The Roman Catholic church has always taught, contrary to the Bible, that salvation is attained via sacramental grace and merit. Back in time, the Catholic clergy taught that only baptized Catholics could possibly merit Heaven, but in the modern era, that stance has softened, and the RCC now grants that all “good” and sincere religionists – Protestants, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. – can also possibly merit Heaven. Pope Francis has said on several occasions that even “moral” atheists can merit Heaven.
Last month, Francis met with a group of Italian high school students and advised the (c)hristians among them to NOT to try to convert* those of other faiths. Below are some quotes from Francis’ remarks:
- [Speaking of having Jewish and Muslim friends]: “We are all the same, all children of God.”
- “It didn’t occur to me, and it doesn’t have to be like, saying to a boy or a girl: ‘You are Jewish, you are Muslim: come, be converted!'”
- “We are not in the times of the crusades.”
- “In front of an unbeliever the last thing I have to do is try to convince him. Never.”
- “But listen: Never, never bring the gospel by proselytizing.”
- “If someone says they are a disciple of Jesus and comes to you with proselytism, they are not a disciple of Jesus.”
- “The Church does not grow by proselytism.”
None of the above is surprising in light of Catholicism’s wide-is-the-way teaching that EVERYONE is a child of God. Contrary to what the pope claims, God’s Word declares that only those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior by faith alone and are born again spiritually in Christ become God’s children:
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” – John 1:12
Should we believe the pope or God’s Word?
Let’s see what evangelist, Ray Comfort, has to say about the pope’s un-Biblicalness in the 15-minute video below:
For more information, see the news article here.
*Please, no angry letters. I readily agree that it’s the Holy Spirit Who converts, not Christians, who merely sow the Gospel seed. I’m only conveying the pope’s words.
The million dollar question is what does David Anders say about this? LOL
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Yeah, Anders would respond with something like, “What pope Francis said is his prudential opinion and Catholics not obliged to follow it.”
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LOL. It’s no wonder I don’t see Roman apologists really debating Muslims. They are hamstrung by their own magisterium hahahaha.
Just look at this:
Quran 4.157: And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah .” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.
Quran 4:171: O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three”; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.
How in the world can Yahweh and Allah be the same? The Quran denies the crucifixion and the triune God.
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Thanks for the references from the Quran. There is no salvation in Catholicism, Islam, or any of the other work-religions.
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Romanism/Islam, the Pope/Muhammad, two false religions and two false prophets.
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Two peas from the same pod.
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Amen Tom! The pope is a liar and he is blaspheming the Lord and His command to make disciples of all nations! We are most definitely commanded to spread the Gospel and that is exactly how the Gospel spreads around the world. The pope is so wrong it’s ridiculous! The pope should read Matthew 28:18-20 and Matthew 24:14. The end won’t come until the Gospel is preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. People should stick with Jesus and ignore the heretical pope! God bless!
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Thanks, brother Ryan, and Amen! I am encouraged that you never mince words when it comes to the Gospel!
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Biblically indivisible, I’m shocked there’s not more push back.
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Thanks, sister. When I read something clearly anti-Biblical about the pope like this I think about the accommodating ecumenical evangelicals who embrace him as a “brother in Christ.” The Jesus that Francis preaches is not the Jesus of the New Testament.
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Thank you. Christ Jesus is the answer.
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Thanks, Bonnie. Imagine an evangelical pastor exhorting his church not to tell anyone about Jesus and the Gospel.
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Great Sadness as he has the world at his feet and does nothing to the Glory to our God.:(
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Thanks, Bonnie. Right. he’s leading 1.3 billion souls astray.
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You are welcome.
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That would be neat to see you pick up again
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Yeah, I would really enjoy that!
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I would love to see the art work too!
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Thanks! The thought just occurred to me that a lot of the creative itch that I used to have is now put to work writing blog posts. That’s the Lord at work.
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Praise God!
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Yeah…. REBLOGGING!
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Thank you, Beth!
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You betcha, Tom!!! 🙏🏻
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Reblogged this on I ONCE WAS LOST and commented:
He is of his father the devil…
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👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻
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Yes another jesus and another gospel
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👍🏻
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This pope is not only unbiblical but not historic Catholic
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That’s right. Popes from just 100 years ago would be appalled at what Francis is pushing now.
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Yeah, agreed. Its like God is judging ROmanism with a terrible irony
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Yup. Some Catholics are pulling their hair out over Francis. A Catholic blogger submitted a comment to this post with a link to his article in which he admits he’s greatly disturbed by the pope’s statements advising people not to “evangelize.” But there are sooooooo many other things about Catholicism that also contradict Scripture.
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Wow I pray that Catholic blogger would see other problems with this pope and not this pope but also the unbiblical nature of the pope and other things in Romanism.
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Amen! I pray for him as well. Catholic souls desperately cling to the institution even when the corruption and anti-Biblical heterodoxies slap them across the face. Yup, that was me 40 years ago.
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I’m glad God saved you from it, what a testimony to those who are Catholics lurking on your blog
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Thanks, brother! I sympathize with all of the disillusioned Catholics whose heads are spinning right now because of Francis and the corruption, but they need to forsake the Titanic and get into the Lifeboat!
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Amen!
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Due to being a bit under the weather I realized after posting my comment I had several typos which I hope can be ammended by this corrected version.
Hello all you faithful in Christ Jesus. I read this Blog and was quite moved by the truth contained in it but especially many of the comments many of you made I found to be compelling enough that I had to share a strong perspective I have that took years to arrive at and be so shaken by. I have been known to leave extremely long comments on Blogs or Post Trends but rather than do that here i decided to be more considerate than that and just Blog on my own site and leave the link for my commentary regarding this Blog for anyone who is interested to take a look it there and if you don’t have the time or dislike long postings then you are spared.
Thank you for your understanding and may God Bless All of You!
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence Morra
https://lawrencemorra.com/2020/01/14/pope-francis-stated-never-try-to-convert-unbelievers/
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Lawrence, having been a Roman Catholic for 27 years before accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior by faith alone and coming out of the RCC, I understand the great confusion among Catholics caused by Francis who is not only contradicting traditional Catholic teaching, but more importantly, God’s Holy Word. Many of Francis’ statements and “reforms” are contrary to traditional Catholic teaching and I believe many Catholics are shaken and disturbed by Francis’ novelties. However, this push towards interfaith plurality began long ago with pope John XXIII so Catholics should not be surprised by Francis’ remarks last month. Roman Catholicism contradicts Holy Scripture on so many points. I invite you to read “The Gospel According to Rome” by James G. McCarthy (readily available at Amazon) which goes into quite a bit of detail regarding those differences. Catholics owe it to themselves to read it. Many Catholics are understandably in a quandary over Francis. There is an answer to all of the confusion. His name is Jesus Christ and He is opposed to all that the RCC stands for.
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LOL, our friend Dave Armstrong had to put a positive spin on this here
He sounds like a North Korean propaganda machine.
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RE: He sounds like a North Korean propaganda machine
Thanks for the Armstrong article and the excellent metaphor! Francis has conservative Catholic apologists twisted into pretzels.
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There are in fact two religions Bible Christianity and religions based upon witchcraft and works.
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Thanks, Jackie! Yes, every other religion is works-centered.
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I love living waters. We watch Ray every day in my program.
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Thanks, Dmitriy. Yes, I appreciate the way Ray gives out the Gospel; showing people they’re sinners headed for hell and in need of the Savior.
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