Recently, a Pastor wrote a blog in scrutiny of a question I asked on Twitter. Before I continue, I'd like to point out that it is in fact possible to love and be friends with someone you disagree with. He’s my friend and after talking this issue out on the phone with him, I am assured that he and I are saying the same thing but in two different languages. I am addressing this topic from the perspective of having lived homeless for two years and seeing, firsthand, the Church’s neglect of our suffering brothers and sisters. I do not have a preference for poverty but rather a perspective of poverty because of my preference for Jesus. This is what I posted on Twitter:
"Looking for a church home. Does anyone know of one in Atlanta that strives to reflect Acts 2:42-45, Phil 2:5-8, Amos 5:21-24, Isa. 58:6-7?"
I've summarized what is going on in these scriptures, but read them in context for yourself. It’s a taste of what I hope for in a Church.
Acts- The Church shares what they have with each other and doesn't lay claim on anything they own. They've freely received, so they freely give. An early saint submits that God not only made us but purchased us as well. Therefore, what can we regard as our own when we do not even possess ourselves?
Philippians- The God of the universe, who flung from his fingertips the stars across the sky, became like "nothing" and goes to the cross for us. Paul, the writer here, suggests that we too, ought to live out this Gospel reenactment — to descend from our proverbial thrones and kneel in the dust from which we were made.
Amos- God doesn't want us to worship him to the neglect of justice and acts of righteousness. Here, God points out to the "religious" that it's not all about scholarship, it's about sacrifice. Worshipping him, then, is not about either/or, but both/and.
Isaiah- God suggests that our obedience to him is not defined only by what we don't do, but by what we do for the world that he so loves and would soon send his son to.
The Pastor initially responded on Twitter, "And Romans 10:13-15?" and kindly included a church recommendation in our area. The suggested scripture was based on the assumption that “preaching good news” (the Gospel) was not on my radar.
The following day, he wrote a blog stating that my criteria for a church home is indicative of a deeper reality; there is a generation emerging that is no different than our social-gospel forefathers except that we shop locally and wear hip clothes.
While the theological assumptions extracted from my tweet trouble me, his concern is legitimate and addresses the most common dichotomy that plagues the Church: the disconnect between preaching the Gospel and reenacting it. His blog used my 140 character tweet as a launching pad to make a point that the social justice movement within the Church can sometimes be lived in oversight of preaching about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. And he is right. Sometimes that does happen. And when it does, it should be labeled for what it is, namely, godless humanitarianism that will result in many well-fed people spending eternity apart from their creator. We are on the same page here and this blog isn’t about my friend’s theology, but rather my concerns as I seek out a Church home.
The concern I have, illustrated in my tweet, is that, more often than not, the Gospel is proclaimed and not lived. I see worshippers zealous to lift their hands in adoration of Jesus, but neglect to reach out their hands in service to the poor whom Jesus equates himself to (Matthew 25:45). I see a proclamation of the King but little concern for his Kingdom (Ezekiel 16:49). I see a resurrected Christ, but few Christians practicing resurrection in their neighborhoods and cities (Isa 58:12). I see Christians thinking highly of Jesus, but rarely lowering themselves into the dirt to serve him (Amos 5:21-24). I see Christian's praying for their "daily bread" but hoarding more under the assumption that they have been "blessed" by God to live more comfortable lives (Prov. 38:8). I see scholarship and no sacrifice (2 Sam 24:24).
Why is it that Jesus asks us Christians to care for the sick, but we often point people to healthcare so we don't have to pay up (Matt 25:36)? We are asked to invite the poor into our homes (Leviticus 25:35, Isaiah 58:7, Matt 25:43), but we point people to shelters so they don't steal our stuff. Jesus says to feed the hungry, but we give them money because we're too busy to have them over for dinner and work out a budgeting plan (Luke 14:13). Jesus says the world will know we are Christians by our love (John 13:35), not by our ability to come up with alternatives. Yet, we sit around in our church pews scratching our heads wondering why our non-believing friends don't think Jesus is loving.
