This entry is very difficult to write. I feel overcome with emotion when I consider that not just a priest, and not just an Archbishop - but the Head of the German Catholic Bishops' Conference has claimed that the death of Jesus Christ was not to redeem mankind from sin - but to show "solidarity" with the poor.
Solidarity?
From Lifesite News (emphasis and red lettering, mine):
According to the chairman of the Catholic bishops' conference of Germany, the death of Jesus Christ was not a redemptive act of God to liberate human beings from the bondage of sin and open the gates of heaven. The Archbishop of Freiburg, Robert Zollitsch, known for his liberal views, publicly denied the fundamental Christian dogma of the sacrificial nature of Christ's death in a recent interview with a German television station.Zollitsch said that Christ "did not die for the sins of the people as if God had provided a sacrificial offering, like a scapegoat."
Instead, Jesus had offered only "solidarity" with the poor and suffering. Zollitsch said "that is this great perspective, this tremendous solidarity."
The interviewer asked, "You would now no longer describe it in such a way that God gave his own son, because we humans were so sinful? You would no longer describe it like this?"
Monsignor Zollitsch responded, "No." (!!!)
Full article
Pray for this man's soul. A few verses come to mind:
...but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. - Matt. 10:33
but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. - Luke 12:9
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. - 1 John 2:22-24
I cannot express to you the depth of grief I feel in my heart over this. Many previous generations have believed they are living in what's called "The Last Days." These are the days that will precede the return of Jesus Christ, but also be accompanied by a great deal of suffering for the world. It seems to me that we are now witnessing daily blasphemy both in the world, and sadly - in the church.
It should be no surprise to see someone deny the redemptive power of God by sacrificing His Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins. This has been occurring in the world ever since Jesus Christ came, suffered, died, and rose again. What is a surprise is that this blasphemy is coming from a Bishop. And not only a Bishop but one who is the head of the German Conference of Bishops!
What happens when you take away the divine intervention of God and diminish Christ's work on the Cross? The understanding of sin is removed. If man does not understand that he is lost, in need of a Savior, then why would he follow Christ? What was the purpose of Christ's life and death if not to free mankind from sin?
I know I'm preaching to the choir, here. If you're a regular reader, you most likely are already a Christian. But think of how many trusting souls have listened to this German Bishop, getting nearer and nearer to their own death. Think of how many have swallowed his heresy, oblivious to the peril of their own souls. We need to pray for them, too.
O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.
All I can say is that it is no wonder we need a bunch of nuns and monks praying reparations for the sins of the world. We need it!
7 comments:
That is very shocking. I think Pope Benedict must do something about it. Open apostasy is one thing that isn't tolerated among bishops, especially since, as you say, it misleads so many souls.
I was thinking... the Pope has recently been savaged in the German media over the lifting of the SSPX excommunications. I bet the head of German bishops chose this moment to speak up (on TV!) because he calculated that the Pope is too weak in Germany, speaking in public relations terms, to take on another confrontation and face another round of press criticism now.
He's going to find out that unlike himself, Benedict XVI has greater priorities than public image and power.
Seems to me the Apostle Paul wrote quite clearly about the state of those who preach another gospel as well as a great deal about those who deny the resurrection of Christ. I have to wonder why some people even want to be Christian. Believe whatever they like just don't also call oneself a Christian. Like the blog written by a woman "priest" who states clearly that she's not, that's not, in favour of progressive Christianity. OK, so why is she a woman "priest" then? The blind lead the blind.
It's hard not to wish the Pope and Rome were not so long suffering.
Why are you so sure the bishop is not speaking God's truth for this age? I have read the Bible passages you have quoted and also the full text of the bishop's conversation.
Are you sure they are contradictory?
Alan, the Bishop said this:
Zollitsch said that Christ "did not die for the sins of the people as if God had provided a sacrificial offering, like a scapegoat."This is exactly what Jesus Christ became for mankind - a scapegoat. He was the Paschal Lamb, sacrificed for the sins of the world. I don't know how much more clear that could be in committing heresy.
Truth is the death of God's own Son in order to pay for the sin of mankind. Truth is His forgiveness of the penalty of sin since the price was paid in full by the blood of Christ. Truth is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and offers eternal life to all who follow Him. Truth endures in any age.
Rachel and Owen, it will be very interesting to see what comes from the Vatican over this. I hope that Pope Benedict does make it clear one way or the other that this man is going down a very dangerous road.
Thanks, Mary Rose. I have listened to the interview as carefully as I can, but my German is not good enough to be precisely sure what he was saying. Perhaps your German is better. Or Rachel's or Owen's. If so, I apologise. But he seemed to be explaining the Eastern church understanding of the atonement in contrast to the Western substitutionary view. He seems to be trying to modify the unhelpful and unBiblical image of God as a vengeful, vindictive ogre who has a lust for punishment by death.
Remember Jesus repeated God's command in the Old Testament, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ Nowhere in any of the teachings in the Acts of Apostles is the word sacrifice ever used. It is really only in Hebrews where Paul is speaking specifically to the Jewish Christians that Jesus is referred to as a sacrifice for our sins. This could be an important point.
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