Sometimes I fear claiming that I'm a Christian when I introduce myself as a Christian. I don't fear Christ or claiming him as lord of my life - don't get me wrong that is a gift I bear with humility and honor.
It's just that, well, the word "Christian" means a whole lot of different things to people.
To some it means anti-gay, judgmental, righteous, pious…the list goes on. If you've read any of my former posts you probably have an idea of how I feel about some of this.
To be honest, I have found a lot of 'Christians' who are almost sick over the reputation the Church has today for being anything but loving and Christ like. We feel really, really misunderstood. I've wondered many times "if other Christians feel like this, then why do we have the reputation we have?"
I think a lot of it is there are people out there who claim the label "Christianity" but stop there. They believe salvation is about knowing the right things, having said the right prayer, having the ''right answers''. But it's not about head knowledge, or about how right you are or how well you know the Bible.
It's about having a real, authentic relationship with the Living God - the God who is Love. Sure, reading the Bible and putting the word on your heart can be one way you grow in your relationship with the God who created you, but just because you know the Bible doesn't mean you know God. Indeed, even Satan knows all of the right answers and probably all of the scriptures- even the forces that oppose love know all the right answers about love but, do they let love in? Do they let love teach them, permeate their being, humble them and mold them into living and existing in a way that is different from their own self-centered desires? No.
And that, I believe, is part of it. When "Christians" get caught up in having the "right" answers- we forget that whether we know the "right" answer isn't what matters - loving is. Really loving.
To me, being a "Christian" means living my life with the God of Love at the center - which means putting love at the center of my life. Not just a romantic love, but an other-oriented sacrificial kind of love- the kind of love Jesus showed us. The kind of love us messy, judgmental, pious, selfish, self centered beings don't deserve but desperately need and yearn for. Love without limits or expectation.
Which is why I was really moved by this sermon on Romans 10. Greg says it better than I ever could.
If you're healing from a misinterpretation of what it means to be Christian or Christ like, or just curious why all the "Christians" look nothing like Jesus - well it just might mean something to you too.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
From the archives
I wrote the following, years ago in college, to a friend who I thought of often. However, once I finished writing it I realized it might be better for me to hold on to.
Well, I found it while rummaging through some things and I felt compelled to record it here, to share, and also to preserve it.
Pursue your dreams.
Follow your ambitions.
Within you, you have a fire that burns to know the world, to love without limits, and to give with no boundaries. But you have seen beyond your own front steps- and while your family and friends have always been behind you, you have realized that the world is not always as supportive or inviting as you once thought, and it has shifted something within you.
Wherever you go int he world though, you are bound to find some hostility, or some form of evil - even in your own back yard. Don't be discouraged. Your spirit is strong, and I know that you have more than just potential. As long as you keep these things in mind, and are cautions - protecting your spirit when needed so that you don't fall into the pit of hostility that walks this earth, even when faced with overwhelming amounts - you will rise.
I know this world has shown you a lot of pain, but you know you have always been blessed. Sometimes it's easier to acknowledge the painful or hurtful things, but if you open your eyes and learn to acknowledge and sit with pain- you can look past it and see the beauty that lies right in front of your eyes.
Before you're gone.
Before you're looking back.
And in this I hope you learn to see true beauty and find true happiness.
As you go forward into your life, you will inevitably find challenges and sorrow, but if you sit with them in peace, and push yourself forward, I hope you will be able to see how pain and happiness live in equilibrium.
Yes, you have had challenges; but it could be worse.
Yes, you have been blessed; but it could be better.
Don't be set back by these statements, these truths of life.
Instead, take comfort because whatever you do wrong, can always be improved. And the reminder that it could be worse, should remind you how fleeting life can be.
Everything you have is a blessing to be appreciated - so open your eyes and appreciate.
Not tomorrow, now what you will have and what you have had, but what you have - where you are now. Right now.
The breeze on your face.
The colors of the sunset.
The simplicity of "hello", a good song on the radio.
Start noticing the small good things, and hopefully one day you will realize that what you acknowledge in your life is what you will live out.
So as you go forward, live out your life to its fullest.
Know your past is just as much a part of your life as your future, but nothing is as important as the moment you're in.
Know that just because you're moving forward does not bring you further away from the moments you've been in, don't hang on to them - afraid to lose them. Instead, let your past precious moments lead you fully into where you are now.
And always, you will have your roots beneath you, the world around you, and endless possibilities ahead of you.
So go forth into your life - not your future but every moment, and when you find yourself in a happy state take a deep breath to embrace it.
Step into it with everything you have.
And in hard times, remember your breath while stepping forward to search for the next time it surrounds you, because I tell you with confidence:
Whatever you look for, you will find.
