There is one bothersome point in the Catholic church I cannot seem to get around nor understand. The position of Pope, if the Bible tells us that there is no way to the father except through Jesus, what is the Pope's purpose? How can a man, born of the same God-borrowed flesh as everyone else, seem to claim a throne between The Father and The Son and it not seem as a great contradiction to any practicing Catholic? And if the Pope's position is not a contradiction, does that mean the seat of the Pope is as open to any able bodied contender like a presidential election of sorts?
2006-09-09 16:36:00 · 12 answers · asked by Anthony L 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sure. As long as we acknowledge that the spokeman is limited, where the source of the information may not be.
A fool may speak for a genius, but the depth of the message is limited by the skills of the messenger.
2006-09-09 16:37:44 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since it was the Romans who voted on what books were to be put in the Bible then stands to reason they would want the ability to rule over any church they started.
And they do. The pope does all his business just like you and me do ours. He is just a man but the position he is in is because of all those believing people who bow down to him and kiss his ring. Guess that you could also call him an idol. So they are worshiping an idol in a sense. Did you ever study the past popes from the beginning of the Catholic church? They did whatever they wanted to because they had the power to do it.
And who gave them that power, the People did.
And he will keep it as long as the believers keep him on that throne.
2006-09-10 00:00:56 · answer #2 · answered by melrae1116 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the old testament we had kings and priests and prophets, all of whom posessed some or all of the characteristics you seem to be so puzzled about, and all of which were types of a future, new testament reality.
In this new covenant age of grace, and especially in light of the wide spread confusion in the world, don't you think God would provide an earthly leader for his very own church?
Scripture clearly tells us that he did.
The pope doesn't interpose his will between the Father and the Son, he works for them, and for us, guided by the same Holy Spirit who unifies the whole church.
The position of pope is open to anyone who satisfies the specific requirements of God's church, and who the God appointed rulers of the church, who are the bishops, decide to elect.
Your personal interpretation of scripture suffers from the typical gaps that are present in all modern protestant faith traditions.
2006-09-10 03:34:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amen. You are so right. I go to a church with no heirarchy. We are all able to share the Lord equally, however we want. Nobody is told what to do, or how to enjoy the Lord. It's really wonderful, because it takes the focus away from the man standing at the front preaching to everyone and puts it on the Lord, which is where it should be! You are right on with that question, and I agree with you totally. This is why religion is so backward and misleading.
2006-09-09 23:38:29 · answer #4 · answered by mamabird 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The pope, as I understand him, is the defender of the church against the secular world--the one who upholds the principles and laws despite the loud noise to relent from outside.
2006-09-09 23:40:23 · answer #5 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Based on this logic, how can a book be a bridge either? Matt 1:26 says not to get your religious knowledge from anywhere accept "Our Father". As far as I know, the only child the Bible has is the Q'uran. Hmmmm...
2006-09-09 23:46:19 · answer #6 · answered by neil s 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The pope should reform the church but he refuses to. Apparently popes don't want reform or they don't really have the power. Priests and nuns should marry, nobody should be talking of three Gods in the trinity (Nicean Creed), nobody should be praying to the dead.
2006-09-09 23:38:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
All the TV evangelists claim the same thing, that they are the voice of God.
Yet they don't all say the same things (other than the "send money" part).
Maybe some God is communicating through me at this very moment.
2006-09-09 23:40:29 · answer #8 · answered by sheeple_rancher 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not that I believe in the pope, but if a man repeats an eternal truth is he not correct?
2006-09-09 23:37:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No no one can.
2006-09-09 23:37:57 · answer #10 · answered by pirateron 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