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.

[Jim Noble]

Down here on the ground, the war is over.

John Paul knew this, but a lot of the "faithful" still don't get it, as is obvious from this thread.

FWIW, I agree with every word written by Siemon-Netto.

[fortheDeclaration]

Of all creatures, the honor due Mary is preeminent since it was through her freely spoken fiat that Christ came to us. This was all part of God's plan of Redemption through the Incarnation of Christ before the foundation of creation. Our honor of her is to the greater Glory of God, her (and our) Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. She is our spiritual Mother to boot!

You mean when she said be it unto me according to thy word.

Sounds like she was believing God's message, unlike Zacharias.

Moreover, as someone who was suppose to be sinless, she still had to make an offering for her own sins (Lk.2:22 cf Ex.12:8)

[investigateworld]

Some photographers have captured that 'twinkle' in John Paul's eyes. I 've seen that twinkle in other very spiritual folks, hence this Protestant admires JP II. He was always very modest about his role in the collapse of the USSR, but time will tell.

[Conservative til I die]

Luther - Still excommunicated! Wycliffe - Still excommunicated! Huss - Still excommunicated! Tyndale - Still under anathema! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hmmm - the Pope did nothing to heal the past sins of the RCC.

You're an extremely silly person. The Church is not obliged to heal the rift that your Protestant heroes caused. Luther left, hence we just change our doctrines to make Lutherans happy.

A big fat whatever from me.

[Conservative til I die]

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.)

No Protestant has ever sinned, don't you know? That's the domain of the Popish Romanists.

They also all follow correct doctrine too, even though we're at about 27,000 distinct interpretations.

[Conservative til I die]

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.)

No Protestant has ever sinned, don't you know? That's the domain of the Popish Romanists.

They also all follow correct doctrine too, even though we're at about 27,000 distinct interpretations.

[Conservative til I die]

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

Who in this country is forcing their beliefs on you? THis is sort of a hysterical statement, IMO.

[Conservative til I die]

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

The Pope isn't an American. Neither he nor the Catholic Church exist as an arm of the US Republican Party, either.

[Conservative til I die]

Oh boy, the Mary strawman. Wake me when this guy gets an original thought. Zzzzzzzzz.....

[Conservative til I die]

I know you're a good person, AD, and I respect Catholics like you.

The actions of Protestants here and really, the history of Protestantism in general show a profound lack of respect for the Church, Catholic doctrine, Catholics, and the clergy including the Pope.

Please bear with us Protestants here.

We've been bearing with your silliness for about 5 centuries and will continue to do so. We know our Church is the One True Church and that the Protestant churches are not, and never will be. We continue to pray that one day you'll all come around and stop being wicked and disobedient and come back to the Church where you belong.

[Conservative til I die]

Catholics lack assurance...thus, their flailing around for methods which might give them a "better chance".

I'll ask St. Jude to pray for you.

[Conservative til I die]

"I am more afraid of my own heart than of the Pope and all his Cardinals. I have within me the great Pope, Self. "

Which only shows what an egomaniac Luther was.

This sort of self-love shouldn't really be looked upon as a virtue.

[chgomac]

My Father's house has many mansions.

Glad you found your path to climb, but others take different roads.

[Bear_Slayer]

Jesus loves His mother. We may stand a better chance if She puts in a good word on our behalf. It's a simple proposition

Judge Greer loves his mother. Would you feel comfortable if she put in a good word for Michael's case?

[Capriole]

As I told my late, Slovak father, it's not 1306 anymore. You need to get over Huss being martyred. There were Catholics killed in the Reformation, too.

We should work toward mutual comprehension and love between Christians, for the divisions between us give weapons and pleasure to the Devil and grief to Christ. Nothing could be worse than Protestants supposing (as some do) that Catholics are going to go to hell for being superstitious and Catholics supposing (as some do) that all Protestants are going to go to hell for not being Catholic. The Devil rejoices.

[todd1]

1. The Catholic Church gave the world the bible.

2. The Catholic Church has passed down 2000 years of tradition. My family has many traditions... Isn't it fitting that the family of god will have traditions.

3. The Christian faith came from Judaism and that is why we adopted many of their practices such as incense to carry up prayers. Oh... thats old testament stuff... we were freed from that by Jesus... Then I guess tithing is old school... As well as the Ten commandments.. So we don't need those either.

4. Mary plays an important role in our salvation as the new Mary. Jesus refers to his mother as Woman. If I called my mom that I would get slapped. He called her that as a title. The first Eve brought sin to our world by eating from the forbidden fruit. Mary "the new eve" produced our savior Jesus Christ. "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus"

I could go on and on but I have to work.

Bless you

[todd1]

One of the commandments is honor thy mother and father.

Jesus would honor his mother or he is breaking one of Gods commandments. He cannot do that since he is without sin. Since he honors his mother... she should be honored by us as well.. Michael the angle said hail Mary full of grace when he told her she would be the mother of god.

[Bear_Slayer]

We are all sinners and Christ knows it. That is why he died for us. He does not need His mother to put in a good word for us.

My point still is this: we would not tolerate a loved one affecting the outcome of a court case, we should definately not tolerate it on a spiritual level.

[FreedomCalls]

Oh boy, the Mary strawman.

Hardly.

http://www.lightministries.com/id605.htm#between

[todd1]

I agree... that is why as catholics we have the sacraments.

I do believe that other christans are saved by their faith as well.