What's it mean to be a Christian in America? I am starting to believe that the Christian population is much more narrow than the statistics read. The amount of 'good and faithful servants' is narrow, while the number of those who may be credited to eternal life by the Holy Life, is broad. And still, I can judge only by the fruit, while He judges the heart.
Ghandi said, "There is enough in the world for everyone's need but there is not enough for everyone's greed."
And God says through Moses in Exodus, "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little (16:18)"
In Luke 3:11 John the baptist says, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Can we count the number of hangers in our closets on one hand or even two? Can we justify our reasons for 5 pairs of shoes?
The fact is this: 80 percent of the world own 20 percent of the world's things while the elite 20 percent own the 80 percent of the world's material. America is a big chunk of that 20 percent. And I cry out, how can there be a Christian living in these conditions and stay true to him/herself? I cry out, I am clothed and fed while the world is naked and hungry.
I personally have felt convicted to rid myself of excess. America is built around excess and bulk and waste. I am on the journey to becoming simplistic, only taking what I need. My prayer is Proverbs 30:7-9: "Make me neither rich nor poor but only give to me my daily bread."
God did not make a mistake and make too many people with not enough provisions. It us our greed that creates poverty. But Jesus came and said and still says "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near."
To build a community, or rather discover a community (Church), in which God orchestrates and no one lacks anything (Acts 2-read the whole thing), is what it means to "Repent." The word Jesus used in Hebrew meant "Return to your orginal state." The pursuit of origin and the pursuit of an artist's orginal design are worthy causes.
I am devoted to One. I simply will not have my trust fall on someone it shouldn't, like a preacher or group of preachers in a church building willing to spend 6 million dollars on their next big idea.
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7 comments:
mmm it is our greed that makes poverty.
I agree agree agree.
with all of it.
We have become blind to our own greed. Today after class I went into the Starbucks in downtown Athens and asked for a large cup of water. I only had $9 in my checking account and I didn't want to let it get much lower than that, so I didn't want to buy anything. But they wouldn't give it to me, explaining that the homeless people kept on asking them for water, and they just couldn't afford to waste the cups. But I was incredibly thirsty so I just bought something cheap so I could get some water. When I handed them my employee card so that I could get my discount, the cashier reacted and said, oh, well why didn't you tell us you worked for Starbucks! We take care of our employees!
I told the woman that if the homeless couldn't have free water then I didn't want it either. And she just muttered the explanation again about the expense of cups.
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
We share with our friends and with people who will reward us on earth, but we as Americans are taught not to share with those who will not thank or repay us. "What gain is that for you?" the world says. We are looking for the wrong rewards.
"I cry out, I am clothed and fed while the world is naked and hungry." I do too Jesse, and the feeling is too overwhelming to explain sometimes, because I have not 5 but 25 pairs of shoes in my closet and I am trying to figure out what to do and I don't know, I want to get rid of everything but I don't know what to do with it and asdfhsdka. I have been struggling with everything you are talking about all summer and I am still trying to figure things out. I still don't know what to do.
but I love you man, and I hope to see you soon.
Michelle
I know I can take them to goodwill, but I feel like that makes it too easy...too safe. I want to place my things in the hands of someone who needs them, not because I think it will make me feel better, quite the opposite. I need to look in the eyes of the people who are poor because I am rich. I need to realize the damage my gluttony has caused, and understand it, because I know if I dump all my stuff at goodwill I will feel better, but feeling better might not be what I need to do right now. maybe my soul needs to be crying out right now. I don't know.
the thing at starbucks today made me so angry though because of how much they try to advertise that community is important to them. but I know that they are a business and that businesses need to make a profit and that is why we worship and follow a God, not a business, or a country, or a person. But I want to go to Soup and Socks soon, and my Starbucks told me that they would donate the pastries that they don't sell if I came and picked them up on a Saturday morning. On the weekdays they go to a battered women's shelter.
The great irony in all of this is that my assignment today, on my first day of college class, is to write a short essay about an article of clothing that is meaningful to me.
oh, WORLD!
hmm. school.
Well, for starters, I was late. haha. And not in the fashionable sense. I left my house late, because I wasn't paying attention (I was arguing with my brother) and sped the whole way there, and I might have made it had there not been issues finding parking, and then having (and failing) to parallel park. But once I managed to get my car into a position where it wouldn't get hit, I ran/walked the quarter mile to the building where my class was, found the classroom, and found the door, closed. there was no window. So I just took a deep breath and braced myself and opened the door. It's a small class, only 22 people, and they were taking role. They were already on the W's. So I told him my name a got a seat against the wall, so I get to lean. But we just did the typical get-to-know-eachother "fun" stuff, we had to get in a line in order of birthdays without talking, and then you got partnered with the person next to you, and had to interview them and write a paragraph about them so we can introduce each other on Tuesday. So I got to learn all about Robert, a physics major from Atlanta, who was on tv once when he was 15 and has a small scar under his right eyebrow from where he got mauled by a dog when he was two (he didn't say mauled, but I did and he liked it). And during that time I made an executive decision to not disclose my joint-enrollment status unless I have no other option. He asked my birthday, and I told him, and he was said,
"So I'm guessing 1989, right?" "Well...no. 1990."
"Woah, you're 17? How did that happen?"
"Well, I'm not really sure."
"Oh...well that's cool."
I don't really know why, I just don't want to advertise it, I guess. I don't think my professor knows. which is cool.
Have you started yet?
hmmm.....intense.
How many pairs did you give away?
You young people need parental guidance. Don't listen to someone who lives by Ancient rules and does nothing unless it is for self-gratification!! It's a NEW DAY!
Try something reaslistic - like really worshipping GOD. You will find what HE can and WILL do for you!!
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