I must admit to being rather bemused about how the world, particularly the media, view Roman Catholicism and the Pope. This has become particularly stark with the recent death of Pope John Paul II.

As as bible-believing Christian, I have grave concerns about the Roman Catholic Church, with its teachings on justification, and the Papacy in particular. When it came to spiritual leadership, Jesus himself said we shouldn’t refer to any man as Father, or Papa or Pope, but to only refer to God as our spiritual Father. (Mt 23:9) In the writings of the apostles in the New Testament, we are reminded we have access to God through Jesus Christ alone, not through priests on earth. (1Ti 2:5)

I am not denying that Karol Wojtyla, in comparison to other men, was a good man. He did many great things, but, like all men, he was not without sin. I am slightly irked when people say he must be in heaven because he’s a good man or because he’s the Pope. The bible says that none of our good works, nor our status amongst men, counts for anything before God. (Isa 64:6) Whilst the bible itself says that, before men, we are justified by our good works, for that is all that men can see. (Jas 2:24) The bible also says that, before God, none of us are holy enough, and that we are justified before God by faith in Christ alone. (Ro 3:22-24) For only God can see that faith in our hearts, and only Christ can make us holy. I do not know what Karol Wojtyla truly believed in his heart, so I do not know his status before God. Only God knows.