We shouldn’t be too surprised at the common antagonisms within the church. We always hate truth when it’s too close to us. We are always most capable of hating the people who are closest to us. We all know that the greatest antipathies are often between husband and wife, parent and child, Christian and other Christian. The mirror revealing our own shadow is held too close to our face. The church’s closeness to Christ carries with it that same peril. It carries the weight of this great Christ mystery, and it knows what Christ will demand of the soul.
