The Passing of the Pope
Pope John Paul II, who
played a key role in the demise of communism and who championed pro-life and
pro-family causes worldwide, died April 2nd at the Vatican. He was
84 years of age.
The Pope served from 1978 to
2005 and was easily the most-traveled pontiff in history. He was a firm
believer in the protection of human life from conception until natural death.
He frequently spoke out against abortion, euthanasia and in his latter years,
cloning and embryonic stem cell research. Although his beliefs about Christ,
the church, and God’s plan of salvation differ greatly with Protestant
Christianity, he will still go down in history as one of the greatest leaders of
biblical morality in the 20th Century.
Here are the similarities
and differences between what the Pope believes and what those who embrace the
Protestant view of Christianity believe. When I refer to Protestant
Christianity I mean those who have come to Christ by faith and believe the Bible
to be completely inspired by God, essential for all instruction, and infallible
in its original writings (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 3:16).
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 for by
grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
corrections, for training in righteousness."
Similarities between the beliefs of the Pope and
Protestants
The Pope, along with most
Catholics, would be in agreement with Protestants on the Apostle’s Creed, which
reads:
“I believe in God the
Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only son,
our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended
into hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and
sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come
to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy
Catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. Amen.”
The Pope would also agree
with Protestants on certain doctrines. He believes in the Trinity, the deity of
Jesus Christ, the Virgin Birth, and the sinlessness of Christ and the atonement
of the cross.
The differences and beliefs between the Pope and
Protestants
As Pope, John Paul the II
continued to equate Catholic tradition with the Bible. Catholic traditions have
changed over the centuries, the Bible has never has changed. In other words,
the Pope holds Catholic tradition and the Bible as equals in authority.
Protestantism places the Bible above all tradition; it is the only supreme
authority for understanding and applying the faith.
The Pope’s infallibility
On November 21, 1964, Pope
Paul VI proclaimed “the title of Mary as Mother of the Church.” To Protestants
this proclamation seems preposterous since the Bible says nothing about Mary
being the Mother of the Church. But the mind of a devout Catholic would willing
accept this because it was spoken by the Pope, who according to Catholic
tradition is the Apostle Peter’s successor and speaks with infallibility
regarding doctrines of faith and morals. To Catholics, the Pope is the Vicar of
Christ the visible Head of the whole Church.
This is difficult for most
Christians outside of the Catholic Church to accept, because they all know the
Pope is just a man, one who makes mistakes like everyone else. There is no
place in Scripture where there is even a hint that any man would be given the
gift of infallibility.
In October of 1996, John
Paul the II himself issued a document known as the “papal bull” which clearly
shows an error in his thinking. In order to bridge the gap between Catholic
teaching and modern science, he wrote a document to the Vatican’s Pontifical
academy of Sciences stating, “Fresh knowledge leads to recognition of the theory
of evolution more than just a hypothesis.” This courting of evolutionists might
have gained the Pope some popularity with secular scientists, but is sadly
illustrates the drift of the Vatican from the truth of God’s Word.
The Pope’s view of
salvation.
Throughout the centuries
Catholics under the leadership of their Popes, including John Paul II, base
their salvation on the Seven Sacraments. This is a defined path of works when
followed leads to salvation and heaven. Through their sacraments, Catholics
are in effect, working their way to heaven. However, even with these works they
think they will have to spend time in purgatory before entering heaven.
Catholics believe “grace” is given through the sacraments. “What Catholicism
offers its one billion members is, in effect, a priestly or a ‘sacerdotal’
religion. In such a system, salvation is mediated through the functions of the
priesthood (in this case through the Catholic Sacraments). Only Catholic
priests and those above them can perform the sacraments.”
Before we look at these 7
sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction,
Holy Orders, Marriage), I will review the path the Bible lays out for
salvation.
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand.”
I John 1:9 If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness
John 11: 25-26 Jesus said to
her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even
if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you
believe this?”
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace
you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of
God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 10:9-11 If you confess
with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him
from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes,
resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in
salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever
believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
How does one gain salvation according
Catholicism?
Gate Breakers
(SF. Fleming p.341-344)
Sacrament 1
Baptism
The act of Baptism at birth
cleanses one from original sin, infuses one with sanctifying grace, and imparts
the gifts of faith, hope, and love as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Infant baptism is common in Catholicism but not at all supported by Scripture.
Refutation:
Baptism is scriptural (Acts 2:38), of course, and should be done by all
believers, but infant baptism is not, since an infant is too young to repent.
