A Reverence for Life

“Because I said so!”

My dear readers, I suspect each of us as children at some point received that cursory response to our favorite question:

Why?

That four-word conversation ender was especially trotted out  when we pushed our parents to justify our having to engage in behavior whose ethical worth, while perfectly clear to them, totally  detoured around our perceptions.

To some extent such a response is a dismissive power play: the questioner is not accorded the requisite worth to merit a thorough explanation: “my way or the highway” will suffice.

As each of you is infused with divine worth,   let me seek to do a little better in fleshing out Unity Principle #5.

Here it is:

“It is not enough to understand spiritual teachings.

We must apply our learning in all areas of life, incorporating them into our thoughts, words, and actions.”

Why?

Spiritual teachings by definition emanate from the Almighty, the Eternal, from God.  As such, spiritual instruction is not merely a request; it is a directive to share God’s essence: infinite, unconditional love, with all His creation.

This citation from a very helpful article on living out God’s word puts it well:

“James 2:17 says, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Living out God’s Word requires more than just knowing Scripture—it requires putting it into practice in every aspect of our lives. The way we treat others, the way we manage our time, and the way we handle conflict are all opportunities to reflect God’s love and truth.”

Let me close with the words of Jesus:

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16.

God is love.  We are summoned to share His love “in all areas of life”.

That’s why!

Next, the spiritual teaching that is the foundation of human ethics.

Bob Echols