Lee Grady’s summation of Pope Benedict’s recent announcement:
(J.) Lee Grady has been the Big Dog Editor of Charisma Magazine since 1999. I am guessing that tags Grady as a Protestant-Charismatic-Evangelical. I guess I would tag myself as a Charismatic-Pentecostal-Word_of_Faith (past roots however modified today)-Christian_Mystic kind of guy these days.
Grady reacted to the Pope’s announcement with clear hostility reminiscent of the Protestant VS Catholic hostility that gained equal ground after Martin Luther’s 95 Thesis in 1517. In fact Grady titled his online rebuttal as “Pope Benedict’s Outrageous Announcement.”
Assuredly the Pope’s announcement opens all the old wounds (not just with Protestants but with the Eastern Orthodox Church as well) about Papal infallibility, Heaven and Hell and Purgatory, the true Faith and so on and on. I am guessing Pope Benedict XVI knew full well his proclamation would resound in denunciation from non-Catholic Christians. I got to say this for the old holy fella: Benedict is not exactly Politically Correct in his public pronouncements. The Pope enraged Muslims not too long ago by quoting 14th-century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus:
Even before that speech in 2006, Mohammedan elitists had considered Pope Benedict XVI as an Islamophobe that stretches back to his Cardinal days. The Pope has opposed the entry of Turkey into the European Union based primarily that Mohammedan culture is different than European Culture that has its heritage in Christianity.
Thus the Pope’s recent announcement is a jaw dropper (as Grady wrote) to Protestants of a Western Heritage. Protestants were beginning to view Benedict XVI as a huge Christian Leader willing to eschew the popularity of being Politically Correct to telling it like it is about Mohammedanism. I began to view the Pope as the defender of the Faith because of his conservative stand.
Since the papal announcement probably has opened old wounds expect to hear and read an increase from Protestants that the Papacy is the Anti-Christ and the hills of Rome are correspondent to Scripture written Revelation or Daniel and so on. It could get ridiculous (and it could be true as much as any Biblical speculation).
As a person from a Protestant background (I mean I am absolutely clueless to the ritual thing of Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant Episcopate Churches), I recommend reacting in a What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) manner. Catholic and Protestant attitudes ebb and flow according to the leadership that is most influential at the time. Even though Pope Benedict XVI is the top dog in the Roman Catholicism, Catholicism is not exactly a paradigm unified agreement. Tradition demands to at least offer lip service to the Pontiffs commands. There is NO top dog in Protestantism. Protestants are an amalgam of various statements of Faith that range along denominational and independent lines. Let’s see off the top of my head: Pentecostal Denominations (Assembly of God, Foursquare, Church of God, Open Bible Standard and more); there are the High Protestant Churches (Lutheran, Anglican/Episcopalian, Baptists, Methodist, Presbyterian and more) and there are the Independents – a combination of dissatisfied High Church attendees and Pentecostal/Charismatic attendees that chose to be independent (many of these have nearly become a domination via association; e.g. RHEMA Churches, Word of Faith Churches; Renewal Churches). Most Independent Protestants tend to be Pentecostal/Charismatic in operation.
I have to mention there are a few Independent Protestant Churches I have a hard time with because their statement of faith is often fringe/racist/anarchist types. Then there are those who consider themselves Christian Churches but deny one point or the other of the one thing that unites Roman Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox theology: the Trinity (ONE GOD yet three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and that Jesus Christ is both human in the incarnated flesh and God – both natures are present and are ONE). Some of the Independents that have a different view of the Godhead I waver from admiration to thinking they are heretics, thus I won’t get into naming Christians.
So what is my point?
There will NEVER be Christian unity under the guidance of humanity, that day of Unity occurs at the Parousia (Second Coming) of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.
So do not be hostile to Pope Benedict XVI merely because he says the Catholic way is the only way. The True Way is the Christ Way (John 14: 6-11) which involves the God-Kind of Love for the fellow Believer, Neighbor and enemy alike. Who is our Neighbor and how should we treat them? The Good Samaritan is about the Neighbor (Luke 10: 25-37). Acts of kindness and forgiveness (Matt. 5: 38-48) should be projected on our enemies (God sets in authority those do His Will in protection and discipline [Romans 13: 1-7, Jeremiah 25: 8-11 and 1 Peter 2: 13-16)]. And make every effort to settle differences between those you fellowship with (Offender – Matt. 5: 23-26 and Offended – Matt. 18: 15-17).
Under the Light of Christ is Pope Benedict’s announcement to occupy the Christian mind as outrageous? I tend to think not. Move on to more Heavenly minded things to think on.
One last thought I should like to point out. Benedict’s announcement that the Catholic way is the only will certainly have an affect on Protestants and Eastern Orthodox Church in which the reaction should be to pray for the Pontiff. One thing you will not be seeing in nations of Christian Heritage is the Christians pouring into the streets demanding death to the Pope. You will not see Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christians beheading Catholics due to an offensive announcement. You will not see Catholics pouring into the streets burning down Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Church buildings. The Christian world has moved on from that barbaric medieval thinking.
I wonder which religion of peace I can contrast this Christian reaction too?
