Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (Full Version)

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[Poll]

Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited?


Yes
  20% (13)
No
  71% (46)
Who?
  7% (5)


Total Votes : 64
(last vote on : 4/24/2008 5:00:34 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )


Message

Lurker -> Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 7:30:41 AM)

I for one am highly excited that Pope Benedict is coming to America this month. In fact, I might be getting tickets to go see his Papal mass in DC. That said, I'm curious how others feel.

Are you excited that the Pope is coming?

I must say, that I love the writings of the Pope, his exuberance and sincere love of Our Lord just shine through his thoughts. I particularly like his first encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est" (God is Love).



stamper_ben -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 10:02:50 AM)

First I'll tell that my poll answer is "Who?" even though I know who it is.

Next I'll ask "Why" I should be excited? I'll save that excitement for when Jesus comes back. After all, the pope is just another man.



WesP -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 10:18:11 AM)

I said no. My excitement is in hearing the Word of God, not in a man speaking.



mapachito13 -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 10:43:03 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: WesSavedByGrace

I said no. My excitement is in hearing the Word of God, not in a man speaking.


So why are all those people getting excited over those tele-evangelists? What was the big deal about Billy Graham? Why should I bother going to church? I am just going to hear some man/woman preacher speaking.



WesP -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 10:57:10 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: WesSavedByGrace

I said no. My excitement is in hearing the Word of God, not in a man speaking.


So why are all those people getting excited over those tele-evangelists? What was the big deal about Billy Graham? Why should I bother going to church? I am just going to hear some man/woman preacher speaking.


You missed the point. No man should become an object of idolization, and that is what has happened with the pope, tv evangelists, etc. I am not excited about any of them. I am excited about hearing the Word of God. I am not Catholic, so I do not even try to listen to the pope. I also do not seek other public figures to learn about God.

Now, you have pushed the observation to an extreme. Why should you go to church? To hear the word of God. Should you get excited about a person? I don't think so. The excitement should be about God.



Lurker -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:06:58 AM)

Have you read anything by the Pope?

I am excited because I believe him to be a man of God. His writings have helped me draw closer to Christ. And I think that his visit here will help many others come closer to Christ as well. :D



moon_mouse -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:11:05 AM)

I don't really care much one way or the other. As a Protestant, he's not a leader in my church (small "c"), so he doesn't hold much interest as far as his office. I also don't find him as compelling a personality as John Paul II. Nor do I get the sense that he is as interested in reaching out to other parts of the Christian community, and the larger faith community as JPII was. I hold nothing against him, he just isn't that important in my personal universe.



WesP -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:16:02 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lurker

Have you read anything by the Pope?

I am excited because I believe him to be a man of God. His writings have helped me draw closer to Christ. And I think that his visit here will help many others come closer to Christ as well. :D


Lurker,

Actually, I have not read anything written by Benedict that I can recall. I have read some things from other popes for informational purposes.

FWIW, I made a generalization about idolization, and I certainly do not intend that as an attack against any particular individual. I have no doubts that there are many people who do not ascribe more than necessary to worldly things.



mapachito13 -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:20:57 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: WesSavedByGrace

Now, you have pushed the observation to an extreme. Why should you go to church? To hear the word of God. Should you get excited about a person? I don't think so. The excitement should be about God.


Maybe those people going to see the Pope are going for that exact reason too. How do YOU know what is in their hearts? Only God knows. Besides, God has put aside some people to teach us and THAT concept has its basis in the Bible! If the Apostles were preaching I am sure they attacted a crowd because of who they were.

BTW, Paul lamented that Jesus was being divided... "I belong to Apollos!" so Christians in the Apostles times had a problem seperating the man from the message too!



stamper_ben -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:22:13 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lurker

Have you read anything by the Pope?

I am excited because I believe him to be a man of God. His writings have helped me draw closer to Christ. And I think that his visit here will help many others come closer to Christ as well. :D

I haven't. I can go straight to the Word myself, and I even have the Gift that was given to me of a personal Helper in the form of His Spirit to work through that Word to achieve a closer relationship with my Saviour.



WesP -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:26:31 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: WesSavedByGrace

Now, you have pushed the observation to an extreme. Why should you go to church? To hear the word of God. Should you get excited about a person? I don't think so. The excitement should be about God.


Maybe those people going to see the Pope are going for that exact reason too. How do YOU know what is in their hearts? Only God knows. Besides, God has put aside some people to teach us and THAT concept has its basis in the Bible! If the Apostles were preaching I am sure they attacted a crowd because of who they were.

BTW, Paul lamented that Jesus was being divided... "I belong to Apollos!" so Christians in the Apostles times had a problem seperating the man from the message too!


Read post #8. I already responded to this.



mapachito13 -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:27:09 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stamper_ben

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lurker

Have you read anything by the Pope?

I am excited because I believe him to be a man of God. His writings have helped me draw closer to Christ. And I think that his visit here will help many others come closer to Christ as well. :D

I haven't. I can go straight to the Word myself, and I even have the Gift that was given to me of a personal Helper in the form of His Spirit to work through that Word to achieve a closer relationship with my Saviour.


