Have you heard the phrase “we’re all God’s children” as much as I have of late? It seems that whenever I hear those words they are being used to justify someone’s sinful lifestyle. Advocates for homosexuality, open borders, or ecumenism are constantly burping up that phrase as their proof that God is on their side.
Last week I read a blog by a former bishop of mine (Kenneth Carder). He titled it “Do You Really Believe ALL Are God’s Children?” I must say I was stunned by what I read. The bishop wrote the blog as a response to one parent of a homosexual who was upset that her pastor labeled homosexuality as a sin. She wrote to the bishop and asked the question which he used to title his blog. (Read the blog for content and context.) Ultimately, his response to the question is “yes.” He writes, “I wish I could have talked personally with the bereaved mother of the gay son. I would have told her that ‘Yes, I really believe ALL persons are beloved children of God…”
It seems that the episcopal leader is on the “we’re all God’s children” train too. So I thought I would climb onboard as well. But I want to know where this train is going. So hop on board with me to see where this gay fun filled train finally ends up.
The first thing that strikes me as I board the “we’re all God’s children” train ride is…so who needs Jesus? If being alive makes me a child of God then that whole conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus recorded in John 3:1-21 seems kind of superfluous. I mean, if being born ipso facto makes me a child of God then why would Jesus say “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”? If merely being alive and being loved by Jesus punches my ticket to heaven how come “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” wasn’t enough? Why did Jesus continue with the phrase “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”? And why did Paul later say in Romans 5:6 that “Christ died for the ungodly”? Who can be ungodly if all are loved by God? Hmm…
If we’re all God’s children then why did Jesus seem to believe that most people are going to hell? What else could He have meant in the Sermon on the Mount when He said in Matthew 7:13-14,
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few?
For that matter, if we’re all God’s children why would Jesus say in Matthew 7:21,
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven?
Something is not adding up here. Jesus sure seems to think that being born again, believing on Him, and doing the will of His Father are prerequisites for being heaven bound (and isn’t that what those who are claiming to be children of God are implying? That just by virtue of being a child of God they are going to inherit eternal life?). Hmm…
If we’re all God’s children just by living and being loved by God, why did Jesus say that it would be better that some people had never been born? Yeah, Jesus said that whoever causes a little one to sin would be better off to kill themselves (Matt. 18:6). And do you remember what He told the apostles as they celebrated the last supper? When He told them that one of them would betray Him He said, “The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born” (Matt. 26:24). Judas was born. Judas was loved by God (I assume since he was in the world and Jesus said that “God so loved the world…”). Hmm…
If we’re all God’s children saved by our existence and His love why would the Apostle Paul write to the Ephesians warning them of “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience…” (2:2) and again “Let no one deceive you with empty words…the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (5:6). Who are these “sons of disobedience”? Read Ephesians chapters 2 and 5. Seems pretty clear to me. Hmm…
If we’re all God’s children because we are alive and loved by God and are therefore automatically going to heaven, what need do we have of the Holy Spirit? For that matter, what need do we have of truth? What need do we have of faith? What need do we even have of love? Hmm…
If we’re all God’s children why did the Apostle John give us a simple test to determine who are God’s children and who aren’t? First John 3:10 says quite plainly: “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God…” What is amazing is that Bishop Carder actually acknowledges this passage but gives it a great big “Meh” by falling back on the tired old don’t judge shtick everyone uses who doesn’t like what the Bible says about sinning. Unbelievable, given that John actually says that he gave us that test so we could rightly discern who are God’s children and who aren’t! Bishop Carder says “My responsibility isn’t to judge.” Well, if the bishop means it isn’t his responsibility to send someone to hell, I heartily agree. But if the bishop means it isn’t his responsibility to discern a child of God from a child of the devil I would say that is the most uncaring and unloving thing someone who knows something about God, heaven, and salvation could possibly say. Someone should have informed John of that wisdom. Hmm…
As I look around on the “we’re all God’s children” train, one singular thought keeps coming to mind. Whatever happened to the notion that obedience to God is a prerequisite for being claimed as His child? Love is free and without obligation. Salvation is not. I think people are confusing being human with being saved. All of humanity has been created in the image and after the likeness of God (Gen. 1:26) and is therefore a candidate for salvation (John 3:16). All are of sacred worth and value to God. But that fact doesn’t save anyone. That was true already before the Word was made flesh and died and rose again. People needed a Savior despite being created in the image and after the likeness of God.
So I think I’ve ridden on the “all are God’s children” train long enough. There is nothing more unbiblical than the idea that just because I’m alive and am loved by God I am saved and bound for heaven. Nor is there anything more unloving. If it were true, there would be no need for a Great Commission. No need to walk in faith. No need to heed the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. No need to stand in faith. No need to repent. No need to spend any time in intercessory prayer.
It’s very obvious. If we’re all God’s children, I don’t really need anyone outside of myself. I don’t need God since He already loves me. I don’t need the Bible since eternal life is already a done deal. And guess what? I don’t need y-o-u either. And that is really the biggest difference between everyone on that train and those who aren’t. Those of us who aren’t on that train are still preaching, teaching, and praying God’s word and truth in hopes that those who are will see the light. Those on the train seem to wish everyone else would just shut up and be eaten by worms. Hmm…
