Theology Lesson From A Three Year Old

Matthew 10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

The other night I was talking to my three year old daughter before she went to bed. For one reason or another she began talking about what God made or didn't make. So, I begin to ask her some catechism questions including, 'Why did God make you and all things?' Her answer was simple, so that He could take care of me.

It may not be the right answer according to the book, but it is an interesting theological point. I enjoy making things, but it is often the care and the upkeep that I enjoy the least. However, God being all knowing, knew exactly what He was getting into when He created us and He still did it. He enjoys taking care of us. He cares for us more than he cares for the least of the animals. It is an amazing display of God's love. And right now, before the ultimate time of judgment, God cares for both the godly and ungodly in his common grace. How much more does He do to take care of His own? May we trust Him more with child like faith.

A Good Pope, A Good Guy

Luke 18:18-19

"Good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus replied to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."

It has been an interesting phenomenon with the passing of the pope and I have heard many Christian people say over the past few days that he was a good pope. Can we or should we as Christians make such a remark? Although one may not always think things through the use of the word good in reference to a person speaks specifically to the moral standing. Jesus calls this to the rich young rulers attention. The rich young ruler had come trying to complement Jesus, as well as show that he had something in common with Christ, they were both good, moral men. Jesus quickly calls him back to this comment that many of us would let slide and shows him you have to be careful when calling someone good. We often hear this remark at funerals. "He was such a good man." Why do people want to say this at that point? Isn't it because they want to feel that the person who has died is both worthy of and in a better place?

So, when we as Christians characterize the Pope as a good Pope, do we not confuse the issue of one's standing before God? We often use good in terms of comparing to someone else's performance, but Christ is calling us to only hold up one standard in front of us when it comes to being good, moral, or acceptable and that is God.

We so compartmentalize life today that we can have convicted felons, those who beat their children and wife, those who steal money from companies, those who con and trick people and we will still call them good people. As Christians we must remember that while the Pope has done good things, like taking a stance against abortion and euthanasia, he has also deceived many and told many that their sins are absolved apart from trusting in Christ righteousness alone.

On one hand we must ask ourselves can there be such a thing as a good pope? One the other hand we have to acknowledge that there is nothing worse than a "good" pope. A pope that has a closet full of sins, abuses the papal power, and moves the church in a negative direction is easier to deal with than one whose deception is covered with light and peace.