Hope for the SBC?

The Conclave of Cardinals has elected a new Pope!
For the second time in a row they have elected a person that has lived a life that appears to be truly dedicated to helping the underprivileged, marginalized segments of humanity -- you know, like Jesus modeled for us. 

I was expecting them to swing the pendulum back towards a much more conservative person after having dealt with the push back caused by Pope Francis. While the Roman Catholic Church is a worldwide religion, it is also the largest Christian denomination in the US. Overall, Protestantism has more adherents than Catholicism, but there are many different denominations among Protestants; even different groupings such as evangelicals, mainline (Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc.), and historically Black Protestant. 

It seems to me that the rest of the world must have been more open to the shift to actually being more like Jesus under Pope Francis than the conservative Catholics of the US. 
And if the Catholics are going "woke," maybe there is hope for the Southern Baptists.
After all, I think God is still in the miracle business.

I shouldn't be too harsh on the US evangelicals. When it comes to actual religious beliefs, we are not that far apart. However, in far too many ways many evangelical denominations have become as much political machines as they are religious organizations, and our politics are as different as night and day (or in this case, heaven and hell). When mercy and grace are what your religion teaches and capitalism and nationalism are what your politics are -- well, those things are irreconcilable differences in my mind.

I will never have the worldwide stage to influence people to live like Jesus as Pope Francis did. My circle of influence is small and pretty insignificant. I don't even feel like it is my responsibility to be an influencer of any kind. 
I do feel like it is my responsibility to follow the teachings of Jesus, to love my neighbor, to take care of those in need. and to offer comfort and compassion where I can.

It is just so weird that although Christianity is worldwide, we Christians have made following Christ so exclusive that there are an estimated 45,000 - 47,000 different Christian denominations! 
And some of them believe that they are the only ones that will actually go to heaven!

Today I am grateful to Pope Francis for his influence to be more like Jesus.
And I am grateful to the Roman Catholic Church for continuing on the path he set them on.
I am hopeful that the trend of showing mercy and grace to our neighbors will influence other Christian denominations and individual followers to do the same.

John