When Eternity Beckons

Francis Cardinal George

Certainly, the late Francis Cardinal George will be remembered as a man of strong faith who defended his church against the forces of secular humanism that sought to damage and destroy what many people believe to be the only legitimate church of Jesus Christ on earth.

George died Friday (April 17) after a lengthy battle with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). Unlike other more aggressive types of the disease, kidney cancer is a relentless and painful form that slowly kills its victims. Though it was obvious for quite some time that cancer was destroying George's life, the former archbishop of Chicago never complained publicly about his fate.

In many ways, George spoke like a bible-believing Christian. Unlike many of his contemporaries in the Catholic Church, George quoted the bible--and frequently--when discussing matters of faith. However, for those who are not familiar with the Roman Catholic Church, the Bible usually takes a back seat to church tradition concerning spiritual matters. 

George spoke as though he believed in Jesus Christ the person rather than in Jesus Christ the ancient historical figure. That's an important distinction to make because those who view Christ merely as an ancient historical figure are far less likely to embrace His teachings than someone who sees Christ as an eternal being. 

If George embraced the Bible, did he believe its declaration of Sola Fide? That is, salvation strictly by faith alone in the crucified and resurrected Christ for the sins of the world? Or, did he defer to his church's teaching that salvation is a lifelong process of works? 

If he believed in the former, he kept that to himself because he understood what happens to clergy members who defy church doctrines. They get disciplined. And if they continue to defy the church's authority, they get excommunicated.  If he believed in the latter, then right now he undoubtedly wishes he'd believed in the former.

The Catholic Church not only teaches an unbiblical gospel of works, she condemns those who believe in the biblical gospel of salvation strictly by faith. In 1544, the Catholic Church declared and codified this statement of its teaching on salvation at the Council of Trent: "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema." (Canon 9)

And the church reiterated that with this statement: "If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because that he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema." (Canon 14)

Here's what the Bible declares concerning salvation: "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" (Romans 10:9-11)

Concerning eternal life, Christ said this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his One and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Concerning works, the apostle Paul said this: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

It's important to understand that the Bible was completed long before the advent of the Catholic Church. Therefore, the Catholic gospel is a manufactured gospel rather than the one that came from heaven and was revealed to men. Concerning man-made gospels, Paul issued this caveat: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:8)

There are those who truly believe that Cardinal George was a born again Christian. That is; they're convinced that George accepted Christ on His terms rather than on the Catholic Church's terms. And maybe he did. 

But even if he did, there's still a problem. If George believed in Sola Fide, then why did he continue to promote a counterfeit gospel that saves no one and is condemned by scripture? That's a serious problem that can't be dismissed. Was God's grace sufficient only for him but not for others? 

Only God truly knew George's heart when he drew his final breaths. And only God knows where George is right now on the other side of life. That's not for us to decide. 

But remember Paul's words concerning false gospels: "As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than the one you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:9)