Pope Francisco writes to La Repubblica: "An open dialogue with non-believers"

I would cordially like to reply to the letter you addressed to me from the pages of "La Repubblica" on July 7th, which included a series of personal reflections that then continued to enrich the pages of the daily newspaper on August 7th.

First of all, thank you for the attention with which you have read the Encyclical "Lumen fidei". In fact it was the intention ... not only confirm the faith in Jesus Christ, for those who already believe, but also to spark a sincere and rigorous dialogue with those who, like you, define themselves as "for many years being a non-believer who is interested and fascinated by the preaching of Jesus of Nazareth".

In particular, I think there are two circumstances which today cause this dialogue to be precious and necessary.

The first circumstance - that refers to the initial pages of the Encyclical - derives from the fact that, down in the centuries of modern life, we have seen a paradox: Christian faith, whose novelty and importance in the life of mankind since the beginning has been expressed through the symbol of light, has often been branded as the darkness of superstition which is opposed to the light of reason. Therefore a lack of communication has arisen between the Church and the culture inspired by Christianity on one hand and the modern culture of Enlightenment on the other. The time has come and the Second Vatican has inaugurated the season, for an open dialogue without preconceptions that opens the door to a serious and fruitful meeting.

"in order to have faith one must believe that those things that are written in the bible actually happened as written. (I do not deny the existence of any of the biblical figures, just their interpretation of what they saw and documented)"

Well technically no. You could reject much of what's recorded in the Bible and still have faith and be saved. It's not faith in the Bible that's required, it's faith in Jesus.

What you can't reject is that you're a sinner, and that God sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to pay the price for your sins. And you need to accept Jesus as your Savior through prayer.

Rejecting the rest would probably result in many heretical beliefs, but you could still be saved.

Generally, faith in the Bible and faith in Jesus go hand in hand. But it's entirely possible for that to be largely unhinged.

You have a lot of presuppositions and false judgments, which I will not respond to, only to say that Replacement Theology is the belief that the church has replaced Israel. I quoted you right from the Bible.

I suggest that you study Romans 9, 10 and 11—it is quite clear that the church does not replace Israel.

The remnant—believing Israel—will be regathered when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. At that time God’s promises to them in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:22-32, which are promises of the New Covenant, will be fulfilled.

Between now and then, both Jew and Gentile are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and come into the New Covenant—Jesus is the only way for both to have eternal life, or to be born again.

There were three times when Jesus was asked how to have eternal life.

The first time was when the rich young ruler came to him. Jesus quoted several of the commandments. The ruler said "I've kept those from my youth". Jesus said sell all your goods and follow me. The rich young ruler went away sorrowful. Effectively even thought the rich young ruler had lived an extremely good life by human standards, Jesus had focused him on "Have no other God before me". And he failed.

The second time a lawyer asked. Jesus replied what's written in the law?" The Lawyer replied "Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said, "Do this and you will live." The lawyer "seeking to justify himself" asked "who is my neighbor?". Which led to the parable of the good Samaritan. Again Jesus answered obey the law, but in such a way that it showed the seeker his faults.

The third time was Nicodemus. To Nicodemus, Jesus said, "You must be born again."

There are two ways to get to heaven. Never sin, or be forgiven. Scripture tells us none are righteous, nobody has done or will do the first, except for Jesus.

A person who believes in natural law, or the existence of objective truth, is or should be on our side.

Thank you.

I too think atheists who, as you say, believe in natural law, discernible through reason, is or should be on our side. But, I wonder why they object to using the G-word. Are they unforgiving of Christians and other religious people? What we, as Christians uniquely have to offer the world is Christ and the assurance of salvation. One thing I suspect is that evangelical atheists are unforgiving, do not know God’s mercy, and fear for their own condemnation.

Another thing I think is that evangelical atheists doubt God’s design of the universe. Now, we all doubt. If we didn’t, why was Jesus always saying “Do not fear.” If we didn’t doubt, why are faith and hope needed in this life. Einstein once said a scientist searches for an answer, believing that there is an answer. He said this is an essentially religious belief. I don’t know why some people believe there is an answer and others do not. The Bible describes it as a gift. But, here’s what I do know. Without belief, their is fear, and fear is the vanguard of nihilism.

