In this issue there is a brief article about the meaninglessness of scriptural orthodoxy without a corresponding orthopraxy. Fair enough. Agreed. But, the chief example of orthopraxy given? You guessed it. Shouldn't we all like umm sell everything we own man, and give it all to the poor. (Except for your magazine subscriptions, form fitting clothing, and indie record collection.)
Hey hipsters! Guess what? There are other important ways to live out our faith. This obsession with social justice and tendency to constantly 'call' folks on it was shared by an infamous disciple. (I know, I know, there are caveats to this, but you get my point).
Helping the poor is awesome and is a necessity to living out a Christian life. It is not the only way to show fruits of the spirit, and it also does not require that you not enjoy life on earth or, (ahem) constantly judge others for not being ascetic enough for you. (Notice how everyone seems to set the 'rich' bar just a hair north of wherever they are?)
You just don't stop with the hard-hitting analysis here, my brutha!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree, as a former Left-wing punk I was told to live a life of voluntary povery and shun all material possesions so as to better the world. And now as I am not really that anymore and am Christian, I see Christian folks doing the same thing (i.e. Shane Claiborne). I'm not hating on him in any way, I think he has lots of valid points, but I think the new monastic movement and the new ascetic movement don't always hit the gospel on the head enough.
We are called to give a ton as Christians to help out the poor and needy, that rocks and I'm down with that. But if we give away all of our stuff and money all the time, how are we supposed to take care of our family (which we have a covenantal duty to do) or continue giving. I don't see how dropping out of society, even as a Christian is really helping anyone. Those folks in Third World countries just don't feed themselves with your goodwill. They need "The Word" as well as support (both spiritually and financially).
Bibles cost money yo!!! People need them to change. Let's all make some money (in a Christ-like way) so as to make sure our Christian brothers in sisters throughout the world have these. Let's stop being lazy and too cool for school. Why can't it be hip or edgy to do this. Lord knows our culture hates this idea, let's rally around it.
ReplyDeleteThat is the point. The new testament (see Timothy as a matter of fact) illustrates that while we should be generous, we should also support ourselves. Paul was a tent maker. We should emphatically not all quit our jobs and become monks. The other thing is that development should be done in the most humane and intelligent way possible, but it is crucial to the needs of the global poor. There is a reason that subsistence farmers willingly move to the cities and work at factories. It is ridiculous to expect the poor to stay in a little living museum so that western liberals can feel good about themselves.
ReplyDeleteAs to the point of the article. What bothers me the most though is that idea that everyone has an idea of what 'too much' wealth is that conveniently allows their lifestyle. Its easy to look at suburban families and judge them as ostentatious when you are 23 and have your first job and live in a group house. Someday you will grow up and learn that your present standard of living is not going to stay where it is.
Not to say that we shouldnt all take a look at how we live and how we could cut more material consumption out of our lives. We should. But I am not prepared to judge all of those who have a better standard of living than me as somehow being unBiblical.
I really like the way you just analyzed this again. We should be aware of consumerism and affluenza as Christians. I feel that I bring that aspect of my old life into my new one, about being wary of the commercialization of the Christian faith. I've been well prepared about living on less and I'm comfortable with this lifestyle. Me making more money when I get a career oriented job will mean that I give more (because as a Christian I'm commmanded to) as well as providing for my family. I'm excited for what the future holds. God is amazing.
ReplyDeleteIn Matthew 26:11, Jesus says, "The poor you will always have, but you will not always have me." He said this when the disciples were all angry a woman poured expensive perfume on jesus that could have been sold to the poor.
ReplyDeletePoint being, you can NEVER give enough money to end poverty, sickness, etc, but in the moment, the Zen NOW that punks love so much, is to pour out all your Love, all your soul, into God, like the woman did. Sharing the Word, Being a Godly man, Righteous in Christ and in love with the truth, is what God wants the most, not our money.
God doesn't like possesions getting in the WAY of a relationship with him, but he's not AGAINST possessions-- He made everything, and all is good. Same with money. money isn't the root of all evil, 'LOVE of money" is.
Born again Punk was right, we need money in this world to be able to help others and spread God's love. And when he blesses you with money as he did Abraham, thank him first, and then enjoy it as well as being good stewards of it by helping those who can't help themselves ( even though Bill O'Reiley's favorite verse "God helps those who helps themselves" isn't even IN the Bible, but that's another topic for another time)
also, in a parable, Jesus commends those he gave money who made tenfold out of it, and was royally pissed with the guy who buried what was originally given, but still had it. Just imagine the beat down someone would have gotten if he said, "yeah, I gave what you entrusted me with ALL away."
ReplyDeleteImagine if every gift your dad gave you, you gave it away to the poor. at first, dad might say, that was sweet, but eventually he'll be insulted you don't want his gifts that were MEANT for you, otherwise he'd have given it directly to the poor guys you gave it to. You don't think God could have handled the transaction himself? God can't work without a Middle Man?
Some gifts from God, possessions or money, are a love gift from Him, a blessing, and should just be accepted, and definitely not feel guilty about it. Job didn't give back the double God gave him after God allowed the first round of wealth to be destroyed. No, Job was thankful for his health and wealth, it's ALL God's stuff anyway, who are we to say he shouldn't have distributed it this way, or that?
As long as the Stuff isn't placed OVER the God who gave us that stuff, and we also are compassionate and giving because our Father IS Compassion and an Ever Flowing Fountain, it's all good.