The late, great Henri Nouwen said it, and said it so well that all I do is get out of the way —
“There is such an enormous hunger for meaning in life, for comfort and consolation, for forgiveness and reconciliation, for restoration and healing, that anyone who has any authority in the Church should constantly be reminded that the best word to characterize religious authority is compassion.
“Let’s keep looking at Jesus whose authority was expressed in compassion.”
Sometimes I think we (the church) think the work is judgement (of others, of course.)
Sadly, I have to agree. And wow, love your use of “we” in your Comment; again, sadly, I have to agree with the 1st Person Plural. Mercy.
I keep defending authentic Christians by reminding others that Christ was Love and taught compassion. I then tell them that those preaching and using judgment are Paultians. After studying Paul under Rev. Jim Schuetz (more or less and expert on Paul), I find more judgment in his letters than compassion. Especially the phrases that are thrown at me, picked clean by the thrower to mean what they desire.
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