Pope Visits US Christian Leaders: Will Your Church Be There?
Posted by Reformed Reader on April 16, 2008
I always find it interesting to find out who is going to see the Pope when he’s around. This year, as he’s in the US right now (DC and NY), I saw the following churches (among others) will be representing their denominations in an *ecumenical* prayer service: the RCA, ELCA, UMC, Pentecostal Holiness, the CRC, the NAE president, and more. Go here, here, and here if you want to read up on this.
What is the proper term for this? Undoing the Reformation? Abandoning the Reformed faith? Burning Calvin’s Institutes, Luther’s Works, the Westminster Standards, the Three Forms of Unity? Obviously you can’t have a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism or the Westminster Confession in your back pocket as you pray with the Pope! Can you imagine!? I’m interested to see the readers of the Reformed Reader’s take on this!
shane Lems
sunnyside wa
Danny Hyde said
Shaner,
Don’t forget, the RCA has deleted Heidelberg 80 from their edition and the CRC just relegated it to small print with the footnote that it is not binding anymore . . .
Shane Lems said
Thanks, Danny; one of the links I put above said that quite clearly. It is very important to note. Be sure to read that link.
shane
Chris Coleman said
None of this really surprises me. None of these mainline churches really confess the faith of the Reformed Confessions. So, I think they are just being consistent. Sad, but true.
Chris Coleman said
Ok, I just read the CRC link above (the third one), absolutely amazing! It seems that the CRC has to deny that the Reformation ever happened to take part in this prayer meeting. They are supposedly going to be united over the “gospel of Jesus Christ.” Yeah right! Rome, especially Papa Ben, stand firmly with Trent. Rome denies the Gospel, as the Reformed Confessions define it. (HC 16-21, BC 21-23) How can a “reformed” church possibly be united with Rome, in any sense of the word, over the Gospel!? Incredible.
Mark Vander Pol said
The rationale or the motive behind going could be seen in the statement “It is a huge honor and also a significant responsibility to be there and to help influence the broader Christian community with the Reformed world and life view.” Back in 1968 at the Reformed Ecumenical Council (I think that is what it was) the CRC wanted to have an influence in that body. The discussion in ‘68 led to a Synodical Committee to study the question of Women in Ordained Office – and we know where that led. Therefore, the CRC has a history of wanting to be an influence, when in fact it just capitulates to that particular culture. This can already bee seen in part by the HC Q&A 80 debate.
Mike G. said
This is disgusting.
There once was a man who lived in the land of Nod. He had many brothers, who lived with him on his estate in the land of Nod. And it came to pass that the man had to go away on a long trip to negotiate with his neighbors over water rights. He was gone for some time.
When he returned, he discovered that his entire family, all his brothers, had been brutally murdered. And there, in the middle of his house, sitting on his couch, watching his TV, eating his food, etc, was a cruel and wicked man, covered in blood.
“Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
“I’ve just killed your whole family, all your brothers, and have taken your wives to be my wives, and your children are my slaves.”
“Oh, ok then. Make yourself comfortable. Can I get you something to drink?”
Yep, that’s what it’s like to make nice with the Pope.
MG
AC said
Okay, not that I buy into fortune telling at all, but they say that there will be a protestant pope by the year 2050. (I use Protestant loosely here, since it is an oxymoron to assimilate the two.) But, with thoughts like this there will be a FORMERLY Protestant person at the head of the RC. IT is honestly disgusting to see my denomination take this horrible turn.
Lafe said
I find it somewhat disconcerting that the so called Protestant
churches are fawning over themselves about being seen in or with
the company of the Pope.
This is the same Pope who recently placed curses upon anyone other than a Catholic who tries to profess salvation other than
via the Catholic sacraments including the Mass and Eucharist.
Our doctrines are not the same and if the Pope is preaching a different gospel than the one that was delivered once and for all
to the saints (Jude), he is judged already by the Word of God as
being an apostate.
Does that say all Catholics are apostates? No. One can get saved
and live a Christ directed life being a Catholic. You simply
can not adhere to any doctrine that denies the orthodoxy of the
Word of God…regardless of how important the Pope or the Bishops
place on their man made doctrines involving Mary, Eucharist,
rosaries, last rites and other doctrines that the Catholic Church
has elevated to nigh level with Jesus the Christ being our only
hope for salvation and eternal life.
Catholic friends, if it is not in scripture, reject it and seek
Jesus for yourself and bypass any block priest or church doctrine
that wants to add nonsense to your relationship with Jesus.
jzholloway said
Hmm… you know, Christ’s prayer in John 17??? Maybe the “reformed” “Christians” should read that more often. This Pope more then any other has reached out to more faiths… even beyond Christianity, seeking a “global community.” Granted, I do not share in the desire to be “brothers” with Muslims, or Hindus, or the like, yet at the same time, to alienate other peoples and cultures is to deny the Gospel and mandate of Christ. Also, on an interesting note… this present Pope in his writings and books, uses a lot of Protestant and Reformed references and works… of course, if more “reformed” person were willing to expand their horizons beyond Calvin… (funny) then maybe they would know that. Sorry if I seem offensive… but I’m tired of “reformed” Christians always blasting anyone who doesn’t believe in predestination, strict determinism, and the Rome is the “anti-Christ.” Maybe one should look into their own eye and find the tree rather then point out the stick in someone else’s eyes. It would be nice, for everyone to acknowledge that we are all imperfect in our faith, theology, and practice – whether we are Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Reformed, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Evangelical, etc etc. I salute those bold enough to stand with a man in prayer, and I am ashamed to acknowledge those who would criticize those who did as my fellow brothers in Christ.