Pope
Please remember with all this talk of the pope and cardinals, that if a man declares himself to be a man of God, then he needs to be a man of God's Book: the Bible and the Bible alone. If you teach about God, then stick to the Book and the Blood of Christ and the Blessed Hope of Jesus' return. Prayers to Mary and her being the Queen of Heaven or co-redempterix along with Jesus are not found in the Bible and so the man who declares that as truth is no man of God. Please read the Book and trust Jesus as Savior.
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." Romans 6:23. Do you have eternal life? Please come to God's House, and hear the sincere milk of the Word at Landmark Baptist when in Richmond, Virginia.
<><
Marc Oliver
Psalm 91:1
=====
Dear Marc,
I too have serious questions about the biblical basis or real focus of the deceased pope's faith. Having read his writings & the Bible, I too, much prefer the Bible!!
Jesus is Lord!
Peace,
Mert Hershberger
=====
The short note above [hastily posted April 6, 2005] is in reference particular to the approach to gospel sharing that wins-friends to the neglect of a call to repentance from false messiah's, false prophets, false teachers, and other jesuses. John Paul II did not always clearly state that Christ's uniqueness necessitates vigorous evangelism. Honestly, many Muslims despise that kind of uncertain call to repentance. I think it is a disservice to them & to Christ to dialogue without a clear warning of the wrath that is to come (not from "our" military, but from the Lord of Hosts, Jesus.)
I regret that it took this long to finish this entry and clarify what I referred to.
The key issue was well stated by Bro. Bob Yawberg: "Will the Pope listen to God?"
www.PastorsInPrayer.org
- MJH
=====
To view John Paul II's
REDEMPTORIS MISSIO
(On the Permanent Validity of the Church's Missionary Mandate)
Encyclical promulgated on 7 December 1990.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/JP2MI
Excerpts which are the most problematic.
From section 55:
I recently wrote to the bishops of Asia: "Although the Church gladly acknowledges whatever is true and holy in the religious traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam as a reflection of that truth which enlightens all people, this does not lessen her duty and resolve to proclaim without fail Jesus Christ who is 'the way, and the truth and the life.'...The fact that the followers of other religions can receive God's grace and be saved by Christ apart from the ordinary means which he has established does not thereby cancel the call to faith and baptism which God wills for all people."[100] Indeed Christ himself "while expressly insisting on the need for faith and baptism, at the same time confirmed the need for the Church, into which people enter through Baptism as through a door."[101] Dialogue should be conducted and implemented with the conviction that the Church is the ordinary means of salvation and that she alone possesses the fullness of the means of salvation.[102]
[What is the biblical basis for the assertion that people can be saved by Christ apart from the ordinary means? ... Except that the {Roman Catholic} Church is defined as the ordinary means. Where in scripture do we find the last statement supported, {realizing of course, that Church means Roman Catholic Church?} A part of the body is confused with the whole; a prominent member, with the head. I do not write this to defame the dead, but to encourage all, to think and read honestly.]
From section 57:
Dialogue is a path toward the kingdom and will certainly bear fruit, even if the times and seasons are known only to the Father (cf. Acts 1:7). [Mert: What does Acts 1:7 have to do with "dialogue"?]
[I did not read anything in the discussion on Baptism near the end about "a pledge of a good conscience towards God" which was written by 1 Peter 3:21, the pope's "predecessor."]
=====
About the present Pope:
Probably most Middle Eastern [Catholic] Christians) will be encouraged by this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar
Vatican Is Rethinking Relations With Islam
By Daniel Williams and Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, April 15, 2005; Page A20
ROME, April 12 -- After two decades of contact and dialogue with the Islamic world under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican is rethinking an outreach program that critics say is diluting Catholicism and has brought almost no benefits to beleaguered Catholic minorities in Muslim countries.
The late pontiff undertook the drive as part of a broad effort to open channels to other religions. He applied a personal stamp by stepping into a mosque in Damascus and meeting with Muslim groups more than 60 times. He also visited a synagogue in Rome and Jerusalem's Western Wall.
[Mert: the following seems problematic to me, for example.]
John Paul furthered these efforts in his travels and by hosting inter-faith prayer sessions for peace, beginning with a three-day meeting in Assisi, Italy, in 1986. Among the participants were leaders from the Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faiths.
