Nancy Gibbs has this great article about how we can still learn from the recession. This is a good follow-up to an earlier post.
The notion that misery loves company may be less about malice than about solace: that problems shared grow smaller, that courage is contagious. Is it just a coincidence that Mississippi, which typically ranks as the most generous state in charitable giving, is also the poorest? To suffer alone is a tragedy; to struggle together is an opportunity, when we find out what we really care about.
1/13/09
Joseph and Conversational Pieces
I've been doing this reading with our church- the Bible in 90 days- and I continually have fruitful conversational starters with the text. I suppose this is different from an "application" of the Bible, where the Bible can authoritatively speak into our lives and culture. I really just think the text raises interesting discussions and fruitful thought on how to think about contemporary issues, because they are surprisingly close to the text's situations. So, I had two thoughts on the Joseph narrative in Genesis, particularly out of Genesis 41:41-57.
1) The idea of saving- Joseph ascends to political power in Egypt based on his ability to read Pharaoh's dreams. By doing this, he knows seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of famine. So Joseph has all the leftover and plenty in the land stored away to prepare for the times of famine. This seems to be the wise, shrewd, and prudent thing to do. And even while Egypt would experience horrible famine, they had plenty to eat.
I don't think I need to outline the importance of saving, especially given the economic climate of American (and really the global) economy. We need to save our incomes. And while as a Christian I believe we need to radically give away our money as well, we still need to save much more than we do. I hear some say that we ought to be able to rely on social security for our needs in retirement. I hear others say that true Christian community means not needing to save, and that we need to give our money away instead. If we really lived in community, we wouldn't need insurance or retirement plans, because the community could care for our needs even in old age. Well, that's foolish. I believe in strong community, but I don't believe it's opposed to wisdom, as Joseph deftly manages. We will have times of "famine," especially on a national level, and so it's not a sin to have a 401k or a RothIRA. It's actually wise to do so, because the Bible (much less people 100 years ago) never envisioned people living 20-30 years beyond their ability-to-work age. On the other hand, the Bible also doesn't envision quitting life and going to Florida and sitting on your carcass all day either.
2) Immigration- Look at Gen. 41:57. All the countries in the world came to Egypt for food. And the text never gives the impression that Egypt ran out of food. Joseph's wisdom also gave happenstance to the fact that his own family would come to Egypt (because of Joseph's wisdom!) to buy food and so they would be reunited. But all the countries came.
In our age of convoluted laws, contradictory laws, and topsy-turvy world markets, we shouldn't be surprised by the amount of immigration to our country from the south. People are coming for work, food, and the prospects of a better life. Besides the fact that the Bible has a lot to say about loving and respecting aliens and foreigners in one's own land (and besides the fact that I generally agree with free trade and open market principles), the whole clan of Jacob were immigrants. We must acknowledge this fact. And if you were put in the same situation, wouldn't you immigrate to feed your family?
1) The idea of saving- Joseph ascends to political power in Egypt based on his ability to read Pharaoh's dreams. By doing this, he knows seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of famine. So Joseph has all the leftover and plenty in the land stored away to prepare for the times of famine. This seems to be the wise, shrewd, and prudent thing to do. And even while Egypt would experience horrible famine, they had plenty to eat.
I don't think I need to outline the importance of saving, especially given the economic climate of American (and really the global) economy. We need to save our incomes. And while as a Christian I believe we need to radically give away our money as well, we still need to save much more than we do. I hear some say that we ought to be able to rely on social security for our needs in retirement. I hear others say that true Christian community means not needing to save, and that we need to give our money away instead. If we really lived in community, we wouldn't need insurance or retirement plans, because the community could care for our needs even in old age. Well, that's foolish. I believe in strong community, but I don't believe it's opposed to wisdom, as Joseph deftly manages. We will have times of "famine," especially on a national level, and so it's not a sin to have a 401k or a RothIRA. It's actually wise to do so, because the Bible (much less people 100 years ago) never envisioned people living 20-30 years beyond their ability-to-work age. On the other hand, the Bible also doesn't envision quitting life and going to Florida and sitting on your carcass all day either.
