Weekly Thought – April 14, 2026
Fred referred to himself as doing “crooked thinking on the straight and narrow.” Leadership Journal titled an article in 1983, Straight Answers in a Crooked Age. Fred’s article on intellectual integrity within the community of faith is excerpted this week.
“Is this Fred Smith who wrote You and Your Network?” The question from a stranger at Asbury Seminary began a conversation on Fred’s impact. God’s wisdom never ages. Fred is in heaven, but his earthly work continues.
Spiritual Dishonesty
I was playing golf with the head of a financial company. Out of the blue he asked me, “Fred, do you think God will take away my money because I’m not active in church?” “What makes you think he will?” I asked. “My family tells me he will.” They’re using religion to police him. No wonder so many have a jaundiced view of our God.
This goes on all the time. I was listening to the tape of a Christian friend’s funeral. The officiating minister said, “Jesus got lonesome in heaven and took Chuck home to be with him.” What is that widow supposed to think about such a capricious God? What do his children and grandchildren think about a God who gets so lonesome He takes away someone they love? I thought to myself if Jesus wasn’t with Chuck during life, then Chuck isn’t with Jesus now! What intellectual dishonesty.
Growing up in a parsonage I had a bird’s eye view of people who took out their hostilities intimidating others with the threat of God’s displeasure. It took me a long time to understand a God of grace.
I was speaking at a meeting in our state capital. After the meeting, a young man with a bright, but noticeably serious, face came up to me. “Mr. Smith, do you have anything I can say to my wife? We have just lost our two year old son.” He paused and then quietly said, “Do you think I am getting paid back for my past sins?”
I don’t know who put that idea in his head, but I would love to write that person a long letter about the nature of God. I would write about a God I know who doesn’t carry out grudges against unsuspecting and innocent children. As I said this to him, he was relieved.
We are called to spiritual integrity. We are called to rightly represent God.
This week think carefully about: 1) What inaccurate views of God am I carrying? 2) How do others attempt to police me for their own ends? 3) What freedom in Christ am I being called to display?
Words of Wisdom: “We are called to rightly represent God.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17 NET Bible)