Growing up in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one way to answer an obviously affirmative question was with another question: “Is the pope Catholic?” Now that we have the news that the Roman Catholic Church has chosen a new pope, the talking heads in the media have been asking if he will be progressive or backward, loving or hateful, open-minded or bigoted, doctrinal or evangelical. Many of the reporters have demonstrated a near-perfect ignorance of Christianity and their questions reveal more about their not-so-hidden preferences than the subject matter at hand.
     Perhaps a better question as we get to know the former cardinal of Argentina is, “Is the pope catholic (with a small “c”)? That is, Does he hold to the universal Christian faith revealed in God's Word which the church on earth has always confessed? While the Roman Catholic Church still anathematizes anyone who believes Ephesians 2:8-10, will the new pope revisit Rome's ancient curses on her brothers and sisters in Christ, deny admission to heaven to all who refuse to acknowledge the pope as the vicar of Christ on earth, and continue to elevate Mary as the co-redemptrix? Whatever clues history may provide, time will ultimately tell.
     On the more personal side, are we catholic (with a small “c”)? Let us pray for godly unity among the whole Christian Church on earth, working through the Bible to affirm the Truths God shares there in Law and Gospel. This Lent, definitely get into your Bible, re-read Luther's Catechism, the Book of Concord, and look at the March issue of the Lutheran witness (witness.lcms.org). God's blessings in your struggles to grow as faithful catholic Christians lifting high the cross, the love of Christ proclaiming!