Can't serve both money and God, you will love one and hate the other. -Jesus the Anointed (Christ)
My work has three parts. The first and most rewarding is to spread and practice good news. This part is really simple:
You will be loved unconditionally. You will be fed, clothed, and sheltered. You will live in peace. You will have work that you enjoy. You will grow and learn. You will party. You and your people will thrive. Everyday will be a celebration. You will fear nothing, not even death.
How do I know this is true? Because I live it daily.
Of course, none of this is possible as long as money is a priority. The love of money corrupts the very best of us. Yes, money is a tool but it is a tool that demands you worship it; that you conform your life to having it. And why not? With money we buy the necessities and luxuries of life. Money seems to give life.
The second part of my work is to tear down the idol of money. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this as well. I was made for it. Like a lion stalking its prey, I'm here to devour this illusion. Money will never set you free.
See even if you manage to grab a hold of the American Dream, you'll be prospering while your neighbors suffer. If you want to walk the path of liberation and healing, if you want a limitless life, if you want a true revolution, then this is an open invitation to join.
Now here's the twist, I do not want your money. I am not asking you to join a religion. I am not fund-raising for a non-profit. This is a spiritual movement, and as such it needs to make sense to you.
The point is I want you to spread your gifts and resources around your community, if you aren't already. Find groups, projects, people who are doing things you want to support. Does a friend have a business idea? Help them launch it. Is someone sick and can't afford their bills? Help them pay it. Is someone having a hard time finding a job? Check your networks and see if you can make a connection. Is someone sad or lonely? Plan a party and invite them to join you. These are some of the most radical things you can do.
This is important because the structures that worship money have been crushing people under them for centuries. Don't believe me? Then listen to the evening news or read the paper. How much of what you find there is good?
Right now there is a party going on, but it's an underground party. The third part of my work is to help you find the door. If you haven't found it already, all you need to do is ask and I'll come show you.
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Monday, September 5, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Forgotten Firefighter
There was once a country that did not have firefighters. Although they had many fires and many lives were lost, they were too afraid of getting hurt. When one of their wooden houses or buildings caught fire everyone fled. Those who were caught unaware or who were unable to escape died in these periodic conflagrations. Usually they were the most vulnerable: the sick, elderly and very young.
Different solutions were implemented: A few instituted an early warning system; watchmen who rang bells to alert people of danger. Others created laws to identify how a fire started and strict punishments for those responsible. And many built shrines to appease the gods who they felt were condemning their society. Yet, neither the piety of the people, nor the number of watchtowers, nor the threat of imprisonment slowed the death toll.
There was much despair and frustration, but what could they do? It was the way of the world.
One day a young man passed a burning building. (The fires were so frequent it was common for pedestrians to merely cross the street and continue on with their business.) He heard the cries of a child and unable to ignore it, rushed into the building. The crowd was shocked at this act of apparent suicide. 'He has gone mad with grief, perhaps it was his own child.' But they were stunned when he returned several minutes later with the child in his arms. They were even more amazed when he said the child was no relation to him.
Many praised him, others mocked him, and a few dismissed him as a lunatic.
Both he and the child recovered and at first many praised him as a hero. Until he did it again.
'You will anger the gods. They will destroy you,' many warned him, agitated.
Others counseled him, 'This is the established order. Don't be reckless. Come we will give you work that is safe and you still be helping the people.
And a few scorned him, whispering, 'He is only doing it for the attention. He does not care about anyone but himself. He makes us look like cowards.' This group were the watchmen.
When asked what made him act so foolishly, he replied, 'I can no longer stand by and watch as people burn.' His use of the word watch, enraged the watchmen. They felt he was mocking them directly.
For the next several days they publicly denounced him and his motivations. They were very persuasive because it was easy to portray the young man as arrogant. A town meeting was called to cast him out of their community. During the debates he said nothing, and indeed very few voices spoke out in his defense. The trial ended and it seemed the next day the young man would be exiled.
But in the middle of the night he woke up surrounded by flames. His entire building was sure to collapse at any minute. He ran through the flames to the nearest exit. Miraculously, he made it downstairs and out to the street.
Just then he heard the cries of his elderly neighbors from the third floor. Still wrapped in his blanket he ran to the gathering crowd. Giving five of them the blanket and quick instructions he ran back into the building, all but naked. With amazing speed he appeared in the window next to the old couple. He ordered the five to hold the blanket taut, but they were too afraid to even approach the building as it was about to collapse. Despite all his urgency, they were still frozen in place when the supports finally gave way.
Many were silent, some were ashamed and a few were secretly glad he was gone.
Despite the tragedy or perhaps because of it, the people never spoke of it again. To this very day they live in the fear of fire.
