Are you familiar with the idea of valid criticism? Obviously, you should have your facts straight if you take it upon yourself to offer criticism. If you are convinced of the truth of your assertions, does that make the criticism valid? Is it possible to use the truth for condemnation, and that those who do so are judgmental? Even in adversarial proceedings in a court the accused has the opportunity to offer exonerating or extenuating testimony on his own behalf. Is the true story complete without this?

You consider belief to be central to your faith, and you are right. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. What do you think belief consists of? Is it assent to validity of the major doctrinal claims of your church? Yet none of these things existed for Abraham, so what did he believe? Do you see belief in terms of propositional truth? But for Abraham it was relational, even as you assert that your faith is a relationship with me. Can you expand your concept of belief to include the intangible connection that gives you life, as he did?

Have you ever experienced righteous indignation? What about self-righteous indignation? Can you tell the difference? It may be more obvious to other people than it is to you. If it is possible to distance yourself from the problem and claim that it is due to other people who are entirely unlike you then you should suspect the self-righteous version. When Isaiah was undone he said, woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. He was headed in the right direction.

Have you met people who claim to love me and yet their love for other people is not obvious? Is it possible to separate these things? There are things that are widely regarded as Christian practices, such as Bible study, prayer, and worship. Doing them may result in more loving behavior toward others, and it should, but is it possible to do them and not come to this result? To whom does this apply? Consider my reply to the question, ‘who is my neighbor?’ Consider the question, ‘if you do not love your brother whom you can see, can you love God whom you cannot see?’ Obviously not.