I know these things are hard to hear but I’m not ripping the church a “new one” without looking for a needle and thread and learning how to sew. I am a recovering sinner stumbling towards a perfect God with the mere hope that I am less of a hypocrite today than I was yesterday. A friend of mine says that the best critique of a bad thing is the practice of something better. I’m seeking a Church practicing something better, not giving up on the Church. The Church is the bride of Christ and is tasked to continue the restoration project launched by the cross — an irresistibly beautiful project I desperately want to be part of. My wife and I see a lot of churches lifting their hands in worship of what Jesus did on the cross and we are eager to join in. But we believe the Christian life is lived at the intersection of hands up and hands out.
These types of Churches do exist and I’ve been humbled to see many of them first hand. These are Churches that haven’t fallen into the trap of admiring God while neglecting to follow him into the trenches.
It is not, however, scrutiny of the Church that leads us to repentance and change. It is the kindness of God, an observation of the cross, and a glimpse of our God giving himself away that will lead us to the same.
Giving no opportunity to the devil, I ask only that these words bring about conversations of unity within the Church, that it benefits those who listen, and that it builds the body of Christ to preach a holistic Gospel that makes no apology for the exclusive means of salvation and that dismisses no part of Jesus’ ministry as a volunteer opportunity.
I have hope for another Church. Not a new, “emerging”, or hipster Church dressed up in skinny jeans or superfluous scarves. I want the ancient Church back. A Church that begins to look like Jesus again. A Church that is constantly removing the plank from it's eye in such a way that it lovingly liberates and irresistibly invites others to do the same. One that, in the wise words of my blogging Pastor friend, will "proclaim the Gospel in such a way that it compels people to follow Jesus into the world with his message and his compassion.”
My friend has offered that you read his blog here: http://deaninserra.com/dean/?p=3480
The test of authentic worship is that it draws us to both raise our hands in adoration of God and put out our hands in service to our suffering neighbor. Good feelings without good fruit is only the half of it.
Next time you want to complain about foreigners not learning our language before they enter our country, start learning Native American. And yes, I'm aware "Native American" is not a language, but that's not the point being made.
Last Fall, I spoke about Jesus in the town hall of a tiny midwestern community called West Point, Nebraska. Though I grew up on the East Coast, it is one of those towns that give off that "back-where-I-come-from" vibe. Freshly-baked pies sitting on window sills, tractors driven on the Main Street, and people as kind as a grandpa on a fishing trip. And it was small. Yet it was in this tiny town, from the mouth of a tiny person, where I was taught once again what it takes to change this great big world.
At the Town Hall, I shared about a dump in Nicaragua where families lived and survived off of the trash. It was called La Chureca. I had visited this place back in 2009. Children played hop-scotch next to used syringes, malnourished livestock grazed on medical waste, and smoke billowed into the air from the trash fires creating toxic fumes. If that wasn't already a picture of Hell on earth, I learned even more horrifying news...
There in the dump, parents would sometimes sell their little girls to the garbage men in exchange for first pick of the trash.
I had shared this tragic story many times, but up until this point, my words hadn't fallen on ears as innocent and eager as 8 year old Tobias Steffensmeier.
His mother Charrisa wrote me the following day: "On the way home from the event, my son Tobias said that he "couldn't breathe for a few seconds" when you talked about families selling their children. It was late when we got home, so I told my boys they needed to get to bed and we could talk more later. When I could still hear the boys talking after 15 min, I went down to admonish them. They listened and then Tobias quietly said, "I know there's not a good excuse for not following directions, but we got so wrapped up in talking about poverty that I started gathering a bunch of my stuff that I want to sell to help". I looked around his room and saw that on his bed was a pile of toys he'd taken off his shelves. Turns out, Tobias and his brother Xavier planned to sell their stuff to buy trucks so they could rescue and drive the people out of the dump."
There's a wooden plaque above my friend's sink that says, "Everyone wants to change the world but nobody wants to do the dishes." It reminds me that in order to accomplish great things, we must first be willing to do small things with great love. Things like taking our toys off our shelves. When confronted with poverty, people will ask themselves one of two questions. They'll either ask, "What will it take?" or "What is 10%?"
May we all be a little more like 8 year Tobias who isn't stopping to do the math.