You haven't picked up any other Christian related writing written by anybody?



mapachito13 -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:39:03 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: WesSavedByGrace

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: WesSavedByGrace

Now, you have pushed the observation to an extreme. Why should you go to church? To hear the word of God. Should you get excited about a person? I don't think so. The excitement should be about God.


Maybe those people going to see the Pope are going for that exact reason too. How do YOU know what is in their hearts? Only God knows. Besides, God has put aside some people to teach us and THAT concept has its basis in the Bible! If the Apostles were preaching I am sure they attacted a crowd because of who they were.

BTW, Paul lamented that Jesus was being divided... "I belong to Apollos!" so Christians in the Apostles times had a problem seperating the man from the message too!


Read post #8. I already responded to this.


Sorry. I was probably writing mine at the same time. I'm working and writing so it's taking a little longer to post.

I guess I don't want to see the head of anyone's Christian Church being belittled for who he/she is. Even the stand-alone little church on the corner has some man in charge as their flock's spiritual leader. I might disagree with him but that doesn't give me a reason to disrespect him/her.



WesP -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 11:56:47 AM)

quote:

Sorry. I was probably writing mine at the same time. I'm working and writing so it's taking a little longer to post.

I guess I don't want to see the head of anyone's Christian Church being belittled for who he/she is. Even the stand-alone little church on the corner has some man in charge as their flock's spiritual leader. I might disagree with him but that doesn't give me a reason to disrespect him/her.


I concur.



stamper_ben -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 12:04:42 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: stamper_ben

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lurker

Have you read anything by the Pope?

I am excited because I believe him to be a man of God. His writings have helped me draw closer to Christ. And I think that his visit here will help many others come closer to Christ as well. :D

I haven't. I can go straight to the Word myself, and I even have the Gift that was given to me of a personal Helper in the form of His Spirit to work through that Word to achieve a closer relationship with my Saviour.


You haven't picked up any other Christian related writing written by anybody?

Oh I'm sure I have, not that I can readily think of who, but certainly not from anyone who wants me to call them father. I already had an earthly one and my Father in heaven is awaiting me.



Soxfan -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 12:45:19 PM)

Is Mary going to be joining him?



Lurker -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 1:07:56 PM)

Dunno. But Jesus will be there. :D After all, there's gonna be a few thousand of us gathered in His name. :D



WesP -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 1:11:19 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lurker

Dunno. But Jesus will be there. :D After all, there's gonna be a few thousand of us gathered in His name. :D


Touché!
[sm=Llol.gif][sm=Llol.gif][sm=Llol.gif]



NoDumbBlonde -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 1:38:57 PM)

I voted no.

Being as I'm not Catholic I cannot honestly say that I know much about the man. To me the pope is a man that heads up the organization of the Roman Catholic church. IMO, he is no closer to God than anyone else though I understand Catholics may believe he is. He may very well be a great man of faith and dedication to God (only God knows his heart) he is someone that deserves respect and honor just as anyone who dedicates their lives to God's service.



cog41 -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 1:57:13 PM)

Not excited at all.



Zhi -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 2:02:40 PM)

quote:

Have you read anything by the Pope?

I am excited because I believe him to be a man of God. His writings have helped me draw closer to Christ. And I think that his visit here will help many others come closer to Christ as well. :D


I lost interest after he informed me that my church is entirely invalid, to be honest. *shrug*

It's not personal, I felt the same way when the pastor of the local Church of Christ told me that as well.



mapachito13 -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 5:36:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Soxfan

Is Mary going to be joining him?


I think that Jesus would love to have His earthly mother, who was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, gave birth to Him, breast fed Him as a baby, traveled with Him on His mission on earth and stood at the foot of His cross with Him in heaven! His step-dad Joseph too!

What's your aversion towards Mary anyway?



CatholicCritter -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 6:13:41 PM)

This man is one of the greatest Christian theologians of our generation and I believe Protestants are worse for not having read his stuff.

It's never been about 'idolization' and it never will be. Read 'Jesus of Nazareth' and you'll learn a lot. Whether you believe he is the universal shepherd of Christ's Church on Earth or not, do yourselves a favor and explore this man's writings on God.



Zhi -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 7:30:39 PM)

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.



Lurker -> RE: Pope Benedict XVI in America. Are you excited? (4/2/2008 8:28:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zhi

quote:

Have you read anything by the Pope?

I am excited because I believe him to be a man of God. His writings have helped me draw closer to Christ. And I think that his visit here will help many others come closer to Christ as well. :D


I lost interest after he informed me that my church is entirely invalid, to be honest. *shrug*

It's not personal, I felt the same way when the pastor of the local Church of Christ told me that as well.


I think you may have misunderstood him. All Catholics believe that Protestants are fellow brothers in Christ. Keep in mind that in Catholic theology, we tend to use words like "Church" to have certain meanings. It's not meant to disparage other Christian communities, but it merely is used to clarify certain doctrines.

You might actually like his first encyclical. I linked it in my first post. :) It's a truly wonderful affirmation of God's love. :D



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