I wrote the other night on a "hot topic" that has taken center stage in our society, homosexuality and the acceptance of it as a lifestyle. And while I am not going to dive into it again tonight, there was a point I made in light of it that is the focus of tonight's post. Many years ago there began this movement in thought that has been titled existentialism. Many people know what it is, yet don't know it by that title. Today it is often disguised, though in a historically incorrect way, as tolerance. It's the idea that what works for you works for you and what works for me works for me. Your truth is your truth, and my truth is my truth. It is in essence the abolition of absolutes in exchange for the defining of our own truth. The issue with it today being under the guise of tolerance is that if you do not agree with the tolerant person's truth, then you are wrong and intolerant; yet it is acceptable for them to slander you for disagreeing with their tolerant views. It's a complete double standard aside from the logical problems associated with existentialism itself.
But before I get to far down a rabbit hole regarding existentialism (maybe some time we will journey down that road from a logical perspective), I want to get back to the point of tonight's post. That being a truth that is disregarded in light of existentialism, even within the Church. Specifically the Pope of the Catholic Church, which many gravitate towards in and outside the Church. So what is my concern with the Pope (this time)? You may recall a declaration he made the other week regarding women and abortion.
"I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it."
Now, this sounds great; and don't get me wrong, forgiveness for sin is! Yet in this statement comes to light a major flaw within Roman Catholic dogma (tradition): that being the word of the Pope is of equal and/or greater authority than Scripture. This is a major divide between Roman Catholic and Protestantism, rooted in the actions of Martin Luther confronting the Roman Catholic Church in his day and declaring "Sola Scripture", translated from Latin to be "Scripture Alone". Luther's issue was what I just highlighted, that within the Roman Catholic Church, Scripture alone was not the authority for the Church and believer. While not termed this yet, in essence the Roman Catholic Church was practicing a type of existentialism reserved for the Pope, and we continue to see this today in the form of Church dogma.
So why is this an issue? He is the Pope after all, right? One must keep in mind that regardless of title, all are human. Only Christ walked this earth perfect and sinless, as God in flesh. The truth is that there is only one absolute authority, God. He provides His truth through Scripture and the working of the Holy Spirit; and on that note let me clarify that the work of the Holy Spirit should be able to be confirmed by Scripture. What do I mean by that? One must be able to distinguish the moving of the Holy Spirit from indigestion; and Scripture is the ruler by which we can measure. For example, if you think God has spoken to you through the Holy Spirit and yet what He told you fails to measure up to Scripture, then what you heard was not true. John instructs us to do just this with every spirit (1 John 4:1-3).
Paul clarifies that Scripture is authoritative in his instructions to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Paul makes it clear that Scripture holds the answers one needs for life, and in that completeness, the absolute authority on how man should live. We must remember our condition, of which the Pope is also subject to. We are fallen sinners, though with salvation we are redeemed before God. And while we are empowered with the Holy Spirit, we are still prone to sin and fallible (Romans 8).
The truth is that regardless of a declaration made by the Pope, he does not hold the authority to forgive sins. The truth is that Jesus Christ is the only One who has the power and authority to grant forgiveness, and God ensured this long before the Pope. And it doesn't just apply to abortion; forgiveness is available for all sins as I stated in my previous post. John made this clear for us when he wrote,
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
It's not complicated. You don't have to wait for permission from the Pope and a blessing from a priest. All it takes is sincere confession to God; David illustrates this in Psalm 51. Now, to be clear this is reserved for a believer in context. Apart from Christ as Savior and Lord there is no forgiveness. This takes confession in and of itself; we must stop trusting in ourselves or anything else, thinking we are "good" enough to stand before God and please Him. Paul in his letter to the Roman Church makes it clear that on our own we are all sinners before God, and that His law only brings to light our sin and need for redemption (Romans 3:9-20). With this news however, Paul also makes it clear that redemption is a free gift through the acceptance of Christ's sacrifice upon the cross (3:23-26).
It's not up to a man. It's not up to you or me. The issue of forgiveness being granted has already been decided, and God said yes. We just have to participate by accepting His Son's sacrifice in our place. It's really that simple. While it sounds "cool" to hear the Pope make his declarations, remember he doesn't hold the authority proclaimed.
God does.
It's absolute, unchanging, gracious, and just.
What do you want to put your faith in?
