Who should respond to poorer people?

...is amazed by Andre Bauer (Republican) quote on helping the poor: "My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed! You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don’t think too much further than that.”

Response: Wow! Is he saying (poorly) how not to fund and empower a welfare-state-of-mind, or is he really saying "let people starve since they cannot take care of themselves"? Or is he talking about the limited responsibility of national or local government? I don't think, despite their attempts, that any political party (Canadian or American) has the corner on charitable and humanitarian ventures - not sure they all see helping poorer people as essentially a political concern, but a social one. Some see this as the job of elected officials, where others see caring for our poorer neighbours as the job of everyone in our community, town, and city, and not the purpose of taxation. Some of us think that government workers should be the caregivers of poorer people, and that loving our neighbours needs to happen bureaucratically and through taxation and employment - not with personal concern, self-sacrifice, and local outreach by all the people of a community. I've never thought any government, in the history of the Western World, has done a great job of caring for its poorer citizens, especially people who suffer with mentally ill. I believe our biggest challenge is not with irresponsible government - but the biggest threat to the welfare of those in need of assistance is from within ourselves, with us, expecting someone else (government employees) to be missional, and to love our neighbours instead of us. It is time for people, especially Christians, to be more responsive and be truly counter-cultural, and stop passing the buck. Seems much of the political battles and finger-pointing is just dodging the call to be personally responsive - Christlike.

Perhaps we should ask the question: Are the best humanitarian "movements" more likely to be self-sacrificial social responses or government-run political reforms? Assuming a distinction can be made, we might divide what Wilberforce did between the two, but I think we can see from Jesus, and those inspired by him (Martin Luther King and Ghandi) that the climate that makes political reform possible is social responsiveness that finally gets like-minded people elected in. I'm not sure why, but one of my favourite movies is 'The Kingdom of Heaven'. The line: "It is a kingdom of conscience or nothing at all", makes me think that the issues and needs of our poorer people in our communities and cities needs to move from the abstract to deep within to our sense right and wrong, to justice and to reflection on some of the causes of marginalization, and to the condition of our own hearts, not away from us, past a pointing finger. Seems the Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:25-37) is all about not passing the buck, claiming responsibility for people and situations we did not influence or create - but are willing and resourced to simply embrace and help in any way possible. If there is anything beautiful about Christianity, beside God Himself and the mystery of His holiness and His self-sacrificing love, it is the strong, relentless, unflinching, Christ-like love of people.

Martyrdom, self-sacrifice, and the pursuit of happiness.

Question: “Christian martyrdom is the epitome of Christian Spirituality, why do many Christians feel that if they are happy it proves God loves them?”

Response: Interesting question – one that needs to be asked from every pulpit. I’m not too sure how people who don’t consider themselves Christians look at martyrdom, but it seems we in the Church often write our own definition of "blessing", taking from stories of people in the Bible (Abraham, David, Solomon, even Job) who had health, wealth and financial independence, and for some, maybe all of us to varying degrees, that spells happiness. Martyrdom is doing without (even unto death). In a consumerist, materialistic, individualistic Western World there is little recognition or appreciation of self-sacrifice - Mother Teresa is a type of hero, but not a practical role-model for us. Jesus' words "deny yourself" seems to be thought of as “deny yourself all that brings you happiness”, which is an unbearable proposition for us in the West – so we dispense with Mark 8:34-38. We won't even "martyr" a proportion of our bank accounts, and live simply, even to reach our own children and their generation with the gospel.

