Mark’s Manifesto
What good is a faith that doesn’t make us kind?
By Anni Ponder
“What I’ve learned in life is that very few people care about what I believe. They care about how I treat them and how I live my life.”
Last week I was standing in The Home Depot, craning my neck to look up at the ceiling lights, when my phone rang. It was my friend Mark, and I always answer when he calls.
Mark and I go way back. First, he was my pastor, then my principal, and now my friend, mentor, and source for terrible jokes.
After we exchanged our latest groan-worthy puns (none fit to repeat here), Mark told me about something he posted recently on social media, a sort of faith manifesto. Immediately our conversation went from mirthful banter to profound. That’s one of the things I love best about him.
As I stood there with a zillion watts shining down from the showroom ceiling, another light clicked on from within me. What Mark shared is nothing short of brilliant (it’s OK if you have to roll your eyes at that one), and I want to share it with you.
Mark has spent his career preaching about Jesus in a church that can sometimes err on the side of religiosity, but his faith is truly genuine. It’s not showy or religious, but deep and enduring and transformative. In the four decades Mark has been a disciple of Jesus, his heart has softened and grown. The wisdom he brings to my circle is life-giving, so I’d like to offer it you.
Below is Mark’s post, shared with his permission. I hope you benefit from this as much as I have.
Mark’s Manifesto
How do you know what you believe about your faith is true? There are roughly 18,000 gods worshiped in the world. There are hundreds of holy books that claim their god and their way of practicing faith is true while everybody else's is false.
So how do you know that yours is right?
Here's what I think. Of course, this is just the opinion of a man searching like everybody else. Your faith may be the real deal if:
1) It drives you to make the world a more beautiful place.
2) It creates in you a person that is more generous, more loving, more kind, more merciful, and more inclusive.
3) It gives you moments of divine enlightenment/encouragement/embrace.
4) It takes your eyes from the fallacy of pursuing things verses cherishing people.
5) It brings people to your table vs. breaking relationships over ideals and belief. (No us and them.)
6) It allows for human imperfection to exist in ourselves and others while expecting consistent growth toward a better you.
7) Your God/belief system is based in forgiveness for you and for others, not having our human failings be held over our heads like an ominous anvil.
8) It looks forward to a better day (however you might interpret that).
9) Is kind to the earth.
10) Isn't afraid of death.
Of course, I have all my personal theology that I subscribe to, that you may or may not believe. But what I've learned in life is that very few people care about what I believe. They care about how I treat them and how I live my life.
