If No One is Pope, Everyone is Pope. Reflection on the Unitive Dimension -- Pope’s Office& Charism

Today we welcome Pope Francis to the United States. In so doing, we welcome more than just a popular public figure. We welcome someone whom the Lord prays for in a very special manner. Simon Peter and his successors enjoy a special charism to unite us, by the Lord’s prayer and grace. Let’s look at the scriptural foundation of this prayer and charism and see how essential the office of the pope is for us.

One day, near the final ascent to Jerusalem, the Lord warned of a fundamental problem that the Church would face: disunity. He turned to Simon Peter and said of the Twelve,

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you all that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:31-32).

To “sift like wheat” is to divide, and Satan would work hard at it in order to divide the apostles, and the Church with them. The debate about who was the greatest only served to show what a mess we human beings, when left to our own devices, will make of something.

Yes, Jesus plainly says that the devil is going to work hard to divide you. And Jesus’ plan is not to write a book and then just hope that everyone follows it and interprets it in the same way. His plan is not to pray that they all work out their differences.

Jesus’ plan is to pray for one man, Simon Peter. Now Peter is not invisible, nor do his words require interpretation. For if anyone wants to ask, “What do you mean by this?” he can just go right up to Peter and say, “Peter, what do you mean by this?” And the real Peter can answer.

So, the Lord’s plan for unity is to have one visible man; one living, breathing source of unity. The Lord will pray for him; thus we can be assured of right outcomes in matters of faith and morals if we follow Peter (and his successors, the popes) in matters that might divide us.

Peter fulfilled this task of unity well and consistently, as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles, the history of the early Church. He rose to settle the question of Judas’ successor (Acts 1:15ff). He preached the first public sermon (Acts 2). He was inspired in a dream and then baptized the first Gentile converts (Acts 10). He arose at the Council of Jerusalem to settle the dispute between the “Party of James” and Paul, Barnabas, and others about Gentile converts (Acts 15).

Yes, Peter strengthened and unified the brethren. This does not mean that he did so without sin. On one occasion St. Paul even had to rebuke Peter (cf Gal 2). For though Peter had taught correctly (that Gentiles were in without lots of customary Jewish observances), he did not fully live the teaching, drawing back from close association with the Gentiles in order to avoid offending Jewish Christians. We do not argue that Peter and his successors are sinless, only that in solemnly teaching on faith and morals they enjoy the prayer of the Lord and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, never to teach error and thus unite us in the truth.

Peter’s successors must unite us. Though they are not sinless men, we trust in God’s protection for their solemn teachings and thus preserve union through the prayers of the Lord for Peter.

And boy do we need it! We Catholics are a difficult lot. Shepherding Catholics is harder than herding cats. But thanks be to God for the Lord’s Prayer and for the Holy Spirit. If it were not for these, the Church wouldn’t have lasted twenty minutes! But here we are more than two thousand years later, not without our troubles and tensions, but here and fundamentally united (with legitimate diversity). There is just no other way to describe the fundamental unity of the Catholic Church for all these years than as a miracle.

Compare this to the Protestant denominations, which severed their ties to Simon Peter and have now divided and subdivided some thirty thousand times—sifted like wheat to say the least. And the divisions are not just about minor things like vestments or the type of music. The differences are about fundamental and essential doctrines such as how one is saved, if once saved means always saved, if Baptism is necessary, if adultery is grounds for divorce, whether homosexual acts are sinful, if abortion is wrong, whether there is a priesthood, and how critical texts of the Bible are to be understood. The moral and doctrinal divisions are deep and concern foundational matters related to salvation. So divided is Protestantism that many Evangelicals have more in common with Catholics (on the moral issues) than with the old, mainline Protestants.

The tragic disunity of Christendom is not entirely the fault of the Protestants. We Catholics contributed to breaks that happened in the 12^th century (with the Orthodox) and the 16^th century (with the Protestants).

But the disunity among Protestants does put to the lie that people can be united by a book or by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (apart from the authentic discernment of the Church’s magisterium).

The simple fact is that we have to have a pope. And if no one is pope, everyone is pope. Some may be dismissive of the need for “some pope” to tell them what to think. But truth be told, by not acknowledging some visible authority outside their own mind, they are merely appointing themselves as pope of their own little “denomination of one.”

The pope is not possessed of unlimited power. He is the Servant of Divine Revelation, not its source. He cannot overrule dogmatically defined faith that comes from Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Neither does he micromanage every aspect of Church life. But in service of the Lord’s prayer and vision, Simon Peter and his successors strengthen and unite us by working with the bishops to resolve significant matters that arise in the Church in terms of discipline and the understanding of doctrine.

But without him, we are trouble, serious trouble—trouble times thirty thousand!

In welcoming Pope Francis, we welcome the visible source of our unity. It is not merely that Jorge Bergoglio is a good negotiator. Whatever personal skills he may have, our faith lies not in those skills but in the prayer of the Lord Jesus for him to strengthen and unify us. Unity is not always easy. To accept the leadership of another is, frankly, hard. But the unity the Lord intends us to have with Simon Peter is a lot easier than the endless divisions we create on our own, apart from the Lord’s Prayer for Peter.

Welcome Pope Francis today and pray for unity among all Catholics and Christians. We may have minor differences and even a few hurtful ones, but thank God we don’t have thirty thousand differences!

John 21:17(rsv)

“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Now who believe in literal interpretation? For if one does then this means to give them food to eat. But that is Not what the Lord meant. It meant to Teach them... Give them his words and Guide them on their Journey back to the Lord. Well this to points to the thing you are also defining... Some are teachers and some are not...(Authority)

There can be ONLY One Truth period! If you disagree with this show it to me in the bible where there are multiple Truths...

