Pope Francis “Doesn’t Want to Convert Evangelicals”?

Patheos ^ | 7/11/14 | Fr. Dwight Longenecker

[marshmallow]

After meeting with a group of Pentecostal Evangelicals Pope Francis reportedly wants to preach in a Protestant church in Rome. This article reports on the meeting held in Rome with Pope Francis and TV Evangelist Kenneth Copeland and other Evangelical leaders including theologian Brian Stiller and Anglican bishop Tony Palmer.

The Pope wants to go to the Evangelical church and apologize for all the times Catholics have been nasty to Protestants. That is, of course, very wonderful and we will be waiting not only for them to graciously accept the apology, but to offer their own in return. I’m reminded of the time Pope John Paul II on Ash Wednesday of the Jubilee Year led a service of public penitence for sins committed by Catholics against lots of people…including Protestant Christians.

This loving and humble gesture was met with silence by Protestants and not a peep from any Protestant leaders that I remember with a similar apology in return.

Stiller says Pope Francis is interested in dialogue with Evangelicals, but he doesn’t want to convert them.

Francis has also shown a great openness to evangelicals. According to his understanding of evangelism asked the Pope replied that he was not interested in converting evangelicals to Catholicism. He wished that people find Jesus in their own community.Instead of a lot of time to spend with the debate about different schools of thought, one should focus on “love to show Jesus”.

That is Brian Stiller’s memory of the conversation. You can read the first hand account on Brian’s blog here. Does the pope really not want to convert Evangelicals? Is it okay to just “find Jesus in your own denomination?” As usual with Pope Francis, a private conversation has been reported publicly and now it’s open season for everyone to pick it apart........

[doc1019]

Good.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

What’s to convert? It’s the same God, same Jesus....We need to concentrate on converting the lost and fighting satan, not on converting each other.

[mozarky2]

Hmmm...try as I may, I can’t think of anything Evangelicals need to apologize for...

[drunknsage]

Didn’t you get the memo? My version Christ is right and yours is wrong. I know because I prayed about it. The End.

[ansel12]

I wonder if he thinks they are rapacious wolves?

[JSDude1]

Unless one is born again they will not see the kingdom of heaven, Catholic or Protestant alike.

[informavoracious]

AGREED! There are too many arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Let us join together to defeat the real enemy.

[gusty]

All I know is that I know what both living Popes will be doing this Sunday, 8pm Rome time.

[jocon307]

Well, he better not come here and say that on some of our threads, if he knows what’s good for him, if you know what I mean!

[JPX2011]

AGREED! There are too many arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Let us join together to defeat the real enemy.

Sure. Just as soon as protestants stop calling me a pagan who believes in superstititious hocus pocus. I'm not going to forsake the Eucharist in order to get along with protestants for some nebulous promise of tactical advantage to fight a common enemy. Sorry. Let the Caliphate come.

[gusty]

Let me clue you in, the vast majority of Protestants really do not care what you do or do not do. Anyone who would call you a pagan within earshot is a nut. If you base your thoughts and actions on the opinions of lunatics, you will have a rough road to follow.

[JPX2011]

Let me clue you in, the vast majority of Protestants really do not care what you do or do not do.

Of course. For we are all islands unto ourselves. Your truth, my truth. When you think about it the notion of Christian civilization really is anathema to protestant sensibilities of sola .

So I find it interesting when they retreat to the "Can't we all get along meme". You (collectively) want to present a united front to the world filled with angry atheists and angry Muslims and yet their whole outlook begins with a premise of division.

If all protestants were to convert to Catholicism then we can talk about taking on the enemies of atheistic liberalism and islam. Until then, they should save it. Because by dividing the Body of Christ protestants have invited the invasion which will destroy our civilization and I'm personally not all that interested in helping them prop it up.

[righttackle44]

I think we Evangelicals can learn humility from the Pope. I appreciate his desire to apologize to Evangelicals. But we also owe Catholicism some apologies. I can never believe that membership in a church or some physical thing I am required to do will save me. Only the shedding of Jesus' blood and Hus Resurrection and my Holy Spirit-enabled confession of these facts as a statement of faith can do that.

But I remember that four U.S. Navy Chaplains, Methodist minister the Reverend George L. Fox, Reform-Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Ph.D.), Roman Catholic priest the Reverend John P. Washington, and Reformed Church in America minister the Reverend Clark V. Poling, all gave away their life jackets to U.S. Army personnel when United States Army Transport Dorchester was torpedoed February 3, 1943 and sank.

The chaplains were last seen praying and singing as the Dorchester went under.

I have my own opinion as to which of those Chaplains went to be with the Lord, but their selfless dedication and action set an example that many Evangelicals and Catholics, many of us, have not followed.

And I believe the Pope's desire to try to make things better between groups, is a hallmark of integrity and faithful service.

God bless him.

[Jeff Chandler]

"Your church is the Whore of Babylon and I expect an apology from you. Good day."

[Salvation]

Thanks for your post.

[VerySadAmerican]

The Pope wants to hang out with Kenneth Copeland. I’m not so sure the Pope is in touch with a higher power if he can’t see through that fraud.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

The pope trusts in Jesus. He wants ALL of us to, completely. Jesus will guide you closer to Him(Jesus) if you are open to it and become passionate about getting closer to Him by bringing His Joy from within you to all those you meet in person.

He wants to encourage that everywhere. Catholics, evangelicals. Their ever-deeper ferver and outward witnessing of Christ is what God desires. That would make a ‘perfect’ Catholic. Evangelicals would say a ‘perfect’ evangelical. Jesus would say His one holy catholic church.

Allow a man the chance to get closer and closer to Christ - don’t knock him back because he’s currently following this path or that, or seeing this denomination as the truest path to Jesus - encourage him to love Jesus more every day and go out and witness for Him with joy.

YOU and I need to trust in Jesus too - not try to convert people but to love them and bring them the joy of Christ in a person to person way. The one holy catholic Church will result for you and many of those people you encounter....in time. Rather than knock another denomination or a CINO (Catholic in name only), befriend them joyfully and Trust in Jesus to do whatever He wants!

The pope converts no one - the Holy Spirit does!!! - Catechism 101! He’s not being limpy loopy, he’s being humble and correctly sees his powerlessness before Jesus’ Church as He knows it.

[Biggirl]

What it all comes down to is as CHRISTIANS of honor our “common baptism” and of the NEED to proclaim the good needs of the Gospel of Jesus to ALL, including the so-called “angry atheists and Muslims” in which the Gospel of Jesus NEEDS to be preached to.