Category: Ethics
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Passersby
Mark 15 says two kinds of people happened to pass by Jesus on the morning of his crucifixion. The first was Simon of Cyrene, “the father of Alexander and Rufus,” who “was passing by on his way in from the country” (15:21). The Son of God who had urged his followers to take up their…
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Can You Enjoy Creation Too Much?
Last month I was speaking to a seminary faculty about the themes in Becoming Worldly Saints when a professor shared that he had pondered the pleasures of creation on his walk into work that morning. He had thanked God for the rising sun, the singing birds, but then wondered whether he might be enjoying God’s…
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weighing ethical issues
I have been thinking about the cultural pressure on Christian physicians, lawyers, educators, pharmacists, counselors, photographers, florists, and bakers (this list is growing fast), and I have created a grid to help Christians talk to each other about our response. We may not agree on our answers to these questions, but at least we can…
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misunderstood
This latest entry for Our Daily Journey was inspired by a line in a student’s paper. This isn’t due for another month, so if you see something, say something. Thanks! It hurts to be misunderstood, especially when we are trying our best to love. We go the extra mile to help, and our coworker suspects…
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love vs. liable
My family waited out Saturday’s tornado with other customers and employees in the basement of the Rockford Shoe Depot. When the tornado was a few minutes away, my brother went upstairs to see what was happening outside. He saw a car pull into the parking lot, and he quickly unbolted the front doors and motioned…
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doing good in an evil world
Here is my latest entry for Our Daily Journey, perhaps inspired by recent events. Let me know if you see something that needs changed. Special thanks to Brenda DeVries whose conversation pointed me in this direction. Read Mark 12:35-44 “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who…
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the new unmasking
The political conventions are over—the Democrats gave it their best shot and Donald Trump screamed at the world. The highlight of the Republican convention for many was calling back Chachi from what I presume was a stage in Branson, Missouri. By the way, if you have some down time this summer, a fun game to…
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hard and soft
This morning I told my children about the government’s instructions concerning school locker and bathrooms. My junior high daughter said, “That’s dumb.” I agreed, but wondered how to begin to explain why to a culture that is quickly losing the categories of male and female. Here is my initial attempt. Life requires opposites to get…
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boycotts
The main point of my last post was that our disintegrating culture is going to need scapegoats. This has happened before. At the end of the second century Tertullian said the Romans blamed Christians for “every public disaster.” “If the Tiber rises as high as the city walls, if the Nile does not send its…
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on Target
I understand the righteous anger that prompts Christians to join a public boycott of Target for saying men and women can use each other’s restrooms, but I think this move hurts us both in perception and reality. 1. Perception. As our culture steams toward what may be its tipping point, let’s remember that sin doesn’t…
Mike Wittmer 