What do you expect when you go to church? Being beat up for your sins? Being reminded of how righteous you are and always have been? Hearing those who are outside your group denounced for their unrighteousness? Hearing detailed insights into obscure passages of scripture? Have you experienced any or all of these? Which of these practices do observe in me from the time of my ministry on earth? I spent my time declaring the Kingdom of God with illustrations that were as simple and familiar as they were timeless and profound. In the end I said it was enough.

What are your thoughts about beauty? Do you think it is vain and superficial? This is a common understanding and there is a valid basis for looking deeper than outward appearances. But beauty can be found here too. Have you ever been moved by a beautiful piece of music? What about a natural landscape? Do you see beauty in patterns and thoughts and hold a properly reverential attitude toward acts of great sacrifice? If you are spiritual you will discern beauty everywhere you look. If you can look beyond the awkward confines of your culture you will be able to see the beauty of the Lord.

Do you find satisfaction in helping those in need? Two things are necessary for you to accomplish this. You must be willing to be generous, and you must have the resources required by those in need. Do you think of this only in terms of money? This is one way but not the only way. It could be as simple as giving someone directions. There are many non-monetary ways to assist. Can you visit those in prison or the hospital? What about providing a word of encouragement to those who are weary? Can you provide validation of the value of life to those who are discouraged and uncertain of this?

Do you believe in holy ground? In ancient times it was assumed that I had an address the same way that you do. When Jacob spent the night at a random place in the middle of nowhere he was surprised to find that I was camping with him. He wasn’t expecting that since the doctrine of omnipresence had not been developed. Do you accept that some places are holy and others not? What about houses of worship? Could it be the intention of the people who gather there that makes it so? Perhaps there is more to that concept than to geographical grid coordinates.