St. Francis and The Wolf of Gubbio
Taming killers with kindness.
Dear Fred,
Recently, I received a blog comment (below) from Steve Finnell who argues that Peter was never pope.
Mr. Finnell recalls The Thinking Housewife's assertion that Pope Francis is neither pope nor Catholic.
The Thinking Housewife: Jorge Bergoglio And The Vacant Throne Of Saint Peter
Compendium Of "Pax" Posts On "The Thinking Housewife," Laura Wood
Christian Conservatives think 'the Truth has set them free' but are so straightjacketed by specific creedal litmuses that they live in chains.
They do not choose to believe according to the dictates of conscience.
Rather, they must believe in order to experience the consolation of enveloping dogma.
Remarkably, all dogmatists remain unshakably confident of their own dogmas but are quick to identify the "outrageous falsehoods" of other dogmatists whose beliefs diverge from their own.
What a blessing that -- in the entire universe of believers -- "I" know Absolute Truth.
Mutual finger-pointing -- often followed by pogrom, jihad or inquisition -- is a diehard characteristic of every Abrahamic faith, most notably Christianity and Islam.
All three branches of this "fraternal" religion should be ashamed of themselves - as ashamed as they are currently self-certain.
Pope Francis: "If A Person Is Totally Certain This Is Not Good"
"The Death Of Epistemology"
Pax on both houses,
Alan
PS Yesterday, I attended Spanish language mass at Durham, North Carolina's Franciscan parish, "Immaculate Conception." The pastor, padre Lorenzo is an inspired soul. Watching him nourish the Catholic faith through Pope Francis' joyful lens is a joy itself. Unlike Laura's recent experience receiving communion from a priest who bitterly snapped the host onto her tongue, the Hispanic who received Communion next to me dropped to his knees before extending his tongue. Padre Lorenzo was visibly pleased to place the body of Christ into the mouth of this constituent member of The Body of Christ. Every week, padre Lorenzo writes a mini-sermon for the parish bulletin. Here is his recent Spanish language reflection on Pope Francis' re-location of mercy to Catholicism's center stage. (In Spanish, misericordia, means "shared misery." In similar vein, "compassion" derives from the Latin for "suffering together.") http://icdurham.org/images/icdurham/bulletins/bulletin2013-08-18.pdf
***
"I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said "Stop! Don't do it!" "Why shouldn't I?" he said. "Well, there's so much to live for!" "Like what?" "Well... are you religious?" He said yes. I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?" "Christian." "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant ? "Protestant." "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" "Baptist" "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?" "Baptist Church of God!" "Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you reformed Baptist Church of God?" "Reformed Baptist Church of God!" "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?" He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!" I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off."
Emo Philips
***
WAS PETER THE FIRST POPE?
Was the apostle Peter the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church? A few reasons why Peter was not the first Pope.
Peter was not Pope because there is no office of Pope mentioned in the Scriptures. Peter was not the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church because there is no Roman Catholic Church mentioned in the Bible.
Peter was not a Pope because the apostles were not in subjection to him.
2 Corinthians 11:5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. 2 Corinthians 12:11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
Not only was the apostle Paul not in subjection to Peter, he reprimanded Peter in Antioch.
Galatians 2:11-21 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned....14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?....
Peter was not Paul's superior. (Cephas was Peter, John 1:42)
Peter was not a Pope, because he did not believe that the Virgin Mary was a mediator between men and God nor did he offer up prayers to her.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Peter was not a Pope, because he did not pray to any saints dead or alive. Prayer is worship.
Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Go Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only !"
Peter was not the first Pope, because he refuse to let men bow down and kiss his ring in an act of worship.
Acts 10:25-26 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him. fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man."
Peter was not the first Pope because he did not referred to himself as the Chief Shepherd or head of the church of Christ. The Chief Shepherd and head of the church is Jesus Christ and Jesus alone.(Colossians 1:13-19, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13"20, Ephesians 1:20-23, Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 5:22-24.)
Peter was not the first Pope nor was he ever a Pope.
(All Scripture from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY CHRISTIAN BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.
No comments:
Post a Comment