[Evangelical Pastors See Pope as Brother in Christ Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "Almost two-thirds of evangelical pastors view Pope Francis
linger: as a genuine Christian and their brother in Christ. More than one-third say they value the pope's view on theology. Those are among the findings of a study of 1,000 Protestant pastors, released by LifeWay Research.
Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research, said, "The forerunners of most Protestant pastors -- from Luther, to Wesley, to Spurgeon -- certainly did not see the pope as their brother in Christ.
oly: Within a few centuries, the pope has gone from anti-Christ to 'brother in Christ' for a lot of Protestants."
One evangelical pastor said the disagreement between Protestants and Catholics over religious authority and salvation fades as piety trumps doctrine. Rick Warren was impressed with the humble quality of Francis' ministry and subsequently described him as "our new pope." Luis Palau, whose friendship with Francis reaches back to his years in Argentina, also points to the pope's "personal lifestyle" as a reason why evangelicals hold him in such high regard. Charismatic leaders, including Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland, have also enjoyed papal audiences. Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School, has called the pope "Our Francis, too."
The pope's charismatic spirituality was confirmed when several Catholic and evangelical leaders met to discuss the ministry of Pope Francis. They received a letter from the pope in which he said, "The year 2017 marks the 50th year since the sovereign irruption of the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church, known today as the Charismatic Renewal, which was birthed ecumenically." The pope invited those who have been born again to celebrate together in St. Peter's Square and to pray for a new Pentecost for the Church and for the world. Read more.
[Mike Gendron Comment] The LifeWay poll indicates how many pastors are denying the exclusivity of the Gospel. Those who believe Pope Francis is a genuine Christian and a brother-in-Christ, either do not know the Gospel of grace or they do not know the false and fatal gospel of Catholicism. There is also a third possibility. They know the truth, but chose not to contend for the faith because they are man pleasers, not God pleasers." Pro-Gospel.org
Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research, said, "The forerunners of most Protestant pastors -- from Luther, to Wesley, to Spurgeon -- certainly did not see the pope as their brother in Christ.
One evangelical pastor said the disagreement between Protestants and Catholics over religious authority and salvation fades as piety trumps doctrine. Rick Warren was impressed with the humble quality of Francis' ministry and subsequently described him as "our new pope." Luis Palau, whose friendship with Francis reaches back to his years in Argentina, also points to the pope's "personal lifestyle" as a reason why evangelicals hold him in such high regard. Charismatic leaders, including Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland, have also enjoyed papal audiences. Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School, has called the pope "Our Francis, too."
The pope's charismatic spirituality was confirmed when several Catholic and evangelical leaders met to discuss the ministry of Pope Francis. They received a letter from the pope in which he said, "The year 2017 marks the 50th year since the sovereign irruption of the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church, known today as the Charismatic Renewal, which was birthed ecumenically." The pope invited those who have been born again to celebrate together in St. Peter's Square and to pray for a new Pentecost for the Church and for the world. Read more.
[Mike Gendron Comment] The LifeWay poll indicates how many pastors are denying the exclusivity of the Gospel. Those who believe Pope Francis is a genuine Christian and a brother-in-Christ, either do not know the Gospel of grace or they do not know the false and fatal gospel of Catholicism. There is also a third possibility. They know the truth, but chose not to contend for the faith because they are man pleasers, not God pleasers." Pro-Gospel.org
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