Pope Francis: People Are Fundamentally Good, The Heart Is Good

The Bible talks at length about the wickedness of the human heart, yet the Pope is clearly saying that human nature is fundamentally good, which is at fundamentally at odds with the Bible. As demonstrated below, the heart apart from Christ is desperately wicked.

1. Genesis 6:5 – “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
2. Exodus 25:2 – “Speak to the sons of Israel, that they take a contribution to Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall take My contribution.”
3. Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
4. Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.”
5. Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
6. Proverbs 4:23 – “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
7. Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
8. Matthew 12:34 – “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”
9. Mark 7:21-23 – “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
10. Luke 6:45 – “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

These verses demonstrate the importance of the human heart in the Bible, as it is often associated with one’s inner thoughts, motivations, and character.