Friday, September 23, 2005
Making the World Better
An interesting observation by this columnist on differences between the "Left" and the "Right." He says the Left focuses more on making society better, while the Right focuses more on making people better.
"Because Judeo-Christian values have always understood that the world is made better by making people better. On occasion, of course, a great moral cause must be joined. For example, it was religious Christians who led the fight to abolish slavery in Europe and America. But in general, the way to a better society is through the laborious and completely non-glamorous project of making each person more honest, more courageous, more decent, more likely to commit to another person in marriage, more likely to devote more time to raising children, and so on."
If that is true, then is there any more important work than spiritual growth and character formation?
"Because Judeo-Christian values have always understood that the world is made better by making people better. On occasion, of course, a great moral cause must be joined. For example, it was religious Christians who led the fight to abolish slavery in Europe and America. But in general, the way to a better society is through the laborious and completely non-glamorous project of making each person more honest, more courageous, more decent, more likely to commit to another person in marriage, more likely to devote more time to raising children, and so on."
If that is true, then is there any more important work than spiritual growth and character formation?
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Developing Gravitas
This article to pastors asks an important question - beyond the eagerness to serve God and giftedness to enter vocational ministry, how do we build our souls so that we minister to people out of who we are?
He shows a pastor's heart in his response - falling deeply in love with the flock of Christ - however I feel it is unsatisfactory, if well-meaning. Loving the flock deeply may show compassion and empathy, but the real gravitas I think we are all looking for comes from falling more deeply in love with God himself. Knowing him and evidencing his presence no matter what the context you face - now, that is real gravitas.
The kind that led Gabriel to respond to Zechariah in Luke 1:19 "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God! It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!"
He shows a pastor's heart in his response - falling deeply in love with the flock of Christ - however I feel it is unsatisfactory, if well-meaning. Loving the flock deeply may show compassion and empathy, but the real gravitas I think we are all looking for comes from falling more deeply in love with God himself. Knowing him and evidencing his presence no matter what the context you face - now, that is real gravitas.
The kind that led Gabriel to respond to Zechariah in Luke 1:19 "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God! It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!"
