THE POPE'S "HOLY CITY"

Imagine a train – a very long train - one that can carry many, many people and travel at a very high speed.  Imagine its conductor encouraging everyone to join the people on the train because its destination is a beautiful, wonderful place – a type of “holy city,” where problems and worries are few, and everything is fully provided for the people.  There, all will be treated with respect, consideration and equality.  It appears to be the nearest thing to perfection here on earth.  

 
Now imagine, after a while, the train beginning to go faster and faster on its way.  Uncomfortably fast.  It is soon apparent to those on the outside that this train is out of control and is headed for danger.  Disaster awaits as the train screams down the rails and will soon slip off the tracks and violently crash into something, bringing certain death and destruction to many.  But the passengers seem to be blissfully unaware of the danger, since they believe that they would soon arrive at their promised “holy city.”

 
The Pope’s Train 

This “train ride” and its destination is a metaphor for the type of government that Pope Francis is offering to the world.  But why is the pope’s train such a dangerous one?  It is because the “wonderful” place to which it is going – the place where he envisions an environment of peace, equality, social justice and fairness for all – is a Marxist/socialist/communist world... and he is not shy about it.  This is the train wreck, and it is moving quickly toward its goal, and it is unfortunate that so many are getting on board. 

  
In his first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium [or EG] (translated “The Joy of the Gospel”), Pope Francis speaks of the New Jerusalem, the holy city of Revelation 21:2-4 and compares it with his concept of a “holy city” on earth (EG, paragraph 71). 

In this same document, Francis – a left-leaning pope – thought it necessary to insult capitalism (i.e., private ownership of goods; a “market economy”; limited government; free enterprise) and to extol the “virtues” of socialism.  The pontiff expresses his disdain for America’s capitalism and calls it “an economy of exclusion and inequality.”  He also says that “such an economy kills” (EG, paragraph 53), and he sees capitalism as a “new tyranny” (EG, paragraph 56).   To Pope Francis, capitalism is the enemy.  See here:

 
http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html 

But according to one source, since the time of the Second Vatican Council, the enemy has been communism, not capitalism.  But “Francis says, the global economy needs more government control – an argument that would have been unthinkable for the pope just 50 years ago.”  See here:

 
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/11/the-vaticans-journey-from-anti-communism-to-anti-capitalism/281874/ 

So why the drastic change?  Is there something special about the wisdom of this pope?  Or is he on some kind of revolutionary mission?  Someone once said that Pope Francis has a “divine mandate” to radically change our American politics.  It seems he would think so.

 
The pope apparently strongly favors the principles of Marxism/socialism, but the end result is communism, and communism will eventually enslave its followers!

 
There is Hope 

But according to at least one source: 

“The rise and development of capitalism has resulted in a massive decrease in global poverty.” 

And: 

“Wealth must first be created before it can be given to others.  Capitalism is the greatest wealth creator the world has ever seen, lifting billions of people out of abject poverty.” 

See this article: 

https://mises.org/wire/many-ways-pope-wrong-about-capitalism 

Capitalism, used correctly, and the biblical principles that go along with it, have made America the greatest nation on the face of the earth.  Why else would people from all over the world risk their lives to come here?  If it’s so bad here in America, why aren’t Americans fleeing from here by the thousands to go live in communistic countries like North Korea?  By the way, anyone (i.e., any non-criminal) is free to leave the United States of America at any time.  Can communist or socialist countries say the same to their citizens?

 

Just ask those who have lived in these “wonderful” socialist economies and see how much “fairness” and “justice” they enjoyed.  The respect, consideration, and “equality for everyone” that they were promised were never realized.  In fact, the only "equality" they received was equality as slaves. 

In fact, I would invite the whiners, the liberals and leftists, the freedom haters and the Constitution haters in America to follow through with their disapproval and leave.  Surely, you would be happier in a Marxist or socialist country, right?  Ok, so either feel free to leave, or quit bad-mouthing this country whose blessings and freedoms you are enjoying.  Quit being a hypocrite! 

