I'm Not Accepting Pope Francis' Offer of Reconciliation Between Protestants and Roman Catholics

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As the 500th anniversary of the Reformation hits today, I feel like writing this post. This is going to be an "open letter" to Pope Francis telling him that I'm not going to accept his offer of reconciliation. People tell me that I should be more "open" because for them there's hardly any difference between Roman Catholic and Protestant doctrine. For starters, I'm not a Protestant but a Baptist though I embrace Protestant Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ. But I'm afraid how many Protestants and Baptists today are not true converts. Some of them have even become Roman Catholics as proof they weren't saved to start with (1 John 2:19). 

What's the issue with me not accepting Pope Francis' offer of reconciliation? For one, there can be no reconciliation between Bible-believing Christians and the Roman Catholic system. The Roman Catholic system continues to insist that she's the Church founded last 33 A.D. yet nothing in Church history even tell us Peter was a Pope or that the priests are the successors of the apostles. Although both born again Christians and Roman Catholics affirm similar doctrine such as Jesus' death paid for our sins and the Trinity but the doctrine of salvation is the great divider.

I can't even agree with the Roman Catholic view of salvation as merely another "interpretation" of the Bible. The Roman Catholic institution teaches of salvation of faith plus works. The Bible teaches of faith that results in works. There is a great difference between the two. I do good works because I'm saved not to be saved or to stay saved. In the case of Rome - she puts the cart before the horse. Ephesians 2:8-10 says first you are saved by grace through faith then good works are equipped. It has never been good works results in salvation but salvation results in good works. Any good work done outside salvation is but a dead work (Hebrews 9:14).

How can I even buy the idea that the Roman Catholic Mass is more than just a celebration but a continuing sacrifice for our sins? It should be very sacrilegious to claim that the priest can save people through the sacraments. That lie alone has caused many to blindly follow the Roman Catholic institution in fear of their eternal souls. To claim that the bread and wine have truly become the body and blood of Christ in substance is blasphemy. Worse, how many people even participate in the Roman Catholic Mass even if they are living in so much sin? The Eucharist is but a memorial to be taken seriously but it should never be regarded as the literal body and blood of our Lord. 

The Reformation didn't happen as a mere misunderstanding. It was yet another stage of the fight for the truth of Scriptures. How can I even consider the Roman Catholic institution that has murdered a lot of Bible believers through every brutal means possible to be the true Church founded on 33 A.D.? How can I even consider the Pope who claims himself above everyone to be the successor of Peter? The Reformation happened as another stepping stone for Church history. The pre-Reformation heroes like Jan Hus and Girolamo Savonarola also paid dearly by the flames. The Protestant Christians paid dearly by the flames. Yet today, Rome just wants us to forget it. Worse, the average Roman Catholic today believes that the Inquisition was just a "tiny thing" or worse a myth.

The whole agenda of Pope Francis is nothing more than deception. Roman Catholics are not my separated brethren. No, there is no way Bible-believing Christians can walk together with Roman Catholics. I still believe that the Roman Catholic institution is the Great Whore of Revelation. She's still that Great City doomed someday to be destroyed. The Vatican today is the richest city and she's not only a city on seven hills but also one who claims to be the true Church. She has deceived the world and has claimed much power. But one day Jesus will destroy her for her blasphemy. To protect His Elect, He is now calling them out (Revelation 18:4).

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