Pope Francis, LGBTQ, and Semi-Pelagianism

This article will seek to clarify the current Pope’s recent endorsement of blessing to those who are in same-sex marriages. For many protestants, this move is difficult to understand since the Vatican has simultaneously claimed that the “Declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage” (see under “Declaration, Presentation”).

How could he bless those in same-sex marriages while remaining “firm” on the traditional doctrine of marriage? Though many protestants may want to blame the Pope for double-speak, in reality, he is being consistent. How is this the case?

Roman Catholics don’t see people like many Protestants do. From a Reformed perspective, the difference is easy to see. Many know Calvin famously taught the total depravity of all men such that their hearts are “idol factories.” (cf. Jer 17:9). The Roman Catholic church, on the other hand, has always taken a different tack. Without denying that all humans are sinful creatures—even the Pope among them!—they do deny that unbelievers are unable to do real good. In fact, the Roman Catholic church teaches that many unbelievers are actively searching for God. Their view has been dubbed “semi-Pelagianism” (or “full-Pelagianism,” depending on who you ask) after Pelagius, who fought against Augustine. Pelagius taught that people are generally good and that they just need a little help (something the Roman Catholic church calls the Donum Superadditum, or the “superadded gift”) to choose God. Augustine, on the other hand, taught that people were radically lost without God and that they need to be regenerated, born-again, or made new in order to choose God.

Therefore, the Pope’s actions make no sense from a Reformed perspective. Why would you bless people who are clearly not searching for Him? Wouldn’t that just confuse them and make them think they’re right with God when they’re actually running away from Him in their depravity? On the other hand, from a Roman Catholic perspective, the Pope’s actions make perfect sense. Even though people living in same-sex unions are sinners, we all are! And we all need a little “boost” to get a little closer to God. After all, that’s the main point of the Mass—partaking of Christ’s real body and blood so that we grow from that blessing. The Roman Catholic church exists to dispense superadded gifts upon sinners on their way to heaven, like people on the side of a marathon handing out gel packs and cups of water. The blessing, then, is like a cup of Gatorade given to people in same-sex unions who are on their way to God.

The problem with this, however, is that unbelievers aren’t “on their way to God.” The unregenerate don’t love God. In fact, they hate Him: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10, LSB). Paul says we’re either God’s enemies or reconciled to God through Jesus. There is no middle ground. There are no shoats. Only sheep or goats.

So, pastors should not treat goats like sheep. They should love the goats by telling them they’re goats. They should show them the true spiritual food of the sheep and tell them that—if they repent of their sin and believe in Jesus Christ—this food is for them, too. At the end of the day, as much as I’d like to say otherwise, Reformed Pastors should do something relatively similar to what the Pope suggests: We should pray for people in same-sex unions. Prayer asks for God’s favor without endorsing the behavior of the one prayed for. Indeed, prayer often asks for favor despite the behavior of the one prayed for. The difference, however, is that the primary objective of the prayer should not be that God would “bless” these people but that God would save them by gifting them conviction, repentance, and true faith in Jesus Christ.

If we merely bless people who aren’t Christians, how could they be saved? Is such a “blessing” really a blessing? Perhaps such things help sinners get where they’re going. The problem is the destination isn’t heaven if there is no repentance. Repentance is turning around from one’s life of sin and walking in the opposite direction toward Christ. The Pope’s Declaration encourages people to embolden sinners to keep walking the path they are on. Jesus’s Declaration is that we must tell people to get off that easy path of unrepentance and instead walk the hard path that leads to life.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13–14, LSB).

-Rob Golding