The Death of John Paul II
I grieve for John Paul II who gained the whole world but
forfeited his soul. Year after year he was the most loved and admired man in
the world, but because he was blinded by the prince of this world, he never
saw the light of the gospel or the glory of Christ. Had he been a devoted
follower of Jesus Christ he would have been hated and persecuted by the
world. I also grieve for the many who have been deceived by this pope and
his religion. It breaks my heart to see so many professing Christians who
cannot discern truth from error and genuine Christianity from its
counterfeit.
If ever there was a more important time for faithful
servants of our Lord Jesus Christ to take a stand for the truth, it is now.
The religious corruption of Rome has been on constant display for the whole
world to see. The splendor and pageantry has been extraordinary. Thousands
of deceived people have stood in long lines to venerate a dead man with a
rosary in his hands and a twisted crucifix by his side. Bishops and
Cardinals are now encouraging Catholics to pray to and for this dead pope
whose body is constantly being “blessed” with incense and holy water.
Praying prayers with meaningless repetition to anyone other than God is an
abomination to God (Matthew 6:5-7; Deut. 18:11). The bizarre veneration and
adoration of this man has been unprecedented. It appears no one is concerned
with the words of Jesus who said, “Woe to you when all men speak well of
you” (Luke 6:26)
Tragically the pope has had greater success in deceiving
the world since he died than during his 26 year pontificate. The global
media has become his mouthpiece and willing partner in spreading his
perverted theology. Through non-stop television coverage, the pope’s church
has become the world’s stage. Its princes have been masquerading in their
purple and scarlet robes as “ministers of righteousness.” They have cast a
spell over the TV audience with the splendor or their rituals and the pomp
and pageantry of their pagan traditions. The magnificence and grandeur of
this corrupt religion has bewitched much of the gullible world into
believing this is what Christianity is all about.
Few evangelical leaders will speak about the pope’s false
gospel that shut the kingdom of heaven to those who wanted to enter. They
refuse to acknowledge that he was condemned by God’s word for preaching
another gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). Instead they are saying that since he "believed
in Jesus," he went directly to heaven. His salvation has been guaranteed by
some evangelicals because of his suffering, goodness, and holiness. There
are times in the lives of evangelicals when our faith is tested. This is
indeed one of those tests and sadly we see many failing the tests by
capitulating with enemies of the Gospel. Could it be that they are seeking
the favor and approval of men rather than the approval of God?
Many are praising John Paul II for being a great
spiritual leader. But why give such honor to the head of an apostate church
which keeps over a billion people in spiritual darkness. While he never
claimed to be God, he took pleasure in being addressed with titles reserved
for the triune God alone. He usurped the title “Holy Father” from God the
Father, “The Head of the Church” from the Lord Jesus Christ and “The Vicar
of Christ” from the Holy Spirit, who Jesus promised to send in His place.
The pope said he represented Jesus Christ, yet he lived
in stark contrast to the Savior who had no place to lay His head. He denied
Jesus was man’s Creator by teaching evolution is true. On several occasions
he denied that Jesus was the only way to the Father. When he addressed
Muslim leaders, he said there is “a common spiritual bond that unites us.”
In 1999 he denied the blood of Jesus was the only purification for sin by
awarding a plenary indulgence for anyone who quit smoking or drinking
alcohol. John Paul is acclaimed as a great moral leader, yet he failed to
discipline American Bishops for tolerating the wicked sexual abuse of
deviant priests.
One thing is certain—the pope knows the truth now. I
believe he is experiencing what the rich man in Luke 16 endured. Both of
them dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in splendor every day. When
the rich man died and found himself tormented in the flames of Hades, he
begged the Father to send someone to tell his family the truth so they would
repent and not end up in the same place. The pope may now be making the same
request.
The passing of John Paul II opens up a tremendous
opportunity for Christians to talk about spiritual issues. We must speak the
truth in love and proclaim the Gospel with clarity and completeness! We must
also earnestly contend for the faith against everything that stands opposed
to God’s word. May God help us to be faithful in these times of great
deception and compromise!
Mike Gendron
www.pro-gospel.org