day no. 17,097: the religious right where we were wrong

“We do not really want a religion that is right where we are right. What we want is a religion that is right where we are wrong.”  — G.K. Chesterton, The Catholic Church and Conversion

If our religion will not call us a liar, then it is lying to us. We know ourselves too well to take seriously anything that blows sunshine at us. Our wickedness might enjoy the feeling of flattery, but our consciences, if God be merciful, cannot accept it. We long for a God who will show us the back of our own head and plumb the depths of our darkened hearts. Without that, we are lost.

1 John 1:8-10

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The only way up is down. If we will not hit our knees, we will not be raised from the dead. If we do not confess our sins, we will not be free from them. We must accept the rebuke of God in order to receive the redemption of God.

Proverbs 27:5-6

An open rebuke is better than a hidden love;

the wounds of a friend are more trustworthy than the kisses of an enemy.

A good mirror tells it like it is and a good friend is like a good mirror. God is a good friend. He loves you too much to flatter you. He likes you too much to let you think you're as great as you sometimes think you are. He is not trying to embarrass you. You are doing a good enough job of that on your own. He is bringing it up in order to help you avoid embarrassing yourself. He knows that you would prefer to feel silly in front of Him than to look silly in front of everyone else. It is better to feel stupid for being corrected than it is to feel superior for being stupid.