Self-Examination - April 15
Do you feel the ongoing need to respond to every ridiculous thing that we see online, or posted by podcasters, politicians, and people claiming to have some sort of spiritual, religious, or moral authority? If you think that is you, this reflection is for you and just to be clear, I’m writing to and for myself.
I’m not sure what we call the age we are living in—perhaps a “post-truth” age—where, with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and the speed of information, it’s increasingly difficult to tell what is real. At times, it feels like we are watching Christianity evolve, or at least certain expressions of it, shaped less by deep formation and spiritual practice and more by a desire for power or control.
I won’t claim to be an expert on Christianity. I’ve been to seminary, I read Scripture daily, I teach and reflect on it as an Episcopal priest, and I still have so much to learn. What I do know is that this passage from Peter points to a significant focus of Christian formation, that is to turn the focus inward. It reminds us that following Jesus is to take a serious inventory of our own lives, so that we can be a reflection of God’s love in this world.
Today’s reading from 1 Peter comes out of the gate strong: “Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.”
Peter names something essential about the human condition: we are all capable of malice, guile, insincerity, envy, and slander. The call to “rid ourselves” of these things is not a one-time act, but an ongoing, lifelong practice. It is part of what it means to be God’s people—so that “you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
The self-examination required of faithful living should lead us to humility, not shame, but an honest clarity about who we are and who God is calling us to become. As much as I may feel the pull to respond to every outrageous or frustrating thing I see online, and this week was a banner week for sure!
Peter’s call is not about moral perfection. It is about growth. “Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk.” There is deep hope in that image. It reminds us that transformation is possible, that it is ongoing, and that we are not stuck as we are.
Lives shaped by prayer, repentance, and a willingness to be changed. This is the path of discipleship. To follow Jesus is not to win the argument. It is to become a people whose lives tell the truth.
Questions for Self- Reflection Question:
Where in your life is God inviting you to let go of something—an attitude, a habit, or a reaction—so that you might grow more fully into the light of Christ?