Posted on 07/26/2013 6:57:49 AM PDT by Salvation
Featured Term (selected at random):
HIS HOLINESS
A title of honor and respect reserved in the Western Church for the Holy Father, the Pope, because of his administrative office of holy things. The term is sometimes applied to patriarchs in the East, e.g., to the Melkite patriarch in Antioch, in union with Rome, who is called "Most Holy in the Liturgy," and the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople, who is spoken of as "His All-Holiness."
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” (Revelation 15:4)
The Bible teaches that only Christ is holy.
The examples in the Bible are not to fawn over or worship (in any way or under any name) humans. This would extend to titles. Worship belongs to God alone. Titles such as His Holiness for any person would be repulsive to God. Do you think Jesus or the Disciples would really bend the knee and kiss the ring of the Pope and refer to him as “His Holiness”? The term “Reverend” is found in the Bible only once and it is a reference to God lest anybody think I am excluding the Protestants on this. The terms “brother” and “sister” are more appropriate.
Amen! Matthew 23 teaches this principle clearly.
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
His Holiness can come by for some respect and a Guinness any time! Seeing his face makes me smile.
No worship here. Just a title of respect — Do you ever say, “Dearest Mother” or “Dear Grandfather”?
Same thing — just a title of respect.
Are you aware that the Pope IS the Vicar of Christ on earth?
I'm not buying the Catholic word games. "not to fawn over or worship (in any way or under any name)" means just that. Mother and Grandfather are relational whilst "Holiness" denotes a quality belonging only to God. Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one;"
I'm aware the Catholics believe that. I don't. It's not Biblical.
Are you aware that’s utter blasphemy?
Jesus indeed predicted a vicar in the sense of a replacement for His physical presence here on earth. However, this vicar of Christ is not a priest, high priest, bishop, or pope. The only biblical Vicar of Christ is the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 declares, But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:16-18 proclaims, And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. The Holy Spirit is Christs replacement on the earth. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor, Teacher (John 14:26), and guide into all truth (John 16:13).
In claiming that the pope is the Vicar of Christ, Rome rejects the sufficiency and supremacy of Christs priesthood, and grants to the pope roles that Christ Himself declared would belong to the Holy Spirit. It is therefore blasphemy to ascribe to the pope the title of Vicar of Christ.
The text “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’ comes to mind.
Indeed it does. I don’t think it’s mere coincidence either.
I hate to always point these kinds of problems out, but Jude tells us we are to “contend earnestly for the faith.”
Maybe the Apostle Paul wrote with some FReepers in kind:
10 Brethren, my hearts desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about Gods righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Roman 10:1-4 )
Spot on, brother. Keep the faith.
If you were at a city council meeting, would you address the mayor as “Mr. Mayor?”
No word games about it. Just a title of respect.
**It’s not Biblical.**
Indeed it is. Even though Peter fell three times, he also confessed hisw love for Jesus three times. Then Jesus gave him three commands: “Feed my sheep.” Tend my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” Thus Christ gave the keys to the kingdom to Peter and made him the first Pope.
The church — that’s us — all of us are those sheep. Even if you aren’t Catholic.
And perhaps Jesus spoke with other FReepers in mind.
I’ll take Christ’s word any day over Paul’s word.
Not if I didn't have to. Again you are trying to slip in a sleight of hand. A man made political office does not a religious doctrine make. But to answer your question, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars", so I would. But I would NOT call this pope "His Holiness". That is forbidden. God does not want me to bestow any artificial praise on him to suggest he is any holier than the next guy (and he isn't).
This is about the only thing I see you wrote I agree with. Peter denied his Lord three times. And the verse about those keys is the "race card" equivalent for Catholics. When you pull that one out (I notice you didn't cite it or give an exact quote), I'm supposed to roll over and say "Oh no, you got me there". But I'm not. My interpretation of the verse is quite different from the Catholic Churchs.
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