The media coverage has been fairly sickening. I wonder who the next one will be...

I thought to myself earlier, "what a rude awakening the pope will have at the moment of death." <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/sigh.gif" alt="" />

What I found most sickening was the talk of "Our Lady" Mary, how she'll be "at the gates" to receive him, how he in his life so imitated her, etc., etc., ad nauseam. The praise he has received from all corners reminded me of Christ's words in Luke 6:22–26:


His death is a sad thing, and a greater tragedy still is the deception which he was under and under which he has led so many to their eternal doom. Truly a case of the "blind leading the blind." <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/sigh.gif" alt="" />

James White has some timely words on his blog: www.aomin.org

Christ's Enemy, that false Christ, is dead. Sadly, the office continues... for now. On that note, do North American Reformed Christians accept the Papacy as Antichrist?

"There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, the man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the Church aginst Christ, and all that is called God." (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXV)

"The Roman Catholic Church is a slaughterhouse of souls" Martin Luther

"Cursed be the love and cursed be the unity that takes the Word of God to the stake." Martin Luther

"To sidestep the Apostate Church which is the greatest evil, and focus on such problems as secular humanism, atheism and spiritual nihilism, denies the One who gave the warning and the very Holy Spirit who highlights it in His Word." (Ex RC priest Richard Bennett)

"And I heard another voice from heaven. saying, 'Come out of her my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues.'"

Denny

Roms 3:22-24

Most Americans take out the portion I've underlined above, as going beyond Scripture.

In your various worship services this morning was the pope (little p) spoken of and how so?

Kyle,

I don't.

Denny

I was just mentioning it for flunky's benefit. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />

Nope, no mention was made.

Well, mention was made. The pastor of the church we've been going to of late mentioned that the Pope was dead, and that while he had done great things for the family, he prayed that the next one to take his office would be one who recognized supreme dependency on the Lord. He also prayed that all the Catholics mourning the loss of the Pope would realize that there is but one mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ. It's not exactly what I would have said, but it's a lot better then the comments made by Billy Graham or Pat Robertson (see Jame's White's blog...).

No, but it WAS a glorious celebration of justification by faith alone (in our hymns and in the Lord's Supper) and a celebration of true ecclesiology (sermon on Hebrews 13:17 and acknowledgemment of our two newly appointed elders).

Thanks Kyle. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/cheers2.gif" alt="" />

Most Americans don't even know that there is such a thing as the Westminster Confession!

Denny

Roms 3:22-24

I thought it would be interesting to know. Unfortunately, mention was made and the Lord was thanked for the impact that john paul had made upon the world. Our Pastor is, I truly believe, a man of God and I would rather not speak ill of him because I believe his intentions are to be merciful and gracious in every situation.

Also, I would bet that one on one he would express his true feelings about the lies of catholicism but I think that gives the church the wrong impression. We should know that catholics are NOT part of the church...we do not consider them Christians nor our brothers and sisters in Christ that have slighty different beliefs than us Protestants. I don't know, I was disheartened but like I've said before, I would rather pray that our eyes would be opened and that each would know for themselves what the truth of the Gospel is, rather than criticize. I earnestly pray for myself and the rest of the Body that we would adhere to sound doctrine and not be found wanting when we stand before our Lord.

Oh God! Have mercy and keep us and let us not be numbered with those who wil not endure sound doctrine and turn their ears away from the truth. Let us be found faithful at Your appearing.

The headline on the Chicago Tribune this morning is "He was our Father." <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/uhoh.gif" alt="" />

Sadly, the pope was mentioned in our church yesterday. One of our elders used the Prayers of the People to extol the praises of the pope and ask God's comfort for our "Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ." It wasn't just a small portion of the prayer, either. It was the main substance. Needless to say, I was shocked and dismayed, as was my husband. Our pastor was not there yesterday. We had a guest speaker (excellent speaker from Trinity College). How difficult it must have been for him to take the podium after that prayer. He was preaching through Psalm 37, but he managed to find a way through his sermon to correct the impressions left by that prayer.

