http://christianvisionproject.com/2008/02/an_efficient_gospel.html
This is a great article!! Not overly new to me, but, to a lot of people who aren't constantly surrounded by this kind of talk it should be a great read.
It talks about the irrelevance of a modern gospel in our post modern culture. The evidence of this shift is that conversation is sparked by the question "If you had just a few years left, what kind of life would you want to live?" instead of the traditional "if you died tomorrow where would you end up?"
Our diverse culture has heard and knows Jesus redeems, but, they also hear there are other routes to Heaven, see many Christians living non Christ like and see many non Christians living fairly Christ like. People aren't interested in whether Jesus can get them to Heaven when they die, they are interested in Jesus changing their life, and the world, starting now.
I my opinion one of the best ways to be a witness of Christ in our current young culture is to pursue God's justice in every area of your life. Intentionally contribute to developing non developed countries, live in eco friendly ways, share your excess instead of hoarding it, don't support sweat shops and blood coffee and value all life equally.
That last one is big. Value ALL life equally. Switch in human life for simplicity sake. Doesn't sound as good but needs to be there. What are the implications of valuing all human life equally? Here is a few that come to mind:
-One Canadian soldier is equal value to one American/British/Australian soldier
-Any one of the above is equal value to an Afghani/Iraqi civilian, militant, terrorist...
-A life begins at conception and doesn't end at birth.
Translated: don't ever judge anyone considering or who had an abortion unless you are willing to take the child in as your own, or start a foster care home, or something of the sort.
-A child who died from preventable causes (starvation, malaria, diarrhea, leprosy...) in a third world country is just as tragic as the most recent abducted child from your city.
note: there are over 3 million child deaths a year from malnutrition alone in developing countries. While I typed this line multiple children died worldwide from preventable causes. I bet none were from Western countries.
I could go on but it is bed time. Chew some of these thoughts. Think about it. If you had only a few years left what would you do? I hope I leave the world a lot closer to justice when I am dead. It sure isn't as close as I hope it to be now.
Good night folks. Sweet Dreams.
Friday 14 March 2008
Monday 10 March 2008
Irresistible Revolution - Chapter One
In chapter one of Irresistible Revolution Shane takes us on his journey away from a Methodist boxed Faith to one filled by stuff or "Spiritual Bulimia", to a brief Evangelical Christian experience and past this into a genuine search for Jesus in the places Jesus shows up most. It is a journey seeking Jesus that gets caught up in the hype of materialism and evangelicalism before finding Jesus truly in the sewers, dumpsters and alleyways. The last place most would expect to find him and the places the Bible makes clear he would chill at if he were here now (in human form).
Here are some highlights and reactions:
At the start of the chapter Shane leads in talking about how all the greatest Saints are honored in certain ways so we don't really need to listen to what they say because we honor them enough. He then says a major way we "honor" Jesus is to commercialize him. In the same way we put Malcolm X on stamps, St Francis on bird baths and create a holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. we commercialize Jesus as our honor and forget to do what he says:
"And Jesus gets commercialized, whether it is plastic night lights or Golden crucifixes. (and now Jesus bobble heads and Jesus in my homeboy shirts)"
How sad is this? Do we think that wearing a Jesus in my Homeboy shirt and a wwjd bracelet is following Jesus? Many like Shane in this chapter realize commercialized Christianity is not quite there and are seeking other routes to find Jesus.
So what is preventing us from finding Jesus? Evangelicals feel his presence and respond to his Holy Spirit SO often as Shane expressed through his experience with them in this Chapter. As I have experienced and grown up with my whole life. Why do so many of us need more than this though. The evidence is there that feeling the presence and reacting in tongues and spiritual gifts are not enough to fulfill us. What are we missing that so many fall away after all these spiritual encounters with God? Perhaps this:
"I came to realize that preachers were telling me to lay my life down at the foot of the cross, but, weren't giving me anything to pick up."
What are we picking up? T shirts and bobble heads don't exactly fulfill my hearts desires. I believe once we know God we have a drive to do as he would. Picking up the cause of the lost, weary, poor, broken hearted... If we pick nothing up our Christianity bears no fruit and we eventually die away ourselves.
Picking up Jesus' causes isn't easy. It means reverse motion by the worlds standards. For some it means selling all they have and giving the money to the poor. For others it means giving their lives to serving the needs of the poor. Whatever the scenario it means giving of ourselves. Sacrifice! It means believing the person next to you is equal to you so that giving out of your excess to meet their need not only makes sense but becomes a natural reaction. Living like this makes us uncool by the World's standards. No one could live like this and keep an upper middle class income lifestyle. There is too much need in the world. And there always will be. Start small though. Serve soup at a drop in. Make hot chocolate and hand it out on a cold day in your city's slums. Be wise, don't be scared.
Shane's entire section on Jesus in disguise (pg 47-51) needs to be read by all. This is where his observations about Jesus and his seeking Jesus finally meet lasting reward. Not in the intellectual halls of Bible College, the Spiritual sub culture of evangelicals, the materialistic world of Christian media, or the traditions of our religious background whatever it may be. Over all these places Shane meets Jesus in the slums of Philadelphia.
So do you want to meet Jesus?
Father the Fatherless. I've done it. Ask me. Working with single parent children is both very testing and rewarding. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Befriend the needy. I've also done some of this. Not as much as I wish. Seemed to work for Shane though and I've experiences of my own I could tell about that re-enforce that what he is saying is true.