What you see is up to your eyes to decide, and how you live is up for you to pursue.
Knowing what you want in life isn't the hard part - letting yourself have it is.
Let yourself have it, you deserve the best this world can give and you're the only one who can take it.
Don't hold back.
happy birthday - happy every day.
Love always,
Sophia
Well, I found it while rummaging through some things and I felt compelled to record it here, to share, and also to preserve it.
Pursue your dreams.
Follow your ambitions.
Within you, you have a fire that burns to know the world, to love without limits, and to give with no boundaries. But you have seen beyond your own front steps- and while your family and friends have always been behind you, you have realized that the world is not always as supportive or inviting as you once thought, and it has shifted something within you.
Wherever you go int he world though, you are bound to find some hostility, or some form of evil - even in your own back yard. Don't be discouraged. Your spirit is strong, and I know that you have more than just potential. As long as you keep these things in mind, and are cautions - protecting your spirit when needed so that you don't fall into the pit of hostility that walks this earth, even when faced with overwhelming amounts - you will rise.
I know this world has shown you a lot of pain, but you know you have always been blessed. Sometimes it's easier to acknowledge the painful or hurtful things, but if you open your eyes and learn to acknowledge and sit with pain- you can look past it and see the beauty that lies right in front of your eyes.
Before you're gone.
Before you're looking back.
And in this I hope you learn to see true beauty and find true happiness.
As you go forward into your life, you will inevitably find challenges and sorrow, but if you sit with them in peace, and push yourself forward, I hope you will be able to see how pain and happiness live in equilibrium.
Yes, you have had challenges; but it could be worse.
Yes, you have been blessed; but it could be better.
Don't be set back by these statements, these truths of life.
Instead, take comfort because whatever you do wrong, can always be improved. And the reminder that it could be worse, should remind you how fleeting life can be.
Everything you have is a blessing to be appreciated - so open your eyes and appreciate.
Not tomorrow, now what you will have and what you have had, but what you have - where you are now. Right now.
The breeze on your face.
The colors of the sunset.
The simplicity of "hello", a good song on the radio.
Start noticing the small good things, and hopefully one day you will realize that what you acknowledge in your life is what you will live out.
So as you go forward, live out your life to its fullest.
Know your past is just as much a part of your life as your future, but nothing is as important as the moment you're in.
Know that just because you're moving forward does not bring you further away from the moments you've been in, don't hang on to them - afraid to lose them. Instead, let your past precious moments lead you fully into where you are now.
And always, you will have your roots beneath you, the world around you, and endless possibilities ahead of you.
So go forth into your life - not your future but every moment, and when you find yourself in a happy state take a deep breath to embrace it.
Step into it with everything you have.
And in hard times, remember your breath while stepping forward to search for the next time it surrounds you, because I tell you with confidence:
Whatever you look for, you will find.
What you see is up to your eyes to decide, and how you live is up for you to pursue.
Knowing what you want in life isn't the hard part - letting yourself have it is.
Let yourself have it, you deserve the best this world can give and you're the only one who can take it.
Don't hold back.
happy birthday - happy every day.
Love always,
Sophia
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Judging Love
Have you heard this before "It's because I love them that I am telling them about their sin"?
Or something like it?
I have.
Look, there's not a Christian I know that would deny that God loves us, all of us. Christ came to teach us about Gods love. Indeed, according to Jesus, the greatest commandment is "Love thy neighbor as thyself". Paul writes that God IS love. Throughout the old and especially the new testament, we learn of Gods love, for he SO loved the world that He gave His only son. That's how we know what Love is.
This is not a new revelation, this is not hard to understand - but it's so hard to manifest. It's so hard to remove judgement. And Christ taught, definitely taught, against judgement (Matthew 7:1). God alone, is to be judge (Psalm 7:11).
However, I often hide behind what I like to call loving judgement, and I don't think I'm the only one.
You see, even though Christ said to love others like the Father loves them - without judgement; even though He tells me to pour my love on everyone, like God lets the rain fall (Matthew 5:45)- on the believers, the non-believers, the Christians, the non-Christians, homosexuals, heterosexuals, drug-free and addicted, the similar-to-me, the 'others', the 'terrorists', the 'anti-terrorists', the warriors, the peacemakers... I don't let it fall like rain.
Instead, I judge.
But look, judgement doesn't always look like a 'nasty thought'. It can look like a prayer.
Lots of times, the prayer looks like this "Lord, save those people, help them change", "Lord, fix them and teach them to turn from their sin".
