"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever"(Hebrews 13:8)

Pope Benedict made headlines last week after his announcement that children who die without baptism may still be saved. According to an Associated Press article, "Pope Benedict XVI has reversed centuries of traditional Roman Catholic teaching on limbo, approving a Vatican report released Friday that says there were 'serious' grounds to hope that children who die without being baptized can go to heaven"(Winfield, AP, 4/20/07). My purpose in this article is not to lambaste the Catholic Church or question the sincerity of Catholics. Nor do I wish in this space to discuss the Catholic doctrines of limbo, original sin, or infant baptism-though none of these are found in the pages of Scripture. My purpose is simply to point out the difference in following a source of authority that can change-the pope-and following one that cannot change-Jesus Christ.

The reason for the change in Catholic teaching is that "such views are now out of date"(Winfield), referring to the traditional teaching that unbaptized infants go to hell. If this change were a result of a sincere examination of the Scriptures and realization of error, it would be most commendable. However, the driving factor for the change, it seems, is that Catholicism must update itself and change with the times. We must note that this is not the first such Catholic change. "The church at one time practiced immersion. This was up to the thirteenth century. The Council of Ravenna, in 1311, changed the form from immersion to pouring"(Our Faith and the Facts, p 399). "Where in the fourth and fifth centuries the doctrine of original sin became better known, the practice of infant baptism progressed rapidly"(Legislation on the Sacraments in the New Code of Canon Law, p 72). Other changes, from the withholding of the cup to the laity to the use of indulgences, have occurred throughout the history of the Catholic Church. In essence, right and wrong to a Catholic are a matter of what time you live in and what pope you live under. Right and wrong are constantly changing, because your authority (the pope and councils of the church) is constantly changing.

Contrast such a view with the inspired Scriptures. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever"(Heb 13:8). He is unchanging, and unchangeable-a true Rock to all who come to Him. James reminds us that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning"(James 1:17). There is no shadow cast by the movement of God because He is forever still, unchanging, and perfectly righteous. Further, since "Christ is head of the church"(Eph 5:23, 1:22), shouldn't it also be true that the church never changes? Sure, its members change as generations come and go, but the teaching of Christ's church will always be the same because Christ is always the same! There will never be a need to update, change or revise Christ's will! There is no contradiction in His word to us, and we need no council to tell us it is right or wrong! Heed well the words of Solomon: "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar"(Prov 30:5-6).

The difference is in authority. Who do we look to for instruction and direction? Who is our head? Please understand that it is always good for us to change when we discover ourselves wrong. When Aquila and Priscilla corrected Apollos, he listened to them and changed his teaching (Acts 18:25-28). However, blindly following a head that is constantly changing to update with the times reveals a spirit contrary to that of the New Testament. Further, does this not deal a particularly devastating blow to the Catholic claim of apostolic succession? If the Catholic Church truly is God's church, directly led by the hand of God, then how can it change so often and so dramatically? Is God suddenly changing? Is Christ not the same any more? Rather we must remember that "God is not the author of confusion"(1 Cor 14:33), and if a church flip-flops doctrinally, it cannot have been following God the whole time!

The lesson here is that Christ must be the head of the church where we are members. If we are not following His lead as revealed in the Scriptures, we need to change, and change quickly. But if we truly are, we must never change to be more current or politically correct. I pray that our Catholic friends will see the folly of trusting in men as their authority and that we can all serve Jesus as our head. Then-and only then-can we begin to talk about the truth of original sin, limbo, and infant baptism.___Jacob Hudgins