Are we basically good?

CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER - 23 May 2024

Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash

Friends in Christ, some of you may have noticed a little buzz in the religious world, because of Pope Francis' interview on the American 60 Minutes. The fuss came especially with the last question reporter Norah O’Donnell asked:

“When you look at the world, what gives you hope?”

What an opportunity on 60 Minutes, one of the most watched programs on television! And here’s what Pope Francis says,

“Everything you see, tragedies, but you also see so many beautiful things. You see heroic mothers, heroic men, men who have hopes and dreams, women who look to the future. That gives me a lot of hope. People want to live. People forge ahead and people are fundamentally good. We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good.”

I guess one might be a bit stressed by a big interview on TV in a second language. Previously, Francis had rightly said everyone was a sinner - himself included - and so the gospel was for everyone.

But in his emphatic final answer, the Pope directly contradicts the Bible's teaching. For example, here's the prophet Jeremiah's gloomy but accurate assessment: 

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" [Jeremiah 17:9]

Yet this Pope says “But the heart itself is good.”

For those interested in church history, this is the error of Pelagianism, which believes that huamnity was not corrupted by Adam's sin. Pelagius went on to say that it is still possible for every human being to live a life of perfect righteousness and that, indeed, some have achieved such status. But surely Pope Francis should know Augustine decisively repudiated such a view, and considered the moral nature of fallen men and women to have been corrupted. And Augustine won the day in the early church councils. 

For example, by contrast to Pelagius, hear the verdict of Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 2:1-3 where he is talking about Gentile and Jew...

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 

Human nature is not just sick, but dead in sin. And this verdict applies to all.

The Bible clearly says that left to our own devices, disobedience is the outcome, and we cannot save ourselves. The heart is desperately wicked. So it's strange to hear the Pope saying the opposite.

But worse still, when asked what gives him hope, Pope Francis said nothing of Christ. 

Instead he said heroic mothers, men who have hopes and dreams, women who look to the future - that's what gives him hope. Perhaps Albert Mohler was a bit harsh when he simply said: "It’s mush"! But it does sound more like Disney than Scripture to me too. 

How can the most important denomational leader in the world forget to mention Jesus when asked for what gives him hope? 

Again, please notice where Paul finds hope as Ephesians 2 continues...

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. [Ephesians 2:4-9]

Friends, do not be fooled by sentimental words. They might play well with the public. 

But our hope is not in human heroics or dreams. Our hope is not in our basically good hearts. 

Our hope is in what God has given us through Jesus Christ, and him crucified and risen: love and mercy, grace and kindness. 

Of course, we have many Roman Catholic friends or relatives. And when it comes to many theological and ethical issues, we actually stand in the common defence, of the unborn and the aged, for marriage and family. We share the Apostles and Nicene Creeds in common too. 

But if you listen to this Pope, at least in this interview, then it might seem like there's no urgent need for a Saviour at all, because we are all, a few rogues excepted, basically good enough for God. 

At this point, I go with Jeremiah and Paul in Scripture, and also with Augustine.

And that means going to Christ, and Christ alone for hope! 

Warmly in Christ,

Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney