Did God Authorize A Pope?
By Ron Boatwright

     God did not authorize the papal office.  It was a perversion created by men to serve their purpose of power.  God put all things only under Christ’s "feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22-23).  The pope may be the head of the Catholic Church, but Christ is the only head of His church and no one can substitute for Him on earth in this position.  Jesus says, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18).  Christ has all authority, not the pope.  The pope falsely claims to be the "Vicar of God and Christ" on earth and in heaven and that all things are subject to him. "Vicar" means a substitute.  How bold is their claim to be a substitute for God.  "For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).

     The Bible contradicts the fabricated doctrine of the papacy and exposes its invention in every way.  Paul says "the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).  The pope expects his subjects to fall down, kiss his ring, and worship him.  During the temptation of Jesus, Satan told Jesus he would give Him all the kingdoms of the world if He would fall down and worship him.  Jesus said, "Away with you Satan. For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve" (Matthew 4:8-10).  We can lose our home in heaven by worshipping an angel or the pope.  "Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels" (Colossians 2:18).  The pope is referred to as the "Holy Father".  But Jesus commands us, "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for one is your Father, He who is in heaven" (Matthew 23:9).  Christ is our only go-between to God, not the pope. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 5:2).

     The claim of absolute infallibility of the pope is a fabrication to help support the "claims" of the Catholic Church.  It is a false claim that if the Catholics are practicing something not in scripture, the pope can approve it and make it all right.  But the Bible says "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8).

     History shows that the papacy brought itself into power by political alliances with the Roman Empire and other countries.  It maintained its power by armed force and bloodshed in the Inquisition, with millions of people being murdered.  If you were not a Catholic you were killed.  The historical record of the popes is ungodly. In past history there were times when two or three men claimed to be pope at the same time.  A number of popes had mistresses and fathered many illegitimate children.  Simony was a common practice in which church offices, including the papacy, were purchased with money.  The papacy has been guilty of deceptions, murders, adulteries, and robberies.  The evils of the papacy ranks right along with the Nazis and Communists in their atrocities.  But God says, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord" (Hebrews 10:30).