Podcasts about moral goodness

A Christian engagement with politics is idealistic, right? I mean, don't Christians want both a righteous messiah and an earthly Nirvana? Not me. I explain why I do engage politically, noting my historical and theological reasoning. In the show's second part I work through the topic of hell. Can we say God is loving if he sends people there? Can we say God is just if he sends people there? Well, actually, I believe there are profound reasons to suggest that hell is morally good. Let's be more nuanced.

Check out Toby's page on Canon Plus: https://mycanonplus.com/tabs/discover/pages/toby-sumpter

In this episode of Having Two Legs, Pastor Toby tackles the age-old question: how is a Christian to regard wealth? Read the blog post here: https://tobyjsumpter.com/the-moral-goodness-of-wealth/

Great businesses would always say, “Quality control will make or break your company.” Quality control is essential in business, in public utilities, in agriculture, in education, in sports—in every area of life. It is vital to our personalities too. You and I are not exempt from the need for personal quality control. If we are going to be strong and effective people who can withstand the pressures of this world and bear a testimony and leave behind a legacy, we must be people of quality. The Bible has a word for that: Goodness. "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness;" The first step to the progress of our faith is Goodness. #40daysofprogress

While moral goodness sounds like a nice theology. Nothing saves like the promises of God. A daily devotional by Vince Miller.