And speaking of Marxist ideas, it is a little-known fact that the official “Black Lives Matter” website is Marxist at its roots.  Look it up for yourself.  You can see my thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement here: 

http://theresurrectionstillspeaks.blogspot.com/2020/08/some-thoughts-on-black-lives-matter.html

 
By the way, the pope supports this Marxist BLM movement.  See here: 

http://adventmessenger.org/pope-francis-supports-the-black-lives-matter-revolution/ 

Concern For the Poor? 

A Newsweek article has the pope saying: 

“The poor must always come first.” 

See here: 

https://www.newsweek.com/pope-thinks-capitalism-sin-michael-moore-poor-come-first-1198274 

But if Pope Francis feels that strongly about the plight of the poor, he should openly condemn his own church for using indulgences (giving money to reduce punishment for sin) to build St. Peter’s basilica.  This magnificent building was financed off the backs of the poor, by the way, by using indulgences as a guilt trip to help friends and relatives in Purgatory.  This is an unbiblical practice that the Catholic Church still officially uses today (though they try hard to downplay what happened in the past concerning indulgences). 

Furthermore, if it’s true that the poor must always come first, then why doesn’t the Vatican – with all its gold, silver, art, land, architecture, and investments – give a major portion of its own significant wealth to the poor?  I’m sure it’s tough living in the “squalor” of the Vatican’s possessions.  The pope likes to complain about “inequality” in others, but there seems to be some inequality here.  Maybe he could give St. Peter’s basilica to house the less fortunate?  So, Pope Francis, how about practicing what you preach? 

  

Popes are nothing like their supposed predecessor, the apostle Peter.  Peter didn't inherit great wealth from his position as an apostle.  In fact, he told the cripple man, “Silver and gold have I none...” (Acts 3:6).  But popes have lived in luxury. 

No Perfect System on Earth 

Now, any system (including capitalism) can be abused and corrupted, and Francis is emphasizing the fact that there are greedy people within capitalist governments.  That’s true, but greedy people exist in all forms of government.  No system of laws on this earth is perfect, but I believe that capitalism is the most consistent with biblical principles and is the best economic system there can be for a fallen creation.  Capitalism cannot promise equal outcomes, but it does offer equal opportunity for everyone. 

Communism is anti-Christian and it is a worldview that is rooted in materialistic atheism.  In fact, someone once said that atheism is the “taproot of communism.”  My Catholic friends, ask yourself: What is the pope doing, promoting an atheist-related system?

  
Conclusion 

This article is not intended to be a lesson in economics, but it is intended to encourage deep concern for both the teachings and the political leanings of a man so prominent and influential worldwide known as Pope Francis. 

Our concern about this pope should be three-fold: First, he is leading his followers into a bad economic system, which leads into the slavery of all its people. 

Second, he is the spiritual leader of a church that has numerous unbiblical or anti-biblical teachings, leading many astray. 

Third, he is probably the main leader spearheading the ecumenical movement which will climax in a one-world church with mandatory worship of the son of perdition, the antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3; Revelation 13:8,12,15). 

I have written other articles in more detail on this blog about the dangers of the Ecumenical Movement.  They can be found by using the search bar on the top left of this blog page.

 
The pope’s “holy city” is absolutely nothing like the one in Revelation 21:2-4.  The pope not only offers a false “holy city,” he offers a false religion, a false hope, a false unity, a false peace, and a false equality.  Should you trust him?  Open the Scriptures and see for yourself. 
 

STATUES, IMAGES AND IDOLS

Recently, I began to think more about the role and use of statues, icons and images in the religious arena.  Should statues ever be used in churches or is that a violation of the Second Commandment?  Are the Catholic, Orthodox, and a few other churches guilty of idolatry when they use these statues and icons?  Did the ancient iconoclasts (people who destroyed religious statues) go too far when they demolished many of these icons? 

On one end of the spectrum, some Protestants try to totally avoid any and all religious statues and images, while some (Catholics and others) will cling tightly to them at all costs.  In this article, I hope to bring about some balance to this sensitive subject.