This morning, I met a man named Lamont who is stranded in Atlanta trying to get back home to New York. I suggested he talk to some churches, but he informed me that he had already done so and all the churches he spoke with referred him to nonprofits around the city. Nothing saddens me more than a church who forgot who she is. Christians, friends, if someone is in need, you help them. You don’t point them to a nonprofit who looks more like Jesus than you do. The world will know we are Christians by our love, not our ability to give directions.
I love the God I serve. How beautiful that he raises what is low. He lowers what is high. The straightens what is crooked. He levels uneven ground. He asks us to make a highway through the deserted places of our world- a highway so that we would cut through center and occupy the dried-up, written-off, lifeless spaces with his all-satisfying presence.
If it’s not about Jesus, it’s about me. If it’s about me, it will die with me. If it dies with me, it’s worthless. If it’s worthless, it doesn’t exist in heaven. If it doesn’t exist in heaven, I don’t want it.
I read a quote early this morning over a cup of joe and it hit hard. I talk a lot about creating peace but sometimes forget what all is entailed. I'm not a peacemaker unless I proactively create it. Inactions aren't enough because they don't create anything. Ron Sider, in his address at the Mennonite World Conference in 1984 stated the following:
"Unless we are prepared to risk injury and death in nonviolent opposition to the injustice our societies foster, we dare never whisper another word about pacifism to our sisters and brothers in those desperate lands. Unless we are ready to die developing new nonviolent attempts to reduce international conflict, we should confess that we never really meant the cross was an alternative to the sword. Unless the majority of our people in nuclear nations are ready as congregations to risk social disapproval and government harassment in a clear ringing call to live without nuclear weapons, we should sadly acknowledge that we have betrayed our peacemaking heritage. Making peace is as costly as waging war. Unless we are prepared to pay the cost of peacemaking, we have no right to claim the label or preach the message…"
I was recently asked by a sweet older woman in my church to help her do something about the homeless people in our community. She asked me, "How do we get them to stop drinking and smoking? How do we stop homelessness?" I just emailed her back and thought that since most of us have also struggled with the issues of how to help homelessness, you might want to get a glimpse into our conversation.
Here's my reply.
"I hate to say it but the issue of drinking or smoking is much deeper than the surface level things we see. In my experience on the streets, I'd say those things stem from a feeling of purposelessness. Therefore, our aim cannot simply be to get them to stop drinking or smoking, otherwise something else will just take that place. It has to be a holistic approach to solving purposelessness. We have to learn how to offer purpose to people. That's the best place to start. You mentioned that you don't give them money. That's a good idea. It's usually not spent how we want it to be. If they ask for food, I usually offer dinner at my house. Our students are spending time with the homeless community about once a month. The goal is to become friends. Never to change people. It's through friendship that purpose is discovered and lives are changed. As author Bob Goff would say, there's nothing on the other side of the equal side except friendship."
In Genesis 3:9, God comes looking for Adam and Eve after they have sinned but they're found hiding from him. In this, we see that our sin doesn’t make God cover his face and hide from us. Our sin makes us cover our face and hide from him. When we hide our face from God, it’s like putting a barrier between a bucket and it’s well. We sever the connection between us and our source of life. But when we ask for forgiveness, we’re uncovering our face. We’re lifting the veil and exposing our brokenness before God. We’re asking for forgiveness. This restores the communion between Creation and it’s Creator. This is why there will always be feelings of worthlessness until we ask for forgiveness. Uncover your face. Though a sinner lies behind, God’s not afraid of what he will see. In fact, he’s asking for you. He wants to tell you of your worth.
Support systems that manifest the Kingdom of God. Whether those systems be political structures, businesses, movies, brands, restaurants, or economies. Then, withhold your money and time from the rest and you'll have snuffed out the false projection of Heaven. Get impatient for the real one and bring it here.
“In fourteen-hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…”
Most of you know the start to that cute poem, but you may not know what happen for the next twenty years. It was an era marked with violence and the Pope in Spain required the following notice be read by Columbus to the Native Americans who refused to leave their land.
“I certify to you that, with the help of God, we shall powerfully enter into your country, and shall make war against you in all ways and manners that we can, and shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church and of their highnesses; we shall take you, and your wives, and your children, and shall make slaves of them, and as such shall sell and dispose of them as their highnesses may command; and we shall take away your goods, and shall do you all the mischief and damage that we can..."
