Loving our “own kind” and those who already love us is easy love. Where’s the “surpassing righteousness” or reward in that? It brings God maximum glory when our love is as expansive as his. I admit that the enemy-love message is not exactly what you’d call “attractional.” Sadly, it’s easier to gather a crowd with …
Sharing Shalom
While some people conflate their preferred party’s platform with their tribe’s exclusive right to righteousness, political alliances are virtually useless in our definition and demonstration of Jesus’ surpassing righteousness. His idea of what is right is transcultural, where parties and platforms are fickle and die slow deaths. They decompose and produce soil in which the …
Othering vs Belonging
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 …
