“Neither the Pope or John MacArthur are heretics.”
This I do not know, nor do I need to know.
What I know is love. The love I have for you and all my sin-filled brethren. They include my priest, my bishop, my pope and my neighbor. (And myself, because we need to love ourselves, yes?)
“As the persecution reaches our shores, and as we get refined to Gideon’s army, perhaps we’ll understand those things we hold in common.”
If that commonality is the love of God, we will prevail.
I’m glad you love all those people you mentioned. But, they are just that - people. They have the same direct line to God that you do. You should love them, but pray to God alone.