The GC often has Heads of State visit them.

What if the Pope wanted to? He is the Head of State for the world's smallest country.

That would drive some of the rumour mongers and conspiracy fans wild.

Should 'we' accept? Or reject? AND why?

As you said, he is a head of state. Should not matter how small or large the country is. I do not listen to rumors so I don't care how 'wild' that would drive them.

'We' should accept him because 'we' are Seventh Day Adventists with the only real faith and 'we' love won another and 'we' forgive him for not having the 'right' faith. Isn't that part of our love and forgiveness that everyone is preaching so much about these days?

What would Jesus do?

There have been some popes in the past who have accepted Christ as their savior (they usually didn't live long after though). You never know who is going to be a disciple. If Madonna wanted to have lunch with me, it would be difficult for me to accept that one. "Not my will, but thine be done."

Why would that be difficult for you? If she did not have the word of God and you could share it, then why would you have a hard time with it? I agree with what was posted here WWJD?

The POpe and the RCC are wiley and wordly wise. They are also immensely popular and the world spotlight is on him and anything he draws attention to. The Pope is certainly not going to draw attention to the SDA Church by visiting the GC. If anything the Pope would crticize this church from a distance. He probably wouldn't do that, at least not directly, because to them this church is a little ant, or gadfly that is not worth paying attention to.

DB

What's the big deal about it? I view GC for what it is... a huge church board meeting. It is not really good or bad... just a way of doing things. It's neither promoted, nor disapproved of by the Bible. With that said, what's the difference if Pope visits the GC? Several adventist have exchanged handshakes with the pope. This guy even gave him a medal :)



And in this picture they actually exchange a masonic handshake.



It would be a huge deal if that guy represented me, but he does not. He may claim, but my belief is an individual belief, and he may choose to do whatever he wants to. That's the problem with denominationalism is that it is a group think exclusive mentality of all-or-nothing type of Christianity... i.e. Pharaseism... i.e. we should not eat with Gentiles. I think we should be above that.


Before anyone jumps on my case :)... to be fair to mr. Beach, I don't have any reason to believe that he is a mason, and a medal he presented was a GC medallion he usually presented to leaders of other countries. Although to this day he is criticized for attending that conference summoned by the Pope. But that's exactly my point. You can turn the above stated into a big deal if you really wanted to. Pope is not the beast, the papal system is.

For me, without question, I would say accept. But not if acceptance means we would address him as "holy father," or kiss his hand, etc. We should be polite and friendly, but we should not be afraid of speaking the truth to him, or be intimidated by his office and power.

I think he would be more impressed by people willing to speak forthrightly than he would be with those giving him medals, etc. Everyone tries to flatter him. Jesus didn't say things to flatter people. He told them the truth but always with love in his voice. We should do the same with the pope if he should visit us. I would talk first about the things we have in common as Christians, and the shared values, etc., but it would be a failed meeting if we didn't also discuss the differences.

If i were at the GC I would say. Dear Mr. Ratzinger, you are only human, just like me and every other guy. If you truly want to love God, you should find yourself another job, abolish the eucharist, replace the man-made system with a biblical system. Furthermore i would advise you to quit all of your occult activities with the freemasons and so on. IF you are willing to do all this, you can become a member of the true church of God.

Seventh Day adventism is not for sale!no worldy gospel!

The question immediately comes to mind, why would the Pope want to visit the GC. Why is he visiting America right now? I think it's primarily to make a statement of power and allegiance. I'm quite young in the church so who's that Adventist leader shaking hands with the pope? I just don't feel that he would come with the aim of fellowshipping or anything like that. He already knows very well where our faith agrees and I believe he knows where we disagree in even finer detail. I don't know if he has committed the unpardonable sin or anything like that so I won't comment in that perspective but I just feel that every time he goes to see someone its because he wants to broker some kind of allegiance to himself. He doesn't go to the White House just for a birthday party! I just think everybody needs to share with me on this perspective because just the thought of him taking part in the GC or attending one of their meetings or something like that brings a chill down my spine! Shalom!