John Ortberg tackles a tension many of us feel but rarely name:
If there is no condemnation, what do we do with real evil, injustice, and wrongdoing?

John walks us through Scripture, the prophets, and Jesus’ own words to show why “no condemnation” does not mean indifference to sin—and why accountability still matters deeply to God. Drawing on insights from Abraham Joshua Heschel, John explores how the prophets saw injustice as a spiritual emergency, and why our culture’s casual attitude toward evil would have stunned them.

Along the way, he reminds us:
- God hates injustice precisely because God loves people
- Jesus was gentle with those everyone expected him to condemn
- But fierce with the religious who used righteousness to exclude others
- And that before we can hear no condemnation, we must first take condemnation seriously
- This is a thoughtful, challenging reflection on judgment, responsibility, and grace—and why condemnation may be a word, but it is never the last word.

Download the free NO CONDEMNATION COMMITMENT: https://bit.ly/NC-commitment

📚 Today's Resources:
Abraham J. Heschel, The Prophets

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Today, John Ortberg tackles one of our most stubborn spiritual habits: blame.

Tracing its origins back to Genesis, John shows how blame enters the human story the moment shame appears—and how quickly we learn to deflect responsibility onto others. From Adam and Eve to modern relationships, blame becomes our go-to strategy for avoiding pain.

Along the way, John draws from Scripture, Paradise Lost, and insights from thinkers like Charles Tilly and Paul Tournier to explore why we instinctively hog credit and dodge fault—and why spiritual maturity looks like learning to own our part with humility and courage.

John reminds us that while removing blame can reduce shame, only love actually heals the soul. Real freedom comes not from avoiding responsibility, but from stepping into God’s presence honestly, without hiding or deflecting.

This is a thoughtful, practical invitation to live one day at a time without blaming others—and to discover again the grace that makes change possible.

Download the free NO CONDEMNATION COMMITMENT: https://bit.ly/NC-commitment

📚 Today's Resources:
John Milton, Paradise Lost
Charles Tilly, Credit and Blame
Paul Tournier, Guilt & Grace: A Psychological Study

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Download the free NO CONDEMNATION COMMITMENT: https://bit.ly/NC-commitment

On the first day of Lent, John Ortberg invites us into a brave and deeply personal journey: giving up condemnation...and learning how shame actually works.

This episode goes straight to the source. John traces condemnation back to its root system in shame, beginning in Genesis and moving through psychology, philosophy, trauma-informed theology, and lived experience. Along the way, he explores why our urge to judge others is often fueled by hidden pain in ourselves—and why healing starts when we stop hiding.

You’ll hear insights from:
John Walton on Genesis and chaos imagery
Warren Kinghorn on trauma and the first humans
Eleanor Stump on guilt vs. shame
Kurt Thompson on the “shame concierge” that narrates our inner lives
John makes a crucial distinction:
Guilt fears punishment and is healed by forgiveness.
Shame fears rejection and is healed only by acceptance, love, and belonging.

He introduces two invisible companions we all carry:
a shame concierge that quietly judges every moment
and a grace concierge—the Spirit—who reminds us we are God’s beloved children.

📚 Today's Resources:
The Soul of Shame — Kurt Thompson
Wandering in Darkness — Eleonore Stump
Wayfaring — Warren Kinghorn
Teachings from John Walton

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