The Law of God

Let’s take a look at what God said in the Scriptures about using statues and images when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments. All of the Ten Commandments can be found in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 and also in Exodus 20:1-17.  But let’s look at the relevant part of this passage for our article today in Exodus 20:1-6:

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.

So what exactly is God saying about these likenesses / images?  Is He saying that it is always a sin to make any kind of image?  Is this prohibition only about worshiping them, or is it about making and using them, also?

The images mentioned in this passage have to do with idols, and idols are an absolute and blasphemous insult to God.  The Lord forcefully emphasizes here that He is the one true God (Exodus 20:2).  In this context He is saying that He doesn’t want anyone creating an image and saying, “This is the god that brought us out of Egypt,” as the Israelites did in the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:4). 

Not an Absolute Ban

So how do we know that God is not saying that simply making images is a sin?  He cannot be literally speaking about all images here, can He?  Consider the implications of Exodus 20:4:

1) (Thou shalt not make… any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above…) It is not wrong to have a photograph (which is an image or likeness) of friends or family members in your wallet, on your desk, or on your wall.  Some of these photos are of deceased Christian people (a likeness of someone now in Heaven).  Likewise, we can safely make images of things in the heavens (like the solar system, stars, planets, etc.)  There is nothing wrong with this.

2) (… or that is in the earth beneath…) We also know that it is not a sin to have statues (images) of famous people whose lives on earth are commemorated in non-religious settings (parks, courthouses, tourist attractions, etc.).  Again, there should be no problem with these images.

3) (… or that is in the water under the earth…) We draw pictures and make models of fish, reptiles and many other sea creatures (images of things under the sea).  Still no problem.

4) What about images in our minds?  We make mental images all the time.  Does Exodus 20:1-6 mean that we are not allowed to even think about things in Heaven, on earth, or in the ocean?  That would be silly.

5)  In this commandment, He is saying that He doesn’t want anyone creating an image IN ORDER TO WORSHIP IT (v. 5).  I believe that Leviticus 26:1 brings this out more clearly:

Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. (Emphasis added)

The underlined part makes clear the purpose of the image.

6) Furthermore, just five chapters later, in Exodus 25:18-20, God commanded Moses to make statues of two cherubim (a type of angel) to put on the Ark of the Covenant.  This is a copy, an image, of something in Heaven that God told Moses to make.  Is God contradicting Himself?  Is He now allowing what He commanded Israel not to do five chapters earlier?  The point is that these angel images were not made to be worshiped, but rather to point to the holiness of God. 

7) There was yet another interesting event where God told Moses to erect a statue of a brazen (bronze) serpent and put it up on a pole for all to see.  And whoever was bitten by the poisonous snakes in that land, when he would look at the statue, he would be healed (Numbers 21:6-9).  This is another statue allowed by God.  But when this image later became an object of worship, it was rightly destroyed by King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4). 

When God speaks of “graven images” in the Second Commandment and throughout the Old Testament, He is speaking of an idol, one in which the maker is intending to worship.  God does not want us to make or use those kinds of images.  Yet, because of the seven reasons above (and if Scripture is consistent with itself and with the world around us), the Second Commandment cannot be an absolute ban on the making of images.

Caution!

Ok, having said all the above, please understand that religious image users cannot have free reign with their statues, icons and images.  Technically speaking, God may temporarily tolerate someone owning a statue (if worship is not involved), but it doesn’t mean that making them or using them in a religious setting today is a good idea.  While the Second Commandment doesn’t seem to be an absolute ban on every possible kind of image, it is definitely a warning concerning some of them.

Again, I want to bring balance to this topic, so the question is, “Is it helpful to make or to use these images in a religious setting?”  All things may be allowed, but “all things are not expedient [i.e., beneficial or helpful]” (1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23).

