July 23

Day 131: There, I said it!

We're not remaining the same, but we're each becoming who we are.

The stats have changed, in just the past two weeks. Now a full one-third of "practicing Christians" are doing just fine not participating with their pre-Covid church. Out of sight, out of mind.

For these, church must not have been that helpful or important to begin with.

Some, citing present stress, have chosen to withdraw from relationships altogether. Others want to maintain some relationships within the church, but not with the church.

It would seem that at least a third of North American Christians have adapted the greater culture's "Harm Principle." Meaning, "I'll do (or not do) whatever I want, as long as it doesn't harm someone else."

But who decides what is or is not harmful?

As seen in our society, we've converted moral questions into resource-allocation questions. What benefits certain  gaps in our culture (that can ultimately cause me to feel good about me?)

It would seem a healthy percentage of us have replaced virtues with values. Values emphasize transparency, kindness, authenticity, and (a limited variety of) tolerance. Contrasted with virtues, those that evidence honesty, goodness, truth, and commitment.

Values drive personal success, thus are soft and adaptable. Virtues, on the other hand, forge character, thus are firm.

Values are sourced from internal perceptions and feelings. Virtues are sourced from something outside of ourselves.

Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

The sensations of hunger and thirst are vital for life. Without both, we would shrivel up and die.

Spiritual hunger produces moral clarity, intrinsic virtues. But our own appetites distract us from a clear vision of Jesus. He just told us to hunger and thirst...for righteousness.

Transparency, kindness, authenticity, and (the current version of) tolerance can certainly be developed apart from the fellowship of the saints who comprise any local church.

The hungry and thirsty ones, however, are met by Jesus. He is the one who defines and establishes honesty, goodness, truth and commitment.

And like how "the fruits of the Spirit" cannot be developed in isolation, virtues evidencing righteousness cannot be matured apart from Jesus or His Church.

There, I said it!

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau