THE POPE (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            In our last article, we began a study of the Pope of the Catholic Church.  We noted the numerous titles that are worn by the one who occupies the highest position in the Catholic religion.  In this article, we will examine the authority that has been granted to the Pope of Rome.

            The Bible teaches us that Jesus is the head of the church.  Paul put is very simply in Colossians 1:18.  “And he is the head of the body, the church…”  According to Catholic doctrine, the Pope is the earthly head of the Church.  On page 254, of the The Catechism of the Catholic Church, they explain his authority.  “For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.”  Notice the Pope is referred to as the “Vicar of Christ.”  The word “vicar” means one who serves as a substitutionary agent of another.  In other words, Catholics believe the Pope is Christ’s substitute on earth.  They affirm Jesus is the head of the Church in heaven.  On earth, however, they believe the Pope serves as the head.

            There are at least three problems with the concept of the Pope as the head of the Church.  First, it makes the church into a monstrosity.  A body is only supposed to have one head.  One body having two heads is not natural.  If we were to see a two-headed man on the streets, it would strike fear into the hearts of most.  Many, however, do not have this same perception of the Roman Catholic Church, but they should.  The Catholic Church has two heads attached to its shoulders, Jesus Christ and the Pope of Rome. 

            The second problem with having the Pope as the earthly head of the church is that it conflicts with Scripture.  Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the head of the church according to the Bible.  “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (I Cor. 11:3).  It is interesting that the pope is nowhere listed in this order.  Paul did not say:  “The head of every man is the pope, and the head of the pope is Christ.”

            When this writer was in preacher training school, he was required to quote a memory verse at the beginning of each class.  In one of brother John Renshaw’s classes, I choose to quote Ephesians 1:22-23.  Here is the way I quoted the text:  “And hath put all things under his feet, and him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”  Brother Renshaw informed me that I had quoted the verse incorrectly and asked me to quote it again.  I quoted it just as I did the first time.  Wrong again!  I had left out one word from verse 22.  It was the little word “the” before the word “head.”  “…and gave him to be THE head over all things to the church…” (emp. mine, vme).  The article “the” is extremely important in this verse.  It affirms that Jesus is the only head of the church.  There are not two heads.  Jesus Christ is the one and only head of the body of Christ.

            The third problem having the Pope as the head of the church is that the Pope is not deity.  He is just a man.  As a man, he can err in his proclamations.  The Catholic Church had to confront this problem.  In order to do so, they created a doctrine called “ex cathedra.”  The word “ex cathedra” literally means “from the chair.”  The website, www.catholic.com, gives this explanation of this term:  “It refers to binding and infallible papal teachings which are promulgated by the pope when he officially teaches in his capacity of the universal shepherd of the Church a doctrine on a matter of faith or morals and addresses it to the entire world.”  They teach that the concept comes from Jesus who said this about the scribes and Pharisees:  “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat” (Matt. 23:2).  The Pope does not sit in Moses’ seat.  He does, however sit in the seat of Christ Catholics affirm.

            Even though the scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat, their teachings were not always infallible.  In Matthew 15, Jesus rebuked these religious leaders because their traditions conflicted with the Word of God.  “But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?...Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition…But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:3, 6, 9).  Sitting in Moses’ seat had nothing to do with bringing forth new revelation.  These men were to teach and instruct properly from the Law of Moses.  They were not to add to or take from it at all (See Duet. 4:2). 

If the Pope truly sits in Jesus’ seat, his responsibility is not to proclaim additional revelation.  He is responsible for making sure the Law of Christ is interpreted and applied properly and nothing more.  Just like the Jews of Jesus’ day, we find that Popes were said to have spoken “ex cathedra,” but their teachings were in error.  One “ex cathedra” statement involved the bodily assumption of Mary.  This proclamation is an addition to the Word of God.  There is not one statement in the New Testament that could lead to this teaching.  Adding to the New Testament is just as wrong as adding to the Law of Moses.  The apostle John warns:  “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him that plagues that are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18).  

The church of Christ does not need two heads.  Jesus Christ is deity (Col. 2:9).  He has revealed His Word to us and ratified it with His precious blood (Matt. 26:28).  It was once revealed to the saints (Jude 3) by the Holy Spirit of God (I Cor. 2:9-13).  It needs no additions or subtractions (Rev. 22:18-19).  It will govern the church until the Lord returns (II Tim. 3:16-17).  Then, the Lord will use it to judge the world (John 12:48).