Protestants and the Pope

Westminster Seminary California ^ | July/August 2005 | W. Robert Godfrey

[topcat54]

The death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI have drawn great attention to the papacy in recent months. Such intense interest is remarkable. Much of it relates to the personality and accomplishments of John Paul II. He was a man of great courage and contributed significantly to the collapse of communism in eastern Europe.

Part of the interest also results from the powerful images that Rome can offer television cameras. Some of the greatest art and architecture of western civilization serve as a backdrop for elaborate rituals performed by gloriously clad clerics.

Part of the appeal for many—including non-Roman Catholics—is the sense of continuity and certainty provided by the institution of the papacy. The office of the pope connects us with the past, with a time of greater Christian presence and influence at all levels of society and culture in the west. It also speaks of certain moral standards defended against the relativism of our times.

[TXBSAFH]

Speaking as a former lutheran, now attending RCIA classes. Pope JP2 is main reason I investigated the Catholic church. Now I am a member.

[Jaded]

At the time, I too, belonged to another "Christian" mailing list. After the second e-mail of this type, I unsubscribed.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Excellent Point!!

[JoeFromSidney]

GRAHAM: "Yes, it is, because I believe that I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."

No Bible, no knowledge of Christ, just a heart-felt yearning and living a life apart from the rest will save?

According to the Catholic doctrine of Baptism of Desire, a person who sincerely desires to live a good life, and who WOULD receive the sacrament of Baptism if they knew about it, CAN be saved.

Catholics don't believe that God autmatically rejects those who never heard of Him. Even they have a chance.

[Lilllabettt]

I've never read such bitterness and anger in all of my admittedly brief life.

Woe to us when we call what is good, evil. Mr. Gendron would condemn a man who was celibate for the sake of the Kingdom, who chose to die without a penny to his name, who himself condemned no man, not even his own assassin ...

Mr. Gendron needs to receive Jesus into his life. Let's pray that the Lord will come and soften his hardened heart.

[jboot]

Thank you Frank. May His blessings be upon you and yours as well.

[Jaded]

Mr. Gendron claims to be a former Catholic. Those are the worst.

[AlaninSA]

Are you trying to be obnoxious, or are you just ignorant?

Calling yourself a Christian is a bit of a stretch, lady.

[NYer]

Pope JP2 is main reason I investigated the Catholic church. Now I am a member.

Welcome Home! ... to you and your beautiful family! (keep those pictures of the twins coming :-)

[NYer]

Pope JP2 is main reason I investigated the Catholic church. Now I am a member.

Welcome Home! ... to you and your beautiful family! (keep those pictures of the twins coming :-)

[Jaded]

That venom spew is posted on Mr. Gendron's website.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

>>Judging the state of a man's soul. Now that is Biblical.<<

And Papal Idolatry - or Popery, is?

I notice that in all the responses, there carries an overall bend towards attacking the writer of the article, as well as the poster who posted it, but no real defense of the points that Mr. Gendron made. No scriptural exegesis to prove him wrong. No attempts to refute his claims that the Pope claimed that Christians and Muslims are united by the same spirit.

I see a lot of rage and venom, but very little hard defense.

[AlaninSA]

Yes, and she repeated it.

What kind of nutcase believes that garbage? Come on, what's next? Posting Jack Chick tracts?

Honestly, how anyone can follow that kind of cultish form of Protestantism is beyond me.

[Lilllabettt]

I, for myself, do not often argue Scriptural exegesis with Protestants. Catholics and Protestants have different interpretations of the same texts, and many Protestants even disagree with each other concerning the interpretation of some very important parts of Scripture. So we often end up talking past each other. There is a fatal logical error inherent in the philosophical basis of Sola Scriptura, and I can point it out if you like. But until we get past that, quoting Scripture at one another is a waste of time.

The paths of authentic Ecumensim are very beautiful indeed. In one manner of speaking, all men who earnestly seek the face of God are "united in spirit." You must understand... the Catholic understanding of salvation does not restrict the power of the Mercy of God, and does not make it dependent on men to perform particular acts of faith. So, we don't know if there are any Muslims in Heaven. If there are, the Lord Jesus has brought them there, through the power of His Sacrifice on the Cross, by some merciful method not revealed to us.

In polite society, it is considered in poor taste to speak ill of the dead. That is the real reason most Evangelicals were not outspoken about their theological opinions when John Paul died. It was not because they were hypnotized by the beauty of music or the simplicity of the Pope's coffin. It was because they were decent human beings, and we are trying to have a civilization here.

[FreeRep]

I agree there should be a honest discussion on the media and historical voices of religion in America.
What role does a multicultural religious society of different faiths play in the future shape of America? My hope is that we see more people from different conservative faiths posting on this form. Keep up the good posts.

[Jaded]

My brother does. It's actually very frightening. He became a fundamentalist Baptist years ago. He dropped out of it for about 18 years and decided to go back when his daughter who was 15 at the time, expressed interest in becoming Catholic. He was completely obnoxious when she was baptised 2 weeks before she turned 16. For about the last 4 years he's gone to his fundamentalist "no one but us" Church. He doesn't even speak to my mother, who raised his daughter because he was too busy partying, because she's just a pagan. He assured us quite often that everyone who wasn't in the IBF Once Saved Club would go to hell. A more unChristian hateful bunch of Christians I've yet to meet.

... that's not to say there aren't Catholics who are unChristian in their behavior.

[aposiopetic]

If there are, the Lord Jesus has brought them there, through the power of His Sacrifice on the Cross, by some merciful method not revealed to us.

Well said.

[The Cuban]

What point, pagan pageantry? Point me to a point made in the article, so I may refute it. His baseless opinions are not "points." Learn how to think critically.

[Salvation]

John Paul II Gallery of Pictures [Photos]

[Salvation]

We can pray for your brother.