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.
One Protestant's thoughts on the Pope...
"I am more afraid of my own heart than of the Pope and all his Cardinals. I have within me the great Pope, Self. "
-Martin Luther
A wonderful article about a man who was a spiritual leader to all peoples -- not just Catholics and not just Christians.
ping!~
Actually, this is to all the Protestants on the thread:
Some of you have expressed admiration for the Pope, even if you are not of the same fold, and for that I am grateful and touched, as are all Catholics.
Some of you think this is a good time to flog us publicly about our beliefs, and certainly it is your right to express your opinion. However, I think it is not the time to do it.
These are the things I have had to deal with as a lifelong Catholic:
We know that you think that we worship statues, saints, and Mary.
We know that you think we worship the Pope.
We know that you think we don't read the Bible.
We know that you think that we are mentally unhinged.
I could go on, but I don't have a lot of time.
What you don't know is my prayer life, how much I DO read the Bible, what I am saying in the prayers that I send up to God every day. Yes, I give reverence to the Mother of God, but God is at the forefront of my mind when I pray or in what I do.
I don't follow you all around from thread to thread mocking your beliefs, even though I don't agree with them. It doesn't accomplish much but driving wedges in between people and driving up blood pressures. Not to say debate and discussion isn't healthy, because it certainly can be, but to some it seems to be an obsession about going around and smearing others and tearing down others' beliefs. Maybe I am just naive (I have been called worse), but that's just the way I see it.
I expect mocking and persecution for my beliefs, and I deal with them the best I can--with rational debate and with prayer for a calm demeanor in doing so. When all else fails, I pray for those on the other side of the debate.
Right now we mourn the death of a wonderful holy man of God, and you don't have to be Catholic to see that. If you can't even wait until he is in the ground to start trashing him and the Church, I don't know what else to say but I'll pray for you.
Absolute Truth is quite hard to deny.
When various churches are in disobedience, they need a leader who will stand up and say "it's wrong and will not be allowed".
He was this Anglo Catholic Episcopalian's Papa too. I've had to endure watching my church fall apart. To some extent I've had to watch the Roman Catholic Church falling apart too. But I've always had John Paul II watching over us, saying, No, don't worry about the apostates and non-believers. Do not be afraid. What is right is still right, and what is wrong is still wrong. Stand Fast!
He was definitely my Papa, the one who represented me. Who else would? Frank Griswold? Rowan Williams?
I can't get enough of this Pope stuff now. I have to check in at EWTN daily to get my time with him. Too soon he will be gone. Let the Church be the Rock!
Requiescat in Pacem, John Paul II.
Great article.
Reading all the hostile exchanges here is most depressing. They miss the point of the article entirely.
While too many Prostestants and Catholics are re-fighting the Reformation, the wolves of Islam are surrounding all Christians and threatening us equally with destruction or forced conversion. To the Wahhabists, differences between Catholics and Protestants are not even academic - they are totally irrelevant.
Hmmmmm, arrogant little snit ain't he..
I respect the Pope for his moral courage.
But, he does not speak for me on theological matters.
This "Protestant" theologian is a weird one.
I wonder if he has ever heard of these, as he obviously is not able to support Biblical doctrine and I question whether he is Protestant or not.
Sola Scriptura: (Scripture Alone) This principle asserts the supreme sufficiency of God's written Word. No other words are adequate and no other words are divine. Popes, creeds, councils and tradition of men have no authority when they contradict the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is complete and the canon is closed. No further revelation is given. "In these last days He has spoken to us in His Son" (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus Christ has spoken all that is necessary through His apostles in the Bible. The Bible alone is sufficient: 2 Tim. 3:17; Ps. 119:1; Deut. 4:2; 12:30; 29:29; Ps. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19.
Sola Gratia: (Grace Alone) Salvation is by grace alone. The definition of "grace" is unmerited favor. God is never under any obligation to grant salvation. If God's justice required that He give grace to all men, then salvation would not be a gift but an act of justice. If men could earn the grace of God, grace would by definition no longer be grace- it would be merit. "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace" (Romans 11:6). God bestows His grace freely and sovereignly upon those whom He chooses to save. The elect are saved by grace alone: Eph. 1:3-11; 2:8-9; Rom. 9:10-16; 2 Tim. 1:9; 2 Thes. 2:13.
Sola Fide: (Faith Alone) Salvation is through faith alone. In Romans 3:26 the Apostle Paul tells us that God sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice, "to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man who has faith in Jesus." Rather than being declared righteous on the basis of our faith plus our deeds, we are declared righteous solely on the basis of our faith in the righteousness of Christ. (Romans 3:20-28). Christ's righteousness is imputed to the sinner not infused or imparted. Without the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us, all the infused grace we have will not save us because we as Christians do sin and fall short of Gods own perfect standard! We are justified by faith alone but not by faith that is alone. Genuine faith is accompanied by the fruit of good works (James 2:14-18). We are not declared righteous on the basis of any work, but only on the basis of our faith in Jesus: Rom. 3:20, 26, 28; 4:2-13; Gal. 2:16; 3:24-25.
Solus Christus: (Christ Alone) Salvation is because of Christ alone. Jesus Christ alone paid the full penalty for the sins of His people and presents them as righteous before the Father, restoring their fellowship with Him. His death was substitutionary in that He offered Himself as a sacrifice to satisfy Divine justice as the sins of His people were imputed to Him on the cross. We are saved solely on the basis of the merit of Christ, none of our own: Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:25; 4:25; 8:3; Rom. 1:17; 3:21; 1 Cor. 1:30.
Soli Deo Gloria: (To God Alone be the Glory) In salvation, God alone receives credit and glory. We are saved for His glory, not for our own. His purpose in saving us and in all He does is to magnify the glory of His own great name, to have a people that would sing His praises, live in a way that reflects His character. God alone gets the credit for our salvation, because we did not contribute one thing to it. God alone, therefore, receives glory: Is. 42:8; 43:7; 48:11; Ps. 115:1; Rom. 11:36; 16:27; Eph. 3:21; Phil. 4:20; 1 Tim. 1:17; 2 Tim. 4:18.
Bump & Ping
Awesome post.
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