Only Catholics are true Christians. Other Christian denominations are “not true churches.” All non-Catholics lack the “means of salvation.”
(J.) Lee Grady has been the Big Dog Editor of Charisma Magazine since 1999. I am guessing that tags Grady as a Protestant-Charismatic-Evangelical. I guess I would tag myself as a Charismatic-Pentecostal-Word_of_Faith (past roots however modified today)-Christian_Mystic kind of guy these days.
Grady reacted to the Pope’s announcement with clear hostility reminiscent of the Protestant VS Catholic hostility that gained equal ground after Martin Luther’s 95 Thesis in 1517. In fact Grady titled his online rebuttal as “Pope Benedict’s Outrageous Announcement.”
Assuredly the Pope’s announcement opens all the old wounds (not just with Protestants but with the Eastern Orthodox Church as well) about Papal infallibility, Heaven and Hell and Purgatory, the true Faith and so on and on. I am guessing Pope Benedict XVI knew full well his proclamation would resound in denunciation from non-Catholic Christians. I got to say this for the old holy fella: Benedict is not exactly Politically Correct in his public pronouncements. The Pope enraged Muslims not too long ago by quoting 14th-century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus:
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Even before that speech in 2006, Mohammedan elitists had considered Pope Benedict XVI as an Islamophobe that stretches back to his Cardinal days. The Pope has opposed the entry of Turkey into the European Union based primarily that Mohammedan culture is different than European Culture that has its heritage in Christianity.
Thus the Pope’s recent announcement is a jaw dropper (as Grady wrote) to Protestants of a Western Heritage. Protestants were beginning to view Benedict XVI as a huge Christian Leader willing to eschew the popularity of being Politically Correct to telling it like it is about Mohammedanism. I began to view the Pope as the defender of the Faith because of his conservative stand.
Since the papal announcement probably has opened old wounds expect to hear and read an increase from Protestants that the Papacy is the Anti-Christ and the hills of Rome are correspondent to Scripture written Revelation or Daniel and so on. It could get ridiculous (and it could be true as much as any Biblical speculation).
As a person from a Protestant background (I mean I am absolutely clueless to the ritual thing of Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant Episcopate Churches), I recommend reacting in a What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) manner. Catholic and Protestant attitudes ebb and flow according to the leadership that is most influential at the time. Even though Pope Benedict XVI is the top dog in the Roman Catholicism, Catholicism is not exactly a paradigm unified agreement. Tradition demands to at least offer lip service to the Pontiffs commands. There is NO top dog in Protestantism. Protestants are an amalgam of various statements of Faith that range along denominational and independent lines. Let’s see off the top of my head: Pentecostal Denominations (Assembly of God, Foursquare, Church of God, Open Bible Standard and more); there are the High Protestant Churches (Lutheran, Anglican/Episcopalian, Baptists, Methodist, Presbyterian and more) and there are the Independents – a combination of dissatisfied High Church attendees and Pentecostal/Charismatic attendees that chose to be independent (many of these have nearly become a domination via association; e.g. RHEMA Churches, Word of Faith Churches; Renewal Churches). Most Independent Protestants tend to be Pentecostal/Charismatic in operation.
I have to mention there are a few Independent Protestant Churches I have a hard time with because their statement of faith is often fringe/racist/anarchist types. Then there are those who consider themselves Christian Churches but deny one point or the other of the one thing that unites Roman Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox theology: the Trinity (ONE GOD yet three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and that Jesus Christ is both human in the incarnated flesh and God – both natures are present and are ONE). Some of the Independents that have a different view of the Godhead I waver from admiration to thinking they are heretics, thus I won’t get into naming Christians.
So what is my point?
There will NEVER be Christian unity under the guidance of humanity, that day of Unity occurs at the Parousia (Second Coming) of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.
So do not be hostile to Pope Benedict XVI merely because he says the Catholic way is the only way. The True Way is the Christ Way (John 14: 6-11) which involves the God-Kind of Love for the fellow Believer, Neighbor and enemy alike. Who is our Neighbor and how should we treat them? The Good Samaritan is about the Neighbor (Luke 10: 25-37). Acts of kindness and forgiveness (Matt. 5: 38-48) should be projected on our enemies (God sets in authority those do His Will in protection and discipline [Romans 13: 1-7, Jeremiah 25: 8-11 and 1 Peter 2: 13-16)]. And make every effort to settle differences between those you fellowship with (Offender – Matt. 5: 23-26 and Offended – Matt. 18: 15-17).
Under the Light of Christ is Pope Benedict’s announcement to occupy the Christian mind as outrageous? I tend to think not. Move on to more Heavenly minded things to think on.
One last thought I should like to point out. Benedict’s announcement that the Catholic way is the only will certainly have an affect on Protestants and Eastern Orthodox Church in which the reaction should be to pray for the Pontiff. One thing you will not be seeing in nations of Christian Heritage is the Christians pouring into the streets demanding death to the Pope. You will not see Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christians beheading Catholics due to an offensive announcement. You will not see Catholics pouring into the streets burning down Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Church buildings. The Christian world has moved on from that barbaric medieval thinking.
I wonder which religion of peace I can contrast this Christian reaction too?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment