Posted on 03/19/2013 8:59:25 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
It has been suggested that it is a tragedy for Evangelicals to pray and fast regarding the new pope as called for by Rick Warren.
While it might not be an issue worthy of fasting over as it doesn’t look like most of the top contenders to the papal throne have themselves missed too many meals and won’t exactly be living in a state of self denial given their opulent surroundings should they get the job, offering up a quick prayer on the matter won’t hurt.
After all, the individual selected will play a significant role in steering that interpretation of the Christian faith closer towards true Biblical religion or further away into the assorted errors tempting all that call upon the name of the Lord in one fashion or the other.
What is so wrong with a Protestant praying for the selection of at least a level-headed Pope that adheres to the shared commonalities of Christian doctrine and respects the rights of existence and expression of those he disagrees with?
I guess there are those thinking the atrocities committed during the Thirty Years War by both sides were a good thing.
Nothing wins souls to your vision regarding Christ and His message like a good pillaging and the ravishing of a few unwilling maidens.
Some might ask the question why should Protestants, especially those of the lowly Baptist variety, enunciate an opinion as to the selection of a new Pope or elaborate an explanation as to why those of that particular theological perspective find the power and authority that ecclesiastical institution has asserted for itself as extra-Biblical and questionably dangerous.
Catholics have every right to select whomever they desire as their head honcho.
However, because that institution has assumed for itself a role beyond administering its own internal affairs and undertaken efforts to exert an influence on the world beyond its ornately decorated walls, in a free society those not belonging to this religious tradition have just as much right to speak out regarding the direction as to how this powerful world body might influence the way in which individuals are able to live their own lives and practice their own beliefs.
For though the way in which the Roman Catholic Church gets the message across might be more subtle than the way in which some Protestants do so, relying more on ceremony and glitz rather than a blunt in your face letting you know what they feel and believe regarding the issue often in a gruff and tactless manner, the opposition of the leadership to Protestantism is just as ingrained.
For example, Pope Benedict repeatedly emphasized throughout his pontificate that Protestant churches especially were not real churches and at best could only be thought of as errant theological associations.
No big deal, many not practiced in the art of discernment and worldview implication might conclude.
After all, everyone from the Pope down to the raving village atheist thinks the spiritual path they are journeying down is superior to all others.
However, one may need to stop to reflect for a moment what is being said here.
To the Protestant, the ideal that those of this persuasion endeavor to strive for can be found in Romans 10:13: “For whoseover shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
By this, it is believed that there is no mediator between God and man other than Christ Himself for those that believe Jesus as the only Begotten Son of God died in our place for our sins and rose from the dead so that those placing their faith solely in Him might have eternal life in Heaven.
However, official institutionalized Catholicism pretty much holds that their’s is the only game in town determining who it is that will be rewarded with the prize or gift of salvation.
This the organization does in part through its system of sacraments.
So what the Church is really saying when it denies communion to all but those on its own membership roles is not so much that we think it’s best if you participate in this solemn event with those that can better attest to the validity of your faith experience or worthiness of character but rather that you aren’t even a fellow Christian at all.
If the new pope has called for a new evangelization effort in areas where Protestantism has made inroads, unless the campaign is confined to targeting those that were previously Catholic with those born into Protestantism or who became Protestant from a non-Catholic orientation off limits, on what grounds do Catholics have to get jacked out of shape when Protestants sweep up disgruntled and easily persuaded Catholics?
One would hope that no one in their right mind would find the violent acrimony of the past where individuals on either side of the divide were often deprived of property, opportunity, and even their very lives all in Christ’s name a worthy situation to return to.
However, neither are Christians obligated to go out of their way refusing to admit that profound religious differences still exist that are better off left in place for the sake of the entire world at least until Christ Himself returns to set hearts and minds straight and to sort out the mess we as fallen human beings have made of this world.
As Catholics, we believe in the Apostolic Commission and its succession through the generations of bishops. However, no one who professes the Name of Christ is our enemy.
“Don’t we both try to love our neighbor as ourselves?”
Unfortunately, it sure doesn’t appear that way in perusing the religious threads here, Salvation. Sure hard to read them and ‘feel the love.’
The Pope can’t change Catholic doctrine even if he wanted to. The idea floating around leftist minds that a new “hip” Pope can just say the word and change Catholic doctrine to their liking is ridiculous. That is why it was so funny to see the libs get all excited about the new Pope thinking he could bring in contraception, abortion, homosexuality, and women Priests.
The Pope can change disciplines though, so as I understand it he could lift the rule of celibacy for Priests.
So true. They are not as bad as the Creation v Evolution threads of yore though. Now those were vicious rumbles!
“He who is not against you is for you”
Words to ponder.
“However, no one who professes the Name of Christ is our enemy.” Wow. No kidding. Perhaps, when Christ professes your name, you will mean; some thing, or not
At the big celebration when watching it live I noticed it was said that communion would be served to everyone in the crowd.
sure, we all have opinions on a whole bunch of different christian leaders.
from my experience here nobody is very shy offering opinions about christian leaders, in or out of their denomination.
don’t worry, lay catholics don’t have any sway over anything important in their dioceses either. they’re for the most part happy about that.
Whether that opinion is relevant in the matters of the Catholic Church is another thing entirely.
There are true Christians in the Catholic Church. There may even be some true Christians among the Mennonites. There are some among the Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, and yes even some who claim no roots in any of the religions of men. The Catholic Church is a ‘lightning rod’ because of its size and because of its prominence. The attacks are indeed attacks on Christianity in general. Many leading the attacks on the Catholic Church claim to be Christians. By their fruits….?
The Lord has indicated to us that the systems of men are collapsing…economical, political, religious…it has begun. He has also told us not to fear the coming collapse. He is in charge! To that, we say, Amen!
I wrote the above for another, more private response to a question. It is appropriate to repeat it here. It is irresponsible for Christians, of what ever lineage, not to pray for other Christians. If you aren’t a Christian, I am not speaking to or for you. You have your own problems. If you are a Christian, I care not what your ‘Church’ affiliation is...you are my brother. I will pray for you. I will pray for God’s influence in your life and in the life of ‘your church’...and especially if ‘your church’ just elected a new ‘Papa Francisco’.
I agree.
“For example, Pope Benedict repeatedly emphasized throughout his pontificate that Protestant churches especially were not real churches and at best could only be thought of as errant theological associations.”
All I seem to recall is the media misreporting what the Pope actually said, with headlines like “Pope says Protestants not real Christians”. For some strange reason.
“It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church”— Pope B16, Dominus Iesus”
What a monster.
Freegards
“Don’t we both love God above all things?
Don’t we both try to love our neighbor as ourselves?”
Some of us do. Some of us would rather point their finger at other people’s religion rather than look in the mirror and do the finger pointing where it belongs.
Not just Orthodox, either. I believe the Assyrian Church of the East, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Polish National Catholic Church (which, despite the name, is a breakaway church NOT in communion with Rome) can all receive communion at a Roman Catholic Church. I think there’s some very rare examples of protestants could as well, but I’m not sure how that works since I believe they’d have to be from a church with valid apostolic succession that has the same beliefs about the Eucharist as the Catholic Church.
AMEN!! AMEN!! AMEN!!
Which is the more garbled: his syntax or his understanding of Catholicism? It’s a tough call.
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