extreme, congregations that claim to be Christian embracing homosexuals or teaching liberation theology (as well as racist subtypes like black liberation theology) as well as many other things that amount to rejecting Scripture or proclaiming a different gospel.
Not that I’m saying this “certain circles” certain circle is extreme enough to have departed from the truth.
Personally, I’d observe that the passage more likely applies to tearing down spiritual strongholds in people’s hearts ... which is how the enemy often operates. These are arguably “gates” of a sort, representing both offensive power and defensive position.
Also, just to pick at nits, hell isn’t presently where we find the enemy, no matter what Dante’s fantasies may say, for if they were there where they will finally be throw we would have no more problems from them. So on that level I can say that someone must be confused, either about the present location of the enemy, who is actually in charge of hell, or has misunderstood what folks were saying to them.
sounds like opinion to me.
There's the crux of it. Those crazy Protestants taking figurative things literally. I've never ever heard of a real Protestant preacher taking such a position. Msgr. Pope must be running out of material to dream this one up.
“Hell” means, here, the place of departed spirits, particularly evil spirits; and the meaning of the passage is, that all the plots, stratagems, and machinations of the enemies of the church would not be able to overcome it a promise that has been remarkably fulfilled." - Barnes Notes
http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/matthew-16.html
"The gates of hell,i.e, the machinations and powers of the invisible world. In ancient times the gates of fortified cities were used to hold councils in, and were usually places of great strength. Our Lord's expression means, that neither the plots, stratagems, nor strength of Satan and his angels, should ever so far prevail as to destroy the sacred truths in the above confession. Sometimes the gates are taken for the troops which issue out from them: we may firmly believe, that though hell should open her gates, and vomit out her devil and all his angels, to fight against Christ and his saints, ruin and discomfiture must be the consequence on their part; as the arm of the Omnipotent must prevail." - Adam Clarke Commentary
http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/matthew-16.html
The only reason to “storm” anyplace is to try to get IN. So not storming the gates of Hell is pretty much a no-brainer!
Leave my gates alone.
HMMMmmm...
Ephsians 2:1-3
1 As for you, you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3 We all lived among them at one time in the cravings of our flesh, indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath...
Luke 14:23
"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
HMMMmmm...
then just WHY do we need...
Ephesians 6:11-17
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
It's too bad that other metaphors are not 'clearly' noted: "This is my body..." comes to mind.
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