Become New with John Ortberg

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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Music Credits:
Believe Me by Glass Echoes - MB01UU8HNMQ8GT0
Frost on My Window by Coldbrew - MB01IZWASF1DYPO

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

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
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Music Credits:
Believe Me by Glass Echoes - MB01UU8HNMQ8GT0
Frost on My Window by Coldbrew - MB01IZWASF1DYPO

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

Today’s episode opens with an elderly dog, detours through neuroscience and Genesis, and ends by quietly dismantling your default response to annoying people. Classic John Ortberg.

As Lent approaches, John invites us into a radical spiritual experiment: giving up condemnation. Not just blaming others, but the inner posture that withholds blessing from people (including ourselves).

Along the way, John explores:
Why the Bible’s first word is blessing, not judgment
How our emotional “like meter” secretly controls our willingness to bless
Insights from Jonathan Haidt on moral emotion
The famous 90-second rule from Jill Bolte Taylor for interrupting reactive spirals
And why disgust, not discernment, often fuels religious condemnation

This episode draws a crucial line between judging as discernment (wise) and judging as condemnation (corrosive). John shows how condemnation isn’t just something we think—it’s something we will. And when our will stops blessing, something in us starts breaking.

📚 Today's Resources:
The Happiness Hypothesis — Jonathan Haidt
Research on emotional regulation from Jill Bolte Taylor
Reflections on blessing in Genesis from Gordon Wenham
Teachings of Jesus on blessing enemies (Matthew 5)

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT US at 855-888-0444
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GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
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Music Credits:
Believe Me by Glass Echoes - MB01UU8HNMQ8GT0
Frost on My Window by Coldbrew - MB01IZWASF1DYPO

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

What if the most spiritual thing you could do today… is not have the last word?

In this episode, John Ortberg tells a powerful story about his friend Dallas Willard and introduces a simple but life-changing practice: letting go of condemnation by releasing our need to be right.

As Lent approaches, John invites us into something deeper than giving up chocolate or social media. He challenges us to give up condemning others (and ourselves), drawing from Jesus’ silence under accusation, insights from Arthur Brooks, research by Robert Putnam, and wisdom from Dorothy Day.

You’ll explore:
• Why condemnation is quietly damaging our relationships and culture
• How Jesus modeled a radically different way of living
• What it means to practice “not having the last word”
• How love, not blame, becomes the path to healing
• A 40-day Lenten invitation to live without condemnation

John also shares a simple commitment you can practice one day at a time:

With God’s help, I abandon condemnation and blaming. Instead, I will live in the love of God, the love of life, and the love of others.

If you’re tired of outrage, polarization, and carrying judgment in your body and soul, this episode offers a gentle, courageous way forward.

📚Today's Resources:
The Divine Conspiracy — by Dallas Willard
Dorothy Day
“I only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.”
Love Your Enemies — Arthur Brooks
Upswing — Robert Putnam

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT US at 855-888-0444
EMAIL US at [email protected]

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444
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Music Credits:
Believe Me by Glass Echoes - MB01UU8HNMQ8GT0
Frost on My Window by Coldbrew - MB01IZWASF1DYPO

Enjoy this free download: https://bit.ly/Shine-StudyGuide
A 12-week study guide on Genesis 1-3 with John Ortberg. 
We’ve made it simple: curated episodes, journal questions, memory verses, and practical next steps. Everything you need to get started with a friend or group!
 
Just download, print and go!

John opens this study on Philippians with a deceptively simple question: How are you going to greet people today? We tend to think greetings don’t matter much, but John says they’re actually sacred moments — tiny doorways into connection. He tells a story about a boss who always stopped, made eye contact, smiled, and made people feel seen. Then he notices something remarkable about Jesus: people interrupted him constantly… and nobody ever said, “Sorry to bother you.” Somehow, people weren’t a bother to Jesus. John reminds us that even small changes in how we address one another reflect something much deeper about who we are becoming.

ACCESS THE YOUTUBE PLAYLIST FOR SHINE HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3Egad-Un8UE38nc_diriBs3EqIq7GcpF

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT US at 855-888-0444
EMAIL US at [email protected]

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
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Music Credits:
Believe Me by Glass Echoes - MB01UU8HNMQ8GT0
Frost on My Window by Coldbrew - MB01IZWASF1DYPO