Posted on 09/12/2013 1:29:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin
In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.
Responding to a list of questions published in the paper by Mr Scalfari, who is not a Roman Catholic, Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.
“Sin, even for those who have no faith, exists when people disobey their conscience.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
Okay, well tell it to some Indians who lived in what is now called the America’s four thousand years ago. I’m sure they’d be real happy to know that they’re doomed.
I stand on the Word of God, whether or not its message seems fair to pagans. God spoke plainly on this, so I believe it. His ways are not our ways.
If we can’t trust the Bible, then we have nothing upon which to base our faith. If we can’t stand firmly on His Word, we have our feet planted firmly in midair and our faith is but a figment of the imaginations of men. But here is the truth: we can trust the Scriptures. We also know that He is just.
The quote seems to point out that people who don’t believe in God still sin, because they do not 100% of the time follow what their own conscience tells them. Like he was trying to show how all men are sinners, even those who claim they can’t “sin” because they don’t believe in God or God’s law, because they can’t even follow their OWN “law”.
It is an interesting argument.
As I said read the whole book of Romans.
Thnx
I’ve read it scores of times. I’ve read portions today.
God bless
Three Things Modern Religionists Don’t Know
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=4506161515
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36
That’s unequivocal. If we cannot trust the 2nd and 3rd phrases of that verse, how can we possibly trust the first?
>>Note, I said he “worries.” Not believes.<<
Seriously? Isn’t that just parsing words? Why worry over something you do not believe?
I am sorry for your loss, jacquej. I thank The Lord that despite your terrible loss, you can rest and be comforted in Jesus.
I respectfully disagree. The conscience is only a partial revelation of God's will. The conscience is seared, fallen. We are made in His image, but fallen.
My conscience can be WRONG. To disobey it would be RIGHT. But my fallen state can only discern if I have access to God Himself, and that is only possible through faith.
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36
Christ did not object to these texts, these Books of the Bible, such as Maccabees, were in the Temples where Jesus did preach, there is no doubt about that.
Face it, Martin Luther even wanted to get rid of the Book of James.
Luther had issues. Your anti-Catholic attitude can do nothing to change that.
I would add that Jesus prayed for Lazarus, where exactly WAS his soul? Can we not call that place “Purgatory?”
Also? The Catholic Church EDITED and PUBLISHED the first Bible. Until the Catholic Church did so, the various texts could not be found in one bound copy.
Here is what the pope wrote specifically
“In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.
Responding to a list of questions published in the paper by Mr Scalfari, who is not a Roman Catholic, Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.”
Doesn’t sound very Biblical to me
I would like to see your proof of that.
Quote all of it
“In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.
Responding to a list of questions published in the paper by Mr Scalfari, who is not a Roman Catholic, Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.”
Obey my conscience will not bring God’s mercy or forgiveness
Maccabees includes the teaching of praying for the dead which was a teaching of the Pharisees. You may want to research what Jesus thought about the teachings of the Pharisees.
I don't mean to butt into the conversation, but here I am...
It reminds me of a story I read in a biography of Hudson Taylor. He was a missionary from England who went to China in the mid 1800s. He told about a young scholar who was converted under his preaching, and his plaintive cry was 'why did it take you so long to get here? My father was a good man. He searched high and low for the Truth -- and he never found it before he died. What took you so long to get here?'.
That man got it. Salvation is only through Christ (John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me).
But that said, who really knows what the people of old knew, or did not know? Job, who lived around, or before, the time of Abraham was able to see through the mist of time and say, "Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me".
Job knew that he needed a Redeemer, and that through his Redeemer he'd see God. And our first parents, Adam and Eve, heard the proto-evangelium message of Genesis 3:15 ('the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent'). Also, we see a picture of the Gospel in the stars. Not Astrology, but a record that our forefathers (back to Adam?) defined for their children until the entrance of the promised Messiah. From Virgo the Virgin, to Leo - the Lion of Judah pouncing on the serpent, we see in the 12 Zodiac constellations, and their associated decan constellations, the Gospel message. Strong men conquering serpents and dragons, ram sacrifices, etc...
But to make a long story less long ... we don't know what people knew in the past. They had oral traditions, they had the messages passed down from our first parents: Adam and Eve, and Noah and his clan. We, on the other hand, have no excuse - we have the Bible - God's Word given to us by the Holy Spirit.
And finally, it made sound harsh, but it really is not any of our business to dictate how God should have saved others. He tells us that salvation is only through the Lord Jesus. We should leave it at that. Whatever God does is Good. HE is the Creator. We potsherds have nothing to dictate to the potter.
God Bless.
I agree if that is all you do. There are two separate points.
1. Ask for forgiveness and show true, sincere contrition. God will be merciful.
2. If you do not believe in God you can not ask Him for forgiveness. The best thing is to follow some moral code, that is your conscience. You can still sin. But you can not receive salvation from a God you refuse to recognize.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.