You,
“Love
of Self”
Of course there is always
space for abuse or the dilution of purpose. Truth is in fine lines but we can
often colour the outside and live the beautiful inside free of our effort. This
is not a reason to close our borders. We cannot say the truth must not be known
or it must be controlled by us because it can lead to abuse.
First, that whole attitude
is steeped in silent megalomania. The idea that the other will abuse the truth
and not ourselves. The dangerous notion that if you speak freedom to the
enslaved they will not know what to do with it. This is, of course, utter
rubbish. It is a lie masquerading, as it so often does, in common sense. There is
no such thing as protecting others from the truth. There is no such thing as
the other.
Second, the evil wrecked on
the world by trying to control our faith and legislate or execute its spread in
organised forms is collected in blood stained history books everywhere. We cannot
hope to contain the flood of grace. We cannot presume to tell people how to
control their own portion of the Grace of God. The seminal separation of the
temple curtain stands forever. There are no intermediaries between God and us. We
are not here to explain God to each other. We are not here to present God in
out tinder boxes and half-baked theologies. We are here to experience God
together.
Let everyone come at the
speed they are able to. Let everyone come with the self they are coming to give
up to glory. Jesus had a whole self before He gave it away for the sins of the
world. Let your fellow Christian grow up without the overbite of your sharp
critic’s teeth. And let your own poor heart stop flailing under the useless
standards you have set up by yourself, standards that you call collectively “following
God” but really are just rules of the road from the guesses of the road user
and not the wisdom of the road constructor.
Be sure there is a standard
of holiness, a high path of beauty and glory as well as a terraforming love to
learn. Be very sure also that you and I could never hope to reach these
celestial heights of out loud living. This is why we needed a saviour in the
first place.

Let us always give Him
something to save.