I'm part of a Church subculture where an older generation points its critical finger and calls for "commitment", but it is that older generation who have modelled workaholism, burnout, and divorce, and abandoned local mission and evangelism, and have often taken the path of least resistance on the road to personal health and wealth – instead of seeking out the mystery of the easy yoke and the narrow way. Renewal is missional. Renewal is embracing self-sacrifice, and for many there are no mentors and role models, just people with the baptised, worldly values of prosperity, security, and self-indulgence - where words like martyrdom have no meaning, and for many, Jesus dying on a cross has little connection with fidelity, honesty, purity, or even holding up and persevering under the burden of inconvenience or and the cross of discomfort for the sake of others. If we want to be part of a world that is shaped by God, and where His character is evident, we as the Western Church are going to have to change, and embrace local mission, evangelism, and church planting, alongside worship and fellowship – all five of these are what Jesus’ disciples did must define “Christian discipleship”. It is now our time to hear His call and follow His leadership – and live the life of disciples.

I believe, until this missional shift in discipleship happens, words like blessing and martyrdom have not the biblical connect to make much sense or to translate into much that is practical and a blessing to others. If martyrdom is doing something good for others (not just denying ourselves something pleasurable) and being killed for it, what self-sacrificial thing are we willing to do to let our light shine before others, so they see our good works and “give glory to (the) father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)?

The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, & benefiting from a life of faith & virtue.

Question: I guess one question I have is: is it worth it? Recently watched the first Matrix again and it's presented well by the villain [with the sweet moustache]---if he had known it would have been so difficult---he would never have accepted Morpheus' enlightenment pill. Is it possible that we could set our eyes on something, make sacrifices to that end, and eventually get there after a lifetime and find out we were wrong?

Response: Have to remember that Cipher (Lu-cifer) gets deceived, whines about everything, is frustrated because he can't have Trinity's returned affection, betrays and tries to destroy Neo, and in the end get burned up by "fire" - the Wachowski brothers play with the details most creatively, and have done a great job of telling their take on the Christian story and person and mission of Jesus Christ (Neo is called "My saviour...my personal Jesus Christ" in about the 7th scene).

Certainty and self-judgement are tough issues.  One of the saddest things I come across is someone, in increasing years, who is completely messed up by their past failures, poor decisions and regrets (Cifer).  I think John Wesley was one of the few Christian leaders who got really bent over the issue of certainty (as well as his disciples I'm sure - Edwards has a much more biblical approach to the issue). Morpheus, not the Merovingian, was correct: it starts with choice (first God's, then ours) - that's why our choices haunt us, but the truth can set us free - to forgive, be forgiven, and move on. Living with the feeling of a clean conscience, not certainty, not only brings enjoyment and a type of satisfaction, but an ability to taste the good in just about everything and everyone. Peace with God is the key that opens the door to the undiscovered country. After losing four babies with Sarah, my life was changed when God asked me, "Is our relationship going to be based on me answering or not answering your questions?" Not unlike His response to Job's grief and consequent whining. Grief is normal and reasonable - the simple recognition of things not being as they should be in a perfect world (our innate knowledge of good and evil kicking in). That is entirely different from a life filled with blame (of ourselves and others) and regret (Cipher's experience of life), which is misery - we can only imagine what hell will be like.

Though 100% certainty is not the pay-off (perhaps just a false and elusive carrot/dream of Modernity), there is a tangible, aesthetical sweetness, or a "sense of being in the sweet-spot of living out our destiny", which can still be recognised, even vaguely, while in the darkest nights, foggiest-of-life-situations, places of deepest self-doubt - or hanging on a cross. There is never any going back, like Cipher hopes - the past (was an illusion in the sense of the Matrix) and is the same as the present and future - it only changes due to our changing emotions, behaviours, and perspectives. But despite the horror of the breaking news of personal, world-view loss, let alone the threat of a full collapse of "everything good and green", once Frodo (Lord of the Rings) knew the real meaning of the ring, he sensed there was only one thing to do - the greater good, amidst all the dangers and distractions, temptations, false-friendships, and the growing knowledge that his destiny would take his life along with his hope for peace, family and safety. But Frodo wishes the ring, and his personal responsibility, had never come to him. We are all little soldiers, uncertain of the biggest picture, but still having the choice to take the next step forward.