Now, these prayers in themselves are not bad prayers. Indeed, if out of relationship a person has asked you to pray for them, and this is what the spirit leads you to say - it is a very very powerful prayer that SHOULD be prayed. Maybe it's for your children, or your good friend, or your co-worker, or even a stranger you just met, who has invited you into their life - or maybe its someone whose life you are a part of because God placed you in relationship with them. Yes, in these times, pray these prayers fervently - they are loving.
The judgement pours out of me when I don't know the person who I am praying for. When, without knowing them at all, I decide that I see something that I am assuming they need to fix, or repent from. I fail to see them as God sees them - as already perfect, as already clean, as already redeemed - and then I am falling into judgement. I tell myself that it is because I love them, that I want them to change and so out of love I am praying for them - but without relationship and without invitation - it's just judgement hiding behind love. This is not love falling like rain.
You see, I hide behind judgmental love, and love with judgement is first, judgement.
I don't think I am the only one.
Throughout history, I believe, this is one way that we, the Church, have pushed people away from God. To put judgement before love is to put Gods commandment to love out of place. You see, when we put judgement before love, we tell people that their sin is bigger than their beauty.We communicate a message to them that because their robes are dirty, they cannot come before God. And so, many many people today are afraid to turn to God, or have denied him completely. But God says NO! I can change your robes, I can make you clean, come to me and I WILL WASH YOU, I WILL CHANGE YOU. I love you.
First, comes love. If we put love first, judgement disappears. If we were to let love fall like rain, we would enter into relationship with people before we prayed for their transformation. Then, after pointing out to them how infinitely valuable they are, how perfectly they were made, how much God has sought after them - even in their sin - if we're blessed enough, maybe the would invite us to pray for the deep, dark wounds that lead them into sin to be healed. Here, is where we can pray the powerful prayer of "Lord, save them from this sin, help them change". And then, the Spirit works.
Imagine if, as the Church, we all made a daily effort to simply love others, to enter into relationship with them, to have them invite us into the deepest parts of themselves that they are fearing to share before we decide they need fixing. Imagine if we let the Spirit lead them into their own revelation of what need healing. Imagine if we were able to understand the depths of a persons hurt - and then enter into that hurt in solidarity and pray. Instead of pushing people away by pointing out their flaws as strangers, we could help bring a hearts-yearning and desire to be changed directly to God as brothers and sisters- and there, the Lord will meet them. There, the Lord will transform them. There, we can love them.
Can we put away judging love, and simply love?
Or something like it?
I have.
Look, there's not a Christian I know that would deny that God loves us, all of us. Christ came to teach us about Gods love. Indeed, according to Jesus, the greatest commandment is "Love thy neighbor as thyself". Paul writes that God IS love. Throughout the old and especially the new testament, we learn of Gods love, for he SO loved the world that He gave His only son. That's how we know what Love is.
This is not a new revelation, this is not hard to understand - but it's so hard to manifest. It's so hard to remove judgement. And Christ taught, definitely taught, against judgement (Matthew 7:1). God alone, is to be judge (Psalm 7:11).
However, I often hide behind what I like to call loving judgement, and I don't think I'm the only one.
You see, even though Christ said to love others like the Father loves them - without judgement; even though He tells me to pour my love on everyone, like God lets the rain fall (Matthew 5:45)- on the believers, the non-believers, the Christians, the non-Christians, homosexuals, heterosexuals, drug-free and addicted, the similar-to-me, the 'others', the 'terrorists', the 'anti-terrorists', the warriors, the peacemakers... I don't let it fall like rain.
Instead, I judge.
But look, judgement doesn't always look like a 'nasty thought'. It can look like a prayer.
Lots of times, the prayer looks like this "Lord, save those people, help them change", "Lord, fix them and teach them to turn from their sin".
Now, these prayers in themselves are not bad prayers. Indeed, if out of relationship a person has asked you to pray for them, and this is what the spirit leads you to say - it is a very very powerful prayer that SHOULD be prayed. Maybe it's for your children, or your good friend, or your co-worker, or even a stranger you just met, who has invited you into their life - or maybe its someone whose life you are a part of because God placed you in relationship with them. Yes, in these times, pray these prayers fervently - they are loving.
The judgement pours out of me when I don't know the person who I am praying for. When, without knowing them at all, I decide that I see something that I am assuming they need to fix, or repent from. I fail to see them as God sees them - as already perfect, as already clean, as already redeemed - and then I am falling into judgement. I tell myself that it is because I love them, that I want them to change and so out of love I am praying for them - but without relationship and without invitation - it's just judgement hiding behind love. This is not love falling like rain.
You see, I hide behind judgmental love, and love with judgement is first, judgement.
I don't think I am the only one.
