Reflection for August 21

A reflection for all engaged in social and political discourse...

As we have wandered through various demonstrations of Paul’s principle, love rather than integrity, we may now be ready to rephrase it, and sharpen it by saying: love allows for not insisting on one’s own integrity at the expense of the unity of the community. Love, as Paul understands it, urges us to respect fully the integrity of those who think and feel otherwise.... Love allows for the full respect of the integrity of the other, and overcomes the divisiveness of my zeal for having it my way in the name of my own integrity (Krister Stendahl, Paul Among Jews and Gentiles).