Unlikely Scenario

Ok, let’s imagine this scenario:

Moses is walking in the wilderness and he happens upon an Israelite.  This man is doing what many Catholics do.  He is bowing before a statue, praying and kissing the statue.  Moses then questions him about this and the man says, “Oh no, Moses!  You don’t understand.  I am not worshiping, I am “venerating.”  So Moses says, “Ok, that’s fine.  Please continue!” 

Well, I don’t think that anyone who knows anything about Moses would believe that the outcome would be this way.  The above result is about as likely to happen as this scenario:

A suspicious wife catches her husband in the very act of adultery.  When she confronts him then and there, he says, “Oh no, honey!  You misunderstand.  We are not committing adultery, we are just “cuddling!”  And the wife says, “Well ok, that’s fine, darling.  Please continue!”

Now, I think that we all know that this is not how either one of these scenarios would pan out.  You can call what you’re doing by another name (“venerating” or “cuddling”), but swift action would have been taken in both of these scenarios, and the extreme consequences that would have followed would have exposed the wrongness of their actions, and brought to light the sin they tried to downplay and re-name.

Unlike today, in the Old Testament, the Jews were all too familiar with the sin of idolatry and what it looked like.  Moses knew idolatry when he saw it.  And so did the Jews.  The bottom line is that Moses would have rightly condemned the actions of the Catholic in the above scenario.

Don’t Kid Yourself

No doubt, Moses understood that the heart of man tends toward idolatry, not atheism.  I am not aware of any atheists in ancient Israel, but the continual sin that plagued Israel over and over in the Old Testament is idolatry. 

Given the continual falling into temptation by the Old Testament Jews by idolizing statues and other objects (and remember, they were God’s chosen people), what makes us today think that we would be immune to this same weakness?  What makes us think that we can flirt with this potential danger?  Will we add arrogance to our idolatry?  Are we so much better than the Jews that we can live in such a minefield of religious images and statues (as the Catholic Church does) with hardly a thought that it could cause problems?  It is a spiritually unhealthy environment.  It is an occasion to sin.  The Bible tells us to “flee idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14), not flirt with it!

Remember, image lovers, it’s not just about you.  You may think that a statue or icon is “helpful” in “reminding” you of God’s love or His presence, or something along those lines.  You may feel that it brings you great peace, but you must consider how it will affect others, as well.  We should be very careful about being a stumbling block to those around us (Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 8:9-12).  Again, graven images were a constant stumbling block for ancient Israel.  Even if they really felt that they were only “venerating,” they were still tempting their Jewish brothers and sisters to sin.

Catholics will tell us, “But God commanded the use of statues in the Old Testament.”  That’s true, but this was a specific command for Moses and the people of Israel at that particular time.  But God never commanded the church to make or use statues!  Neither can you find in the New Testament someone praying to God through an image.  If there was a spiritual “need” for them in the church, the New Testament writers would have said so. 

Conclusion

I wish that Catholics would be more willing to listen to what the Scriptures say as a whole.  I wish they could put aside their blind confidence in the Catholic Church for a minute and recognize the danger of their cherished tradition of using images.

An even greater danger exists when we hear reports of statues that “cry tears of blood,” or statues that nod their heads periodically, etc.  These are thought to be miracles happening, drawing many devoted followers further into deception.

It is true that we don’t know individual hearts, but we know the heart of mankind, in general, and that it tends toward idolatry (Romans 1:21-23).

For the record, the Catechism of the Catholic Church officially condemns the sin of idolatry (CCC #2113).  I’m thankful for that.  But some things can so easily be turned into an idol, even if it wasn’t the intent of its maker. 

Again, this is what happened in the case of the brazen serpent.  It started off very positively, very helpful.  But someone just couldn’t help himself and began to worship it, drawing others with him. 

Although popes might agree with what King Hezekiah did when he destroyed the brazen serpent, I am not aware of any statues or images that any pope has ever destroyed for fear that faithful Catholics may fall into idolatry.  Not even in areas of the world where there is, by their own admission, “excessive devotion.”

You must ask yourself, are these religious statues an aid to worship, or are they actually a hindrance?  God told His people so many times to tear down their images.  There was a reason for that.