Throughout history, I believe, this is one way that we, the Church, have pushed people away from God. To put judgement before love is to put Gods commandment to love out of place. You see, when we put judgement before love, we tell people that their sin is bigger than their beauty.We communicate a message to them that because their robes are dirty, they cannot come before God. And so, many many people today are afraid to turn to God, or have denied him completely. But God says NO! I can change your robes, I can make you clean, come to me and I WILL WASH YOU, I WILL CHANGE YOU. I love you.
First, comes love. If we put love first, judgement disappears. If we were to let love fall like rain, we would enter into relationship with people before we prayed for their transformation. Then, after pointing out to them how infinitely valuable they are, how perfectly they were made, how much God has sought after them - even in their sin - if we're blessed enough, maybe the would invite us to pray for the deep, dark wounds that lead them into sin to be healed. Here, is where we can pray the powerful prayer of "Lord, save them from this sin, help them change". And then, the Spirit works.
Imagine if, as the Church, we all made a daily effort to simply love others, to enter into relationship with them, to have them invite us into the deepest parts of themselves that they are fearing to share before we decide they need fixing. Imagine if we let the Spirit lead them into their own revelation of what need healing. Imagine if we were able to understand the depths of a persons hurt - and then enter into that hurt in solidarity and pray. Instead of pushing people away by pointing out their flaws as strangers, we could help bring a hearts-yearning and desire to be changed directly to God as brothers and sisters- and there, the Lord will meet them. There, the Lord will transform them. There, we can love them.
Can we put away judging love, and simply love?
Abundance
Lately I've been struggling with a little anxiety about the future and simultaneously been feeling overwhelmed in the present. Each of these worries has sent me in a vicious thought cycle. First, I feel overwhelmed with the present, so I look to the future. Looking to the future makes me wonder how we will ever 'make it' after I'm out of school, and we're paying back a ton of debt while simultaneously trying to start a practice (which is another huge risk) or find full-time work, while keeping a roof over our heads, food on the table, raising kids, having time for ourselves, showering. So of course, I get anxious, which brings me back to thinking about the present, and I wonder how we are ever going to expect to make it THEN when we're 'scraping by' now. How in the world are we ever going to get done all of the things we need to get done now, financially sustain ourselves, and still have time for ourselves at the end of the day? I have no idea, so back to dreaming about the future...which leads to worrying about the future...which leads to thinking about the past.... you get the picture.
You know, I don't think I'm the first to ride this roller coaster.
In today's first-world, modern-times, we're overwhelmed with messages that tell us what it should look like to be successful. It means having a certain kind of house, providing a certain kind of home for your family, having a certain level of income, a certain amount of free time, and a lot of things you should be able to buy on a whim whenever you need them. Not only that, but we're expected to update those things - wardrobes, phones, furniture, dishes, cars, computers, shoes, hairstyles, foods, TV-shows, movies, holiday decorations, you name it- and get it now, on a whim. And if you can't keep up, well, you know - it's actually going to be OK.
You see, after going on this roller coaster ride in my head I realized (finally!) that the root of my anxiety is that I'm choosing to see what I 'lack' or might one-day lack, rather than remembering and realizing the abundance that fills my life.
First of all, I need to remember that I've got it good, I mean real good. Re-focusing this has changed my perspective.
In this cycle of worry I met with a friend and neighbor, a woman who inspires me in every way, Sandra Ungor, and she helped me remember that everything is a phase, and re-focus to the abundance in my life. Then I read an article in Conspire Magazine called Wealth and Worry, and that too helped me shift more fully into a different way of looking at the water glass.
The article talked about Luke chapter 12:15-31 (see below for the full passage).
In short, this passage talks about a rich man who has an abundance, but is worried about what he might not have int he future. So he tears down his current store houses and builds new, BIGGER and BETTER store houses to store his grain and wealth.
This is me. You see, I have an abundance of gifts- from my family, to my health, to my wealth, not exactly my bank account though ;) (although just the fact that I have a bank account shows that I have a certain extent of wealth), my safety, my home, my clothes..you name it! I have so much. Yet, somehow I want to store up more to ensure that I can be merry, relax and enjoy the future. When my brothers and sisters around the world don't have one-tenth of the luxuries I have I am still discontented and wanting more.
And I realize, that this discontentment is also a choice.
Really, where would it stop? at what point would I truly be content?
I have all my basic needs provided for and more, and yet I keep striving for bigger, more, better, 'guaranteed'.
