April 2026

#62 Vertical Morality 4/5/2026

Please consider:

3/21/26

On this date, I read an article pertaining to vertical morality. It was an attempt to understand how in today's Christian culture, some can believe and act in ways that seem inconsistent with Christianity.

According to the article

"Vertical morality teaches that authority, power and a moral code of right and wrong, or acceptable and unacceptable, come from 'above' ― an external superior who designates rules, systems and tenets that must be obeyed by those beneath. In the context of religion, the superior is God. In politics, it might be an authoritarian dictator. In a cult, it would be the controlling leader. Whatever the circumstances, the idea is that behaviors are only right or wrong based on what the figure in power says."

To me, the following Biblical standards reveal some of the inconsistencies of vertical morality.

Gal 6:10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because "the righteous will live by faith." 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, "The person who does these things will live by them."

1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 3:4Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Lk 6:27 "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Gal 4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

Relying on the strength of the flesh has proven to be futile. The Divine Promise is the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ.


#63 More Than Salvation 4/12/2026

Please consider:

Salvation is awesome and wonderful for the blessedness in the "hereafter." However, Christianity is about more than the hereafter. It includes God's provisions for His kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven "here and now."

God's provisions for His kingdom come on earth are attained through the process of Sanctification. Sanctification is a process of transformation at the depths and breadths of heart, mind, body, soul and spirit. Transformation includes dying to the bondage of our fleshly ways and being resurrected in a greater fullness of God's Image and likeness. Sanctification is a prayerful process which certainly includes forgiving and therein being forgiven.

Matt 6:14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

It is not merely a matter of discipline of the fleshly ways, which include mind and body. Bible study, discussion, memorization and sermons are wonderful; however, they may merely lead us in the right direction, they do not necessarily accomplish Godly changes at the depths of our being. They do not set us free from the bondage to the fleshly ways. They do not impact our heart, soul and spirit. Therefore they do not provide for a greater experience of God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, "here and now". 


#64 The Simplicity of God's Laws 4/19/2026

Please consider:

Simply stated: What we sow is what we reap.

Gal 6:7 tells us,

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

This principle runs through every area of our life.

Love begets love. Hate begets hate.

What we forgive in others is forgiven in ourselves.

Lk 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

What is judged in others is judgement of self. (Matthew 7:1-5)

Even our relationships reflect this truth. Birds of a feather flock together because similar natures, dispositions, commonalities are attracted to one another.

In a deeper sense, we help create our own reality through what we sow. Even Jesus, as quoted below attests to that fact that Scripture calls human beings "gods." There is great authority and responsibility in being God's image-bearers.

John 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods?'" 35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son?' 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

It is the Spirit of Christ in us that inspires and empowers us to do the things that Jesus did and even greater things.

John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

If what we sow is Godly--a pure heart, forgiveness, trust, doing the will of the Father--we reap Godly blessings.

Luke 12:27 "Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Mat 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

As we seek perfection, we do not need to toil and spin. We merely sow the will of the Father from a pure heart and reap the fullness of His Kingdom blessings.

Jer 31:33 "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord, 'because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.'"

I have observed in my own life that my friends and close associates are not necessarily of the same theology, or same politic or same culture; however, they are of a similar disposition or "heart. The purity of "heart" sets us free to have such a diversity of friendships.

It is a matter of praying without ceasing as we seek God first and allow Him to transform our hearts. Then we simply attract and repel as we manifest the Way, the Truth and the Life of Godliness. "Simply", as we sow from purity of heart we reap Godly blessings.


#65 Christianity is Truly Unique

Please consider:

The Uniqueness includes but is not limited to:

  • Inspiring the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ
  • Recognizing that not only was Jesus Christ a prophet and a teacher, He demonstrated the full spectrum of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
  • Knowing that in God we live and move and have our being
  • Knowing the manifest presence of the Spirit of Christ within which is our hope of glory
  • Knowing God's still, small Voice
  • Obeying God's still small Voice
  • Thriving in the manifest Fruit of the Spirit
  • Serving in the manifest Gifts of the Spirit
  • Knowing that Salvation is merely a profound beginning and that, by way of Sanctification, it is possible to manifest an even greater anointing of God's Spirit as Christ is being formed in us
  • Knowing the profound power of prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names
  • Discerning that which is not consistent with God's Highest and Best
  • Distinguishing between The Tree of Life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil
  • Discerning that which may be well intended but is merely a cosmetic attempt to achieve Godly objectives by fleshly means
  • Cultivating the Character and Image and Likeness of the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ
  • Harvesting the Fruit of the Spirit and not religious nuts