Keyless Entry

This week, the Vatican Synod will be meeting as Pope Francis has summoned bishops from all over the world.  I suspect, based on the Pope’s previous comments and positions that he will continue in his attempts to shift the Catholic Church off its foundations.  Conservative Catholics are nervously watching the outcome.  I assume the Pope’s purpose is to throw as wide a net as possible to gather all-comers under his umbrella.  Thus, this is the way of “progressives.”  Inclusio incesso mantra ad nauseum. 

In scripture, Jesus told Peter that his name meant “rock” and that upon his belief and assertion that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, thus would He build His Church.  The Keys of the Kingdom would belong to this Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.  I don’t wish to debate here with Catholics as to who is and who is not the One True Church.  Suffice it to say, there IS only One True Church, and those that are in it know who they are.  In that sense, true Christians are “catholic” which simply means “universal” or “general” a concept with which I can heartily agree.   

Interestingly, most Catholics and non-Catholics alike will be surprised to learn that the “infallibility of the Pope” doctrine has only been official Catholic dogma since 1870 when Pope Piux IX declared it to be so in the First Vatican Council.  Strangely (or not), Pope Francis has been likened to Pope Piux IX…both being described as “progressive Popes.”  It’s a huge circular conundrum…if I declare I’m infallible, and you accept this dogma, then you can never challenge me…I will just revert back to my fallback position:  “I’m infallible.”

Since, I’m a big believer that words have great meaning and that they offer huge clues to those wishing to seek out Truth, let’s look into the word “progressive” a label which both of these Popes seem to have embraced.   

   

The word “liberal” has slowly, because of repeated negative connotations, morphed into the new definition of “progressive.”  In politics, this word is synonymous with those who support gay marriage, unfettered abortion, open illegal immigration amnesty, a Palestinian state and a Human secularist society.  However, mostly it simply means those who wish to change or adapt with the times.  Does this progressive ideology square with the Bible?  Let’s check:   

For I am the LORD, I change not

Malachi 3:6

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

~James 1:17

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
~Hebrews 13:18

Hmmmm…..I think it’s safe to say if God was a registered voter, He wouldn’t be a “progressive.”

 Jesus told Peter to:

“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

~John 21:6

Note that he specifically said on the “right” side of the boat, not just anywhere, willy-nilly.  On the side of the boat that JESUS indicated there was a great harvest of fish.  In Peter’s human efforts, he came up empty.  When he followed Jesus’ directions to the letter, he had great success. Is Pope Francis following Christ or popular opinions when he is allowing the Church to become more progressive? 

 In Bible Gematria, the Number two (2) means both Union AND Division:

and the two are united into one.

~Mark 10:8

Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left.

~Matthew 24:40

So, while there is something to be said in striving for Christian unity, there is also plenty of scripture to indicate separation is necessary also, such as the wheat from the chaff and the sheep from the goats.  How do we know when someone is seeking union for the sake of “dumbing down” the entrance exam to gain more followers or union to create combined strength against the forces of evil?  This is the simple one word answer: 

FRUIT

A perfect shadow-picture of this debate is the controversy surrounding traditional marriage and gay “marriage.”  A man/woman union creates new LIFE (Fruit), a gay/lesbian relationship is barren.
  

Is maintaining a union always harmonious?  No…a quick history lesson of the United States can attest to that.  However, as iron sharpens iron, Christian marriages and Christian fellowship are supposed to bear fruit.  Simply lowering the standards when someone holds an anti-Biblical view or lifestyle doesn’t enhance unity.  It is analogous to our current government allowing the southern borders of the United States to be porous…it creates chaos and anarchy.  It may possibly even be allowing horrible disease and destruction to enter.  In this sense, the Pope’s desire to let as many people as possible “enter in” may seem compassionate on the outside, but what fruit will it bear? 

If it doesn’t bear good fruit…it will be cursed by Jesus, just like the fig tree.

 Then he said to the tree,“May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”

~Mark 11:14  

Let’s picture an iron jail door with a huge keyhole lock.  Behind that door lies all of guilty humanity.  If the proper Key is inserted, it sets the captives free from their prison sentence as they are properly penitent and pardoned.  Thus this example of “iron striking iron” would bear good fruit.  If the door is opened with a crowbar, this will only succeed in releasing the unrepentant evil hordes.  Repeat offenders sure to offend again. 

Christ is the Word:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

~John 1:1

He is the ONLY entryway Door to the Kingdom:

  

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

~ John 10:1

Repentance is the key.  If any new policies adopted by the Vatican Synod don’t start and end with the Rock solid Word of Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, then it’s a false path. 

Don’t follow this path no matter how impressive the “key-note speaker” appears to be.  Make sure you remain part of the “catholic” Church with a small “c.”  Otherwise, instead of gaining access through the Pearly gates, you may just find yourself climbing…

the gates of Hell.

________________________________________

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour.

 ~1 John 2:18

~Posted by permission of Pastor Jeffrey N. Daly

Pastor Jeffrey N. Daly is the author of Repentance—God’s Strategy to Bless a Nation and Zeal to Repent!—A Key to Personal and National Restoration 

–Both are available for FREE at The National Day of Repentance website: www.dayofrepentance.org

or by emailing him at

jdalylaw@aol.com