Have I forgotten that God has always, always, always been there? Always provided? How many times did a check come in the mail (randomly and unexpectedly) just in the nick of time, when my account was almost to zero? Am I not on a 100% tuition paid scholarship to pursue my dream goal? Who got me that?! How many times did I 'wish' for something, only to find it free on the side of the road a few days or weeks later? How many times did I wish for an experience only to live it out shortly after? When did God not ever show up, and like he does with 'the birds of the air' care for me and my needs? Not only my needs but my selfish desires, and luxurious wishes? WHo am I to be discontent?
But I can't be mad at myself. That does no one any good. No, I just have to realize that I did the most human thing (since the fall) - I am forgetting WHO God is, that I am His child, and that although I don't deserve it He will provide.
But what does this mean for those who are living, for example, in disaster right now? In the Philippines? In the slums? In abuse? In hunger? In fear? In tragedy and sadness, brokenness and pain? Sickness? Why should I expect God to provide for me when there's nothing more special about me than those brothers and sisters, and well - look at their situation? Doesn't their suffering prove that God can't provide for all of us? That He can't protect us from pain, and suffering, disaster, terrible situations? SHouldn't we store up all we have to help make sure we don't become "like them"? OR at least do all we can to ensure as best as we can we don't get closer than we have to?
Luke 12:15-31 as recorded by (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12&version=NIV)
I've got a reliable, loving, dependable, God-seeking husband who helps me in every aspect of my life and is committed to me and our children. That right there - is more than 24,718,000 other children in the US who are raised in single-parent households have, not to mention the millions of single-parents who are raising them. Beyond that, there are billions more single-parents, orphans, widows, and widowers in the world. I am among the minority, in that I'm not alone, I have a dependable loving caring gentile God-loving husband who is alive and present. Yes. I've got it good.
Now lets talk about my financial situation.
Ok, no we don't make a lot of money but wealth is more than just the income or your money in the bank. I come from middle and upper class families that are never going to let me fall down, and support us now so we can "have it easy" while we pursue our own privilege to "improve ourselves". Again, I am in the minority. Not only do I have family to support me if anything 'goes wrong', but I have the privilege and the option to pursue an education. Or not. It's my choice, which is the most profound part of it all.
You know, I could keep going on about my wealth: my health, my opportunity, the safety of my home, and place I live, the support system I have, the ability to pursue opportunities that arise.
When I concentrate on the abundance, everything else melts.
You know, I don't think I'm the first to ride this roller coaster.
In today's first-world, modern-times, we're overwhelmed with messages that tell us what it should look like to be successful. It means having a certain kind of house, providing a certain kind of home for your family, having a certain level of income, a certain amount of free time, and a lot of things you should be able to buy on a whim whenever you need them. Not only that, but we're expected to update those things - wardrobes, phones, furniture, dishes, cars, computers, shoes, hairstyles, foods, TV-shows, movies, holiday decorations, you name it- and get it now, on a whim. And if you can't keep up, well, you know - it's actually going to be OK.
You see, after going on this roller coaster ride in my head I realized (finally!) that the root of my anxiety is that I'm choosing to see what I 'lack' or might one-day lack, rather than remembering and realizing the abundance that fills my life.
First of all, I need to remember that I've got it good, I mean real good. Re-focusing this has changed my perspective.
In this cycle of worry I met with a friend and neighbor, a woman who inspires me in every way, Sandra Ungor, and she helped me remember that everything is a phase, and re-focus to the abundance in my life. Then I read an article in Conspire Magazine called Wealth and Worry, and that too helped me shift more fully into a different way of looking at the water glass.
The article talked about Luke chapter 12:15-31 (see below for the full passage).
In short, this passage talks about a rich man who has an abundance, but is worried about what he might not have int he future. So he tears down his current store houses and builds new, BIGGER and BETTER store houses to store his grain and wealth.
This is me. You see, I have an abundance of gifts- from my family, to my health, to my wealth, not exactly my bank account though ;) (although just the fact that I have a bank account shows that I have a certain extent of wealth), my safety, my home, my clothes..you name it! I have so much. Yet, somehow I want to store up more to ensure that I can be merry, relax and enjoy the future. When my brothers and sisters around the world don't have one-tenth of the luxuries I have I am still discontented and wanting more.
And I realize, that this discontentment is also a choice.
Really, where would it stop? at what point would I truly be content?
I have all my basic needs provided for and more, and yet I keep striving for bigger, more, better, 'guaranteed'.
Have I forgotten that God has always, always, always been there? Always provided? How many times did a check come in the mail (randomly and unexpectedly) just in the nick of time, when my account was almost to zero? Am I not on a 100% tuition paid scholarship to pursue my dream goal? Who got me that?! How many times did I 'wish' for something, only to find it free on the side of the road a few days or weeks later? How many times did I wish for an experience only to live it out shortly after? When did God not ever show up, and like he does with 'the birds of the air' care for me and my needs? Not only my needs but my selfish desires, and luxurious wishes? WHo am I to be discontent?