Join Franciscan Sister Gloria Haider as she reflects on her journey from ‘human doing' to more fully living as a ‘human being' during the pandemic. She sees beauty, is inspired by diverse prayer practices, and accompanies those who are in need as she listens for the Spirit's guidance. Come and see with her eyes, encountering Beauty wherever she finds beauty, seeing the Divine Artist wherever she finds art.   Sr. Gloria notes that “Looking at beauty, seeing God as a divine artist, helps me to live each day in gratefulness and abundance and happiness. My time in community has helped me look at different areas of justice and peace, ...at the value and dignity of everything around me and within me; they have a positive, optimistic vision of a human person.  Living in community is not always easy as we all know; it is a wonderful time to look at our own selves and those that we are living with, and try  to be people who are willing to listen and to change. How blessed I am, to be living at this time in community, able to share my joys and my sorrows with other people, it's a great blessing.”   “During Covid...I was discerning and thought maybe I should go back to Minnesota, but the Spirit kept saying, ‘Oh no, stay, stay where you're at. You need to wait. You need to learn how to just be and wait.' This was very important for me during this time. It helped me to remember that I'm not just a doer, but I'm a human being. That I need to at times just wait and see what the next step is. I'm grateful that I followed the Holy Spirit's guidance.”   References:   Stations of the Cross: https://www.fslf.org/blog/2017/03/31/stations-of-the-cross-facebook-series?fbclid=IwAR2GDqy5Jm7Jc67DBTdHIAK9hMYmHA0RCvJdUOhUM3_OrEP57f7w9MAdCKM and https://www.franciscantradition.org/blog/31-the-way-of-the-cross-part-of-everyday-life-in-jerusalem.   Thomas Merton: For a look at the influence of Saint Francis in Merton's life, see: https://www.amazon.com/Franciscan-Heart-Thomas-Merton-Inspiration/dp/1594714223.   Franciscan Communities Sr. Gloria referred to: Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls (www.fslf.org) and Sisters of St. Francis, located in Rochester (https://rochesterfranciscan.org/).   The mystic poetry of St. Francis of Assisi: Gloria notes the Canticle of Brother Sun as an example; here is an introductory blog with the text: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/st-francis-and-his-canticle.     Sr. Gloria's favorite quote from our Rule of Life: “Let the sisters and brothers always be mindful that they should desire one thing alone, namely, the Spirit of God at work within them.”           -TOR Rule 32; see also Saint Francis' Later Rule 10:8 and Saint Clare's Rule 10:7   John Duns Scotus and the unique ‘thisness' of every person and everything; he coined the Latin term: haecceitas. Here are a two sample links: https://cac.org/irreplaceable-thisness-2018-03-18/, and https://www.ssfamericas.org/post/a-hagiography-of-blessed-john-duns-scotus.   Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition: In the Introduction to her book, Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition, Mary Beth Ingham, CSJ says that a central Franciscan insight is "that all life can be best understood according to a via pulchritudinis, a journey or way of beauty. Franciscans see all of life: creation, the human person, human action, divine life and love through the prisms of harmony and beauty." (p. 3)  Reference to the book: https://www.franciscanpublications.com/products/rejoicing-in-the-works-of-the-lord-beauty-in-the-franciscan-traditioin?variant=7282429061.   Quote from *The Franciscan Moral Vision: Responding to God's Love, ed. by Thomas A. Nairn, OFM. Franciscan Institute Publications, 2013.  See Chapter 3 "Moral Goodness and Beauty," by Mary Beth Ingham, CSJ:   "Proper proportion is another aspect of beauty: here everything fits in its place, there is not too much of one thing.  The relationship of balance is pleasing to the eye and ear.  Harmonic chords and tonal passages also express this idea of proportion. Because of the important role of desire in the spiritual journey, Bonaventure notes, contemplation (the activity of the highest form of wisdom) has both cognitive and affective dimensions. We are to be those 'lovers of divine wisdom and inflamed with a desire for it' wishing to give ourselves 'to glorifying, admiring, and even savoring God.' The saint adds the aspect of luminosity as central to our experience of beauty.  Luminosity suggests that beauty can enter our lives as a type of theophony: a divine revelation." (p. 95-96) *This text will be re-published; a current link: https://www.amazon.com/Franciscan-Moral-Vision-Response-Gods/dp/1576592081/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=.     Favorite Prayer forms: Taizé Prayer: Sr. Gloria's favorite Taizé song “In the Lord I will be ever thankful”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yzr60p57h8;join in a Taizé Prayer Service. Visio Divina: https://www.prayerandpossibilities.com/pray-with-eyes-of-the-heart-visio-divina/.  Centering Prayer via Zoom during the pandemic: https://www.saintolaf.org/centeringprayer.   Earth Literacy: Franciscan Earth Literacy Center in Tiffin, OH: https://felctiffin.org/ Thomas Berry – https://thomasberry.org/life-and-thought/about-thomas-berry/introduction/ Berry named Three Principles of the Universe – three primordial patterns of differentiation/diversity; subjectivity/interiority; communion/community/interconnectedness (http://www.sistersofthegoodshepherdcontemplatives.com/sites/default/files/MTM%20-%203%20Principles%20of%20the%20Universe.pdf).   Seeing God as Divine Artist, in Beauty: In art he [Francis] praises the Artist; whatever he discovers in creatures he guides to the Creator. He rejoices in all the works of the Lord's hands, and through their delightful display he gazes on their life-giving reason and cause. In beautiful things he discerns Beauty Itself.    -2 Celano 165 (See: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-founder/the-remembrance-of-the-desire-of-a-soul/1442-fa-ed-2-page-353#ges:searchword%3Dhe%2Bpraises%2Bthe%2BArtist%26searchphrase%3Dall%26page%3D1).   Rio Grande Valley Connections: All Faiths United: interfaith group in the Rio Grande Valley. See https://allfaithsunited.blogspot.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/FaithsUnited. ARISE Border Witness Program: https://www.arisesotex.org/border-witness-program-1. Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas: https://catholiccharitiesrgv.org/HumanitarianRespiteCenter.shtml. 

