I saw this video on another blog. It makes me wonder what God thinks about the matter.
It is hard for me to respect what the guy on the left has to say due to his attitude and demeanor. It makes me cringe that he claims to represent Christians.
God help us all to represent you in such a way that You will be glorified.
Labels: blogosphere, church
posted by Shannon Smith @ 4/04/2007
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2 Comments:
Goodness. Folks wonder why Christians get such awful receptions at various places. Ridiculous.
Why is it that we (corporate Christendom) are so concerned with such trivial issues? Again, ridiculous.
I didn't watch the video, because it will make me angry, and want to go back to your great post about sharing resources from a couple weeks ago.
I think your question is the beginning of a great quest (why did I just sound like I belong in a Lord of the Rings movie?). Wow. Moving on. I think Shaine Claiborne is getting to you in a good way. When I read his book, it really made me reflect even more deeply into my own value systems about money linked with personal privelege, comfort, and individualism. I think you are asking a question that many of us are asking and there is no simple answer to. I think you need to follow this question down the rabbit hole and see where God takes you with it. As we ask these questions with other people, and pray about how our resources can be a blessing to others, I think God can do some pretty significant things.
Often, we ask these kind of questions by ourselves and not much happens, but what happens when a small group of people start asking these kinds of questions, and then a whole community? Pretty soon, another world is possible, a world that looks more like God's dreams for the world.
Sometimes I wish I could just have a crystal clear rule about money in regards to buying things for myself. However, there is so much gray. As a result of the gray, some people give false certainties like the prosperity gospel (god wants you to be rich), some the poverty gospel (don't enjoy anything give everything away), some the person gospel (individuals respond to the person of Christ). I've heard other people say that God wants us to enjoy things, but also be generous.
I think there are elements of truth in these things, but I think you are on to something with asking questions. I think we need to intentionally asking questions about simplicity, gratefulness, and generosity in our lives. What has God given me and how can I use it to bless others?
Jesus, talking to the rich young ruler, turns his phrase about "how can I get" eternal life into what he can give. While there are many important facets to this story, I think one is that this guy thought that he could get etnernal life by doing the right things, when the life of following God is entering into a new life that is always grappling with our lives with others in relationship with the God of creation.
Thanks for wrestling with these issues, and for raising awareness for global issues like one and water shortage.
Peace
Corey
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