MSI Press Blog

  Faith communities are meant to be places of refuge — where truth is lived, not just preached. Yet when words and actions diverge, the dissonance can wound more deeply than disbelief itself. Hypocrisy doesn’t merely disappoint; it erodes trust, and trust is the foundation of belonging. 1. The Betrayal of Example People come to church seeking authenticity — a glimpse of grace embodied in human form. When leaders or members proclaim love but practice exclusion, preach humility but pursue power, the message collapses. The contradiction feels like betrayal, not of doctrine, but of the heart. 2. The Loss of Credibility Faith loses its persuasive power when it ceases to be lived. The Gospel becomes rhetoric instead of reality. Those who once listened begin to turn away, not because they reject God, but because they can no longer find Him in the behavior of His followers. 3. The Wounding of the Vulnerable Hypocrisy harms most those who come in pain — the seekers, the doubters, the broken...

Photo by Stacey Gentry Inside the Church There is more to the church than the altar, of course, and I spend much time in the church on my own. I can do that because the cat doors let me in all by myself.  I often spend some time, reflecting by myself, spending time alone with God. That is so important. It refreshes me, and the Spirit I encounter there nourishes me. As a cat, I cannot take Communion and be nourished by the body and blood of Christ, but I can be spiritually nourished simply lying in the presence of God and reflecting. Inside the church, in my reflections I notice so many things that are often not noticed. Most are taken for granted by worshipers.  First is how big our church is. It has three aisles. None of the other Franciscan Missions have three aisles. They have one or two. That makes our church have a very open feeling, like you are part of nature. And, when the two side doors are open, one feels a flowing of nature into the church and t...