The Pope's Visit #1: Ignis Fatuus

In the course of His ‘Sermon on the Mount’ Jesus stated (Matthew 6:23), “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew Henry, commenting on this 23rd verse, plus the one that follows, observed: “It is sad when the spirit of a man, that should be the candle of the Lord, is an ignis fatuus.” An ignis fatuus is that flitting phosphorescent light that can sometimes be seen at night, especially over marshy ground, which some poor souls have taken to be the light of a welcoming hut or home – and plunged forward into danger or destruction. It’s also called “a friar’s lantern,” especially when it’s applied to a person who is deluding or misleading. Matthew Henry continues: “It is sad when the spirit of a man, that should be the candle of the Lord, is an ignis fatuus ... when the leaders of the people ... cause them to err, for then they that are led of them are destroyed, Isaiah 9:16. An error in the practical judgment is fatal, it is that which calls evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20); ... .” Measured by his recent statements about the proposed visit of the Pope to Ireland, Rev. John Dunlop, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, certainly qualifies as an ignis fatuus. Dunlop has been wheeled out to give a ringing endorsement of the man, his mission, and his message, telling us: “He should come to Northern Ireland as well ... and the Protestant churches should welcome a visit from Pope Francis. He’s written a marvellous little book called ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ and I commend that to all my friends. It’s a book that they ought to read.” Mr Dunlop is deluding. He is misleading. He is the classic case in the spiritual realm of this ‘friar’s lantern.’ An ignis fatuus. The Pope’s book that Rev. Dunlop so wholeheartedly recommends, ‘The Joy of the Gospel,’ displays a complete lack of understanding of what the true Christian gospel really is. The Pope’s gospel is a social gospel, wherein people are saved by helping the poor and getting along with each other. This carries over into his economic theory, which is purely Marxist. And, to crown his errors, far from exalting the Person and Work of the only Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Pope directs his highest praise to Mary. So, a treatise on Marxism and Mariolatry it is – but it has absolutely nothing to do with ‘The Joy of the Gospel.’ In calling on people to read this document – and in supporting a visit of the Pope to our shores – John Dunlop is acting as a false light, a “foolish (fatal) fire” that glows over the destructive marshland that is occupied by the Pope. “It is sad when the spirit of a man, that should be the candle of the Lord, is an ignis fatuus.” An old saying runs: “A light which illuminates centuries must be more than an ignis fatuus.” Our nation needs better light than what is coming from this particular ‘friar’s lantern,’ Rev. John Dunlop. In fact, we each need the One who is the source of all true light (and it’s His position and offices that the Pope tries to usurp), the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ Himself declared (John 8:12): “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” With Horatius Bonar we say: And in that Light of life I’ll walk, Till travelling days are done.