But I can't be mad at myself. That does no one any good. No, I just have to realize that I did the most human thing (since the fall) - I am forgetting WHO God is, that I am His child, and that although I don't deserve it He will provide.
But what does this mean for those who are living, for example, in disaster right now? In the Philippines? In the slums? In abuse? In hunger? In fear? In tragedy and sadness, brokenness and pain? Sickness? Why should I expect God to provide for me when there's nothing more special about me than those brothers and sisters, and well - look at their situation? Doesn't their suffering prove that God can't provide for all of us? That He can't protect us from pain, and suffering, disaster, terrible situations? SHouldn't we store up all we have to help make sure we don't become "like them"? OR at least do all we can to ensure as best as we can we don't get closer than we have to?
Luke 12:15-31 as recorded by (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12&version=NIV)
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom,and these things will be given to you as well.
I've got a reliable, loving, dependable, God-seeking husband who helps me in every aspect of my life and is committed to me and our children. That right there - is more than 24,718,000 other children in the US who are raised in single-parent households have, not to mention the millions of single-parents who are raising them. Beyond that, there are billions more single-parents, orphans, widows, and widowers in the world. I am among the minority, in that I'm not alone, I have a dependable loving caring gentile God-loving husband who is alive and present. Yes. I've got it good.
Now lets talk about my financial situation.
Ok, no we don't make a lot of money but wealth is more than just the income or your money in the bank. I come from middle and upper class families that are never going to let me fall down, and support us now so we can "have it easy" while we pursue our own privilege to "improve ourselves". Again, I am in the minority. Not only do I have family to support me if anything 'goes wrong', but I have the privilege and the option to pursue an education. Or not. It's my choice, which is the most profound part of it all.
You know, I could keep going on about my wealth: my health, my opportunity, the safety of my home, and place I live, the support system I have, the ability to pursue opportunities that arise.
When I concentrate on the abundance, everything else melts.
What is the cost?
Money.
You know, I'm not exactly good with it.
As I write this, things are tight, and by tight I mean...ttiiight.
It's funny, as the bank account fades and dwindles down, a part of me is just, not worried.
I look at my children and I realize that maybe the number in the bank account is low, but that doesn't define the worth and beauty of my children. And it doesn't define the worth of me or my life either.
I realize, we might be 'broke', but we're not poor. We're richer than rich.
And this is the difference between me and billions of other people in our world.
You see, wealth is not just a number in a bank account.
It's your family, your support, your sense of security and worth.
It's not just stocks, and IRA-s and 401Ks
It has to do with what privilege you have, and a lot to do with simple dumb chance.
You see, it's like this:
Because of my family, I'll never be hungry.
Because of my community of loved ones, I'll never go without shelter unless I so choose to.
Because of my education, I'll always be able to submit a competitive application
So material things can
and could
and do
come easily to me.
These are solid things,
that can easily build and bring success
and fill my bank account
if need be.
But wealth is beyond the number in my bank account.
And so here's where I stand, 25 and trying to figure life out:
If money comes and goes so easily, and is in some ways a measure of wealth, but not definitive of it, how can I live in a way that takes opportunity and privilege that I inherently have, and turn it around to not only serve be but be of benefit to others as well?
How can I honor those who weren't born with as good of chance to climb the ladder as me, geographically, economically or culturally? How can I live in the state that I am, and to the best of my ability simultaneously minimize and maximize my impact? Manifest dignity?
I'm working now, through a mess of finance, hoping to better understand one day how I can:
Use the power of my economic class and opportunity, to mindfully care for people - not only me.
As of now, I believe it means
Limiting my consumption in ways that helps alleviate the suffering of the world at large: both ecologically and humanely. This means striving to choose economic and consumptive boundaries that limit waste, and work done by slaves.
Desire is a strange thing, if it weren't for it we wouldn't "need" or "want" many things. Life would be simple, it would be about food, shelter, clothing, community. These are all things that come relatively easily, if you can pass down wisdom generationally. But we've grown to fill our houses with things, like computers and TV's, entertainment and delicacies. These things are all nice and not inherently bad, but so much of it comes at such a great cost.
So what is the cost of really being rich? Of having a lot of money, and having privilege?
You know, I'm not exactly good with it.
As I write this, things are tight, and by tight I mean...ttiiight.
It's funny, as the bank account fades and dwindles down, a part of me is just, not worried.
I look at my children and I realize that maybe the number in the bank account is low, but that doesn't define the worth and beauty of my children. And it doesn't define the worth of me or my life either.