Now once you admit that to your self your next goal is to figure out Where that Truth can be found? If its inside of you how can that be so for you are a sinner right? Can it be bubba down the Street? I Do not think so because my guess is he is not a successor of Peter. The last choice is... The successor of Peter, The Pope. (Yes he is a Sinner also, but one That is Guided by the Holy Spirit more so than you or I)

I Pray for those on their Journey back to Our Lord, May their Eyes be Open and their Ears be Cleared...

Even though things may look totally Dark, I Still Believe in the words of our Lord!

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18(rsv)

I believe we are at those times... But... Hell will Not Prevail!

I also worry about Pope Francis for I do believe he is borderline on working against the Holy Spirit with some of what he is about to do. If he does it - or better wording he starts to do it, it will not bear well for him and his Soul see below...
Transubstantiation the Center point of the Catholic Mass and Faith...

Story of Anani’as and Sapphi’ra, Lie against the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:1-15(rsv)
“But a man named Anani’as with his wife Sapphi’ra sold a piece of property,

and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But Peter said, “Anani’as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?

While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

When Anani’as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”

But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.

None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor.

And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,

so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.”

How much more would a Pope face if he were to Work Against the Holy Spirit...

I Pray for His Soul and All those whom may also hold onto the Darkness!

God Bless

Luke 22:31-32 (KJV)
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Note that last Word - brethren. They were equal in the ministry to the circumcision during the times recorded in Acts. One was not to Lord over the others. As Jesus made clear:

Matthew 20:25-28 (KJV) (see also Mark 10 and Luke 22)
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

God set up a priesthood for Israel, but after Calvary and the rejection of Jesus by Israel, things changed. This is made clear in many of Jesus’ statements of the move away from religion to an individual relationship directly with the Father through Jesus.

John 4:19-24 (KJV)
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

This is a profound Truth spoken to the woman at the well. God is a Spirit. We are called to have spiritual intimacy based on the Truth of God’s Word. That takes us back to where Adam and Eve were before the fall - enjoying a personal relationship and full access to Revelation, not just sensual information.

John 14:6-7 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

There is only one way to the Father and it is not a religion, or denomination, or any individual on Earth today. It is Jesus, the Living Word. That does not mean a Believer, pastor, priest, or church could not point you in the right direction, but the individual must choose Jesus.

John 14:18-21 (KJV)
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

This passage should excite every Believer. The Holy Spirit dwells in you. You have the inspired Word of God AND the Author available to you 24/7/365! This spiritual intimacy far surpasses anything religion could EVER offer.

John 15:1-8 (KJV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Again the importance of having that spiritual connection through the Spirit and the Word is repeated. We were created to produce spiritual fruit. And as it is clear here, separated from Jesus you can do nothing. One definition for religion is attempting to produce fruit without being connected to Jesus, who is the Living Word.

Later Paul received the revelation of the Body of Christ, and would clarify this new relationship with Jesus as the Head, and only Head of the Body.

Ephesians 1:15-23 (KJV)
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Jesus is the Head over ALL THINGS to the Body of Christ. And then in the next chapter of Ephesians, Paul places Believers - alive in Christ and seated together with Christ. Through Him we have access to the Father through the Spirit. Its all by God’s Grace, not by any works.

Colossians 2:6-10 (KJV)
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Believers are COMPLETE in Christ! What more could religion do other than confuse, beguile, or lead you astray from the remarkable Truth of the Gospel?

Colossians 2:16-23 (KJV)
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

What Paul is talking about is all the religious hooey that men invent to lead people away from the Truth. The Gospel is supposed to be GOOD NEWS, freedom in Christ! We are to hold to JESUS, not any denomination or religion.

Colossians 3:1-4 (KJV)
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Note where Paul tells Believers to set their affection. Its not some worldly religion or earthly leader, but on Christ. Look to where you are seated in Christ.

Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, God dwells in Believers, so that as He was, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:14-19) It takes a theologian to misunderstand that remarkable revelation.

Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. The Body of Christ is not a denomination. It is a spiritual body with Jesus as the Head. Even if men create religious barriers to divide us, there can still be spiritual unity in the Body of Christ.

Having learned the hard way, you never put your faith in denominations or men. They will always let you down. Jesus will never deceive you, never forsake you, and never lead you astray. His Word IS Truth.

They all, as separate groups, claim to be righter enough than ...

They do?

Can you show proof of that?

I have here the statements of faith of several denominations and independent churches.

They are here for perusal for anyone who wants to see how they *differ* from each other wand where they damn others to hell for not being them, as Catholicism does with other churches in ITS catechism.

"No salvation outside the Catholic church"

Perhaps you would point us to the statement of faith of other denominations which says *No salvation outside Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, etc......* Where they say that there is no salvation outside their own church.

Statements of faith for different churches

Assemblies of God
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/index.cfm#

Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
http://arpchurch.org/documents/confession-of-faith/

Calvary Chapel
http://calvarychapel.com/home/about/

The Christian and Missionary Alliance
http://www.cmalliance.org/about/history/

Elim Fellowship Churches
http://www.elimfellowship.org/about-us/statement-of-faith/

The Father's House
http://tfhny.org/the-house/what-we-believe/

Osais LA
http://www.oasisla.org/about/what-we-believe/

Presbyterian Church in Americahttp://www.pcaac.org/resources/wcf/

United Reformed church in North America https://www.urcna.org/sysfiles/site_uploads/custom_public/custom2642.pdf

Westside Christian Fellowship
http://westsidechristianfellowship.org/about-wcf/statement-of-faith/

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