Is your faith making you better or worse? Hopefully better, but both are possibilities. Are you familiar with all the passages about the Pharisees? They were the religious establishment in their day as you are in yours. When you read about them, are you glad that you are not like them? But then they also were glad that they were not like others, such as the sinner whose prayer was accepted for justification. Church people have a different set of issues to deal with than those outside, but both are real. Examine yourself that you may remain free of the leaven of the Pharisees.

Can you change your life at will? Can you wake up one morning and realize that you need to be more loving and compassionate, and put it on your list of things to do, and have it accomplished by evening? Have you found that enduring change is not that easy? Yet it is possible. Things you desire that are not so easily accomplished by your own efforts can occur in the crucible of my refining fire. This is very different from your self-improvement projects. You can’t bring them about, but your consent is required. I know what you need and am prepared to bring it about.

Have you ever heard of churches described as social clubs? You know this is not meant as a compliment, but there are legitimate and valid social aspects to a church. Where do you find most of your friends? Where else do you find people with whom you have the most in common, and see on a regular basis? It is only normal that you should share multiple dimensions of your life with them. The problem comes when your circle is small and exclusive. Visitors are keenly aware of when they are treated as outsiders, whether by commission or omission.

Is it a sin to be angry? The bible says be angry and sin not. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. There is much content in these few words. It says that you can be angry and not sin, but implies that anger also can be a sin. The problem with anger is in leaving it unresolved. There may be things that make you angry that can’t be resolved in the short term, but you can still deal with anger as it arises. You can transform it into compassion for the afflicted and resolution to redemptive action. How long does it take to do this?