As to the inclination of Islam to a rejection of reason, it wasn’t always so. Indeed, there are ways to interpret Ibn Taymiyyah as teaching that you had to read the Koran in context and with reason. But, I agree with you, there was a closing of the Islamic mind and an escape into a false pride based on having a monopoly on the truth.

God has revealed Himself in three ways, according to Romans 1 and Hebrews 1:2:

- through what has been created
- through His Word, the Bible (all of it) &
- in His Son

As far as the Bible, Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-19:

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Then there is the issue of false prophets that He addresses by a comparison of a bad tree (the false prophets) and a good tree. He said you will know them by their fruits.
(Matthew 7:15-20)

Then there is His teaching on those who call Him “Lord,” but won’t enter the kingdom of heaven because they don’t do His well; they don’t act on His words, but instead practice lawlessness. (Matthew 7:2-29)

Jesus is the living Word.

I think you have clarified a lot and are basically correct. Now, let me ask you to comment on the following persons and we can maybe tidy this up.

Person A is not a church-y type person. He doesn’t regularly attend services. He doesn’t say any prayers. Yet he loves other people (in the sense of being kind and even more so generous) and more than this, he doesn’t murder or steal or commit adultery or bear false whiteness against his neighbor.

Person B is also not a church-y person, he doesn’t regularly attend services or say any prayers. Yet, one day he enters a burning building to save a stranger in the process of which he succumbs to the flames and the smoke and dies.

It seems to me that these people fall into a grey area. They don’t have assurance of salvation. Yet, on a human scale, they also seem to obey God’s law, most importantly his commandment to love others as we love ourselves. I am concerned about why they don’t obey the even greater law, to love God with your whole person, but maybe they do, at least the second person, in giving his life to save another. And I am concerned that no matter how many or how big their good works, God is holy and cannot countenance any sin, and they along with all of us sin.

BTW My examples are meant to exemplify Romans 13:8-9 and John 15:13. Also, my father sort of exemplified persons A and B and, so, when I visited him during his last few days in this world, I shared the plan of salvation, that God, who is holy, has a way to forgive, he is both all just and all merciful.

"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

"Least in the kingdom of heaven" implies he is in the kingdom of heaven. Which is my point. They erred, but they are still in.

Notice that Jesus says: "Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The relationship is key. He didn't say I used to know you but we parted ways, or I knew you, but you were lazy, or I knew you but you failed. And certainly not, I knew you, but you didn't understand all the scripture and had some screwed up beliefs." "I never knew you".

Believing in Jesus IS doing the will of the Father.

"Jhn 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

It's not works that saves us...

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Tts 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

But as James points out, true faith ought to produce works. True faith is different than mere mental accent that Jesus is who He claims to be, for as James points out, "Even the demons believe". True faith trusts in Jesus for salvation. That faith given time produces works. But it's not the works that save you, it's the faith.

Once we believe. Once we've put faith in Jesus we have passed from death to life. We will not come into condemnation. Nothing in life nor death will separate us from the Love of God.

Jhn 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Is the Catholic Church a Non Christian cult. Praying to “saints” I put ssaints in quotes because the whole thing about Sainting people is not Biblical.

A Saint is a follower of Christ, a Christian is a Saint. This business of sainting people is a joke

Yes The Virgin Mary was a very special Human being, but again, there is only one mediator between man and God, and that is Christ Jesus

Nowhere does the Bible tell us to invite Mary in to our hearts, or pray to anybody else but God/Jesus

And this idea that anybody other than Jesus is infallible, what a joke, a sad joke

Purgatory is also not in the Bible

The Catholic Church has really never believably condemned Abortion, just lip service, they have never cared enough to say that supporting such things is to disqualify oneself from the Christian faith

They are more worried about the collection plate than the things of God

Catholic Church certainly has lots of company, so I am not just targeting them....the list is to long. basically organized religion in 2013 is in pretty much the same state

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