Is Pope John Paul II In Heaven?
Is Pope John Paul II in Heaven? Many will think this is a strange question to ask. One headline at the death of the Pope quoted a devout German pilgrim to Rome who said, "Ï know he is in heaven". I have waited a number of weeks to put down my thoughts on this matter because the issue is so sensitive.
There can be no doubt that John Paul was one of the greatest popes. Through a great deal of personal sacrifice, he made it a point to travel more than any other pope so that people everywhere could call him their pastor. When he was shot by a would-be assassin and almost killed he bore his wounds nobly. Later he went to the prison where the young shooter was imprisoned and unequivocably forgave him just as Christ forgave his enemies from the cross. Apparently he was a man of prayer, a great communicator, a thinker and writer. The world seldom sees such a good man. In latter years, he suffered quietly with Parkinson's disease and at the end seemed to enter into the sufferings of Christ as his body broke down completely.
All of this is commendable, but cannot get one to Heaven according to the Bible. The litmus test for getting to Heaven is faith in Jesus Christ as one's personal Saviour and trust in His death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. On one occasion in Scotland, the Pope said to young people: "Place your hands in the hands of Jesus. He will accept you and bless you, and He will make such use of your lives as will be beyond your greatest expectations."
My greatest dilemma with regard to Pope John Paul II was that, in spite of his noble qualities, as a spiritual leader he tenaciously held to a doctrinal system that is at odds with the Bible. For example, he was a strong mariologist and did much by example and teaching to encourage her worship (which is completely contrary to the Bible. In fact, on his simple wooden casket was carved a large "M" for Mary.) So, was he trusting at death in Mary or Christ for salvation?
I highly respect him for his stand against homosexuality, abortion and same-sex marriages. He had great moral courage on the international stage of public opinion. Why did he not speak out and try to influence the Roman Catholic Church when it came to unbiblical doctrines (eg. sacraments as a means of salvation, worship of Mary,infallibility of the Pope seaking ex cathedra, church council edicts on par with the Bible, eucharist including the body and blood of Christ, in fact, a whole means of salvation through the Church rather than through Christ). Surely as Pope he had a unique opportunity to bring his Church back to a much more biblical position on many of these matters. Why didn't he unless he felt these unbiblical doctrines were correct?
Far be it from me to judge John Paul II. This I know:
1) Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14: 6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Note also, Acts 4: 12 "Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus),for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
2) While Mary was a wonderful young woman of faith, she was NOT the "mother of God" (she was the mother of the man Jesus Christ), she was not without sin (Luke 1: 47), and not to be worshipped (the worship of Mary is nowhere to be found in the Bible. We are to worship God alone (Jesus is God the Son, part of the holy Trinity, and therefore is worshipped freely in the Bible).
3) The Holy Spirit (not the Pope) is Christ's special representative on earth (cf. John 16: 5-11)
4) We are not eternally saved by the good works that we do, but by God's mercy extended to us in Christ Jesus (Epheseians 2: 8,9; Titus 3: 5,6). So the sacraments, saints, Mary cannot save us. Only Christ is the Mediator between God and man (I Timothy 1: 5). It follows that Pope John Paul's emphasis on beatification of saints was utterly wrong. It seems obvious that he himself will be venerated as a Roman Catholic saint soon. How sad!
As to whether Pope John Paul II is in Heaven or not, I leave it in God's hands. With Abraham I say, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18: 25)
There can be no doubt that John Paul was one of the greatest popes. Through a great deal of personal sacrifice, he made it a point to travel more than any other pope so that people everywhere could call him their pastor. When he was shot by a would-be assassin and almost killed he bore his wounds nobly. Later he went to the prison where the young shooter was imprisoned and unequivocably forgave him just as Christ forgave his enemies from the cross. Apparently he was a man of prayer, a great communicator, a thinker and writer. The world seldom sees such a good man. In latter years, he suffered quietly with Parkinson's disease and at the end seemed to enter into the sufferings of Christ as his body broke down completely.
All of this is commendable, but cannot get one to Heaven according to the Bible. The litmus test for getting to Heaven is faith in Jesus Christ as one's personal Saviour and trust in His death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. On one occasion in Scotland, the Pope said to young people: "Place your hands in the hands of Jesus. He will accept you and bless you, and He will make such use of your lives as will be beyond your greatest expectations."
My greatest dilemma with regard to Pope John Paul II was that, in spite of his noble qualities, as a spiritual leader he tenaciously held to a doctrinal system that is at odds with the Bible. For example, he was a strong mariologist and did much by example and teaching to encourage her worship (which is completely contrary to the Bible. In fact, on his simple wooden casket was carved a large "M" for Mary.) So, was he trusting at death in Mary or Christ for salvation?
I highly respect him for his stand against homosexuality, abortion and same-sex marriages. He had great moral courage on the international stage of public opinion. Why did he not speak out and try to influence the Roman Catholic Church when it came to unbiblical doctrines (eg. sacraments as a means of salvation, worship of Mary,infallibility of the Pope seaking ex cathedra, church council edicts on par with the Bible, eucharist including the body and blood of Christ, in fact, a whole means of salvation through the Church rather than through Christ). Surely as Pope he had a unique opportunity to bring his Church back to a much more biblical position on many of these matters. Why didn't he unless he felt these unbiblical doctrines were correct?
Far be it from me to judge John Paul II. This I know:
1) Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14: 6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Note also, Acts 4: 12 "Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus),for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
2) While Mary was a wonderful young woman of faith, she was NOT the "mother of God" (she was the mother of the man Jesus Christ), she was not without sin (Luke 1: 47), and not to be worshipped (the worship of Mary is nowhere to be found in the Bible. We are to worship God alone (Jesus is God the Son, part of the holy Trinity, and therefore is worshipped freely in the Bible).
3) The Holy Spirit (not the Pope) is Christ's special representative on earth (cf. John 16: 5-11)
4) We are not eternally saved by the good works that we do, but by God's mercy extended to us in Christ Jesus (Epheseians 2: 8,9; Titus 3: 5,6). So the sacraments, saints, Mary cannot save us. Only Christ is the Mediator between God and man (I Timothy 1: 5). It follows that Pope John Paul's emphasis on beatification of saints was utterly wrong. It seems obvious that he himself will be venerated as a Roman Catholic saint soon. How sad!
As to whether Pope John Paul II is in Heaven or not, I leave it in God's hands. With Abraham I say, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18: 25)
posted by Chaplain Laird at 8:46 AM
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