The Papacy in Transition

BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON o much has been written about the late pope John Paul II that further comment is superfluous. His life, work, and influence have been analyzed at great length; there is nothing one could add. My remarks that follow attempt a personal, unofficial perspective on the Papacy as it transitions from one of its most powerful leaders to a new pontiff. First, a word to those Roman Catholics who will read this editorial. Some Seventh-day Adventists, with more zeal than charity, have seized upon the death of the pope to launch virulent anti-Catholic attacks. They represent a tiny but vocal element of the Adventist Church that sees its mission as taking out newspaper advertisements and erecting signs denouncing Catholics. In so doing they dismay and wound adherents of the faith they oppose. Seventh-day Adventists have a positive message for the world. We believe the Lord raised us up to proclaim the "everlasting gospel" to every people group, tribe, and language-to tell all nations that the hour of God's judgment has come and to worship Him, Creator and Lord of all" (Rev. 14:6, 7). We are not primarily against anyone or anything-we are for Jesus Christ and the salvation He freely offers. Adventists who pursue a negative course should learn from their brothers and sisters in South America. In this region, where our world church has its greatest strength and continues to grow by leaps and bounds, Adventists adopt a positive approach to their neighbors, the majority of whom are Roman Catholics. In so doing they are true to the counsels of Ellen White, who wrote about the sincerity of individual Catholics and how we best share our message with them.* Now, a word to Adventists in general. Are our eyes open to see and understand the amazing events of the past weeks? Not in the entire history of the Papacy has it commanded such universal attention as it has during these days. The unprecedented media coverage of John Paul II's last days and funeral, and the election of his successor; the world reaction to the pope's death, with flags flown at half-staff and even Communist Cuba declaring three days of mourning; the image of three United States presidents kneeling by the casket; the funeral on a scale of a powerful monarch (and so vastly different from that of the Founder of Christianity)-if all this doesn't wake us up, will anything? We Adventists, on the basis of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, long have predicted that the Papacy will play a major role in end-time events. During the course of the years some among us have cast doubt on that interpretation: they argued that the Papacy was losing its influence, that some other power-first, Communism; more recently, Islam-fit the biblical scenario. They were wrong, dead wrong. In these days of ecumenical courtesies it seems ungracious to point out where Adventists differ from the Papacy. But truth demands that we say it-in love, but without equivocation. Seventh-day Adventists are still Protestants. We protest, as Martin Luther and the other Reformers protested, because the more Rome changes, the more Rome stays the same. We protest the institution of a human priesthood, when the Scriptures teach that One alone is qualified to be our Priest-He who is both Son of God and Son of man, Jesus Christ. We protest the sacrifice of the Mass, which contradicts the biblical teaching that Jesus died once for all, a simple sacrifice for sin that is never to be repeated (Heb. 9:26). We protest the exaltation of Mary the mother of Jesus, a blessed woman but nevertheless a human like us all, who nowhere in Scripture is singled out for veneration. We protest the equivocation on the fundamental gospel-by grace alone, through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-10)-that the Papacy perpetuates through its doctrine of merits. We protest the union of political and spiritual power that has characterized the Papacy for more than 1,500 years, and that is even more evident today. History shows that this is an unholy mix that breeds religious oppression. Seventh-day Adventists are still Protestants. While the Papacy retains these beliefs and practices, we can have no part of it. Individual Roman Catholics we respect and love; these ideas we must protest for conscience sake. _________________________ * Selected Messages, book 3, pp. 436, 443; Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 240, 241, 243. _________________________ William G. Johnsson is the editor of the Adventist Review.