Pope Francis Said What??
Last week in Singapore, Pope Francis sat down with a group of young people from various religions and stated, "All religions are a path to reach God. They are – I make a comparison – like different languages, different idioms, to get there. But God is God for everyone, and since God is God for everyone, we are all children of God. ‘But my God is more important than yours!’ Is this true? There is only one God, and our religions are languages, paths to reach God. Some are Sikh, some are Muslim, some are Hindu, some are Christian, but they are different paths.”
Statements like these always sound nice and welcoming, but beneath the polite and inoffensive surface, are ideas opposed to Scripture and historical Christian doctrine (aka what the Church has taught since Jesus' ascension to Heaven). So, if the Pope's words set off your theological alarm bells, good. Let's take a closer look and break down his statement,
"All religions are a path to reach God. They are – I make a comparison – like different languages, different idioms, to get there."
Comparing religions to languages is odd. If you think about it, the Pope is essentially stating that Christianity is just one translation of truth among other translations. But that's not true. The truth of God is not expressed through the various world religions, but exclusively through his Word (2 Peter 1:16-19), his creation (Romans 1:19-20) and his Son Jesus Christ (Acts 17, Acts 4:5-12, John 1:14). Christianity is not an edition of truth stacked next to Islam and Hindu editions. No, our faith is built on the prophets and apostles that point us to Christ (Ephesians 2:19-21). He alone is The Way, The Truth, The Life (John 14:6). There is no other option to get to God apart from Christ, anything else is foolishness (Romans 1:18-22).
"But God is God for everyone, and since God is God for everyone, we are all children of God."
This is also very misleading and vague, but we'll do our best to clarify a few things. For one, we believe that God is the Savior for all people of every color, language, tribe and tongue (Revelation 7:9). However, because of original sin (Romans 5:12), we are all born separated from the Father and are "by nature children of wrath", held captive by sin (Ephesians 2:3). So then, how do we become children of God? We are adopted as sons and daughters of God by grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 8:15). As sons and daughters of God, we can endure the ups and downs of life knowing that God is for us (Romans 8:31, Psalms 56:9, Isaiah 41:10). Those who have not put their faith in Christ remain separated from the family God and are in desperate need of evangelism. To tell a room of Christians and non-Christians that we are all God's children for sake of superficial peace does nothing but pat people on the back as they run straight towards Hell (Jesus certainly did not; Matthew 10:34-36).
‘But my God is more important than yours!’ Is this true? There is only one God, and our religions are languages, paths to reach God. Some are Sikh, some are Muslim, some are Hindu, some are Christian, but they are different paths.”
The nations need Christ, and thus need Christianity. The sad reality is, Hindus, Muslims, and Sikh have fallen for false gods, false religion, heresy and lies. But they're not alone, so have Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Hebrew Israelites, and many hypocrites that claim be Christians on the outside but remain Christ-less on the inside. Does this mean we're suddenly "holier than thou" because we've been saved? No! This means that as recipients of God's grace (John 1:16-17), we ought to desperately share the gospel and be an example of God's patience, love, and kindness to those around us. We do not shame those of other faiths, nor view them as our enemies, but as prisoners of a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12), captives of sin and false hope. Apart from the exclusive gospel message of Christ that Christianity brings, there is not hope.
Conclusion
Statements like Pope Francis' ought to remind us of the centrality of the gospel, supremacy of God's Word, and the importance of Sola Scriptura (according to Scripture alone). There is no other hope or escape from sin other than the gospel: the good news of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection to redeem God's people through faith in him alone (Romans 1:16). Second, we must never forget that God's Word is supreme over everyone, including pastors, leaders, church history, tradition and the Pope (1 Corinthians 4:6). We should appreciate and love our pastors and leaders, study, cherish, and celebrate Christian tradition and history, but we must be careful to never place any of them on the same level or above the Bible. God's Word alone (Sola Scriptura) has the final say on everything concerning our faith: theology, doctrine, how to live, etc. You don't have to be a pastor to differentiate sound teaching from confusing, vague, and false teaching. The same Spirit that wrote the Scripture is the same that teaches us its meaning today, and he is with you (John 4:16-17). Equip yourself with God's Word, and do not be afraid to stand for truth. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/september/documents/20240913-singapore-giovani.html
Statements like these always sound nice and welcoming, but beneath the polite and inoffensive surface, are ideas opposed to Scripture and historical Christian doctrine (aka what the Church has taught since Jesus' ascension to Heaven). So, if the Pope's words set off your theological alarm bells, good. Let's take a closer look and break down his statement,
"All religions are a path to reach God. They are – I make a comparison – like different languages, different idioms, to get there."
