Do you live in a democracy? That means that you can take part in the process of selecting your leaders, and this is better than having rule imposed on you without your involvement. Churches also have leaders, but you have even greater freedom of action here. If your candidate loses the election you are still a citizen of the country, but you are able to choose which church you attend, which includes the pastor. Then they watch for your souls and will give an account for you. Make your selection with diligence for you may do it with wisdom, or not. Do not choose what is easiest but what is best for you.

I said that this would be the sign that you were my disciples, that you had love one for another. Yet I also said that if you were good only to those who were good to you, then you would have no reward in heaven. If you identify strongly with a little group, or a large one with strong distinctive features, then people expect you to treat your fellow group members well. This can become the basis for separation and isolation, and this is in conflict with the first statement. If you really want to live this and draw attention, then expand your horizon and your circle past your familiar group, and you will have a better answer to the question, who is my neighbor?

Have you met people who are anti-supernatural? You would not expect to find them in a church, but have you found them there? Have you also met people who are anti-intellectual? It is possible to be neither, but would you expect people to belong to only one of these categories if they belonged to any? Is it possible to be both anti-supernatural and anti-intellectual? To hold preconceived positions regardless of evidence is anti-intellectual. To reject out of hand the possibility of a supernatural realm is to be both. These positions have more in common than you would expect.

The term ‘integration’ is in common use during civil rights movements, and is used to describe ending separation between races. This is an admirable goal but it is not the only level on which integration can take place. Do you see how the same term can be used to describe a process taking place within an individual? My word describes a double minded man as unstable. Have you noticed that you don’t have to cultivate double-mindedness intentionally; it seems to be the default state of humanity? It takes intentional effort to have a unified heart, mind, and purpose. This type of integration is also known as integrity. Integrate yourself that your eye may be single and your whole body full of light.