Different solutions were implemented: A few instituted an early warning system; watchmen who rang bells to alert people of danger. Others created laws to identify how a fire started and strict punishments for those responsible. And many built shrines to appease the gods who they felt were condemning their society. Yet, neither the piety of the people, nor the number of watchtowers, nor the threat of imprisonment slowed the death toll.
There was much despair and frustration, but what could they do? It was the way of the world.
One day a young man passed a burning building. (The fires were so frequent it was common for pedestrians to merely cross the street and continue on with their business.) He heard the cries of a child and unable to ignore it, rushed into the building. The crowd was shocked at this act of apparent suicide. 'He has gone mad with grief, perhaps it was his own child.' But they were stunned when he returned several minutes later with the child in his arms. They were even more amazed when he said the child was no relation to him.
Many praised him, others mocked him, and a few dismissed him as a lunatic.
Both he and the child recovered and at first many praised him as a hero. Until he did it again.
'You will anger the gods. They will destroy you,' many warned him, agitated.
Others counseled him, 'This is the established order. Don't be reckless. Come we will give you work that is safe and you still be helping the people.
And a few scorned him, whispering, 'He is only doing it for the attention. He does not care about anyone but himself. He makes us look like cowards.' This group were the watchmen.
When asked what made him act so foolishly, he replied, 'I can no longer stand by and watch as people burn.' His use of the word watch, enraged the watchmen. They felt he was mocking them directly.
For the next several days they publicly denounced him and his motivations. They were very persuasive because it was easy to portray the young man as arrogant. A town meeting was called to cast him out of their community. During the debates he said nothing, and indeed very few voices spoke out in his defense. The trial ended and it seemed the next day the young man would be exiled.
But in the middle of the night he woke up surrounded by flames. His entire building was sure to collapse at any minute. He ran through the flames to the nearest exit. Miraculously, he made it downstairs and out to the street.
Just then he heard the cries of his elderly neighbors from the third floor. Still wrapped in his blanket he ran to the gathering crowd. Giving five of them the blanket and quick instructions he ran back into the building, all but naked. With amazing speed he appeared in the window next to the old couple. He ordered the five to hold the blanket taut, but they were too afraid to even approach the building as it was about to collapse. Despite all his urgency, they were still frozen in place when the supports finally gave way.
Many were silent, some were ashamed and a few were secretly glad he was gone.
Despite the tragedy or perhaps because of it, the people never spoke of it again. To this very day they live in the fear of fire.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Freedom and Security, pt. 1
I have only been walking for a few days now. I doubt I've gone more than 20 miles. But the time on the road allows so much freedom to think and breathe. I've been staying with friends in Lancaster, PA. Tomorrow I head out towards Philadelphia. Yet, I've been too preoccupied with daily life to worry about where I'll stay during the 60 miles from here to there.
My current thoughts turn to Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, where today Pastor Jane Peifer spoke on Matthew 25:31-46. This is the passage where Jesus talks about the sheep (the righteous) and the goats (the self-righteous) being separated and receiving their reward. But the reward isn't what interested me, rather I'm curious why the righteous are blessed.
Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)
37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The righteous have been rewarded because they were merciful to those in pain. What strikes me most about this passage is that everyone of us has been a stranger, hungry, naked, thirsty, sick, even imprisoned. This passage is about recognizing ourselves and God in the face of others. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. Whoever comforts one of the least of these is a citizen of the Kingdom. But what does belonging to the Kingdom mean, what does it represent, how does it manifest itself? I can see that the entire Biblical story is about two kingdoms (I am definitely not the first to have this thought).
Last week I read TimN's insights on 2 Kings 17: 7-23 (Young Anabaptist Radicals) and was reminded of the Lord's response to Samuel when Israel demanded a king. The desire of the Israelites was to have a visible sign of strength. They wanted a leader they could see and hear, rather than live by faith.
In order to give some context, at this point in his life Samuel was old and appointed his sons to be the next judges for the nation of Israel. The people trusted Samuel but his sons were dishonest. The elders gathered to tell Samuel that his sons were unfit to lead. Furthermore, they wanted a king in order to be like the other nations that threatened them.
1 Samuel 8:6-7 (NIV)
6 But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king."
Interestingly, the Lord went on to say in the next verses that the people had been rejecting him and serving false gods ever since he freed them from slavery in Egypt. The Israelites were willing to give up freedom almost as soon as they left the civilized world of Egypt. In fact, when faced with the desert wildernesses, shortly after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, they longed for the security they had as slaves in Egypt. (Exodus 16:3) Although, time and again God had provided them with everything they needed, it was not enough.
The Israelites wanted concrete assurances that they would be protected in times of trouble. They did not want to trust in a God who only spoke through a few individuals. Why believe in an unseen God when they could place their trust in the very real power of military might and economic prosperity? All they had to do was look at neighboring empires with their massive armies and sprawling cities.
