Monday Morning Music Ministry

5-12-25

The Roman Catholics have elected a new pope. It is interesting to see the adulation of that election, or selection, or elevation, even from corners of the denomination who recently regretted – and in some cases despised and rejected – the late pope, Francis.

Pope Leo XIV could have taken the name of Pope Hope because, at least in these first days, many people are grafting their own views onto the largely unknown pontiff.

I think it is fair to say that Leo’s relative obscurity is somewhat responsible for the cardinals’ choice. In a sense, “central casting” would have presaged a pope from South of the Equator – not a transplanted European or American – and perhaps, finally, from Africa or Asia, where the Church’s center of gravity has shifted. But worldly concerns perhaps dominated as an American cardinal was chosen at a time when the Vatican is facing economic distress; someone who has been posted south of the Equator; a recently appointed cardinal whose main identification was as administrative arm of Francis.

(During the College of Cardinals’ conclave I was reminded of the 1963 novel Shoes Of the Fisherman, about the death of a pope and intrigue surrounding the choice of a Ukrainian as successor. Suddenly plausible in the year of our Lord, 2025…)

Oddly, because the Order has many friars, Leo might be the first Augustinian, just as Francis was the first Jesuit, pope. After all these years. But popes have been elevated from many places. Adrian IV, for instance, was born in England. During the Western Schism, there were two popes, Urban V and Clement VII. At times popes dictated their successors, often their relatives. Speaking of relatives, some popes had mistresses and illegitimate children. Because the Vatican was nearly bankrupt, Leo X devised a scheme whereby people were told they could buy their way out of hell – their dead relatives too.

Self-evidently, tradition counts for much in the Catholic hierarchy. By doctrine it is sometimes held virtually as sacred as Revealed Truth from Scripture. When God is seen as speaking through the church and councils, this is reasonable. As a Pentecostal, I believe that God can and does speak to us today. Whether as canonicity or edification is a point we debate. Luther even doubted whether certain books, for instance James, were appropriate canonical books.

Such debates will go on. Especially with the advent of Protestantism’s hundreds of branches, we need modern-day Councils, and need to be wary of heresies. But – to return to the “elevation” of Robert Prevost – it was interesting to hear commentators after the death of Francis talk about Christ being the “head of the Church” and “the Holy Spirit guiding the cardinals,” but after the White Smoke, the same people discussed factions and internal politics and ideological horse-trading.

Who guides us? The Holy Spirit, or our informed intellects, or a mystical combination?

I suggest that we can’t have it three ways. Or, we shouldn’t. I attended a church in Connecticut years ago that operated on the basis of the Holy Spirit’s guidance: all decisions that were addressed by councils, committees, and boards agreed to agree on all matters unanimously. It was on this basis – the Lord had intentions for the church; the Holy Spirit works in our lives, as God’s agent of sorts; and Heaven does not operate according to democratic votes.

If God Almighty created the universe as He desired, He surely would have intentions about how His children should reach the community with His message. And everything in between. Like choosing the CEO of a large church organization. The “Holy” “Father.” As I said, repeated votes for factional favorites seems contrary to “being led by the Spirit.”

I recall in the days after the Resurrection of Jesus, history that comports with my feelings here. The “Twelve,” the Apostles, were down to 11 in number after the disgrace and suicide of Judas, betrayer of Christ. Despite the fact that the Lord had instructed them to remain in Jerusalem and “wait,” they felt the need, as a virtual church committee, to choose a new member. They debated, cast lots and drew straws, and recruited a certain Matthias.

The “round number” of 12 was restored, but nothing at all is known in Scripture or without, about Matthias.

Democracy was superfluous. The disciples should have waited, obeyed Jesus, and had their guidance. Paul was the missing piece of the Apostolic movement, the founding of the Church.

No fancy costumes… no extended votes… no black and white smoke signals. Just yielding to the Holy Spirit. What a concept.

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Click: The Church’s One Foundation

1-13-20

Religion is one of the poisons in contemporary life.

Sometimes – a lot of times – we have trouble because we really don’t care to avoid trouble. Counter-intuitive? It is a human tendency, emotional inertia; unreasonable fear of change. When it comes to matters of the spirit, too many Christians get stuck in Neutral.

Yet life goes on. Every Sunday – or every Christmas and Easter – there will be church, and we will see the same old friends. It is easy for weeks to turn into months and months turn into years this way. A sort of spiritual comfort zone, without getting serious about faith.

We know, or ought to know or remember, that God hates this condition. When we sense that we have needs, maybe even empty holes in our spiritual hearts, how often do we turn to God? To ask Him to open our eyes, to shake some sense in to us? Or how often do we complain, or sigh and move on, or moan about bad luck, or “suffer in silence”?

This is no mystery or great revelation. In the book of James we are told, plainly, that we “have not because we ask not.” God’s plan… sitting there, gathering dust in our lives?

You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (James 4:2-3).

Are we surprised that God has figured us out? Why do we act surprised that He has given us many solutions, many answers… when and if we realize that He does?

Am I making an argument for religion – that we are not religious enough? No, my opening line here, and the lines since, identify religion as a problem. Let us understand that religion – any and all religions – are human constructs. As inventions of humankind, religions are systems. Religions are what we invent and even innovate or evolve, for various reasons.

At the best, religions are attempts to worship and systematize beliefs and behaviors. At the other end – there always is the other extreme – religions are man-made counterfeits, salves for the conscience, efforts to be exclusive and exclusionary.

To address the criticisms of the professional skeptics through the centuries, religions have committed many sins and even atrocities. In the case of those who follow Christ, it is religion – which Christianity is not – that has offended, not Christ nor His teachings.

People have corrupted Christianity, and still do. But Christ never preached hate nor prejudice nor offense. Those who do malign things in His name are the transgressors.

To reduce to bumper-strip dimensions: Christianity is not about religion, but a relationship.

Added to the acknowledgment that Christ is the sole means to eternal life; the only One who offers salvation; belief in Whom dispels other systems of faith and effective works, we have the Son of the Living God who died and rose again, as no other “god” has claimed.

It is the Person of Jesus, not the rites and rituals and customs and rules and saints and holidays and popes and evangelists and rabbis and priests and relics and temples and cathedrals that get you one inch closer to God. Those are things of religion.

Do I say we should quit our local churches or family traditions? No, but work to see they are pure… and that your faith is pure, and focused.

I leave you with one more thought: Who sent Jesus to the cross, who demanded of Pilate that He be put to death? Not cheats, thieves, whores, and adulterers to whom He ministered.

It was the religious people.

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Click: The Church’s One Foundation