Daily Blog

Which matters more to you, people or ideals? If this is a difficult question for you, consider this: ideals are by definition unattainable abstractions of perfection, whereas people are real and feel pain. Does this make the decision easier? You can argue about which policies would result in the greatest good for the greatest number, and human government may require such considerations, but remember that the number are people. Didn’t I say regarding the Sabbath that it was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath? Did I even support harmful policies for their own sake? Never lose sight of the fact that if it isn’t good for people, it isn’t good. 

Daily Blog

Have you ever heard of sin described as ugly? This is true. Conversely, have you ever heard of love, generosity, and other virtues described as beautiful? This is also true. You live in a culture where beauty is understood to be a powerful influence, but you still have a distorted understanding of what it means, thinking it is outward surface appearance only, and so narrowly defined that it is awkward to remark about it except toward the opposite sex. Are you prepared to enlarge your understanding of beauty? The Psalmist desired to see the beauty of the Lord. Are you prepared to see me as the author of all beauty? 

Daily Journal

Where do you begin your spiritual journey? Do you think that church is an obvious place? But have you found that every church you encounter has “one true church” mentality to some degree or another? Perhaps this is not the best place to start. There are more basic questions about your own identity, and mine, where you belong, and what your purpose is to make a meaningful life.  These are an expression of universal spirituality because they are in the heart of everyone. These are the basic spiritual questions you cannot avoid. They can be answered in churches, but when dealing with new believers, let the questions be more prominent than selling your church as the right one. 

Daily Devotional Journal

Are you familiar with the idea of established churches? In a strict sense this refers to government supported and sanctioned churches. Formally established churches are becoming rarer throughout the world despite antidisestablishmentarianism. Yet even without direct government involvement churches are considered a part of “the establishment” for good reason. But I and my followers were not. We were outsiders. The establishment is comfortable and predictable, but it is not in a position to be an agent of transformation because it is invested in the current system. Are you prepared to bear my reproach outside the camp and join the revolution?