It's as simple a choice as trading freedom for security.
(I'll continue this at a later date, good night all.)
My current thoughts turn to Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, where today Pastor Jane Peifer spoke on Matthew 25:31-46. This is the passage where Jesus talks about the sheep (the righteous) and the goats (the self-righteous) being separated and receiving their reward. But the reward isn't what interested me, rather I'm curious why the righteous are blessed.
Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)
37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The righteous have been rewarded because they were merciful to those in pain. What strikes me most about this passage is that everyone of us has been a stranger, hungry, naked, thirsty, sick, even imprisoned. This passage is about recognizing ourselves and God in the face of others. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. Whoever comforts one of the least of these is a citizen of the Kingdom. But what does belonging to the Kingdom mean, what does it represent, how does it manifest itself? I can see that the entire Biblical story is about two kingdoms (I am definitely not the first to have this thought).
Last week I read TimN's insights on 2 Kings 17: 7-23 (Young Anabaptist Radicals) and was reminded of the Lord's response to Samuel when Israel demanded a king. The desire of the Israelites was to have a visible sign of strength. They wanted a leader they could see and hear, rather than live by faith.
In order to give some context, at this point in his life Samuel was old and appointed his sons to be the next judges for the nation of Israel. The people trusted Samuel but his sons were dishonest. The elders gathered to tell Samuel that his sons were unfit to lead. Furthermore, they wanted a king in order to be like the other nations that threatened them.
1 Samuel 8:6-7 (NIV)
6 But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king."
Interestingly, the Lord went on to say in the next verses that the people had been rejecting him and serving false gods ever since he freed them from slavery in Egypt. The Israelites were willing to give up freedom almost as soon as they left the civilized world of Egypt. In fact, when faced with the desert wildernesses, shortly after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, they longed for the security they had as slaves in Egypt. (Exodus 16:3) Although, time and again God had provided them with everything they needed, it was not enough.
The Israelites wanted concrete assurances that they would be protected in times of trouble. They did not want to trust in a God who only spoke through a few individuals. Why believe in an unseen God when they could place their trust in the very real power of military might and economic prosperity? All they had to do was look at neighboring empires with their massive armies and sprawling cities.
It's as simple a choice as trading freedom for security.
(I'll continue this at a later date, good night all.)
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Why I choose not to vote
I've spoken with a few of you about my choice not to vote. Hopefully this will clarify why it's important I don't vote. And what I choose to do instead, which I believe will be infinitely more useful.
For starters, I want to live in a society that says, there is enough for all of us. I am looking for a community that says the hording of wealth is not the way to peace. The way of the sword and the dollar has failed us again and again. Yet all I hear the presidential candidates refer to is, "the American Dream," "I believe in the free market system," or "Protect America's interests." My heart breaks for the profound violence inherent in those phrases. I cannot support a leader who accepts the American way of life as default and good.
I won't vote for either candidate because my faith lies with another kingdom. My politics are intertwined with my faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, I don't want to muddle my beliefs with the messianic promises of change that permeate this election. I already have a savior and I doubt he ever wore a suit, although I can't be positive. I've never seen a photo of him.
I'm not apathetic towards the dilemmas of living in this world. But our current problems are the same old crises, in fact it seems that we are living in a cyclical world: the more things change the more they stay the same. It's a scary country to live in when so many of us are hurting and there are so few places to turn. We aren't facing a new vague threat, just a rehashing of the same tired plots.
What is it that makes this election so much more momentous than any previous one? Why the anxiety and anger and fear now? An honest answer to these questions is perhaps the most depressing thing I can imagine. Has the US always been in a war of some kind? Have there always been elderly amongst us who cannot afford to retire? Have there always been homeless on our streets? Does the Hippocratic oath still apply to someone who can't afford to pay the hospital bill? Have the poor always been with us?
The fact is that I'm as complicit as anyone in living a comfortable life at the expense of my neighbor. (I'm not saying the reader is complicit, that's for you to decide, trust me I'm a terrible judge. I know many of you have hearts of gold and serve tirelessly. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone other than myself and the system, which we have let convince us is good.)
This is my cry to our community and to the church. I'm asking to be held accountable to this decision that by not voting I'm taking on a much bigger responsibility: to do whatever small thing I can to love my neighbor, to love as I have loved myself. I have been unfaithful for far to long. I just can't convince myself that voting will absolve me of my responsibilities as a lover of God. The idol of independence has lost it's appeal. My vote doesn't matter if I'm not willing to stand up next to my neighbor, who is suffering, and share their burden and neither does my faith for that matter. I want to seek a new way of living. Nothing I've tried so far has worked.
