It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
-Proverbs 16:19
Feeling a little despondent about my relationship with God and my lack of engagement with the bible over the past few years, I’ve made a resolution to select and post a verse each day to this blog.
Today’s selection is from Sojourners Magazine‘s daily verse and voice e-mails. The corresponding voice/quote is:
The church has only two alternatives in its confrontation with the world: either it adapts itself to the world and betrays the gospel, or it responds to the gospel and enters into conflict with the world. - Rene Padilla
In reality I doubt the work is so black and white as Padilla claims – much damage has been done by those who claim to be responding to the gospel, but in fact are responding to societal norms. In the end, they have betrayed the gospel, even if none are around to tell them so. It is more than possible to adapt oneself to the world without betraying the gospel… if only we really understand it in the first place.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” -Matthew 22:36-38