=====
Again, this was simply to clarify what was stated in the initial posting. That date is set for
=====
To view 'Dominus Jesus', written by Ratzinger 2000:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congr
Two excerpts:
From section 4
"The Church's constant missionary proclamation is endangered today by relativistic theories which seek to justify religious pluralism, not only de facto but also de iure (or in principle). As a consequence, it is held that certain truths have been superseded; for example, the definitive and complete character of the revelation of Jesus Christ, the nature of Christian faith as compared with that of belief in other religions, the inspired nature of the books of Sacred Scripture, the personal unity between the Eternal Word and Jesus of Nazareth, the unity of the economy of the Incarnate Word and the Holy Spirit, the unicity and salvific universality of the mystery of Jesus Christ, the universal salvific mediation of the Church, the inseparability — while recognizing the distinction — of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ, and the Church, and the subsistence of the one Church of Christ in the Catholic Church. - The roots of these problems are to be found in certain presuppositions of both a philosophical and theological nature, which hinder the understanding and acceptance of the revealed truth. Some of these can be mentioned: the conviction of the elusiveness and inexpressibility of divine truth, even by Christian revelation; relativistic attitudes toward truth itself, according to which what is true for some would not be true for others; the radical opposition posited between the logical mentality of the West and the symbolic mentality of the East; the subjectivism which, by regarding reason as the only source of knowledge, becomes incapable of raising its “gaze to the heights, not daring to rise to the truth of being”;8 the difficulty in understanding and accepting the presence of definitive and eschatological events in history; the metaphysical emptying of the historical incarnation of the Eternal Logos, reduced to a mere appearing of God in history; the eclecticism of those who, in theological research, uncritically absorb ideas from a variety of philosophical and theological contexts without regard for consistency, systematic connection, or compatibility with Christian truth; finally, the tendency to read and to interpret Sacred Scripture outside the Tradition and Magisterium of the Church."
[I would edit the final phrases of each statement: "and the subsistence of the one Church of Christ in the Catholic Church. ... finally, the tendency to read and to interpret Sacred Scripture outside the Tradition and Magisterium of the Church" in this way "the subsistence of the one Church of Christ in all those who gather to witness to the Cross & Resurrection of Jesus Christ ... and finally, the tendency to read and to interpret the Sacred Scripture apart from prayer and the loving fellowship of the body of Christ, united across history, cultural, and other parochial interests."
From section 22:
"God ‘desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth' (1 Tim 2:4); that is, God wills the salvation of everyone through the knowledge of the truth. Salvation is found in the truth. Those who obey the promptings of the Spirit of truth are already on the way of salvation. But the Church, to whom this truth has been entrusted, must go out to meet their desire, so as to bring them the truth. Because she believes in God's universal plan of salvation, the Church must be missionary.” (Taken from the Catechism.)
[Mert: note that Ratzinger remains pretty strong on emphasizing the uniqueness of Catholicism, but stronger in emphasizing the uniqueness of Christ in revelation & need for what is called evangelism. Bro. Ratzinger may have to dress up too much because of his position, but his theology is headed in the right direction: to Christ!]
(Thanks to Rick B. for pointing me to the above.)
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." Romans 6:23. Do you have eternal life? Please come to God's House, and hear the sincere milk of the Word at Landmark Baptist when in Richmond, Virginia.
<><
Marc Oliver
Psalm 91:1
=====
Dear Marc,
I too have serious questions about the biblical basis or real focus of the deceased pope's faith. Having read his writings & the Bible, I too, much prefer the Bible!!
Jesus is Lord!
Peace,
Mert Hershberger
=====
The short note above [hastily posted April 6, 2005] is in reference particular to the approach to gospel sharing that wins-friends to the neglect of a call to repentance from false messiah's, false prophets, false teachers, and other jesuses. John Paul II did not always clearly state that Christ's uniqueness necessitates vigorous evangelism. Honestly, many Muslims despise that kind of uncertain call to repentance. I think it is a disservice to them & to Christ to dialogue without a clear warning of the wrath that is to come (not from "our" military, but from the Lord of Hosts, Jesus.)
I regret that it took this long to finish this entry and clarify what I referred to.
The key issue was well stated by Bro. Bob Yawberg: "Will the Pope listen to God?"
www.PastorsInPrayer.org
- MJH
=====
To view John Paul II's
REDEMPTORIS MISSIO
(On the Permanent Validity of the Church's Missionary Mandate)
Encyclical promulgated on 7 December 1990.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/JP2MI
Excerpts which are the most problematic.
From section 55:
I recently wrote to the bishops of Asia: "Although the Church gladly acknowledges whatever is true and holy in the religious traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam as a reflection of that truth which enlightens all people, this does not lessen her duty and resolve to proclaim without fail Jesus Christ who is 'the way, and the truth and the life.'...The fact that the followers of other religions can receive God's grace and be saved by Christ apart from the ordinary means which he has established does not thereby cancel the call to faith and baptism which God wills for all people."[100] Indeed Christ himself "while expressly insisting on the need for faith and baptism, at the same time confirmed the need for the Church, into which people enter through Baptism as through a door."[101] Dialogue should be conducted and implemented with the conviction that the Church is the ordinary means of salvation and that she alone possesses the fullness of the means of salvation.[102]
[What is the biblical basis for the assertion that people can be saved by Christ apart from the ordinary means? ... Except that the {Roman Catholic} Church is defined as the ordinary means. Where in scripture do we find the last statement supported, {realizing of course, that Church means Roman Catholic Church?} A part of the body is confused with the whole; a prominent member, with the head. I do not write this to defame the dead, but to encourage all, to think and read honestly.]
