so nobody was very intrigued by my last post. how about this? do you realize that the US represents 5% of the world's population, but we consume over 25% of the worlds resources. Visit www.prb.org to read the information compiled from different government agency reports. This article points to how our American lifestyle is a big contributor to this.
My question is how do we change our lifestyle? We don't really know any different/better. It's mainly just the way we've been raised.
I think I might start taking showers every other day or twice a week, and use the least amount of water possible. Get a bike to ride to work. Make sure lights are off, etc. The problem is, it can't just be me, but there have to be A LOT of us to do this. I always wonder about the corporate world. How much electricity, etc. is consumed by working 24-7 so that consumers can consume 24-7?
Maybe we should sell all our stuff and leave the country and join our brotheres and sisters who consume a lot less---that would be quite the lifestyle change. How long could you handle that? What's so great about our lifestyle that we couldn't endure theirs longer? What makes our way of living so great? Is it our selfishness--"Have what you want when you want it"?
If it's selfishness, doesn't the Church have some responsibility to proclaim something different? Shouldn't being a Christian be marked by being "Christ-like" or self-sacrifice?
How can we (the Church) continue letting people live in continual unChristlikeness, cajoling them to want Christlikeness, but not actually making progress? Most people who come to churches probably think they're "ok." They know they're not evil because they don't murder, steal, etc., and they're not good because they always know they could be better, but because of grace they're "ok." Are we "ok" with that?
I think we need to hear Jesus' and John the Baptist's words again "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
What does God want from me?
This post is inspired by scripture and a song. The scripture is Luke 18:18-30. The song is titled "Rich Young Ruler" by Derek Webb. You can find the song at www.freederekwebb.com and download the whole album for free. The lyrics are at this website where I found them. I hope you enjoy the scripture and song. It poses an interesting conundrum for Christians who long to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. It is one of Jesus' more difficult teachings (for us rich westerners).
This scripture troubles me. But I don’t think the point is for people to give up their stock portfolios, big houses and suvs...that’s mentioned once (in the song). What’s repeated is the line: “I want the things you just can’t give me.” What are the things we can’t just wrap up in a box and give to people? What are the things that don’t go in an offering plate? What are the things you can’t just give and walk away from? In my mind the answer is connected to relationship. It’s easy for us to give to the poor, but the harder part is building the relationship. So in a sense it’s easier to sell everything and give it to the poor, than to actually be in relationship with poor people. Maybe Jesus is asking us in a sense to become poor, to see how we’re all related instead of overlooking them as “those poor people.”
Does that make sense? I’m not trying to explain away the scripture, or take away from how troubling it is. But the struggle for me is, “even if I sell it all and give it all away, has that changed anything, or have I just increased the poor population by one more?” My hope is that through relationships where we develop solidarity with the poor (develop a sense of "we’re all in this together"). So the song speaks to me in the sense that we tend to live our lives to protect us from the poor, or to shelter us from poverty. So we’ve become disconnected from lots of people whom God loves.
Now, I’m just a young naïve 26-year-old who hopefully still has a lot of life to live and learn. So my opinion is probably wrong and mis-grounded, but that’s where I’m at right now. Mostly in the gospels, the poor were not simply without money, they were invisible to those with wealth and status, and so Jesus asked the Rich Young Ruler to see the invisible people and try to see life from their perspective, and live life with them not above/over them.
Who are the people that I pass everyday and have opportunity for relationship with, but don't take the opportunity to relate? Who are the people that I think I'm better than? Who are the people I think "aren't worth my time"? What might I have to give up to actually be in relationship with "those people"? How can I see myself as one of them? Do I sell everything and give it to the poor?
This scripture troubles me. But I don’t think the point is for people to give up their stock portfolios, big houses and suvs...that’s mentioned once (in the song). What’s repeated is the line: “I want the things you just can’t give me.” What are the things we can’t just wrap up in a box and give to people? What are the things that don’t go in an offering plate? What are the things you can’t just give and walk away from? In my mind the answer is connected to relationship. It’s easy for us to give to the poor, but the harder part is building the relationship. So in a sense it’s easier to sell everything and give it to the poor, than to actually be in relationship with poor people. Maybe Jesus is asking us in a sense to become poor, to see how we’re all related instead of overlooking them as “those poor people.”
Does that make sense? I’m not trying to explain away the scripture, or take away from how troubling it is. But the struggle for me is, “even if I sell it all and give it all away, has that changed anything, or have I just increased the poor population by one more?” My hope is that through relationships where we develop solidarity with the poor (develop a sense of "we’re all in this together"). So the song speaks to me in the sense that we tend to live our lives to protect us from the poor, or to shelter us from poverty. So we’ve become disconnected from lots of people whom God loves.
Now, I’m just a young naïve 26-year-old who hopefully still has a lot of life to live and learn. So my opinion is probably wrong and mis-grounded, but that’s where I’m at right now. Mostly in the gospels, the poor were not simply without money, they were invisible to those with wealth and status, and so Jesus asked the Rich Young Ruler to see the invisible people and try to see life from their perspective, and live life with them not above/over them.
Who are the people that I pass everyday and have opportunity for relationship with, but don't take the opportunity to relate? Who are the people that I think I'm better than? Who are the people I think "aren't worth my time"? What might I have to give up to actually be in relationship with "those people"? How can I see myself as one of them? Do I sell everything and give it to the poor?
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