The Death of a Pope. The Bible and the Catholic Church. There has been many an article written about the death of the Pope of Rome. Many in the Catholic Church are praising him on His works and even saying that he was just about as popular as Jesus Christ. They called Him the Super Pope, holy father, our father and Father of Catholicism. Many a Christian believer, being interviewed, never once stated that what the Catholic Church has been doing was against the Scriptures. This sermon is not intended to put down any religion but to in-lighten many into the word of God and many questions that the Catholic Church refuses to answer. Lets look at the Scripture and see what Jesus had to say. Luke 20:46-47 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. Question 1. Has the Catholic Church adopted the ways of the Sadducees and Pharisees? ” which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets.” Question 2.”Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.” After this verse, has the property holdings and grand church buildings become a way of life for the Clergy, when the poor in their congregations suffer for daily needs? Question 3. “and for a shew make long prayers.” And what about the long prayers to Mary, The Mother of Jesus? Have they made Her a god after Jesus and the Heavenly Father? And what about calling the Pope,”Holy Father” is this not makeing Him equal to God? For that is Gods Title. Luke 11:27-28 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Jesus rebuked the woman. Jesus had no intention for us to worship or pray to Mary. Prayers outside the name of Jesus are unanswered and useless words.
Jesus was against a grand show of religion, the large temples, the fine dress, long robes and costly jewelry. Why. The people that He was reaching were the Poor of this life. Those that had neither, costly raiment nor even some times the cost of food. You may say,”Well what about the temple that Solomon Built? Wasn’t it a large one?” Yes it was, but look at what happened to it, the corruption and rendering the faith to none effect. The temple of Solomon was Ordained by God, because of His love for His people. But the People turned it into a place for the rich and powerful. They turned something beautiful into a place of thieves. Question 4. Has the Catholic Church turned the Papal position into a king state, who reins rather than serves? 1Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. God suffered Israel to have a King, but from the begining this was not intended to be so. Question 5. Does the Pope of Rome have the ultimate authority in Interpretation of Scripture? 2Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. Many would say yes. Decieveing the masses that their interpretation is the only one that is true and binding upon the people. Do we look to Rome for our understanding of Scripture or to be taught? No.Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. The Bible states that if you are guilty of one point in the law then you are guilty of all. Question 5. What about having women as priest? Is this not a violation of 1Ti 2:12 ? But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. Paul stated very clearly that a woman cannot hold a position over a man.
Question 6. What about honoring the Pope and Priest as “Father”?
Heb 5:4 And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. How can we accept a man as Father when Jesus commanded us not to. Ministers, priest, evangelist, pastors, teachers and yes, even Popes, are just men. We accept the responsibility as leaders in the Church, to protect, teach and guide others into the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not lords over the flock but humble shepards. The Bible tells us to give double honor to those whom preach the gospel, but not to bow or worship them. That honor belongs to God. For He is worthy. Question 7. Has the catholic church fulfilled this next verse? Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. The answer is in the word ”Thieves” What is a thief? “One who steals, especially by stealth.” Then can we say that when the catholics call any priest, or the Pope, ”Father” or ”Holy Father” are they not stealing from the Glory and Honor that is our Heavenly Fathers? Question 8. When they say that the Pope of Rome is the Head of the Church, doesnt that state that Jesus is no longer the head of the Church? Isn’t that stealing His position? Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Question 9. Where in scripture is it located, whereby Jesus ordered one man to be in controll of all churches? Where is the Title Pope located? Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Mat 24:1-2 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. According to the latest survey, the Catholic Church is loosing controll of the European and United States, as far as membership, but are concentrateing on Africa for converts, but according to some reports, they have no idea on how to handel the poverty of the people. Are they relying on themselves to aid these people and forgetting about our source and supply, God? Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Why did Jesus say this? Because of the traditions, that man, in the church had made, these things being not of God. Because they were teaching their laws and traditions to others, makeing them also guilty. Laws, customs and traditions that were and are still contrary to the word of God. Popes, Priest, Rosary Beads, Conclaves and Sainthood Rituals, none even mentioned in the Bible. Where is their authority to make one person a Saint above another, from whom does it come from? Where did God or Jesus ever state that any man can add to the Holy Scriptures? Was not this the reason for the fall of the House of Israel? For the destruction of the Temple of Solomon? Wasn’t this the reason for Jesus having to die on the Cross? And what about these next few verses?
Luke 14:12-14 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? Have we become just as guilty as those who say that they are in charge? Are we also overlooking the poor in this life to build as the Catholics build? And what about man made doctrine, doctrines that doesn’t show up in Scripture? Mark 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, Matthew 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Phi 3:2-3 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.[Concision;A cutting off; a false circumcision]. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. We do not look to Rome, with the Idols, standing in a row. idolotrous statues, that came from Babylon, supposedly, re-dedicated to God. God is not partaker of Idol statues. Have you ever wondered why God never allowed us to have an image of Himself? Because we would have turned to His image and not to His Spirit to worship. Have the Catholic Church turned the office of Pope into a thing of worship? Yes. pictures, paintings, post cards, statues, ect. all with the immage of a man. Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
Under line this piece of Scripture and Remember it. “and unto God the things that are God’s.”
We dont look to Rome.We look to God and we keep an eye on Jerusalem as commanded by Christ. Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. Warning after warning from Jesus on the state of affaires of mans, philosophy, traditions, vain deceit, and error. Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. This is just a quick insight into the traditions of man and a look at the Catholic Church and The BIble. ars.