From section 57:
Dialogue is a path toward the kingdom and will certainly bear fruit, even if the times and seasons are known only to the Father (cf. Acts 1:7). [Mert: What does Acts 1:7 have to do with "dialogue"?]
[I did not read anything in the discussion on Baptism near the end about "a pledge of a good conscience towards God" which was written by 1 Peter 3:21, the pope's "predecessor."]
=====
About the present Pope:
Probably most Middle Eastern [Catholic] Christians) will be encouraged by this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar
Vatican Is Rethinking Relations With Islam
By Daniel Williams and Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, April 15, 2005; Page A20
ROME, April 12 -- After two decades of contact and dialogue with the Islamic world under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican is rethinking an outreach program that critics say is diluting Catholicism and has brought almost no benefits to beleaguered Catholic minorities in Muslim countries.
The late pontiff undertook the drive as part of a broad effort to open channels to other religions. He applied a personal stamp by stepping into a mosque in Damascus and meeting with Muslim groups more than 60 times. He also visited a synagogue in Rome and Jerusalem's Western Wall.
[Mert: the following seems problematic to me, for example.]
John Paul furthered these efforts in his travels and by hosting inter-faith prayer sessions for peace, beginning with a three-day meeting in Assisi, Italy, in 1986. Among the participants were leaders from the Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faiths.
=====
Again, this was simply to clarify what was stated in the initial posting. That date is set for
=====
To view 'Dominus Jesus', written by Ratzinger 2000:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congr
Two excerpts:
From section 4
"The Church's constant missionary proclamation is endangered today by relativistic theories which seek to justify religious pluralism, not only de facto but also de iure (or in principle). As a consequence, it is held that certain truths have been superseded; for example, the definitive and complete character of the revelation of Jesus Christ, the nature of Christian faith as compared with that of belief in other religions, the inspired nature of the books of Sacred Scripture, the personal unity between the Eternal Word and Jesus of Nazareth, the unity of the economy of the Incarnate Word and the Holy Spirit, the unicity and salvific universality of the mystery of Jesus Christ, the universal salvific mediation of the Church, the inseparability — while recognizing the distinction — of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ, and the Church, and the subsistence of the one Church of Christ in the Catholic Church. - The roots of these problems are to be found in certain presuppositions of both a philosophical and theological nature, which hinder the understanding and acceptance of the revealed truth. Some of these can be mentioned: the conviction of the elusiveness and inexpressibility of divine truth, even by Christian revelation; relativistic attitudes toward truth itself, according to which what is true for some would not be true for others; the radical opposition posited between the logical mentality of the West and the symbolic mentality of the East; the subjectivism which, by regarding reason as the only source of knowledge, becomes incapable of raising its “gaze to the heights, not daring to rise to the truth of being”;8 the difficulty in understanding and accepting the presence of definitive and eschatological events in history; the metaphysical emptying of the historical incarnation of the Eternal Logos, reduced to a mere appearing of God in history; the eclecticism of those who, in theological research, uncritically absorb ideas from a variety of philosophical and theological contexts without regard for consistency, systematic connection, or compatibility with Christian truth; finally, the tendency to read and to interpret Sacred Scripture outside the Tradition and Magisterium of the Church."
[I would edit the final phrases of each statement: "and the subsistence of the one Church of Christ in the Catholic Church. ... finally, the tendency to read and to interpret Sacred Scripture outside the Tradition and Magisterium of the Church" in this way "the subsistence of the one Church of Christ in all those who gather to witness to the Cross & Resurrection of Jesus Christ ... and finally, the tendency to read and to interpret the Sacred Scripture apart from prayer and the loving fellowship of the body of Christ, united across history, cultural, and other parochial interests."
From section 22:
"God ‘desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth' (1 Tim 2:4); that is, God wills the salvation of everyone through the knowledge of the truth. Salvation is found in the truth. Those who obey the promptings of the Spirit of truth are already on the way of salvation. But the Church, to whom this truth has been entrusted, must go out to meet their desire, so as to bring them the truth. Because she believes in God's universal plan of salvation, the Church must be missionary.” (Taken from the Catechism.)
[Mert: note that Ratzinger remains pretty strong on emphasizing the uniqueness of Catholicism, but stronger in emphasizing the uniqueness of Christ in revelation & need for what is called evangelism. Bro. Ratzinger may have to dress up too much because of his position, but his theology is headed in the right direction: to Christ!]
(Thanks to Rick B. for pointing me to the above.)
cheerful