Join Franciscan Associate Rick Dietz as he traces his spiritual journey of cobbling together his own path with God until his discovery of Franciscan Spirituality. This encounter brought him into a community of brothers and sisters, a deepened relationship with God who is good and loving, and a greater freedom to serve those in need.   Currently Director of the Franciscan Life Center which is based out of Little Falls, Minnesota, Rick notes “that at the core of the Trinity is a good and loving relationship between the Trinity which over spills into all of creation....We are really brothers and sisters to all that is in creation, and should be respectful of and defenders of all that is in creation.”   “I started looking into Franciscan spirituality and the understanding of the Trinity and how this divine relationship spills over into creation. ...Franciscans have this understanding that relationships are not just prized, but are somehow reflective of the divine. There's a primacy to relationship more so than of knowledge. Relationship and spirituality go together much more than knowledge and spirituality.”   References:   Masculine Spirituality: Rick recommends this classic: Wildmen, Warriors, and Kings: Masculine Spirituality and the Bible by Patrick Arnold (https://www.amazon.com/Wildmen-Warriors-Kings-Masculine-Spirituality/dp/0824512529).   Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction: http://desertrenewal.org/hesychia-sd-school/.   Saint Francis of Assisi's Praises to be said at all Hours, verse 11 “All powerful, most holy, most high, supreme God: all good, supreme good, totally good, You Who alone are good, may we give you all praise, all glory, all thanks, all honor, all blessing, and all good.  So be it!  So be it!  Amen.” See: https://franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of- francis/the-undated-writings/the-praises-to-be-said-at-all-the-hours/178-fa-ed-1-page-162.   God as Good and Loving: Rick submitted this passage for your reflection: Saint “Bonaventure was apparently impressed by the notion of ultimate divine goodness.  In the New Testament, he writes, God reveals his name as Good (Lk 18:19 ‘No one is good but God alone'); whereas in the Old Testament, God revealed his name as Being (Exod 3:14 ‘I am who Am').  Since God reveals Godself as Good in the New Testament, the Trinity must be essentially grounded in the good…Charity (love) is the supreme content of the good, the highest form of the good.  Thus, if God is good then God is also charity or love.  Where there is fullness of divinity there is fullness of goodness, and where there is fullness of goodness there is fullness of charity (love).” -Ilia Delio OSF, Simply Bonaventure, pp. 41-42, Hyde Park NY, New City Press, 2001. (https://www.newcitypress.com/simply-bonaventure-2nd-edition.html)   All of creation are sisters and brothers, sharing the same source: “From a reflection on the primary source of all things, filled with even more abundant piety, he would call creatures, no matter how small, by the name of "brother" or "sister," because he knew they shared with him the same beginning.” -St. Bonaventure, Major Legend 8:5; see: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-founder/the-legends-and-sermons-about-saint-francis-by-bonaventure-of-bagnoregio/the-major-legend-of-saint-francis/the-life-of-blessed-francis/1679-fa-ed-2-page-590.   God as Triune Communion; call to deep relationships of love: “For Franciscans, the moral order transcends the individual self and points toward communion and relationship with others, but ultimately with God. Understanding God as Triune Communion, participation in divine life is the true human goal. This goal is ultimately a deep relationship of love based upon the nature of God as source of reality. Relationship is the moral goal because the divine is essentially relational, because we are created in the image of God, and because we are invited to enter freely into that relationship.”      -Mary Beth Ingham, CSJ, “Moral Goodness and Beauty,” in The Franciscan Moral Vision:         Responding to Gods Love, ed. Thomas A. Nairn. (Franciscan Institute Publications, 2013), p. 118.   Styles of Leadership transformed; Pat Smith reflects: “Franciscans lead from a position of littleness. The Incarnation was central to Francis' theology; it formed and shaped his leadership style. He led from the stance of humility, like the Word of God who bent low to assume our humanity. Franciscan leadership is not something to be sought but rather is to be humbly lived wherever we happen to find ourselves. Francis found God and led others to God in the context of simply being a little human creature.” -Pat Smith OSF, “Franciscan Leadership: Mutual Love Generating a Future,” Keynote    Presentation of the Franciscan Federation Annual Conference, July 10-13, 2009.   Being examples and mirrors in community: “For the Lord himself has placed us as a model, as an example and mirror not only for others, but also for our sisters which the Lord has called to our way of life as well, that they in turn might be a mirror and example to those living in the world. Since the Lord has called us to such great things that those who are a mirror and example to others may be reflected in us, we are greatly bound to bless and praise God and to be strengthened more and more to do good in the Lord.”             -Saint Clare of Assisi, Testament 19-22 See: https://www.franciscantradition.org/clare-of-assisi-early-documents/the-testament-clare-of-assisi/237-ca-ed-1-page-61.   Saint Clare's method of contemplative prayer and how bring it into the world: In her Second Letter to Agnes of Prague, Clare includes four steps, inviting us to embrace the poor Christ, following him as we Gaze, Consider, Contemplate, and Imitate. -2LAg 18-20; see the fuller text: https://www.franciscantradition.org/clare-of-assisi-early-documents/the-second-letter-to-agnes-of-prague/225-ca-ed-1-page-49.   Saint Francis saw all as gift, Rick calls him a “re-gifter;” he often gave away cloaks or tunics that had been given to him. -See: Saint Bonaventure, Major Legend 8:5: See text: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-founder/the-legends-and-sermons-about-saint-francis-by-bonaventure-of-bagnoregio/the-major-legend-of-saint-francis/the-life-of-blessed-francis/1679-fa-ed-2-page-590.   Pope Francis, encyclicals and documents draw from Saint Francis' experience of others and all of creation being our brothers and sisters. --Laudato Si: you can purchase a print copy, or here is an electronic version: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html. --The Franciscan Character of ‘Laudato Si', by Dan Horan: https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/franciscan-character-laudato-si. --Fratelli Tutti: you can purchase a print copy, or here is an electronic version: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html. --Franciscan Study Guide for Fratelli Tutti: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/fratelli-tutti-study-guide. --Document on Human Fraternity for world peace and living together is a brief consideration of some of these values; signed 2-4-19 by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Yayeb: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/travels/2019/outside/documents/papa-francesco_20190204_documento-fratellanza-umana.html.