I realize, we might be 'broke', but we're not poor. We're richer than rich.
And this is the difference between me and billions of other people in our world.
You see, wealth is not just a number in a bank account.
It's your family, your support, your sense of security and worth.
It's not just stocks, and IRA-s and 401Ks
It has to do with what privilege you have, and a lot to do with simple dumb chance.
You see, it's like this:
Because of my family, I'll never be hungry.
Because of my community of loved ones, I'll never go without shelter unless I so choose to.
Because of my education, I'll always be able to submit a competitive application
So material things can
and could
and do
come easily to me.
These are solid things,
that can easily build and bring success
and fill my bank account
if need be.
But wealth is beyond the number in my bank account.
And so here's where I stand, 25 and trying to figure life out:
If money comes and goes so easily, and is in some ways a measure of wealth, but not definitive of it, how can I live in a way that takes opportunity and privilege that I inherently have, and turn it around to not only serve be but be of benefit to others as well?
How can I honor those who weren't born with as good of chance to climb the ladder as me, geographically, economically or culturally? How can I live in the state that I am, and to the best of my ability simultaneously minimize and maximize my impact? Manifest dignity?
I'm working now, through a mess of finance, hoping to better understand one day how I can:
Use the power of my economic class and opportunity, to mindfully care for people - not only me.
As of now, I believe it means
Limiting my consumption in ways that helps alleviate the suffering of the world at large: both ecologically and humanely. This means striving to choose economic and consumptive boundaries that limit waste, and work done by slaves.
Desire is a strange thing, if it weren't for it we wouldn't "need" or "want" many things. Life would be simple, it would be about food, shelter, clothing, community. These are all things that come relatively easily, if you can pass down wisdom generationally. But we've grown to fill our houses with things, like computers and TV's, entertainment and delicacies. These things are all nice and not inherently bad, but so much of it comes at such a great cost.
So what is the cost of really being rich? Of having a lot of money, and having privilege?
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Affluenza, the greatest threat to Christianity
"a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more"
Greg basically argued the pursuit of the "Great American Dream" stands in stark contrast with what it means to follow Christ.
This is a great reminder that the need and desire for bigger, better, more is really the opposite expression of what we should find as Christians- unsurpassable peace in Christ, not stuff. That God knows our needs and provides us with all we need. To hold all we have (our possessions and our lives) with an open hand, as belonging not to us, and freely willing to give, not hoard.
Running the rat-race is not the answer. Running against it is. Minimizing waste, finding creative solutions, sharing resources - that's more like the Kingdom.
People like Annie Leonard, or Bea from Zero Waste Home, have creative solutions that stand in contrast to this consumerist mindset of desire and entitlement.
What do you think? Does consumerism, or 'Affluenza', stand as the greatest threat to Christianity?
The teaching can be found in a link below (to be added later).
To learn more about affluenza, just google it! Or, here's a link to the documentary, Affluenza: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkiR_q-thjg
Monday, February 25, 2013
Love your enemies. Pray for them. Seriously.
Our sermon at church this past Sunday was good, real good.
I really encourage everyone to listen to it. Especially if you're trying to figure out what I mean by a lot of the terms I use and where I'm getting it from.
Basically, we're talking about Anabaptism in a refreshing way and I feel right at home and want to jump up and down and scream FINALLY, YES this is the Church I always dreamed of, but never heard about. I realize that I'm not the only one in history who has rejected the major political 'accomplishments' (UGH) of the 'Church' at large (which include but are not limited to conquering, killing and exploiting in the name of Jesus..not my Jesus, thank you very much).
You can find links to the sermons and more information here. The specific sermon I'm writing about now is the second sermon in the Kindred series. I'll post a direct link once it's up.
During this sermon, Greg (our speaking pastor) mentioned a really nasty cycle of destruction he got into with some other respectable Christ followers, and how through this encounter he felt God telling him to love those who were, really nastily, attacking him.
Love your enemies. Pray for them. Seriously.
As he was telling his story, and how it's transformed him to be praying for his 'enemy', something clicked for me.
You see, simultaneously Gregs sermon this day was also about how Jesus came to free us from the bondage of the Law (the Old Testament). He was talking about how the Old Testament says that you pay an eye for an eye when someone wrongs you, but that Christ tells us to turn the other cheek.
Then I started thinking.
Its widely said and accepted in Christianity that God loves everyone equally, and that nothing you DO can cause him to love you more or less. It's also widely accepted that Gods grace is open and available to everyone, all that accept it, if they only DO accept it, and that we know this both because of and through Jesus Christ.
