Contemplating Grace

Following Jesus to the Christ, Part 2 At its core, authentic spirituality is not about beliefs. It’s about behavior. Martin Thielen[1] To reflect upon the difference between Jesus and the Christ is like reflecting on the difference between a wave and the ocean. Jesus was a specific manifestation of the Christ in space and time, … Continue reading Following Jesus to the Christ, Part 2

Following Jesus to the Christ At its core, authentic spirituality is not about beliefs. It’s about behavior. Martin Thielen[1] Among the well-intentioned but misguided statements I am most uncomfortable hearing from “Christians” include: “Have you accepted Christ into your heart?” and “Have you surrendered your life to Jesus?” and “Have you been born again?” and … Continue reading Following Jesus to the Christ

Community, Part 3 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.[1] When we think of community we generally assume a group held together by a common connection in space and time. In other words, communities are often made up of people near to each other geographically (in space) … Continue reading Community, Part 3

Community, Part 2 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.[1] The importance of being part of a supportive community cannot be overstated, whether considering spiritual growth, salvation, or simply living a good life. Communities, as I use them here, are groups of people who share something of … Continue reading Community, Part 2

Community For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.[1] In my mid-twenties, I became obsessed with trying to live a hermit-like lifestyle. I wanted to distance myself from others as much as possible because I felt their interests were too materialistic where mine were more spiritual in nature. … Continue reading Community