Peter’s words put “repentance” prior to “baptism.”
Sacrament 2
Confirmation
Theologically, Catholicism
uses Acts 2:37-38; 8:17; and 19:1-7 to show the need for bestowing the Holy
Spirit in a special sense after water baptism.
Refutation:
While the Scriptures mentioned above can be used to
demonstrate that a greater measure of the Holy Spirit (baptism) is available to
all believers, the Holy Spirit according to the Bible comes to all believers the
minute they make Christ Lord and Savior, and not after baptism.
Sacrament 3
Holy Eucharist
This is celebrated at the
Catholic Mass and is considered the most important sacrament. To the average
Christian, the ceremony would convey the idea of simple communion, hence
remembering what Christ did for us on the cross and giving Him thanks. But that
is a misnomer. In Roman Catholicism, the Mass is an important vehicle through
which “the blessings of Christ’s death are applied to believers. Therefore, the
blessings of Christ’s death are not produced solely by faith alone in what He
accomplished at the cross…In the Catholic Mass… we find Rome’s doctrine of
transubstantiation. This view details that the bread and wine each literally
become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ…Furthermore, because Christ
is actually present in His entirety in the Eucharist, the Catholic Church
believes that the Eucharist should be worshiped. This is why priests and
Catholics genuflect [bow] when the host is present – because it is really Christ
present.” A final point to understand is that Catholics believe that “the
Eucharistic sacrifice is also offered for the faithful departed [in purgatory]
who ‘have died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified,’ so that they may be
able to enter into the light and peace of Christ.”
Refutation:
The verses of Hebrews 9:12, 26, 28 and 10:12, 14 all show us
that the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ was a one time event and not a
continual process. To believe that He is sacrificing Himself over and over
again in a literal sense is well beyond any scriptural reasoning. 1 Cor.
11:23-32 shows us the proper attitude for communion and the Bible says nothing
about purgatory. Communion at the Lord’s Supper should be a part of a
Christian’s life but for the right reasons, and not mixed with the traditions of
men.
Sacrament 4
Penance
This is popularly called
confession. However, that is only one aspect of it. “Catholicism teaches the
sacrament of penance has three parts: first, ‘contrition’ – a person must be
sorry for his sins; second, ‘confession’ – a person must fully confess each one
of his mortal sins to a priest; and third, ‘satisfaction’ – a person must do
works of satisfaction such as fasting, saying prayers, almsgiving, or doing
other works of piety the priest gives him to do.”
Most people understand the
tradition of a confessional. The priest sits in a dark booth and listens to the
confessions of a sinner located in an adjoining booth. They speak in whispers
through a small grill, a small window-like structure obscured by curtains or a
wooden or metal grate. The priest is not suppose to know who he is talking to,
although repeated visits can make it obvious. It is in John 20-23 that
Catholicism finds a basis for confession, when Jesus gives authority to this
disciple to forgive or retain someone’s sins.
Catholicism sees sin in two
forms, mortal and venial. Mortal sins are not always clearly defined but
include such things as sexual immorality, murder, envy, abortion, artificial
birth control, and thievery. These are very serious and remove salvation and
justification immediately. If someone dies in mortal sin (no confession and
forgiveness), they go straight to hell. Venial sins are also moral sins, but
are not as serious. Whereas mortal sins separate one from God, venial sins do
not; but they make the relationship imperfect. A sinner must do penance for a
mortal sin before he or she is reinstated into God’s grace and can participate
in Mass and the Holy Eucharist. Catholic obligation to annual communion (Holy
Eucharist) normally brings them to the confessionals at least once a year.
Refutation:
While it is very good to “confess our sins to one another” (James 5:16),
Catholicism has made a ritual and tradition that the Scriptures never intended.
Jesus Christ is our high priest (Heb. 8:1-2) and our mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
between God and man. He has called each of us to be priests (1 Pet. 2:5, 9).
He forgave us all of our sins (Col. 2:13) and is not impressed with our “desire
or effort” to work for it (Rom. 9:12, 16). While Catholicism’s desire to raise
a standard for morality can be commended, its assumption that it can determine
the eternal state of someone’s soul is quite out of character with Scripture.
Sacrament 5
Extreme Unction
This is also referred to as
“anointing the sick” or “the last rites.” This is based upon James 5:14-16.
