Let me first say, I’m glad that the Pope is in the States.  I believe I have Christian brothers and sisters for whom this is a meaningful and encouraging event.  And my prayer is that during his visit, people will be awakened spiritually.  I hope they will ask questions.  I hope they will be pointed to Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord.

But after seeing all the hubbub during the morning news, I wonder…

I wonder if Jesus came to town, what the reception of the press would be?  And not just the press, but the religious elites, and the government power-brokers?  I have a feeling we wouldn’t see parades, we would see another crucifixion.

I wonder what it says about us when Christian leaders are so popular with the masses?  Didn’t Jesus say, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19).  I hope we haven’t given up the truth of God for the applause of the world.

I wonder what the crowds would look like, if only those people who practiced the faith showed up?  Our country is entering a post-Christian era.  We like the show, but fewer and fewer of us like the life.  Jesus had masses following him, but when the message got hard, most left.

I wonder how the message would be received if our sin, Christ’s sacrifice, his resurrection, his lordship over all of us and our ultimate responsiblity before the judgment seat of God was at the center; rather than the list of social causes that are but mere symptoms of our sickness?

It’s in our nature to desire religous experiences.  But Christ wants us to experience life!  There is a difference.

What questions come to your mind during the Pope’s visit?