How does he, a human like everyone else, get the special power to talk to god directly? Doesn't it seem kind of illogical for one man to be holier than another when we're all humans?
2007-12-22 15:53:51 · 12 answers · asked by someguy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First of all only God is Holy.
But to infer what you mean in your question...Its opposite.
The Pope's claim of inerrancy and superiority makes him "less holy" than those who see their sin.
And while were on the subject, I dont put much value in praying to saints, worshipping Mary, or think that the blood of our Savior tastes like Manishewitz wine either. But that's neither here nor there.
Catholics are saved by God's grace just like the non-catholic Christians are.
God Bless You.
2007-12-22 16:02:05 · answer #1 · answered by John W 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Someguy, you got some bad information in you question and most of these answers! If you done ate that, you'd be sick in your belly! Catholics don't believe that about the Pope, nor that he is an incarnation of anybody! The Pope can be jus as bad as any baptist preacher, or jus as holy as one. 'Course one man can be holier than another - some jus plain don't work at it, some jus plain want to be wicked. The Pope does not 'talk to god directly' - even only Moses spoke to him except for my dear Lord Jesus. Honey, read a book - the Catechism of the Catholic Church to find out what the Catolics really believe!
2007-12-22 16:09:23 · answer #2 · answered by Tanitha B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take issue with the second part of your question. We are not all equally holy. Hitler was a human and so was Mussolini? Are you not prepaired to say that Mother Teresa was more holier than Hitler???
I don't know if the Pope is holier than a Baptist preacher but he is probably holier than many of us. His life is devoted to serving God. Then again, I don't really know how holy he is, he has his problems just like the rest of us.
2007-12-22 16:03:53 · answer #3 · answered by Jonny 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The pope doesn't speak directly with God, that's silly. What makes him different from a preacher is just the same that makes him different from a priest.
2007-12-22 16:07:02 · answer #4 · answered by truly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1Sa 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Be vewy, vewy, careful, there are those who believe that the pope is an antichrist. He has NO SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY to accept worship as he does.
He has NO SPECIAL POWERS, and he is no "holier" than anyone else:
Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.
I have never seen or heard of any pope walking on water, feeding 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread, turning water into wine, raising the dead, physically healing the sick....and I do not accept him as having ANY special authority whatsoever. (Such as forgiving sins).
I will only receive thumbs down from those who accept catholic dogma as having more authority than God's Inspired Word (The Holy Bible). And catholics have their own bible, with teachings and books that the rest of the Christian world does not accept.
2007-12-22 15:59:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe in the Catholic faith they believe the pope is the incarnation of Christ on Earth. That is not a widely accepted general Christian belief though. In the Bible, the only person who was more holy was Christ. Everyone else is the same in God's eyes.
2007-12-22 15:58:20 · answer #6 · answered by beautifuldolore4 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Nothing... he's not holier.
We are all sinners in need of redemption. No one is perfect. Not even when speaking "Ex Cathedra" or whatever the phrase is.
2007-12-22 16:02:17 · answer #7 · answered by Thrice Blessed 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Let he who is the greatest among you be your servant" I know way shape or form are we to worship a "man". Or to treat that man as if he where Jesus. However, we are to respect the position, and to listen to him. But, not all who claim to be annointed of God are truly annointed. The prophesy of the AntiChrist is one example of that as found in the book of revelation.
2007-12-22 16:03:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Pope is not holier than anyone else. He does not talk to God any more directly than anyone else. But the Holy Spirit has chosen him for a special minitsry.
John 21:15-17 states:
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Matthew 16:17-19 states:
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
The Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.
The Pope is the senior pastor of 1.1 billion Catholics, the direct successor of Simon Peter.
The Pope’s main roles include teaching, sanctifying, and governing.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 880-882: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#880
With love in Christ.
2007-12-22 16:05:42 · answer #9 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God is no respecter of persons..... we are ALL the same in His eyes...... the ONLY person of *flesh* that walked this earth as PERFECT is Jesus........ and HE is the ONLY mediator between us and God..... go in peace...... God bless
2007-12-22 16:01:19 · answer #10 · answered by Annie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