I want to tell you about two “powerful” men who lived at the turn of the 13th century. The first of these men chose the name Innocent when he was unanimously declared Pope in 1198. He took Jeremiah 1:10 as his ordination verse: “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Pope Innocent lived by this verse. Innocent believed that his position gave him the power to rule over all people; anyone who challenged him was subject to excommunication. He used his position to intimidate kings and rulers. He declared King John of England to be subject under his rule, and tried to claim that all of England belonged to Rome. Innocent III was the most powerful pope in history. Yet his name is largely forgotten today.

At th…