ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 12, 2026
Have you ever thought you understood something completely, only to have your eyes opened? It can often be challenging to admit that what you perceived to be the truth was not accurate. Maybe it’s not so hard when it was simply a lack of information, and once the new information was available, you changed your mind. But what happens when people absolutely refuse to accept the truth? Maybe it’s out of embarrassment. We’ve all been there at one time or another. Or maybe it’s because they cannot imagine life beyond the limits of their old world view. There was an old guy that I got to know when I was in my 20s. In so many ways, he was kind and smart, but he was also racist. Nothing seemed to change his mind, even when his grandson started dating an absolutely wonderful woman who was African American. The bigotry was so much a part of his worldview. He could not imagine what might be found on the other side of a change. In his opinion, to leave behind what he had always thought to be true would bring chaos to his world. Sadly, he died without any sort of change… despite many people offering encouragement and opportunity.
Today, I see lots of people clinging to utter foolishness. It’s not a matter of a nuanced disagreement, but a complete denial of what is known to be true. I share this, not to judge or belittle them, but to pause and prayerfully seek God’s help if there is any area to which I am completely unaware of my headstrong myopia that has me missing the truth that is right in front of me. It is sort of arrogant to expect others to face those needed corrections within their own lives if I am unwilling to name similar areas in my own life. It is unrealistic to expect from others what we’re not willing to do ourselves.
Be for me, Holy God, the North Star in my pursuit of what is good, right, truthful, and life-giving. Where there is something I need to know, yet it is something that could be discomforting, I pray for peace and the capacity to trust you in this greater pursuit. Amen.
