"Pope Francis: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?"

It all began when a lightning bolt zapped St. Peter's Dome at the Vatican after Pope Benedict's shocking resignation earlier this year. Lightning strike on the Vatican

Then came the wild speculation regarding the centuries-old 'prophecy of the Popes', alleging Pope Francis would be the last pope, and according to some, herald the beginning of the 'great apostacy' that Catholic scholars have been warning against for more than 800 years.

The facts?

Lightning bolts and extra-Biblical prophecies not withstanding, Pope Francis is no stranger to controversy, but do his statements line up with Scripture?

According to the new pontiff: You don't have to believe in God to go to heaven. "The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience."

The Bible says: "There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

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"...he who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16, 18).
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This pope:

• is #4 on Forbes' 2013 ranking of the World's Most Powerful People
• influences an estimated 1 in 7 human beings on Earth
• has the MSM eating out of his hand

Two weeks ago he described 'ideological Christians' as a 'serious illness' within the Church.

What is an 'ideological Christian'? Technically, it's an adherent to a body of ideas characteristic of a particular group.

So wouldn't an 'ideological Christian' be one who adheres to Christian doctrine?

The folks love this guy--from the man on the street to the man in the White House.

Why?

Because of statements like these:

• "If someone is gay and looking for the Lord, who am I to judge him?" (Read what the Bible says in Leviticus 20:13).
• We shouldn't be "obsessed" with imposing doctrines on abortion or gay marriage. (Read what the Bible says in Jeremiah 1:5).
• People should follow good and evil as they "conceive" of them. (Read what the Bible says in Ephesians 4:22-24).
• "Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense." (Read what the Bible says in Matthew 28:19).

Do you see a pattern here? Each statement is contradicted in Scripture.

Of course people like him--he says what they want to hear: Don't worry about obedience--all you need is love! Sounds like a liberal politician (or a Beatle?) or as if Love and following God's Word are mutually exclusive--they're not.

What does the Bible say?

"And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus--who will someday judge the living and the dead when He appears to set up His Kingdom: Preach the Word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:1-3).

So do we think Pope Francis is a wolf in sheep's clothing?

It doesn't matter what we think.

What does the Bible say?

A wise man once said: "Knowledge is power." -- Francis Bacon

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

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