Comparing religions to languages is odd. If you think about it, the Pope is essentially stating that Christianity is just one translation of truth among other translations. But that's not true. The truth of God is not expressed through the various world religions, but exclusively through his Word (2 Peter 1:16-19), his creation (Romans 1:19-20) and his Son Jesus Christ (Acts 17, Acts 4:5-12, John 1:14). Christianity is not an edition of truth stacked next to Islam and Hindu editions. No, our faith is built on the prophets and apostles that point us to Christ (Ephesians 2:19-21). He alone is The Way, The Truth, The Life (John 14:6). There is no other option to get to God apart from Christ, anything else is foolishness (Romans 1:18-22).
"But God is God for everyone, and since God is God for everyone, we are all children of God."
This is also very misleading and vague, but we'll do our best to clarify a few things. For one, we believe that God is the Savior for all people of every color, language, tribe and tongue (Revelation 7:9). However, because of original sin (Romans 5:12), we are all born separated from the Father and are "by nature children of wrath", held captive by sin (Ephesians 2:3). So then, how do we become children of God? We are adopted as sons and daughters of God by grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 8:15). As sons and daughters of God, we can endure the ups and downs of life knowing that God is for us (Romans 8:31, Psalms 56:9, Isaiah 41:10). Those who have not put their faith in Christ remain separated from the family God and are in desperate need of evangelism. To tell a room of Christians and non-Christians that we are all God's children for sake of superficial peace does nothing but pat people on the back as they run straight towards Hell (Jesus certainly did not; Matthew 10:34-36).
‘But my God is more important than yours!’ Is this true? There is only one God, and our religions are languages, paths to reach God. Some are Sikh, some are Muslim, some are Hindu, some are Christian, but they are different paths.”
The nations need Christ, and thus need Christianity. The sad reality is, Hindus, Muslims, and Sikh have fallen for false gods, false religion, heresy and lies. But they're not alone, so have Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Hebrew Israelites, and many hypocrites that claim be Christians on the outside but remain Christ-less on the inside. Does this mean we're suddenly "holier than thou" because we've been saved? No! This means that as recipients of God's grace (John 1:16-17), we ought to desperately share the gospel and be an example of God's patience, love, and kindness to those around us. We do not shame those of other faiths, nor view them as our enemies, but as prisoners of a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12), captives of sin and false hope. Apart from the exclusive gospel message of Christ that Christianity brings, there is not hope.
Conclusion
Statements like Pope Francis' ought to remind us of the centrality of the gospel, supremacy of God's Word, and the importance of Sola Scriptura (according to Scripture alone). There is no other hope or escape from sin other than the gospel: the good news of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection to redeem God's people through faith in him alone (Romans 1:16). Second, we must never forget that God's Word is supreme over everyone, including pastors, leaders, church history, tradition and the Pope (1 Corinthians 4:6). We should appreciate and love our pastors and leaders, study, cherish, and celebrate Christian tradition and history, but we must be careful to never place any of them on the same level or above the Bible. God's Word alone (Sola Scriptura) has the final say on everything concerning our faith: theology, doctrine, how to live, etc. You don't have to be a pastor to differentiate sound teaching from confusing, vague, and false teaching. The same Spirit that wrote the Scripture is the same that teaches us its meaning today, and he is with you (John 4:16-17). Equip yourself with God's Word, and do not be afraid to stand for truth. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/september/documents/20240913-singapore-giovani.html