If you accept this, it means you choose to love God and follow Him, and in doing so you will slowly be molded to look like him by bearing the fruit of His work (Jesus is a part of God).
So if Jesus came to free us from the law of "an eye for an eye", but we are only free if we accept this, and the only way we can know we have accepted this is if we look like Jesus...we gotta try to look like Jesus.
And what about those who don't accept it?
Well, they aren't free from the law. Not because God doesn't want them to be, but because they haven't chosen to be.
So then I got this image.
What if you're a christian and your enemy is not. Now imagine your enemy is brutally torturing you and killing you and your family and the ones you love right in front of you. Jesus says you are called to pray for them, to turn the other cheek.
But this won't be for our own salvation. We're already saved.
Maybe it's for their salvation.
Maybe, since they are still 'under the law' because they haven't accepted the atonement of the law (Christ), and haven't chosen to be free of the one who upholds the law (Satan), they have the consequence of the full-weight of the law coming for them. An eye for an eye, or a daughter for a daughter a torture for torture.
But the law can only be pressed against them if the persecuter wants to press charges.
You, the one being tortured, are the persecutor.
What if instead of saying "YEAH, Kill em, make them suffer just as I suffered! WORSE!
Your prayers set them free?
I mean, really.
Now, flash to Calvary.
What did Jesus do?
Shooot.
He prayed that those who were persecuting him would be forgiven, not that he would be avenged.
So. . .
Yes, he set us free.
"Those whom the Son sets free are truly Free!"
And we, as Christians, have the ability to set the rest of the world free.
If only we would believe.
I really encourage everyone to listen to it. Especially if you're trying to figure out what I mean by a lot of the terms I use and where I'm getting it from.
Basically, we're talking about Anabaptism in a refreshing way and I feel right at home and want to jump up and down and scream FINALLY, YES this is the Church I always dreamed of, but never heard about. I realize that I'm not the only one in history who has rejected the major political 'accomplishments' (UGH) of the 'Church' at large (which include but are not limited to conquering, killing and exploiting in the name of Jesus..not my Jesus, thank you very much).
You can find links to the sermons and more information here. The specific sermon I'm writing about now is the second sermon in the Kindred series. I'll post a direct link once it's up.
During this sermon, Greg (our speaking pastor) mentioned a really nasty cycle of destruction he got into with some other respectable Christ followers, and how through this encounter he felt God telling him to love those who were, really nastily, attacking him.
Love your enemies. Pray for them. Seriously.
As he was telling his story, and how it's transformed him to be praying for his 'enemy', something clicked for me.
You see, simultaneously Gregs sermon this day was also about how Jesus came to free us from the bondage of the Law (the Old Testament). He was talking about how the Old Testament says that you pay an eye for an eye when someone wrongs you, but that Christ tells us to turn the other cheek.
Then I started thinking.
Its widely said and accepted in Christianity that God loves everyone equally, and that nothing you DO can cause him to love you more or less. It's also widely accepted that Gods grace is open and available to everyone, all that accept it, if they only DO accept it, and that we know this both because of and through Jesus Christ.
If you accept this, it means you choose to love God and follow Him, and in doing so you will slowly be molded to look like him by bearing the fruit of His work (Jesus is a part of God).
So if Jesus came to free us from the law of "an eye for an eye", but we are only free if we accept this, and the only way we can know we have accepted this is if we look like Jesus...we gotta try to look like Jesus.
And what about those who don't accept it?
Well, they aren't free from the law. Not because God doesn't want them to be, but because they haven't chosen to be.
So then I got this image.
What if you're a christian and your enemy is not. Now imagine your enemy is brutally torturing you and killing you and your family and the ones you love right in front of you. Jesus says you are called to pray for them, to turn the other cheek.
But this won't be for our own salvation. We're already saved.
Maybe it's for their salvation.
Maybe, since they are still 'under the law' because they haven't accepted the atonement of the law (Christ), and haven't chosen to be free of the one who upholds the law (Satan), they have the consequence of the full-weight of the law coming for them. An eye for an eye, or a daughter for a daughter a torture for torture.
But the law can only be pressed against them if the persecuter wants to press charges.
You, the one being tortured, are the persecutor.
What if instead of saying "YEAH, Kill em, make them suffer just as I suffered! WORSE!
Your prayers set them free?
That's evangelism. That's saving someone.
I mean, really.
Now, flash to Calvary.
What did Jesus do?
Shooot.
He prayed that those who were persecuting him would be forgiven, not that he would be avenged.
So. . .
Yes, he set us free.
"Those whom the Son sets free are truly Free!"
And we, as Christians, have the ability to set the rest of the world free.
If only we would believe.
Love your enemies. Pray for them. Seriously.
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