Countdown: Day 10

The fact is, we are all hypocrites to some degree. None of us wants to be known for our worst moments. Sometimes, like too many religious leaders of recent years (who, as religious broadcasters, were rewarded for projecting an image), we preach most loudly and passionately against the sins to which we are most subject – hiding our secrets out in the open, so to speak, fighting our personal demons ‘in here’ under the guise of fighting culture wars ‘out there’. Sometimes, we find the best way to keep guilt at bay over our own inconsistencies is to pour guilt on others. As we do so, our souls go dark and dangerous, as do the religious communities we lead. (Brian D. McLaren, Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in Twelve Simple Words. HarperOne, 2011, Chapter 9)

On March 15, Naked Spirituality will go on sale. I’ll share a short quote from the book each day until then.