Thoughts on a beautiful spring day

"Live simply so that others may simply live." Mahatma Gandhi

I have been reading a very inspiring book by Brian McLaren on social justice and the need for people and especially, those who call themselves the disciples of Christ, to start acting missional and doing the work that Jesus did and instructed his followers to do. We have gotten so far removed from this mission that the world is suffering; poverty, starvation, depletion of the earth's resources, global warming, wars and violence are everywhere. Yet the majority of Christians run around worrying about heaven, escaping hell, and whether or not gays and lesbians should be allowed to enter into the sacrament of marriage.

Good grief! Enough already!

A good friend of mine told me about how her pastor/church is challenging people to examine their lifestyles and to try to live a more simple existence for at least 50 days...the money that is saved by living simpler would then be donated to help build wells in Uganda. The link to the website can be found here: www.spillinghope.org This is the work that Christ instructed us to do.

Brian McLaren's book - Everything Must Change contains so much information, scripture, statistics, and inspiring insight into how we can change our world and help everyone and every living creature live a more equitable, sustainable existence. I encourage you to read it and to let it speak to your heart. He has several quotes from the author and theologian, John Scott. Here is one...“should gain the economic and political qualifications to join in the quest for justice in the world community. And meanwhile, the development of a less affluent lifestyle, in whatever terms we may define it, is surely an obligation that Scripture lays on us in compassionate solidarity with the poor. Of course we can resist these things and even use (misuse) the Bible to defend our resistance. The horror of the situation is that our affluent culture has drugged us; we no longer feel the pain of other people’s deprivations. Yet the first step toward the recovery of our Christian integrity is to be aware that our culture blinds, deafens and dopes us. Then we shall begin to cry to God to open our eyes, unstop our ears and stab our dull consciences awake, until we see, hear and feel what through his Word he has been saying to us all the time. Then we shall take action.”

McLaren's book states that: “The richest 1% of the world’s population owns almost 40%’ of total wealth, and the richest 5% owns 70% of the wealth. Take the assets of the world’s 3 richest individuals and you have the wealth that exceeds the combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the world’s 48 poorest countries.”

Jesus in Luke 16:19 does not prescribe hell to those who refuse to accept the message of justification by grace through faith, or those who do not express faith in a favored atonement theory by accepting Jesus as their “personal Savior”. Rather hell--literal or figurative--is for the rich and comfortable who proceed on their way without concern for their poor neighbor day after day.

To quote Gandhi once again: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Boy how sad and how true this statement is.

In another biblical passage, Jesus through the miracle of the bread and fishes, is showing us that we need a radically different economy…one that is about sharing what we already have instead of acquiring more and more. This Jesus led type of economy would be one of gratitude and sharing and not based on consuming faster and more.

Cornell West reported on the rising disparity between salaries of CEOs and the average worker. In 1960 the ratio was 12:1, 35:1 in 1974, 151:1 in 1995 and 301:1 in 2003. This system cannot encourage and build equity among the world. It will continue to divide the rich from the poor. Trickle down economics does not work.

Remembering his statement that the first would be last and the last first, I firmly believe that Jesus would want us to promote trickle up economics. Imagine living in a world where all had food, shelter and medical care…it would sure look like the kingdom of God that the Bible talks about.

So as disciples of Christ, believers of God in the way of Jesus, let’s get off of our asses and start working to help those who have so little, to minister to the poor, the discarded and the weak. To examine our extravagant lifestyles and see where we can cut back, to consume less and share more and to quote Gandhi one last time: "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Grace and Generosity

GRACE

I am trying to learn to live more graciously. Just what does that mean - to live graciously?
The word grace has many definitions but the two that speak to me are: act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency; and the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful.

So how am I trying to live more graciously? I am trying to be kinder, to act out of love and compassion for my fellow man and to be more thoughtful in both word and deed. God became human in the form of Jesus so that the world might be saved through His grace and we are called by God to act gracious towards each and every one.

I just finished a couple of books by Phillip Gulley and James Mulholland, both pastors in the Quaker church. One was titled; If Grace is True and; If God is Love. Both of these books spoke to my heart and have encouraged me to examine my own life and see how I can live in a more gracious and generous manner.

Here are some of the passages on graciousness that really stood out for me.

We need to recognize each other as children of a gracious God who, though our language and experience may differ, share a yearning to be united with the One who created us.

My greatest challenge is treating each and every person as a child of God. It is remembering this wonderful grace, which has overwhelmed me, is also at work in every other person.

Becoming gracious will require a reformation…we will have to surrender the Bible as our ace in the hole and Jesus as a backstage pass. The Church will have to serve, rather than dominate, the world. Christianity will need to reclaim its most distinctive doctrine – the universal grace of God. …We’ll need to identify Christians not by what they believe about Jesus, but by their willingness to be like him.

Gracious Christianity is committed to the lifestyle of Jesus, confident that living his way of life can usher in the kingdom of God. It trusts that God still moves and acts in the world, not simply in Christians, but in anyone who commits to loving neighbor and enemy. …it can focus on living in the present rather than worrying about the future. Gracious Christianity doesn’t demand that people accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, but invites people to consider his example and imitate his way.


GENEROSITY

In If God is Love there is an account of two amazing men who exemplify generosity. The first was Jacob Shenk, a businessman during the depression who gave away 90% of his profits to charitable causes and to the farmers who worked for him. The other was about Bob Thompson who built up the largest paving company in Michigan and upon his retirement sold the company for $422 million and gave most of the money to charity and gave $128 million directly back to his 550 employees, some of whom had been with his company since the beginning. When asked why he gave all of his money away he simply stated that it gave him great joy.

I imagine that amidst all the pain and suffering that Jesus experienced in his earthly lifetime, he also experienced a great sense of joy in giving so generously to those in need.

I think that it is important to remember that people are always more important than possessions and that we have a responsibility to see that ALL people have their basic needs met and not just those that reside in our country, or whose culture, race or religion is the same as ours.

"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded (Luke 12:48)."

This verse from Luke speaks so directly to me. Although I do not live in a mansion or own a personal jet, I do have a very good life, much has been given to me. My basic needs are fully met and then some. Most of the time I have my wants met as well. As a child I did not always have enough to eat and toys were definitely a luxury and new ones very rare. Our clothes were most often hand me downs from friends. It was very often rough and I think this had a great effect on me and is what drives my need to accumulate. I always want the latest gadget and I have more clothes then I will ever wear. I need to make some changes and do my best to buy less and give more. I need to follow my daughter's example and give wholly and joyfully.

Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:42)

Jesus doesn't tell us to give to some of the people who beg from us or to not refuse some of the people who want to borrow, he states that we are to give to EVERYONE who begs and to not refuse ANYONE who wants to borrow. This is a hard one. I often feel compelled to give money to street people who I deem really need it, the ones that seem like they would have a hard time finding work or seem incapacitated in some way. But I have a much harder time and often do not give to those I feel could find work or are just looking for a handout. Yet Jesus seems pretty clear that this is not what he meant. EVERYONE and ANYONE are pretty conclusive words. So this is something I know that I am going to struggle with but definitely want to change. I plan on making sure I always have cash on hand so that I can follow Jesus' example.

I am not sure where the path of living graciously and generously will take me but I am looking forward to the journey.