Spirit
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Thorns Upon Our Heads What about suffering and its redemptive power? For Paulus, the chains were badges of his unwavering faith, and he was correct. He took pride in nothing but Christ, and spoke plainly on the matter. Yet in his letters, his greatest suffering seemed to have nothing to do with injuries upon himself,…
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Rivalry in Redemption Dearly beloved of God, on this most holy of days, I wish to discuss with you the broader theological implications of this apostolic drama, and what it all means in terms of virtue. Immediately recognisable, the dynamics between the other apostles and Paulus are reflective of the ongoing tension between our basic…
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Humility is Real; All Personality is Euphemism Dear beloved of God, imperfection forever points to perfection, which is why you are so beloved. This is indeed a truism resting at the heart of true faith and all reason. Owning imperfection is not about being proud of wrongness. It is to be truly human as created.…
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Pit of Continuing Error Progress is the movement toward something greater. Growth is the unfolding of our potential into its fullness as far as we can progress, and extend that progression further still. In continuing sin, we are choosing to remain where we are, rather than moving forward or growing. This is a truth that…
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Price of Ministry What of Paulus himself in all of this? He was hated in the name of the Lord, inside the church and out. This was the price he paid for his unwavering faith and fearless ministry, willingly. Seven times in chains, a man bound by the shackles of persecution yet unshackled in spirit.…
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Approaching Humility As beloved of God, our success in the quest for understanding is intrinsically tied to acknowledging limitations. Many profound insights will emerge only at the end of great frustration, why? The frustration is humbling and forces the reconsideration of presumptions. Yesterday I brought up a vast library, where one is armed only with…
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Apostolic Rivalries Dearly beloved reader, within the textual evidence surrounding the earliest churches are hints that some leaders harboured unjust envy toward Paulus, a sentiment that would cast long shadows over the history passed down to us. Jealousy is poison that can corrode the soul if allowed to fester and become central, turning allies into…
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Scientism and Its Denial of Ignorance Dear beloved of God, let us now turn our gaze to that shadow which looms forever over modern thought: arrogance. Not the arrogance in this or another certainty per se, but the arrogance through denial of our ignorance. They would have ignorance itself as something to be solved, rather…
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Navigating Imperfection and Arrogance “When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.” -Proverbs 11:2 Research in cognitive psychology highlights how overconfidence can impair decision-making and learning. Humility, conversely, fosters open-mindedness and a willingness to adapt. Socrates famously said, “I know that I know nothing.” Imagine standing before a vast library, its shelves…
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A Call to Humility Dearly beloved of God, imperfection guarantees ignorance. Our very fallibility is the gateway to wisdom, if we allow it to be. In the imperfections of our human incompleteness are sown the seeds of our understanding, and our patterns of understandings which result in our gifts to the world. The more we…