Protestant Theologian: He Was My Pope, Too

christianity today ^ | 04.04.05 | Uwe Siemon-Netto

[Coleus]

For the last quarter of a century, this non-Catholic has had a pope. Now that John Paul II is gone, I am even more of an orphan than the Christians in the Roman church. For they will surely have another pope, but that one may not be mine, since I haven't converted.

I am sure I am reflecting the views of many Protestants. Who else but John Paul II gave voice to my faith and my values in 130 countries? Who else posited personal holiness and theological clarity against postmodern self-deception and egotism? Who else preached the gospel as tirelessly as this man?

What other clergyman played any comparable role in bringing down communism, a godless system? What other world leader—spiritual or secular—understood so profoundly how hollow and bankrupt the Soviet empire was, so much so that this tireless writer never bothered to pen an encyclical against Marxism-Leninism because he knew it was moribund?

Has there been a more powerful defender of the sanctity of life than this Pole, in whose pontificate nearly 40 million unborn babies wound up in trashcans and furnaces in the United States alone? What more fitting insight than John Paul II's definition of our culture as a culture of death—an insight that is now clearly sinking in, to wit the declining abortion rates in the United States?

In Europe some time ago, a debate occurred in Protestant churches: Should John Paul II be considered the world's spokesman for all of Christianity? This was an absurd question. Of course he spoke for all believers. Who else had such global appeal and credibility, even to non-Christians and non-believers?

Of course, there was the inveterate Billy Graham. There were many faithful Orthodox and Protestant bishops, pastors and evangelists.

[Capriole]

This writer speaks for me and for millions. I was fascinated with John Paul II from the moment I first heard about him and followed his career with delight, gratitude, exasperation, and love until this moment. I, a Prostestant, fantasized about having an audience with him! Though it's the form for the monarch of England to style himself so, John Paul II was truly the Defender of the Faith.

[DaveyB]

Luther - Still excommunicated!
Wycliffe - Still excommunicated!
Huss - Still excommunicated!
Tyndale - Still under anathema!

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Hmmm - the Pope did nothing to heal the past sins of the RCC. Perhaps the author doesn't even know why he is a protestant. I wonder if the Augsburg confessions meant anything at all to him. Does the words Sola Fide or Sola Scriptura not mean anything at all? Do all the millions of martyrs that died to bring freedom from Rome not mean anything at all?

The pope had a detente with American Protestants, but that hardly makes him a protestants pope.

[Aussie Dasher]

He was our Pope. He was EVERYONE'S Pope.

God rest his dear soul.

[Dan from Michigan]

I'm waiting for an apology from the Cromwellians......

[DaveyB]

I agree, Cromwell was a traitor to the Scottish covenanters and proved to be a false deliverer.

[Quixotical]

I agree.

Can someone please explain to the author of this article what the differences between protestants and Catholics are? I would but I'm tired and I'm going to bed.

Sola Gracia!!!!!!!!!

[DaveyB]

Soli Deo Gloria!!! Too

[Quixotical]

Ummmm...sorry, he was not my pope. I have never had one, nor do I intend to. No disrespect but simple fact. Priesthood of the believer!!!!!!

[Campion]

Do all the millions of martyrs that died to bring freedom from Rome not mean anything at all?

There were no "millions of martyrs," except in the fevered brains of Protestant polemicists.

There were many thousands killed on both sides, though. When the Lutheran armies overran Rome in 1527, the Romans thought they were witnessing the Apocalypse. Protestants have a wonderful knack for forgetting the sins of their forefathers, or dissociating themselves from those forefathers entirely. (They weren't "real Christians," you know.)

My wife used to have a rather funny book of Anglican apologetics, which blamed the Reformation on Henry VIII, whom it described as (quoting) "a vicious man and a Roman Catholic". (If Henry VIII was a Roman Catholic, what does that make the Catholic martyrs Henry had beheaded because they refused to recognize him as "Head of the Church in England" [sic]?)

[Quixotical]

If you want a good contemporary reformed perspective on the glory of God check out John Piper's book, "Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist".

[Aussie Dasher]

Your response reminds of a bumper sticker I once saw: "Jesus loves you...whether you like it or not".

[Quixotical]

Thats funny I thought the same about yours, It reads "Kerry/Edwards 04".

[1st-P-In-The-Pod]

No, you are wrong.

I just spent the last two or three years explaining why no man is my hero to my 5 RC neighbors.

Their arguments were as follows:
1. John Paul II loves everyone.
2. Protestants have so little discipline they just went off and started their own religion.
3. He represents ALL Christians.
4. You are probably a RC by desire...
5. You need to return to the church that Jesus Christ started.
6. You are a Christian, just not an A list Christian.
7. It doesn't matter what you believe, just so long as you have faith.

It wasn't easy to be polite while explaining over and over and over again why I am a Protestant. When asked, my neighbors gave these answers as to why they are RC. They just don't understand. I must say, though, they are making some attempts to actually read the scriptures. Good for them!

1. RCC is the ONE true church.
2. Peter was the first Pope.
3. Jesus came to start the Catholic Church.

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but how about respecting my beliefs? People don't like to have religious preferences force-fed.

Only God is my Holy Father. His Son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior, and only hero. He saved me, and I owe all my praise and accolades to Him, and Him alone.

There is only one church that Jesus Christ is the founder of, and that church doesn't own property on earth.


OK...that's it for me.

[taxesareforever]

AMEN!! Nice to hear there are others that think the same way I do.

[Aussie Dasher]

Odd - the last time I looked it was "BUSH '04".

[Seniram US]

I'm waiting for them (The British) to return the stolen property, Westminster Abbey, which they took from the Catholic Church. St. Edward the Confessor, former Catholic King of England is still interred there keeping an eye on the place.

[DaveyB]

... There were no "millions of martyrs," except in the fevered brains of Protestant polemicists....

Let's see there was the Waldensians (sp?), the lollards, the Huguenots, the Lutherans (over 100,000 in the first year alone), let's not forget the battles with Sweeden after King Adolphus was killed then there is the puritans and the covenanters and that is just a couple hundred years in Europe. If we include Africa and South America not to mention the battles with Eastern Orthodox... well maybe just a couple of million.

... or dissociating themselves from those forefathers entirely ...
Your right it was damn foolish of Wycliffe to let himself be dug up and burned like that - that what you get after all for translating the Bible and Luther should never of stopped Tetzel after all indulgences are the best fund raiser since bingo.

Morn for your pope... just don't expect me to

[what's up]

I'm with you DaveyB. Thanks for expressing it so well.

Plus I REALLY don't appreciate the Pope's lack of support in the Iraq war. A BIG mark against him IMO.