Editorial April 1, 2019 Issue

The transparency most needed

Barbara Vining

There is an outcry in society today for transparency in human affairs—in personal relationships, businesses, governments, financial institutions, and in religious organizations. This desire for openness is nothing new. Whatever is not in the best interests of everyone always seeks to hide so that it will not be found out. Transparency, on the other hand, brings whatever is wrong to light so that it can be corrected for the benefit of everyone.

In this regard, experience has shown me that the light most needed is spiritual—light from God that purifies human consciousness and redirects human actions. And if we want to see more transparency in society, we need to start with ourselves. We need to let divine Love’s spiritual illumination work its purifying effect in our own lives.

Christ Jesus told his disciples that they were the “light of the world” and that they should not hide that light “under a bushel” (Matthew 5:14, 15). His teachings reveal man’s true nature as found in Spirit, which is all goodness and light; no evil, no darkness, can hide there, or even exist there. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). We need to let our lives be transparent enough for God’s goodness to shine through for everyone’s benefit.

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Bible Lens—April 1–7, 2019