Pope Francis often refers to rigidity. Recently, during a homily at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, he said that those who unbendingly follow the law of God are “sick” and in need of the Lord’s help.
Jesus often accuses those who follow the Law with rigidity of being “hypocrites,” the pope said. “The Law was not drawn up to enslave us but to set us free, to make us God’s children,” he said. The pope went on to say that those who have an attitude of rigidity in their law keeping are leading a double life. They need mercy, tenderness, goodness, meekness and humility.
While it is true that keeping God’s law can become a cover for a double life, keeping God’s law in Christ, including the Sabbath commandment will eventually be painted as being inflexible and rigid.
“It is not easy to walk within the Law of the Lord without falling into rigidity” the pope added. Again, while that is true, keeping God’s law in Christ is vital to the witness of God’s true people. The standard is clear.
The pope once said those who try to unbendingly follow the Law of God have “weak hearts.” On another occasion he said that rigid people are “heretics.”
In other words, the pope is downplaying the law of God by criticizing those who try to keep it of legalism. This is an argument borrowed from Evangelicals who often condemn law keepers, particularly Sabbatarians as rigid legalists. Pope Francis’ remarks would resonate with Evangelicals and draw them to him. He is also preparing Catholics and Evangelicals to criticize those who proclaim the Law of God as the standard of God’s righteousness in the last days and accuse them of legalism.
Remember, Pope Francis is a Jesuit master and is a master at spin. He uses a Jesuit concept of “discernment” for which the rigidity of rules is an obstacle. In other words, “discernment” gives the pope and all Jesuits, for that matter, the flexibility to redefine disobedience of God’s law as righteousness and godliness. The pope doesn’t want a definite teaching on every social or theological question, which affects the Church and the world. He wants to be able to interpret God’s law in light of the social circumstances of our times. This is a classic Jesuit approach that leads to the end justifying the means. Of course, it is all couched in words about Christ, humility, helping the poor, etc.
Will God’s true people eventually be accused of legalism and rigidity toward the law of God and society?
“When we reach the standard that the Lord would have us reach, worldlings will regard Seventh-day Adventists as odd, singular, strait-laced extremists. Fundamentals of Education, page 289.
“Those who are conscientiously observing the original Sabbath are styled heretics, deluded fanatics. But who are thus regarded in God’s sight? Whom will he rebuke and punish–those who have kept the day that he blessed and sanctified; or those who, trampling upon the holy commandment, have accepted the institution of the papacy?” Review and Herald, March 18, 1884.
Comments
Emilio Girado
Wednesday November 9th, 2016 at 10:10 AMDo you need an other proof of who is the anti-crhist? Is the one who speak great things, an is above the word of God, and speak against the law of God, and say has the authority to change the law of God?. You have it…..
Grace for All
Wednesday November 9th, 2016 at 03:50 PMI delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8
Grace for All
Wednesday November 9th, 2016 at 03:54 PMPsalms Chapter 40
1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.)
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Chewe
Thursday November 10th, 2016 at 04:18 AMChrist is coming soon to get those that do His will. Those that follow the law of God perfectly. Its not too late to repent Christ hands are still wide open to receive you.
Boy
Friday November 11th, 2016 at 06:39 PMHistory will repeat itself, millions of those following the commandments of God especially the Sabbath which is Gods mark on our forehead and arms would be persecuted and martyred at the tribulation period.
Marie Francois
Wednesday November 16th, 2016 at 11:31 AMWe know that according to prophecy and historical records, that this is nothing new. Let all the faithful children of God continue to obey Him who is able to deliver to the utmost those that put their trust in Him. Remember Jesus has promised that our suffering time will be shortened because of the elects. So my brethren, hang on for a little while. He who has made this promise is faithful.
Ariel Hume
Thursday November 17th, 2016 at 09:28 AMThe thinking of most has already been strongly influenced in this direction.God help us,that by His grace we will recover our minds that they may be molded and shaped by His word and not by Jesuit and Satanic manipulations.
Grantikos
Thursday November 17th, 2016 at 09:41 PMThe Bible, which claims it is the words of the living God, says “keep my commandments…” And ahain , “obey my words…” The Bible yeaches not to worship idols. Ex 20. The pope does the complete opposit of what God tells us to do. The Devil said similar things to Eve in the garden. As for me and my house we will follow the Lord.
Maķongoro Mong'ateko
Sunday November 27th, 2016 at 05:44 PMDuring the Reformation, the Protestants, those who opposed the Vatican teachings, which are unbiblical, were labelled heretics. No wonder today those who maintain keeping the seventh day Sabbath, (the Fourth Commandment) as opposed to keeping the first day Sabbath, shall be accused of being heretics!
Edward J Baker
Friday August 4th, 2017 at 01:36 AMJesus never condemned fidelity to God’s law. He condemned adherence to falsified law, accretions of culture that were not reflective of moral truth. There can never be excessive fidelity to moral truth. This is a distinction that Francis can not comprehend to a degree of hysteria.