Among feelings of panic and fear, lied a sense of confusion. The Native American’s were just plain confused. “He wants to own the land?”, they’d ask themselves. How could one “own” land? Doesn’t the earth belong to us all?
To them, the earth wasn’t something an individual could possess. Land, a part of the universe, belonged to everyone so all were entitled to its fruits. Rights were protected in various traditions for people currently cultivating the land, but there was no such thing as individual land "ownership". Which, primarily, I’d like to point out, was because if something wasn’t good for a community, it wasn’t good for an individual. If items weren't shared, they couldn't be called "goods".
Convenience or Community
This doesn't make sense to us because, through a modern lens, our view of ownership tends to be myopic and individualistic. In today’s culture we’ve, in effect, isolated ourselves with our possessions. Most of our stuff can be put into one of two categories: Convenience or Community. When presented with the option, we’ll chose convenience over community almost every time.
Consider this, taking the bus might not be convenient but we’ll experience community for sure. Or look around your house. The oven can fit a meal for an entire family in there but it’s not convenient and takes longer. Inversely, a microwave oven takes only a few minutes at the push of a button, but you’ll only provide enough for yourself.
We've stolen from each other the experience of community by the value we've placed in convenience.
However, in the new humanity, as portrayed but the early church in Acts, community was held at the highest standard. There was no “us” and “them”. What used to be “mine” was now “ours”. They didn’t claim anything as their “own”. The early Christians saw their possessions not only as tools to benefit those in need but were willing to renounce all rights to them so that there would be enough for everyone.
Acts 4:32-37
Let’s take a look at the scriptures. We believe that Luke probably wrote Acts. In Acts, or perhaps better titled, “Luke Part II – The Acts of Jesus through the Apostles” we read about the continued work of Jesus after his death and resurrection. Here, the “Church” was a new concept and the definition of “Christian” was slowly being formed.
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Jubilee
Throughout the New Testament you'll find references and quotes from current Greek philosophers, social clichés and Old Testament texts. When a quotation is used, it carries with it the larger context from which it comes. Thus, a few words can be used to communicate the idea of an entire book. I say, “One ring to rule them all!”, and if you’re a geek like me, you see the storyline of Lord of the Rings. Immediately, you see images of hobbits, wizards, and war as well as the feel the emotions associated with them. And if we inspect the text in Acts carefully, we'll see the same thing going on here.
When Luke mentions, "there were no needy persons among them" he's referencing a larger idea than just equality. He's asking the reader to remember their ancient identity. I'll explain what I mean but first lets set the stage.
For us, the idea of downgrading so that others might upgrade is beautiful but unfortunately, nearly unheard of. However, for the early church and the Israelites, it was built into God's plan for economic stability.
This was seen in the ancient practice of Jubilee, referenced in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The year of Jubilee was a call to a freedom from possessions and an equitable reformation of social arrangements.
Once every, fifty years, on the Day of Atonement, the loud trumpet was to sound, proclaiming "liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants". All slaves were to be set free. All debts were cancelled. All land was to be returned to its original owner. If it was successfully executed, which it was not, it could have solved the age-old problem of the rich getting richer and the poor becoming poorer. But an integral element was left out of the equation. Trust. The Israelites didn't trust God to provide so they held on to their stuff. And, no matter what we print on our currency about trusting God, I sometimes wonder if anything has changed.
So here's what Luke is really getting at. When he writes of the Church in Acts, that there were "no needy persons among them", he's quoting Moses from Deuteronomy 15 who wrote "And there will be no persons among you; for the LORD will bless you." In effect, Luke is saying about the early Church in Acts, "WE'VE FINALLY GOT IT! Thousands of years later, WE'VE FINALLY GOT IT!" He's making the claim that the ancient ideal for God's chosen people was finally coming to fruition. And more importantly, he's making a controversial statement that this early Church in Acts was the true community which God had always intended to set up- one in which debts were cancelled and slaves were free. All that God had hoped to set up economically, now manifested itself on two dimensions- both spiritually and materially. It was through Jesus' death on the cross that debts were cancelled and slaves were set free. It was by God freely giving his son that we are enabled to freely give to others.