Moral goodness cannot be imposed. It must be awakened. Jesus came to restore our moral goodness - we need this!

In this sermon, Pastor Dan finishes our series on the Attributes of God by teaching on God's moral attributes related to His goodness.

There are four fruits of the light. They are goodness, righteousness, truth and a desire to please God.

There are four fruits of the light. They are goodness, righteousness, truth and a desire to please God.

Pastor Thad Blount continues our study in 2 Peter with a focus on traits of growth.

Paul commended the Romans. He tells them they have moral goodness and knowledge and because of that they can admonish each other.

Paul commended the Romans. He tells them they have moral goodness and knowledge and because of that they can admonish each other.

Dr. Wayne Grudem is one of America's leading theologians and co-founder of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. He's also the General Editor of the ESV Study Bible and author of, "The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution" and author of, "Business for the Glory of God: The Bible's Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business."   The first half of the discussion focuses on the Bible teaching the moral goodness of business. The conversation then turns to international economics, including how the poor can escape poverty and if the Bible's teachings support the idea that nations must produce their own prosperity. Dr. Grudem then provides his solutions to cure international poverty.   Find out more about Dr. Wayne Grudem at www.waynegrudem.com.   Wayne Grudem is Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. He received a B.A. from Harvard University, an M.Div. and a D.D. from Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia, and a Ph.D. (in New Testament) from the University of Cambridge, England. He has published twenty books, including his newest book, The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution, which was published in August, 2013. He was also the General Editor for the 2.1 million-word ESV Study Bible (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Book of the Year and World magazine book of the year, 2009). He is a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a co-founder and past president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and a member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible.  He and his wife Margaret have been married since 1969 and have three adult sons.

Paul commend the Romans. He tells them they have moral goodness and knowledge and because of that they can admonish each other.

Paul commend the Romans. He tells them they have moral goodness and knowledge and because of that they can admonish each other.

What do we mean when we say that God is good? If I'm right, we shouldn't mean that God is morally good.