We take the first step in the direction of the kind of righteousness that outshines and outstrips its faux versions when we decline to pigeonhole people in conveniently labeled boxes and begin to love them based on our commonality. “The opposite of Othering is not saming,’” says John A. Powell, “it is belonging. And belonging …
The “Rhodium” Rule
Though commonly known as the “Golden Rule,” I suggest it’s more like Rhodium (ˈRōdēəm), the rarest of metals on the planet. Though I doubt my idea will catch on, my point is that the actual practice of Jesus’ rule is as rare as rhodium. You have to look high and low to excavate even the …
Better Chain or Gentler Dog?
I recently visited an old friend who lives way out at the end of a Northern California country road. As I got out of my car and approached his house I noticed an enormous Saint Bernard sitting in the shade of a great old oak tree. More importantly, I noticed him noticing me. As they …
Jesus or Ayn Rand?
Twentieth century philosopher Ayn Rand wrote: “Every man—is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of …
Libelous Labeling
Labels are too small to explain any person. Each divine image-bearing human is bigger than any one label can contain. Keeping others small makes the labeler feel large. Life is too nuanced for any creatively constructed human to fit tidily into a prefab, hard-and-fast classification. Anyone who believes that marriage should only be between a …
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