This idea of sharing is so counter-cultural and selling our houses so that others will have enough seems completely absurd.
But with obedience comes blessing. It would be an odd thing for God to repay our obedience with pain or neglect. However, while blessing is promised, it's not the high note of obedience. Theologian, N.T. Wright states, “The deeper reality in obedience is the spirit it works into us.” This is a spirit that crucifies greed and resurrects sharing. A spirit of compassion, sensitivity, and trust. Once this inner disposition takes over, material blessings cannot harm us. We will recognize them as tools to cultivate Gods Kingdom experienced by all. If its not experienced by all, it's not God's Kingdom. Which leads us to this point, in the Old Testament, God's promise of blessing was almost always, for the community rather than for the individual. The idea that one could cut off a chunk of the providential pie and go off to enjoy it alone was unthinkable. It was understood that there was a shared destiny. What was sown in isolation by the individual, was reaped together in community.
I would argue our attachment to our material possessions stems from our trust or lack of trust in God. When we don't trust God, we live in fear and cling to the things we think we provide us with comfort. When we trust God, we live in freedom from our destinies being tied to items destined to decay. We are freed to give without concern for the outcome because we know our outcome is determined by a loving God.
Daily Bread
In Exodus 16 we see that God provided bread for the desert-wandering Israelites from the sky. Each person was allowed one “omer” of bread for themselves. This was about 3.6 liters. Some would gather what was allowed, but some were greedy and hoarded more than they needed. So God would spoil their excess with maggots each night to keep them dependent on him and each other.
Fast forward to when Jesus is teaching us how to pray in the New Testament. He tells us to ask for our "daily bread". And if we didn't know the background we might get confused and think we're asking God for a #3 at McDonalds. But we're smarter. We know that the Israelites were provided with bread that lasted for a day so they would be dependent on God. So, we're not asking for much, but for little. We're making a declaration that we will reject all excess that detracts us from complete and utter dependency on a providential God. We're echoing the writer of Proverbs 30:8 who wrote “give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs." Or in some translations "our daily bread".
I would argue as Gandhi stated, "There is enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed." Among us, there is enough. There’s enough food, shelter, and money. If only we would learn how to share.
Sharing Laurie’s Birthday
Let me tell you a story about my friend named Laurie. I met her in Gainesville. Like a disheveled beanpole she carried herself in a way that could make a tall person look short. I found her buried under a mountain of rags trying to stay warm at a bus stop she called home. She invited me to have a seat and after an hour had passed, she informed me her birthday was in a few days. With that, the gears started turning, I said goodnight, and walked home.
The next morning I opened my Bible to Luke 14:13 where Jesus says that when you are throwing a party, invite the poor and the blind- those who would be unable to return the favor. So, I closed the good book and started on some handmade flyers. We were going to have a party. I invited college students, my homeless friends, business owners, even a blind man named Dezzie, asking all of them to bring some food or possessions of theirs to share with others.
The day of the party, I, and about 70 others found ourselves in good company. We sang songs, ate cake, had a bubble blowing contest, and made new friends. The picnic tables were piled high with bread from shelters, bike locks, diapers, and every odd thing in between. It was a freak show of selflessness. I gave Laurie a new pair of shoes for her birthday and applauded her for being 49 years young. Nearing the end of the party, she walked over to me in her new shoes. And with her teary eyes she looks square in mine and whispered, “Jim, I’ve never seen anything like this.” And you know what? I hadn't either.
A Banner of Love
Friends, we have the opportunity to show God how much we trust him by sharing with those in need, whether it be a sandwich, a hospital bill, or our home. Then we can confidently say with our mouth what our money says in print. That we trust God. We can break the chains of bondage to possessions when we view them as items borrowed from God to be used for the good of all.
What will you share? Will you share simply the name of Jesus or will you share everything he stands for? It's time for another Jubilee. What don’t you need that somebody else does? Because, when we give to those in need, they now need less and can give more too. Then, with our banner being love, there may just be no needy persons among us.
I used to think that when God closes one door, he'd open another. But now I know that God's dreams can't fit through our measly doors. Sometimes he has to kick down a wall for us to go on a great adventure.
JAMES BARNETT @jamestheverb - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
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