I couldn't stop thinking about it all day yesterday. It is still bothering me today.

Our pastor also mentioned the passing of the pope yesterday when opening our worship service. However, he said how sad it was that the Roman Catholic church has remained basically the same as it was four hundred years ago when the protestant movement began. They still believe you can add to Scripture, tradition, and the Pontiff's authority over all the church.

It goes to show you how attractive a religion can be that looks like Christianity in many ways and yet adds so many errors to the teachings of the church. It's also amazing how many millions of people all around the world are blindly following this religion which calls this man holy father.

I sympathize with those who loved this man and feel his loss. But I don't think I could offer them the same words of consolation as if a Christian brother died.


Wes

Obviously, as many of you know, I hold to the European Calvinist position that the Papacy is the specific and archetypal "man of sin", "that wicked", etc., so I am naturally disgusted and annoyed that some American pastors / public speakers are making the statements reported above. However, I'm pleased to see my good friends on this site are dismayed at this development. Whatever disparities there might (or might not) be between our views on the antichrist, at least we are all agreed that the pope is no Christian and that his religion is one of man-centred merit-mongery.

Maybe the Vatican will elect one of those flamboyant, Medieval popes who would wear gold armour, pronounced papal Bulls against his enemies and threaten to excommunicate whole nations. That would be cool to behold in our 21st century.

Fred

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> good one!

Ooooh!!!! Ooooh!!! Can we have a 16th Century Pope???

I want to be anathematized again!!!

Justified by God, condemned by Trent. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bananas.gif" alt="" />

He was not spoken of at church at all....thankfully. True to a popular Dutch phrase: "Zeg maar niets" lit. "Say but nothing"

West Michigan + familarity with Dutch = Dutch Reformed???

The Papacy still wields two swords. The swords of diplomacy and ecumenicalism are just as deadly.

Ja. He is. (Well, he's URCNA, but the wooden shoe avatar says something...)

Hey, my ancestry on my father's side is Dutch, so I probably have good Reformed people in my background too. That is, before they all defected to PCUSA (and me to Reformed Baptist).

Does anyone know what the RC church believes about how long the pope will spend in purgatory.
Will he get out before mother tereasa or will he pass go and collect 200 dollars?

It was my understanding that "Mary opened the gates to Heaven for him" already. . .

Maybe I should post this in the Theology Discussion Forum but;

When the pope gets to heaven, which RC saint will sort out JPII from the real Saint Peter? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bigglasses.gif" alt="" />

Just wondering or maybe I should make this into a poll.

Denny

Roms 3:22-24

I guess if you use the term "Dutch Reformed" generically. I am of Dutch decent, a son of dutch immigrants. I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church, but am now a member of a church in the federation of churches known as The United Reformed Churches in North America. The same federation to which Michael Horton, Dr. Robert Godfrey, and Kim Riddelbarger belong.

I assume Mother Theresa's in heaven already, seeing as how she's been beatified and all. Now the pope—well, if he had the ability of his office to free souls from purgatory as it is said, I imagine he already determined for himself that he would not be spending time there.

I've heard those tricky Catholics have changed it from Mary opening the door to Christ opening the door. Unbelieveable!

A friend of mine visited some folks in Holland, Michigan, a few years back, so I wondered if there's a bit of a Dutch heritage in that state, and also given Joel Beeke's abode is in Grand Rapids.

Hehe, It goes without saying that a town with a name like Holland Michigan has a dutch heritage. The history of the Dutch in Michigan dates back to a group of seceders from the state church in the Netherlands back in mid 1800's. My parents came here in the second wave of immigrants that came here after WWII.

Speaking of Beeke, his Puritan Reformed Seminary is a couple of miles from my home.

Bizarrely, I'd only heard of him a few days before I went to hear him preach here in Northern Ireland - I only found out he'd be preaching nearby a day or less after I bought one of his books! I think his subject was along the lines of godliness worked in us by the Lord.