The priest is requested to come and minister to those on their deathbed. This
is only done when the condition is serious enough that death appears to be
imminent. Sometimes the person is unconscious or unable to respond to the
priest or bishop. If a person is in mortal sin but can no longer receive the
Sacrament of Penance because of his or her critical condition, then the
Sacrament of Extreme Unction eradicates the grievous sin, thus renewing their
justification before God.
Refutation:
There is nothing wrong with the elders praying for the sick and anointing them
with oil. However, this goes far beyond Scripture, once again, in that it
becomes a means of working out salvation. James 5:16 tells us to confess our
sins and pray for the healing. Since an unconscious person cannot confess sins,
it is unreasonable to assume that Extreme Unction erases any sins.
Sacrament 6
Holy Orders
This is the ordination of
deacons, priests, or bishops. It is done through the laying on of hands and
imparts power to administer the various sacraments. Of the three, the deacons
have the least authority and the bishops the most, being the only ones who can
ordain. All of these are ordained for life and believe that the sacred power
conferred is never lost.
Refutation:
The Bible in both the Old and New Testament speaks of elders as rulers over the
flock, not priests. The priests of the Old Testament came from the tribe of
Levi and were limited to the administration of Temple ceremonies, sacrifices,
and teaching. In the New Testament, all Christians were given the
responsibility and title of a priest. (1 Peter 2:6, 9).
Furthermore,
the hierarchy of Catholicism is unscriptural. The New Testament clearly speaks
of leadership roles. We see elders and deacons in many places. The elders are
given more to spiritual issues and the deacons to the physical and natural
needs. We also find the five offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor
and teacher (Eph. 4:11-12). Elders appear to have one of these five gifts.
Since the early church did not have a large hierarchical system, a possible
clarifying view regarding the words elder, bishop, and pastor is in their
function. They all speak of the same individual but in different aspects: elder
is the character, bishop is the office, and pastor is the work.
Sacrament
7
Marriage
This is considered a sacrament because it
reflects Christ’s marriage with His bride, the Church.
Refutation:
Although marriage is a very wonderful and scriptural
institution, it is stretching it to say that it is a sacrament since the word
literally means a visible sign of an inward grace. Furthermore, if the marriage
sacrament confers grace, then why do priests and nuns need to be celibate? The
priests of the Old Testament married. Peter was married.
Other doctrines and problems with Catholicism
(Mary,
Rosary, Purgatory)
Mary
While every God-fearing
individual should respect Mary, the mother of Jesus, for her virtuous life and
example of servant-hood, Catholicism goes far beyond scriptural boundaries and
exalts her almost to the position of deity. The following paragraph from the
Vatican II documents (1962-1965) speaks clearly of their view of Mary:
“Finally, preserved free
from all guilt of original sin, the Immaculate Virgin was taken up body and soul
into heavenly glory upon the completion of her earthly sojourn. She was exalted
by the Lord as the Queen of all, in order that she might be the more thoroughly
conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and the conqueror of sin and death.”
The fact that Scripture
supports none of this does not seem to interfere with Rome’s view of Mary’s
position. To say that there has been no controversy within Catholicism over this
issue would not be accurate. Heated debates have raged over the exaltation of
Mary when there is no scriptural support. Catholic theologians that support the
above view of Mary hang all their arguments on a few misinterpreted fragments of
Scripture and much assumption. Unfortunately for those Catholics who do regard
Scripture highly, tradition has won out one more time.
Refutation:
The Bible clearly teaches us to worship God and Him alone
(Ex. 20:1; John 4:23; and Rev. 7:9-12). There is only one mediator between God
and man and that is Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). Mary did unite with Joseph and
consummate their marriage with sex after Jesus was born (Matt. 1:25) and the
Scripture appears to indicate that Mary did have other children besides Jesus
(Matt. 13:55). The Bible (Rom. 3:23) tells us that “all” people have original
sin and does not exclude Mary. Finally, no one knows when or where Mary died.
There is no early tradition regarding their view of her resurrection, ascension
into heaven, or sitting as the Queen of heaven. Certainly, the Bible does not
support this. Mary was a very humble woman to whom we all owe a debt of
gratitude for her obedience and faith, but Catholicism has idolized her deed and
memory.
Apparitions of Mary have
been reported down through the ages as a result of Catholicism’s emphasis on
her. Some Catholic theologians think that there have been as many as 21,000
claimed sightings of Mary in history and this number is increasing. Just in the
past sixty years, there have been over two hundred different sightings reported.
In their book The Cult of the Virgin: Catholic Mariology and the Apparitions
of Mary, Elliot Miller and Kenneth R. Samples explain how sightings of Mary
in places such as Mexico, France, Belgium, and New York, have drawn millions of
people.