Love all people, prostitutes, orphans, witches, homosexuals, goths, single moms, drug addicts, physically and mentally handicapped... The list is endless. If you can fall full in love with the one of these that disgusts or disturbs you the most, I promise you'll be seeing Jesus in them and they'll be seeing Jesus in you. Whether they react how you wish isn't your choice but theirs and is guided by the Holy Spirit. Your job is to love like Jesus. Only worry about that and the rest will come.
I have got to insert this little story before I am done. It is too good to leave out.
"I met a blind street musician who was viciously abused by some young guys who would mock her, curse her and one night even sprayed Lysol in her eyes as a practical joke. As we held her tight that night one of us said "there sure are a lot of bad folks out there aren't there?" And She said "Oh but there are a lot of good ones too. And the bad ones make you, the good ones, even sweeter."
Being Jesus is as easy as just holding someone tight. Try earning the trust of someone that you could hold tight out of friendship and brotherly (and/or sisterly) love. Then let your guard down enough to do it. It is quite the experience.
Shane closes the chapter with this quote. I love it.
"I found out I was just as likely to meet God in the sewers of the ghetto as in the Halls of Academia. I learned more about God from the tears of the Homeless Mothers than any systematic theology ever taught me."
Here are some highlights and reactions:
At the start of the chapter Shane leads in talking about how all the greatest Saints are honored in certain ways so we don't really need to listen to what they say because we honor them enough. He then says a major way we "honor" Jesus is to commercialize him. In the same way we put Malcolm X on stamps, St Francis on bird baths and create a holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. we commercialize Jesus as our honor and forget to do what he says:
"And Jesus gets commercialized, whether it is plastic night lights or Golden crucifixes. (and now Jesus bobble heads and Jesus in my homeboy shirts)"
How sad is this? Do we think that wearing a Jesus in my Homeboy shirt and a wwjd bracelet is following Jesus? Many like Shane in this chapter realize commercialized Christianity is not quite there and are seeking other routes to find Jesus.
So what is preventing us from finding Jesus? Evangelicals feel his presence and respond to his Holy Spirit SO often as Shane expressed through his experience with them in this Chapter. As I have experienced and grown up with my whole life. Why do so many of us need more than this though. The evidence is there that feeling the presence and reacting in tongues and spiritual gifts are not enough to fulfill us. What are we missing that so many fall away after all these spiritual encounters with God? Perhaps this:
"I came to realize that preachers were telling me to lay my life down at the foot of the cross, but, weren't giving me anything to pick up."
What are we picking up? T shirts and bobble heads don't exactly fulfill my hearts desires. I believe once we know God we have a drive to do as he would. Picking up the cause of the lost, weary, poor, broken hearted... If we pick nothing up our Christianity bears no fruit and we eventually die away ourselves.
Picking up Jesus' causes isn't easy. It means reverse motion by the worlds standards. For some it means selling all they have and giving the money to the poor. For others it means giving their lives to serving the needs of the poor. Whatever the scenario it means giving of ourselves. Sacrifice! It means believing the person next to you is equal to you so that giving out of your excess to meet their need not only makes sense but becomes a natural reaction. Living like this makes us uncool by the World's standards. No one could live like this and keep an upper middle class income lifestyle. There is too much need in the world. And there always will be. Start small though. Serve soup at a drop in. Make hot chocolate and hand it out on a cold day in your city's slums. Be wise, don't be scared.
Shane's entire section on Jesus in disguise (pg 47-51) needs to be read by all. This is where his observations about Jesus and his seeking Jesus finally meet lasting reward. Not in the intellectual halls of Bible College, the Spiritual sub culture of evangelicals, the materialistic world of Christian media, or the traditions of our religious background whatever it may be. Over all these places Shane meets Jesus in the slums of Philadelphia.
So do you want to meet Jesus?
Father the Fatherless. I've done it. Ask me. Working with single parent children is both very testing and rewarding. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Befriend the needy. I've also done some of this. Not as much as I wish. Seemed to work for Shane though and I've experiences of my own I could tell about that re-enforce that what he is saying is true.
Love all people, prostitutes, orphans, witches, homosexuals, goths, single moms, drug addicts, physically and mentally handicapped... The list is endless. If you can fall full in love with the one of these that disgusts or disturbs you the most, I promise you'll be seeing Jesus in them and they'll be seeing Jesus in you. Whether they react how you wish isn't your choice but theirs and is guided by the Holy Spirit. Your job is to love like Jesus. Only worry about that and the rest will come.
I have got to insert this little story before I am done. It is too good to leave out.
"I met a blind street musician who was viciously abused by some young guys who would mock her, curse her and one night even sprayed Lysol in her eyes as a practical joke. As we held her tight that night one of us said "there sure are a lot of bad folks out there aren't there?" And She said "Oh but there are a lot of good ones too. And the bad ones make you, the good ones, even sweeter."
Being Jesus is as easy as just holding someone tight. Try earning the trust of someone that you could hold tight out of friendship and brotherly (and/or sisterly) love. Then let your guard down enough to do it. It is quite the experience.
Shane closes the chapter with this quote. I love it.
"I found out I was just as likely to meet God in the sewers of the ghetto as in the Halls of Academia. I learned more about God from the tears of the Homeless Mothers than any systematic theology ever taught me."
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