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Pope, Act Like Peter
You cannot turn on the news or search the net without being reminded of the fact that the pope is in the United States. Someone on the radio this morning reiterated the common error – based on a misinterpretation of Matthew 16:18 – that Peter was the first pope and that Mr. Francis (birth name Jorge Mario Bergoglio) is following in his steps. If the pope is going to claim to be the successor of Peter as the first pope, then let him act like Peter.
Refuse worship. In Acts 10 Peter went to the house of Cornelius. “When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.” (:25). What a great occasion to promote the papal practice of accepting the worship of people. So how did Peter respond? “But Peter raised him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I too am just a man.’” (:26). Did Peter not yet understand the pomp and prestige due a pope? No, but he knew the proper place for a common man, and it is not at the receiving end of people’s worship. Paul and even angels also knew the same and refused worship offered to them (Acts 14:15; Rev 19:10; 22:8-9). As the angel said, only God deserves such homage – the reason for Jesus accepting it when He was upon the earth (Matt 8:2). The pope should learn this lesson from Peter.
Don’t claim supremacy. The official title of the pope is “Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God.” Do you read in the Bible any titles of Peter even remotely similar to this? Again, he simply described himself as “just a man” (Acts 10:26). In addressing other elders Peter called himself a “fellow elder” – not the supreme or sovereign one – and said someone else (Jesus) was “Chief Shepherd”, not himself (1 Peter 5:1-4).
Teach the truth. The pope contradicts the Bible with many things he teaches, such as regarding evolution, celibacy, opposition to the death penalty, and others. Peter, on the other hand, never taught anything that contradicts the rest of Scripture. He even referred to the wisdom by which Paul wrote what he did (2 Peter 3:15), while the pope on occasion teaches in opposition to that wisdom.
Peter was no pope, and the pope is no Peter.