One of the most recent and
on-going sightings began in the early 1980’s at Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. Several
young people claim that they have had daily apparitions of the Virgin and over
1,000 messages. As with other apparition sights over the centuries, people are
claiming to see miracles. Thousands stare into the sun at Medjugorje claiming
that it changes colors, spins, throbs, pulsates and throws off rainbow color.
Others see crosses spinning, rosaries turning color, fires on hillsides that
don’t scorch, and physical healings.
It seems these same kinds of
miracles were also seen at Lourdes, France, in 1958, and again in Fatima,
Portugal, in 1917. The Vatican itself does not readily accept all apparitions.
Yet, millions of Catholics (and others) rush to these sights to see what the
clamor is about. However, Miller and Samples give caution to those who would
embrace these sightings/miracles as divine. They point out that these types of
miracles could be a lure from Satan.
“It should also be recalled
that the signs and wonders allegedly performed at Lourdes and Fatima could have
been done by Satan. In fact, when one analyzes many of the alleged miracles
that accompany Marian apparitions, they seem to be of a kind different from
those found in Scripture. This is true of Biblical miracles as a whole, as well
as the miracles of Jesus’ public ministry. When did Jesus ever make the sun
dance or crosses spin? All of his miracles were done in the context of ministry
(service to human needs for the glory of God.) Biblical miracles had a strong
practical aspect. Moreover, when Jesus performed a miracle, all who were
present, even those who were against Jesus, did not perceive it by only a few
people but. In contrast, many of the miracles associated with Marian apparitions
seem dramatic and sensational – attention-getting if you will – the kind of
miracles that Jesus consistently refused to perform (Matt. 12:38-39). This is a
good reason to at least suspect the source of these miracles.”
The Rosary
Legend says that Mary
herself gave the prayer beads to Saint Dominic. They became popular in the
tenth century. A person uses the beads to pray both mentally and vocally. “In
mental prayer the participant meditates on the major ‘mysteries’ (particular
events) of the life, death, and glories of Jesus and (particular events) of the
life, death, and glories of both Jesus and Mary. The vocal aspect involves the
recitation of 15 ‘decades’ (portions) of the ‘Hail Mary’, which involves
contemplating 15 principal virtues that were practiced by Jesus and Mary.”
However, if one were going
to use repetitious prayers, it would be wiser to use the prayer that Jesus
Himself gave us, “Our Father who are in heaven…” (Mt. 6). But the real problem
with the rosary is that millions of Catholics use it to maintain and increase
their justification before God. It is a ritual of works for salvation.
Purgatory
This became a required
doctrine in 1438 at the Council of Florence. Among Catholics, there are
different views of purgatory. However, it is definitely not a place one wants
to go. They teach that after death a Christian will most likely be purged of
all sins in the hellish fires of purgatory. It is a little less intense than
hell itself and does not last forever. It completes the final stages of
sanctification for a good Catholic. Length of stay depends on the amount of
sins to be purged and the number of indulgences offered on earth by those still
living.
There is no scriptural
support for this doctrine, and Catholicism must go outside the Canon to their
Apocryphas (2 Meccabees 12:46) to find anything related to it. The doctrine
violates the atonement work of Christ by teaching that all sins – even those
forgiven – must be purged. Also, the fear of death that it places Catholics
under is wrong (Heb. 2:9-15).
Final Question
Did Pope John Paul II
experience salvation and go to heaven? I personally hope so, because he did
a lot to embrace some great biblical values during his time here on earth. But
not even the Pope inherits the kingdom of God because of good works. The reward
of heaven is based on one thing, faith, and faith alone.
Galatians 2: 16
Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but
through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we
may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by
the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
When I was a young man, I
worked as a teacher for two Catholic high schools. I actually taught some of
the religion classes in those schools. Many told me that I was the first
Protestant to do so. I found in my experience that some priests, brothers, and
nuns (not all) abandoned a path of work’s salvation for a faith salvation, one
who repents and let’s Christ do the saving.
If Pope John Paul II did
indeed make the same commitment these priests, brothers, and nuns made, then I
look forward to seeing him in heaven and asking what he thought of my article.
But regardless of whether the Pope is in heaven or not, there is no use praying
for him now; he is either there or not. There are no second chances, there is
no purgatory.
References
Most reference material was
taken from S.F. Fleming’s book, Gate Breakers. It is an excellent
resource. I purchased it through www.christianbook.com
