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Is the Pope in Heaven?

Is Pope John Paul II in heaven? To many the question will seem as ridiculous as asking is the Pope a catholic. Well, if he is in heaven it is not because he was the Pope or because he was a catholic. There are many who claim to be Christian (catholic , protestant or otherwise) who tragically will not be in heaven; people who thought they were Christ’s and will hear on the last day, ‘depart from me I never knew you. They may have been extremely active in the cause of Christ (prophesying and casting out demons in his name) and yet be ultimately rejected (Matt 7:22,23). Ironically, often those who hold the highest positions of religious influence and leadership in the name of Christ are most likely to be opposed to Christ. In the OT, it is the priests and leaders of the people who persecuted the true prophets. For Christ himself, his greatest antagonism came from the Jewish religious leaders. No, Pope John Paul’s Papal office was no passport to heaven, indeed in itself it was a positive hindrance; a human office which confers upon its holder titles that rightly belong to the Trinitarian God alone (Holy Father, Vicar of Christ , Mediator) flirts dangerously with blasphemy. What God requires of his people is a heart of humility; it is hard to see how the pomp and ceremony of the papacy sits comfortably with a contrite and humble heart .

Is the Pope in heaven? He certainly is if the media has anything to do with it. The media lionised John Paul II. In many ways, this is odd for he frequently championed deeply politically incorrect views (role of women , abortion, homosexuality, birth control etc). It is difficult to analyse why these views did not alienate the liberal western media (of course, they did distance many). Perhaps the answer lies in a deep-rooted C21 need for a hero and a holy man. We live in an age of ‘No gods and precious few heroes’ , to borrow the language of a late C20 historian. Pope John Paul seemed to meet both criteria. Adulated to the point of idolatry, for many (and not just Catholics) he was great, good and not far removed from being a god . By all accounts, he mastered mass media presentation and this no doubt helped to create the myth (for all media heroes are myths and not real people). Yet having said this there was that which was heroic; he did as a young vulnerable priest stand virtually alone against the juggernaut of Polish communism and as Pontiff, his insistence on biblical ethical values in the face of western disapproval (and the collapse of nerve by most Protestant voices) was heroic if not holy . He courted the media, not for approval, but to enable him to convey his message .

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About John

Hi there - I am a member of Greenview and have been for over 20 years. For a number of these years I functioned as an elder, however, indifferent health forced me to take more of a back seat. I see this as an opportunity to do a little writing, often focussing on issues that are a matter of evangelical debate today. Naturally the views expressed are my own and may not reflect the views of the elders or church at large, though differences are likely to be in the detail and not the substance.

These articles and sermons were written partly to clarify my own thoughts and partly with the intention of provoking thought in others who may read them. If you read one I hope you find it stimulating. Please feel free to give me feedback or discuss my articles in the forums.

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