Pope Benedict and Absolutizing Ideologies

World Youth Day ran from August 16-21 in Cologne. Pope Benedict XVI, pictured left, was present and spoke to the hundres of thousands gathered to hear him. On the official World Youth Day website, this quote captures some of his understanding of the nature of truth.

"Pope Benedict XVI has sharply rejected absolutizing ideologies and totalitarianism. By making what is relative absolute, human beings enslave themselves, emphasized the Pope Saturday evening in his homily with reference to the 20th century. 'It is not ideologies that save the world, but only a return to the living God,' said Benedict XVI during the Vigil celebration at Marienfeld, in which more than 700,000 mainly young pilgrims were participating."

One must muse with care over his words, which ironically form an ideology. But certainly Benedict's words ring true with all of those who love the Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ. We must come to the living God and we have a relationship with the living God, not just a list of principles (or an ideology).

But, oh, how careful we must be here! For we read in the Bible that God's Words are inextricably linked to a relationship with Him. "You have ordained Your precepts, That we should keep them diligently. Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!" (Psalm 119:4-5). "My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word (Psalm 119:25). These verses, and hundreds like them bring clarity to this issue. We must have an absolute ideology in order to know God properly, it is HIS ideology as He sets it forth in His Word.

To all our Catholic readers and friends, I urge you to take up the Word of God and read it for yourself. It is the only standard by which to conduct life and build belief that will stand the test. It is a strong tower and an anchor. No matter how much respect a man has among the masses, his words can never come close to the authority of the words of Christ, who speaks and sets an axiomatic ideology that will never fall.