The more life-altering, self-shattering experiences we have, the clearer and more complex the big picture becomes, and subsequently the greater chance of peace (with God and life's circumstances), and the regular experience of joy through the simple things. Perspective comes with the surprising recognition of hidden goodness. If life is a paint-by-number picture that we all must paint, taking time to paint with the bright, living colours helps make sense of the dark shadows we have already got on our canvas. Regardless of the brush and colours of paint we are currently using, I have come to acknowledge it is still a good and beautiful piece of art we are working on. There is so much more light than darkness in this world. I take this by faith, not blind or unsubstantiated faith, but something both reasonable and experiential, if not fully describable. I love Aragorn's question to Gandalf, when the status of the whole mission (and Middle Earth) are in jeopardy because Frodo and Sam are moving forward unescorted by the fellowship..."What does your heart tell you?" Morpheus says that the reality of the Matrix has to be experienced to be understood... leaving slavery and embracing destiny and providence is an act of belief. All comes through perseverance and an eye towards the horizon and things to come in our 'now, but not yet' world.

The question that lingers for me is why is a pod racer's win not worth the life of TWO slaves? Seriously. But it wasn't, and Anakin (Star Wars) takes the path of judgement and revenge, not of humility, mercy and forgiveness, and starts down the slippery slope until his self-deception is complete, his paint-by-number is patent leather black... that is until Luke, seeing that there was still some good in him (like the image of God in all of us) offers him love, forgiveness, and a choice to do the right and good thing - which Vader embraces! If Cipher only had second thoughts and a desire to help his friends, and act for the good of all instead of selfishly (if Nietzsche had only seen strength and virtue in self-sacrifice, meekness and humility)... if Satan would only come to his senses, give up on his petty jealously and power-tripping, and embrace again his Creator.

So, after taking the (red) enlightenment pill, what does your heart tell you?

What is Something More?

Something More...these are words often used by those of us who are dissatisfied, and have a longing for a deeper sense of purpose and affectiveness in life. They are also the words we use when we feel tired of being tired, when we’re exhausted by our lack of fulfillment, inner peace, and enjoyment, and when we are trying to articulate our hope that there is, there must be, Something More to this life. These words reflect our innate knowledge that life isn’t the way it is supposed to be, that we are incomplete like an unfinished paint-by-number painting - or that we are at least being blocked from becoming whom we crave to be. Sometimes, on our deamier days, we might use Something More to refer to life beyond the here and now - Heaven.

But Something More can also be the words we use to formulate our desire to experience that which is transcendent - sensing the need for a connection, a spiritual encounter or communion with God.  Our inner groan for Something More is our way of speaking out loud our human need to connect, to fill that God-shaped place in us that must be filled with something of ultimate importance - and until then, we sense a lingering emptiness.  As Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). 

And Something More is what we want most for ourselves and others - community.  It is you and I seeking to recognize, understand, and simple accept and love the people around us, as well as embrace God back.  Practically, it is about getting in on God's loving, and often immediate, response to the needs of one another, those people around us, and those living across the globe.  Despite being surrounded with the often overwelming beauty of nature, and the many joys of just being human, in some ways, the world is a messed up place and God is on a search and rescue mission.

Something More, especially at Christmas time, might as well refer to personal transformation.  Dickens' classic reveals the boredom, anger, and dissatisfaction of being a self-centered Scrooge, and what it is like to become an "Ebenezer" (God reverses defeat into victory, death to life). If you get a chance to watch Alistair Simm this Christmas, don't miss it.  A Christmas Carol points out to me, and has every year since I starting watching it in the 70's as a kid, that I'm given every opportunity to be the kind of person I want to be, and turn from my self-absorption to become more like a good neighbour (Luke 12:25-37), like Jesus, God Himself living a human life.  If you get a chance this Christmas, medicate on Jesus' words and example of sacrificing for the good of others - Luke 6:27-50.