Christian does not equal Conservative. Stop trying to speak for me and others that follow the teachings of Jesus that say we should stop judging and helps others, hate the sin and love the sinner, help the sick and the needy, preserve the earth by protecting its resources and stop those that would pollute and squander them. That do not rush into war but strive for peace. That do not condemn others for their choices in life or worse for who they are that is not of their choice. That believe in Science, that knowledge and deep understanding is of God. That love their fellow man whether they are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jew, or Atheist. That would rather give to others even to their own detriment than hoard their money and be rich for the sake of acquiring stuff. The Republican Party does not have a lock on morality. I am a Christian and they do not speak for me.
Great post and I couldn't agree more... one thing though- the part about giving to others to their own detriment rather than hoard their money and be rich for the sake of acquiring stuff... Has this started happening in America? I have not seen it except in rare cases. If we are going to help the sick and the needy we are going to have to use our own resources. That is what Jesus did. When are Christians going to go sell what they have and give to the poor? We should have more faith and give all to Jesus and much more to others.
I have friends that are doing this now. My best friend left a high paying job in the student loan industry, took a massive pay cut to work for an NGO that brings fresh water to people all around the world. He is walking the walk, so he doesn't need to talk. His actions tell the story. There are many like him and the numbers are growing.
Wow. Talk about perspective. That was eye-opening. Its totally true, Obama would have been crucified by the media for any of the things McCain has gotten away with due to b.s. copouts like "A man who survived a P.O.W. camp can do whatever he wants" Just one of the many reasons I cannot vote for John McCain.
That is very encouraging. Thanks, I have felt this way for along time, there is great power in loving sacrifice and it really shows a picture of Jesus to others. I talk to alot of people who tell me we should do this, but I rarely find anyone who does it. I desire to see this kind of living.. it is the heart of the church and it brings joy.
You are very welcome. I hope you know that there are a LOT of people that think like this, that sit silently in church while other more vocal people talk about: the Republican Party being the party of God's Chosen People Palin being the savior of the Republican Party and Evangelical's (like they are one in the same) that we should be praying that our President (W) is able to convince others in the country that what he was doing (invading Iraq) was truly God's plan... I could go on and on... When I told my pastor that I was reading a book about Islam he laughed at me and asked me why. To deepen my understanding, I said. His response: You should read the bible more. When I told him later that I sent an email to my Muslim students wishing them a happy and peaceful Eid Al Fitr that I "was encouraging them in their bad habits" and that I shouldn't do it. The response from my students told me I was correct in doing it. I received an overwhelmingly positive response from Muslims and non-Muslims. I had a girl come to me in tears, saying that NO ONE in this country who was not Muslim themselves had ever recognized a holiday for her or wished her well on the special day. We fear what we do not understand. Understanding means that "they" are not all crazy fanatics. In fact, the nuts over there are same percentage as the nuts over here. (White separatists, Militia Nuts, etc.) Understanding leads to PEACE.
did you really just say that?? do you really think God is down with an -ism like that? particularly one that is all about the notion that the strong shall survive and the weak shall fail??? you've read the sermon on the mount, right? have you really thought that through? not trying to pick on you....but i have a really hard time with that. and i have a really hard time with the whole God Bless America crowd when God seems to suggest over and over and over and over again we should be blessing other people, including the poor and those we might call our enemies. the word "bless" in the bible is used on 2 times...and never in the NT...as a demand for blessing....it's used over and over again for blessing God. somehow we've decided we want God to bless us while we ignore what he cares about most. what he says over and over again. sorry for the diatribe...but it isn't america i'm concerned about...it's the church that's been consumed by american culture and some ideal that capitalism is of Jesus. man, i don't see a lot of Jubilee in capitalism. capitalism will come and go...Jesus ain't going anywhere.
you need a new church...i have suggestions if you're here in houston. edit: i can't believe i just said that..that was soooo wrong. stay where you are and keep being the influence you are. really bad advice and i'm realllyy sorry!!
No worries. I do plan to stay where I am for a little while longer... I think my ideas are starting to take hold.
You need to bring that $8 hotdog vid back.... it is the challenge for this generation of (edit) American Christians... sell out
it's my "second" church...i got to a church on the west side of town. http://thefom.com/Home.html very similar in approach. how do you know chris??
edit: Now I know we have mutual friends... I sat next to Chris at the Gala for Living Water Int'l in 2007. My best friends work at LWI... they have a new baby boy... You may know them too.
http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/interview/rob-bell First, the scripture always bends towards the oppressed and the marginalized. Beginning in the Torah—take care of the widow, the orphan, the stranger among you. The story is written by oppressed minorities. And it continues, no room in the inn, they follow Jesus because they are hungry. The story always goes towards the underside of the Empire. I think it is sometimes hard for the American church to understand the Bible because we are the Empire. We are the ones in power, the ones with wealth. I think in some settings that's why the Bible has such little power—because it's an oppressive narrative. There are six billion people in the world, three billion live on less than $2 dollars a day, 800 million people will not eat today, and 300 million in Africa alone do not have drinking water. So we as Americans are six percent of the population yet we consume 40 to 50 percent of the resources. We are the upper, upper, rich elite. And our way is taking over the world. So we have to first ask the question—how can we take all this wealth and give it away? All the technology and beautiful parts of capitalism and bless the world and the poor—or else we're in deep trouble. The issue is not saving the poor—it's saving us. When Jesus uses the word hell, He does not use the word with people who are not believers or not believing the right things. It is a warning to religious people that they are in danger of hell because of their indifference to the suffering of the world. So the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is not what heaven and hell are like. It's a parable to rich people warning them that their apathy has them in danger. Heaven and hell are present realities that extend into the future. For a lot of Americans, this is about the saving of their own soul. Recapturing God's heart for the world. Otherwise I will end up not caring and not passionate. At our church, people are desperate to understand this culture of excessive materialism. We were made to bless the world. The original call is that blessing was always instrumental. When that blessing gets misconstrued as favoritism you have a very toxic thing happening. Our people are desperate to give, hardwired for it. I assume that people are good and just need opportunities. -- Rob Bell
I may have to check that out... My wife felt (and I agreed to a point) that Ecclesia was too "Catholic Light". (I just offended a ton of people, really sorry!) Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell let me know that I was not alone in my thinking... My buddy turned me on to him after watching the NOOMA videos.
