Pope Francis recently affirmed evolution, rejecting the idea of a literal seven day creation. While many Catholics and Protestants affirm various forms of theistic evolution (i.g., God created everything through natural evolution), the Pope’s statement went further.
In his statement, the Pope argued that God is the Creator who started the process, gave creation “autonomy,” and then let things develop naturally: “He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfillment.”
Pope Francis Delves into Heresy
While this statement is less troublesome, the Pope made claims that advocate heresy:
- “When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything — but that is not so.”
- “God is not a divine being or a magician”
The only truth in the first statement is that God is not a magician. However, Pope Francis also rejected the idea that God is “able to do everything.” While God cannot do literally “everything” (e.g., God cannot sin nor change his person or nature), God can do all he intends to do according to his will. God can do “everything” in that he can do all that is good, holy, righteous, and perfect. Furthermore, God can create something out of absolutely nothing. God can create water without the need of pre-existing molecules. God can create human life in an instant from mere dirt. God can create the entire universe in seven literal days. To say that God does not possess the ability to do these, as Pope Francis indicated, is simply unbiblical and heretical.
His second statement doesn’t just delve into heresy, it is heresy. While it is true that God is not a magician, it is also true that God is a divine being. If God is anything less than a divine being then he is no longer God, but a simply a more evolved life form with advanced knowledge and abilities (cf. Star Trek). God, however, is a divine being without beginning or end, for he is the beginning and the end (cf. Rev 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13).
Scripture Refutes Pope Francis
Scripture teaches that God is a divine being who is capable of doing anything he chooses to do.
God is divine
“Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.” – Acts 17:29
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20
“Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” – 2 Peter 1:3-4
God is all-powerful (omnipotent)
“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” – Job 42:2
“Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” – Jeremiah 32:17
“And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” – Matthew 19:26
“Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.'” – Revelation 19:6 (the NKJV reads, “For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!”)
I’m sure Pope Francis is an honorable man who does many good deeds. Nevertheless, this does not make his teachings any less heretical or any more biblical. Scripture teaches that God is an all-powerful divine being. To reject this, either by inference or direct statement, is to advocate heresy.
