Daily Devotion for Saturday 3rd October 2026
Saturday 3rd October And Now?
Ephesians 4: 14 – 16
We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Reflection
We’ve thought about heresy this week as something found more in history – and a distant northern isle – than our everyday world. In our contemporary society we, thankfully, are more interested in exploring what folk believe rather than trying to counter their beliefs to make them more like ours…or are we?
There are some opinions which, if expressed would cause outrage – not just opinions which demean others. Mr Trump recently signed an Executive Order mandating the separation out of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccines again due to (what scientists tell us are unfounded) concerns of a link between a combined vaccination and autism. At one point to express a view against the combined vaccination was seen as a contemporary heresy. Expressing views about gender roles and identities can quickly lead to anger, hurt, and a feeling that one side or other is psychologically unsafe with someone of a different perspective – is that so different to Pope Innocent IV’s observation that heretics were “as true assassins of souls and thieves of the Sacraments of God and of the Christian faith” as we read on Wednesday?
Then those who reject the rampant individualism of our society by prioritising family duty or community over personal happiness may be seen as oppressing themselves. Even insisting there are moral absolutes is quite counter cultural – and maybe even heretical in our brave new world.
Recently I have been reading a commentary on Matthew’s Gospel by the theologian Stanley Hauerwas who urges the Church to become more visible by refusing to blend in with the prevailing culture. He does not urge a particular stance on any of the culture war issues but, instead, suggests we, as the Church, offer a vision of a different type of society where the Beatitudes are our hallmark. Might we reflect peace making and mercy in our common life together? It might be rather a radical departure from Christian history, and was something, as we’ll see next week, which proved impossible for the medieval Church when confronted with the Cathar heresy.
Prayer
Help us, dear Lord,
to speak the truth with love
as we grow into maturity in You,
to not seek to prove our points
as much as to listen to Yours.
Amen.