Conclave

The Roman Catholic Pope has died. We sincerely offer condolences to his devoted followers as they mourn his death. However, more than a week later, the pope remains sealed in his tomb, while the tomb of Jesus remains empty. We rejoice that Jesus, the head of the New Testament church, is alive and sitting at the right hand of God (Acts 2:23). No papacy mentioned, or needed.

A conclave is to be held in Rome to fill a position that is not open and to give authority that they do not have.  Jesus remains the “head of the body, the church…that in everything He might be preeminent” (Col 1:18), as He alone has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). Christ’s position is neither vacant nor up for a vote.

Jesus promised, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18).  That promise was kept after His resurrection in AD33, on the Day of Pentecost, in the city of Jerusalem, at 9 am on a Sunday morning, when all the apostles spoke as” tongues of fire” sat upon each of them (Acts 2:1-4). No conclave was needed as the church of Christ followed in the “apostles’ doctrine, and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

-Dennis Doughty