On Authority
Ideas are backed by some authority. Jesus-followers share that their authority is the Christ. For those who have a different view, what authority do you appeal to? And why should I accept that authority?
We live in a world of competing ideas about reality. To advocate for a particular viewpoint is to submit to a particular authority. It should be obvious from this site, but I accept Jesus as my ultimate authority, and I do my best to understand reality from his life and teaching. We have been handed The Royal Law: love God and love others, or love God by loving others.
That being the case, I don’t expect everyone else to accept Christ’s authority over their lives (except for those who claim to be Jesus-followers). That’s their choice to make.
But if you are advocating for a viewpoint that’s different from mine, please share what authority stands behind your view. And if you are an authority unto yourself (“you do you”), don’t be surprised that I don’t accept your authority for myself. Why would you?
Discipleship Pathway
A discipleship pathway isn’t what we normally think. Aim for the right destination — a destination that looks more like a daily journey.
A pathway is a road from here to there. Steps from where you are to where to want to be. Discipleship pathways are often presented as a set of classes, groups, studies, activities, and practices that develop new believers (or even nonbelievers in some cases) into mature disciples of Jesus. All of these can be helpful but they should not be confused with discipleship.
Discipleship is being trained by Christ. Disciples are becoming better learners-followers-imitators of Jesus.
Jesus gave us a discipleship pathway. He said:
“If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
Whatever helps you walk this path with Jesus — a path of self-denial and self-sacrifice — is helpful indeed. But the next step in your discipleship isn’t a class. It’s a step with Jesus toward Christlikeness.
Unsettled
Not everything in life is clearly settled. Still we work for unity in the Body of Christ.
“Now food will not bring us close to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.”
How were disciples to approach food offered to idols? According to another’s conscience, not their own. Eating meat offered to idols means nothing to a follower of Christ with a strong faith. But it could be a stumbling block to an unbeliever or someone with weak faith. The life of a disciple in this world is full of mysteries and paradoxes. God makes room for honest disagreements and differences of interpretation. These are wonderful opportunities to extend grace and preserve our unity in Christ.
- love
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- poverty & compassion
- imagination & creativity
- technology & ai
- knowing God
- human dignity
- faith & trust
- incarnation & cross
- kingdom of God
- community
- reconciliation
- spiritual formation
- epistemology
- prayer
- gratitude
- culture
- creation & nature
- discipleship
The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. It would be just like him to go to the cross.