The Pope is just a man…

It’s been a bit since I wrote my last blog. I was on vacation with my family and have been quite busy since then. We were able to meet with brethren in Ft Lauderdale, FL and we all had a good time.

As you can see from the title of my blog that I am referring to the man that recently visited the United States and was subject to much fanfare and sensational promotion. He has a very large following and many people look to him for guidance and their faith. Let’s look at his name firstly. The word Pope is from Latin meaning papa, Papa, father and from Greek: papas = priest originating from πατήρ = father. Many people call him his holiness, father, the holy father, reverend, etc.

These terms are not deserving of any man. These are terms that should be reserved for our creator and father in heaven.

Matthew 23:8-12 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

As I watched some of the activities, masses, fanfare, etc., it amazed me how people will expend so much energy, money, time and effort for a man and devote so little to God in worship and searching for the truth. The Catholic church has done so much harm to Christianity that it is leading many to lose their eternal life in heaven. I don’t say this to be ugly but to point out the facts of the scriptures and God’s desire for everyone to do things by His authority.

The pope does not have his origin in the Bible. No where in the New Testament do we see of the office of a pope. We do see the office of bishops (aka elders, shepherds, pastors) which has certain qualifications including being the husband of one wife and father of believing children.

Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Obviously, we know that the catholic church and its offices and positions do not follow this pattern as established by God. We must follow His pattern and walk by the same rule. The rule established by God and His teachings in the New Testament. Not ones established by mankind.

Phillipians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

I will get back to our progression through the study of authority in my next blog as we talk about things specified and thing not so specified.