Unpopular…but true

Is it better to be kind or to be honest? It’s a consideration that affects women in particular. As emotionally led beings, women can lean into the desire to protect others’ feelings. It’s often easier to say the nice thing and not risk the sting of honesty. And yet, kindness and truth are both highlighted in the Bible. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and one of the most noted attributes of God in scripture is lovingkindness. Alternatively, Jesus didn’t shy away from being honest in sacrifice to social graces. He called the religious leaders “you brood of vipers” (Matthew 12:34) and publicly flipped the tables of the money changers (Matthew 21:12-13). Kindness is a reflection of God, but Jesus is known as truth himself. If one triumphs over the other, I’d cast my lot with truthfulness.

It’s more popular to say what makes people happy

In our mental-health centric society, this is a challenging revelation. It’s more popular to say what makes people happy. We need to use the right pronouns and accept their use by others; acknowledge the indigenous people group of the land we’re standing on (unless it happens to be in the UK or Europe). This past spring, the Independent reported that a toddler aged three or four was kicked out of a state-run nursery for misgendering, suspended for “abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity” during the 2022-23 academic year. King Charles received backlash when he included honourable mentions for Judaism and Islam in his annual Easter message. “If everyone ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” seems to be the mantra of the day. 

The uncomfortable truth

Perhaps due to this arguably feminine need to include and assuage as many people, as often as possible, I’ve recognised a prevalent yet misguided statement: “All of us are God’s children.” I’ve heard it stated unthinkingly over and over again; while evangelising or on smart-sounding Christian podcasts – even with confident authority by people who don’t claim to be believers, but think they have a general understanding of what a good God would say. It’s spoken so often, and with such earnestness, it must be correct. But the not nice truth is, it isn’t. I’ve been ‘beaten up’ in comments sections, and accused of being dogmatic and legalistic. I admit, it has a nice ring to it. I think that’s just the dulcet tones of flattery.

Of course, we are all made in God’s image, according to the first book of Genesis, all equally sinful and redeemable in his sight. But what are the implications here? What of God’s character? What sort of loving, dependable father appoints his own children for wrath? If we were already God’s children, why would any of us need salvation? Jesus didn’t. Wouldn’t a good God do anything to save his own kids? Proposing the mistruth to a lost and dying world that they are already God’s children gives false security. The parent-child relationship carries with it the assumption of good standing. It sounds compassionate and inclusive but it’s a sneaky false narrative, making for a lopsided gospel. 

God values humanity, like a painter treasures his masterpiece, but even the most revered composer doesn’t treat his magnum opus like his child. Not a sane one at least. He loves his creation, but if it goes careening off into left field, becoming a danger to itself and others, he doesn’t hesitate to snuff it out and begin anew. The rainbow is God’s specific promise he won’t repeat himself to that end. The relationship with one’s child is different than to one’s creation. To your child, you give a million and one chances; you trade the world for, and never give up on, them. They’re your heartbeat, your lineage, more important than your very breath.

In scripture, Jesus tells the Pharisees they are children of the devil. “Jesus told them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does” (John 8:42-44, NLT). We can’t all be children of God if some of us are children of the devil. The measure of being a child of God lies in one necessity. John explained it early on in his Gospel. “He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:10-13, NLT).

When we know where we stand it’s much easier to comprehend where we’re going

So we have it from the pen of the one who knew Jesus best, and from the mouth of Jesus himself. We are not all children of God. To be a child of God, you must be born again. Believe it or not, this is good news. Why? A kernel of truth lies in the famousness of the “we all are children of God” mantra. Everyone really, really desires to be a child of God! And thanks be to him, it is possible. Not naturally, but supernaturally, by God’s Holy Spirit, through his free gift of grace. Far from being part of the family of God, before salvation, Paul writes that we were God’s enemies (Romans 5:10). Recognition of human’s fallen, separated state makes God’s wrath toward sin more believable and the need to share adoption and sonship through the blood of Jesus Christ more urgent. Imagine seeking directions to a place, not even knowing your own location. When we know where we stand it’s much easier to comprehend where we’re going. It may sound unkind to say we are not all God’s children, but it’s a necessary truth. If you are a child of God, be honest about how you got here. A loving Christian desires to give a healthy dose of bitter medicine, over and above sweet nothingness.