I just can't believe that any political candidate offers anything fundamentally different from the past 200 years of US policy. But I do believe in the small way, the way of humility and self-sacrificial love and service. I reject the promise of power and change that our right to vote is supposed to symbolize. I believe there is a better system, a better way to live, which is founded on interdependence. I want to participate in a society where 'mine' becomes 'ours,' unfortunately that's not what America means, yet. The vote on November 4th is no paradigm shift, it is no peaceful revolution. But we have been promised a better world. I know I won't vote for the old world when I know there is a new one being born right here, right now.
If anyone reading this has any suggestions about faithful communities that are trying to live a new way, or if you are active in life affirming work, please let me know I'm always looking for new rays of hope.
"We can do no great things, only small things with great love." --Mother Teresa
I was greatly inspired by The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborn, it's an exciting read. I have to thank Shane for sharing his thoughts on community, God and love. Also here are a couple of links that helped me compose this note, maybe they can make clear anything I stumbled over. (I recommend exploring these sites. They contain a wealth of, what I'd call, prophetic vision):
http://www.thesimpleway.org/shane/sampler.pdf
(The Irresistible Revolution, Chapter 5)
http://www.cpt.org/resources/writings/sider
http://www.cpt.org/about/gitw
http://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/
And just for fun:
http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2947
For starters, I want to live in a society that says, there is enough for all of us. I am looking for a community that says the hording of wealth is not the way to peace. The way of the sword and the dollar has failed us again and again. Yet all I hear the presidential candidates refer to is, "the American Dream," "I believe in the free market system," or "Protect America's interests." My heart breaks for the profound violence inherent in those phrases. I cannot support a leader who accepts the American way of life as default and good.
I won't vote for either candidate because my faith lies with another kingdom. My politics are intertwined with my faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, I don't want to muddle my beliefs with the messianic promises of change that permeate this election. I already have a savior and I doubt he ever wore a suit, although I can't be positive. I've never seen a photo of him.
I'm not apathetic towards the dilemmas of living in this world. But our current problems are the same old crises, in fact it seems that we are living in a cyclical world: the more things change the more they stay the same. It's a scary country to live in when so many of us are hurting and there are so few places to turn. We aren't facing a new vague threat, just a rehashing of the same tired plots.
What is it that makes this election so much more momentous than any previous one? Why the anxiety and anger and fear now? An honest answer to these questions is perhaps the most depressing thing I can imagine. Has the US always been in a war of some kind? Have there always been elderly amongst us who cannot afford to retire? Have there always been homeless on our streets? Does the Hippocratic oath still apply to someone who can't afford to pay the hospital bill? Have the poor always been with us?
The fact is that I'm as complicit as anyone in living a comfortable life at the expense of my neighbor. (I'm not saying the reader is complicit, that's for you to decide, trust me I'm a terrible judge. I know many of you have hearts of gold and serve tirelessly. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone other than myself and the system, which we have let convince us is good.)
This is my cry to our community and to the church. I'm asking to be held accountable to this decision that by not voting I'm taking on a much bigger responsibility: to do whatever small thing I can to love my neighbor, to love as I have loved myself. I have been unfaithful for far to long. I just can't convince myself that voting will absolve me of my responsibilities as a lover of God. The idol of independence has lost it's appeal. My vote doesn't matter if I'm not willing to stand up next to my neighbor, who is suffering, and share their burden and neither does my faith for that matter. I want to seek a new way of living. Nothing I've tried so far has worked.
I just can't believe that any political candidate offers anything fundamentally different from the past 200 years of US policy. But I do believe in the small way, the way of humility and self-sacrificial love and service. I reject the promise of power and change that our right to vote is supposed to symbolize. I believe there is a better system, a better way to live, which is founded on interdependence. I want to participate in a society where 'mine' becomes 'ours,' unfortunately that's not what America means, yet. The vote on November 4th is no paradigm shift, it is no peaceful revolution. But we have been promised a better world. I know I won't vote for the old world when I know there is a new one being born right here, right now.
If anyone reading this has any suggestions about faithful communities that are trying to live a new way, or if you are active in life affirming work, please let me know I'm always looking for new rays of hope.
"We can do no great things, only small things with great love." --Mother Teresa
I was greatly inspired by The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborn, it's an exciting read. I have to thank Shane for sharing his thoughts on community, God and love. Also here are a couple of links that helped me compose this note, maybe they can make clear anything I stumbled over. (I recommend exploring these sites. They contain a wealth of, what I'd call, prophetic vision):
http://www.thesimpleway.or
(The Irresistible Revolution, Chapter 5)
http://www.cpt.org/resourc
http://www.cpt.org/about/g
http://www.catholicworker.
And just for fun:
http://www.sinfest.net/arc
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