By now, the whole world knows that Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, has died.  In last night’s blog, I wrote that his death was a tragedy, not because he was a great spiritual leader, but because the death of anyone who is outside of Christ is tragic.

We all knew that much would be written about the Pope after his passing, and that it would be mostly good, praising what a good man he was.  This, of course, is now happening, and so far as his goodness is concerned, the writings have thus far painted an accurate picture.  There is no reason for anyone to doubt that he was a kind and compassionate person who cared deeply for people.

The problem with the Pope, not this one in particular, but the Papal institution itself, is that it is an over-exaltation of man.  Before and since his death, the Pope is referred to as “his holiness.”  Even though it is a popular thing to do, it is all but blasphemous to refer to a man by such a term.  Do you ever remember Peter, Paul, James, John, or any of the other apostles being referred to by such a term?  I will answer the question for you—no, you do not.  They were never called “reverend,” “right reverend,” or “your holiness.”  They never even used the term “apostle” as a title.  Why?  Because they knew that God would frown upon it.

Matthew 23:8-10 (KJV)
⁸ But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. ⁹ And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. ¹⁰ Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.   

Terms and titles of exaltation belong to God and Him alone.  Listen to what the Psalmist said about the Lord.

Psalm 111:9 (KJV)
⁹ He sent redemption unto his people: He hath commanded his covenant for ever: Holy and reverend is his name.

Holy is God’s name.  Why should we ever call a mere human being who was created by God by God’s name, regardless of what position he holds in some man-made church?

The Pope is just the most extreme example of this problem in the religious world today.  The same mistake is made by almost all denominational churches.  They give their preachers and pastors religious titles that separate them from the rest of the people, titles such as Reverend or even Pastor.  Did you know that qualified men who served as elders or pastors in New Testament local churches never used those terms as religious titles?  Peter, who was an apostle of Christ but also served as an elder, is never referred to as Pastor Peter.  He was just Peter.  The New Testament church did not make a practice of elevating man.  When the church at Corinth was doing so, Paul chastised them for it.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NKJV)
¹ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; ³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

The saints at Corinth had to learn not to think of men above what is written (1 Cor. 4:6).  We must learn the same thing today.  One thing is clear—the denominational world hasn’t learned the lesson.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.