It Just Isn’t Right

Yesterday’s Sun…‘Diners with a taste for the unusual are in for a treat from today – mayonnaise mixed with Terry’s chocolate orange. Creator Heinz says the sweet festive concoction is for slathering on crumpets or pancakes – or even straight from the jar.’

Unorthodox festive sauce – chocolate orange mayonnaise? A treat? It just isn’t right.

I’m reading ‘Shameless’ by Nadia Bolz-Webber.

Yesterday I read her views on pregnancy termination… She believes that life begins at birth: ‘Rabbis have long held that the soul enters the body at birth, with the first breath. For breath is the gift of life from the one who created us.’

Some of my friends disagree with Bolz-Webber. ‘She just isn’t right,’ they say with conviction. Life starts at conception or in the womb; any abortion is murder.

Bolz-Webber takes a different view.

Earlier this year Christian presenter Aled Jones published a daily devotional ‘Everyday Blessings: Inspirational words of comfort and hope’ which included Buddhist and Islamic ideas, prayers and quotes.

This was well received by many. Others said, ‘He just isn’t right’. You can’t compromise Christian truth…

Often when our deeply held moral, religious or political views are challenged we become defensive. We shout louder, insisting we are right. Christians justify their views with Bible verses. Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war!

Musing… 50 years ago I heard John Stott, eminent Christian and theologian explaining his belief in the Christian tradition of infant baptism. As an opinionated young Christian I thought, ‘He just isn’t right’. He explained his views with gentleness, conviction, passion and humility. It doesn’t have to be a war.

Musing… St Paul’s words: … ’Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered…’

Musing… Heinz, Terry’s, Nadia, Aled, John… my passionate convictions… ‘It just isn’t right’… St Paul’s ‘more excellent way’ of love.