While I Was Away, The Pope Made News

Pope Benedict made the news last week by declaring publicly that the only way to salvation was through the Roman Catholic Church. I was away in Queens, with 44 other people, doing some urban missions stuff, so I was not able to comment. Forgive me my tardiness, for this is one of my favorite stories ever!

Why?

Because the Pope told what he believed to be true, nothing more, nothing less. Why is that a problem?

"It's insensitive to other denominations," say some and again. "It is offensive to all and rude to the Muslims," say others.

However, these critics reveal their over-sensitive, politically correct, historically ignorant point of view.

The Roman Catholic church believes it is the only way, and it always has. That shouldn't be news. The Eastern Orthodox denominations would disagree and have since 1100 A.D. (around there) when they decided that their pope was the true pope that went back to Peter and the Romans disagreed. Of course I disagree, as a reformed protestant. But, this is not news. It has been this way for centuries.

The Pope told the truth of what his church teaches. What's wrong with that? Palestinian and Arab leaders are constantly talking about how they need to push the Jews into the seas and murder all the infidels. We are VERY TOLERANT of such violent points of view. But let a Christian state what he believes and oh what a ruckus!

Do you want to know why the whole world gets more stirred up when Christians speak up than when Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, secularists, and others say what they believe? I know the answer. It is because Jesus Christ really is the Son of God. He really is the only way to heaven. And it just makes people mad who don't want to follow Him.

The opponents only confirm the truth. Jesus said that He came not to bring peace, but a sword (figuratively --He's not Mohammed!) --dividing people into two camps. There are those who are for Him, and then there are those who hate him. There is no middle ground.

Go, Pope, Go! I don't agree with you, but there is nothing wrong with telling the truth about what you believe.

Sound Words From Rome

What is the new pope really like? What does he believe? Is he a true Christian?

That last question might seem odd to many who would say, "Well, of course the pope's a Christian! What an insulting question." However, history shows that such assumptions are not safe. Remember the Medici's. The most wicked and power-hungry brother's of their age. They took over Florence by force, made themselves rulers of the Vatican, and sponsored great moral evils in the Vatican.

Of course, such debauchery has not been seen in Rome in years.

There are many protestants who believe that Catholacism has erred so greatly in it's many extra-biblical doctrines (like, pergatory, worship of Mary, prayers to saints, etc), that no pope can be a true follower of Jesus.

What do I think? I think Christians need to study up on church history before even attempting to answer such questions. More on this later.

For now, let's examine some of the words of the current pope:

"Modern society is not simply without morality, but it has, so to speak, 'discovered' and professes a part of morality", the Pope told the Swiss bishops. "These are the great themes of peace, non-violence, justice for all, concern for the poor, and respect for creation."

However, the Pope warned that these "great moral themes" have "become an ethical complex that, precisely as a political force, has great power and constitutes for many the substitute for religion, or its successor."

"It is only if human life is respected from conception to death that the ethics of peace is also possible and credible," concluded the Pope. "It is only then that non-violence can express itself in every direction; only then that we truly welcome creation, and only then that we can arrive at true justice."

For the article I got these quotes from, click here.


I think he makes a great point. There is a new morality that is forming in the West and spreading throughout the globe. This morality is becoming, it seems, the replacement for religious distinctions. And yet, it is the morality of man, and not of God. Unfortunately, "there is a way that seems right to a man, but it only leads to death."

Your thoughts?