2) Immigration- Look at Gen. 41:57. All the countries in the world came to Egypt for food. And the text never gives the impression that Egypt ran out of food. Joseph's wisdom also gave happenstance to the fact that his own family would come to Egypt (because of Joseph's wisdom!) to buy food and so they would be reunited. But all the countries came.
In our age of convoluted laws, contradictory laws, and topsy-turvy world markets, we shouldn't be surprised by the amount of immigration to our country from the south. People are coming for work, food, and the prospects of a better life. Besides the fact that the Bible has a lot to say about loving and respecting aliens and foreigners in one's own land (and besides the fact that I generally agree with free trade and open market principles), the whole clan of Jacob were immigrants. We must acknowledge this fact. And if you were put in the same situation, wouldn't you immigrate to feed your family?
1/7/09
Giving and "I told you so"
I was speaking with a fellow Christian a while ago, and he was lambasting the giving of evangelicals. I believe it was during the election season, and this particular person said that liberals were more caring people because they cared about the poor and various political issues that favored poverty. I remember saying that this wasn't true, and that numbers time and again prove the conservatives give more money to the poor. This person didn't believe me. I don't remember who it was, but I told you so. This kind of criticism is typical of the postmodern evangelical rancor (Donald Miller, Brian McLaren, etc.), which is wrong. They are just plain wrong, but that isn't to say that evangelicals shouldn't give more. We should. But check this article out: liberal writer, Kristoff, admits that liberals give woeful amounts to the poor while conservatives regularly out-class them.
It's true that religion is the essential reason conservatives give more, and religious liberals are as generous as religious conservatives. Among the stingiest of the stingy are secular conservatives.
Courtesy of In Media Res, you have got to read this article. No matter how Kristoff sliced the pie, conservatives always gave more to the poor.
It's true that religion is the essential reason conservatives give more, and religious liberals are as generous as religious conservatives. Among the stingiest of the stingy are secular conservatives.
Courtesy of In Media Res, you have got to read this article. No matter how Kristoff sliced the pie, conservatives always gave more to the poor.
1/5/09
What have we learned?
David Ignatius of the Washington Post incisively asks, "What have we learned from the economic downturn?"
What lessons, I wonder, will the great downturn of 2008 teach our children? Obviously, the answer depends on how bad things get. This is a global cataclysm that's more vivid in the headlines than in most people's pocketbooks. Unemployment remains below 7 percent, and gas prices and mortgage rates are down. The crisis is still more like a dark thundercloud than a pelting hurricane.....
What would be the lessons of such a "near-miss" world? The first precept would be that bad behavior brings a rescue. If Wall Street investment banks can get away with it, why not auto companies? And if auto companies, why not the guy who bought a house he couldn't afford, or who maxed out his credit cards without a hope of repaying the debt? What the heck? We're all living in bailout nation. As a prominent foreign investor observes: "In America, loans have gone from 'something to be repaid' to 'something to be refinanced.' "
Ignatius has some good thoughts here. I know of some Christians that wouldn't mind a long-term depression because people would think more about deeper things than poverty (which might be generally true and totally go against Maslow). I know of some Christians that hope America retains its economic greatness so that it can be a blessing to the poverty of the world. Either have noble ends, I suppose. But we don't get the luxury of being omniscient, and we humans are left to taking whatever we're dealt with. So, what will be the lessons? How do we respond to history? Some suggestions:
1) Stop suburban sprawl. This mess started with a housing crisis. Americans felt they were entitled to a house, and went and put one up where there wasn't one before. I know the counterargument, though: "It's cheaper to live in the suburbs than it is in the city." Well, we Americans live under the mind-numbing hubris that there will always be enough water (which I didn't fully appreciate until I lived in the American West- also see Las Vegas declining water supply) and that there will always be enough gas (somebody's gotta drive to work from those suburbs). Maybe living smarter and less greedy will cost us, but someone's has got to preach about sacrifice. Perhaps C.S. Lewis was prophetic when his vision of hell in The Great Divorce had the most evil people moving far away from each other (everybody lived in a suburb, or far away from everyone else, because self-interest was the ruling principle in hell).
2) Stop greed. Ignatius said it best above. We all feel entitled to security, safety, health, and wealth. Americans feel entitled. We are owed a good job, and then we're owed all the trappings of what rich people have: nice cars, houses bigger than we need, expensive vacations, high definition tvs, high-speed internet, ad nauseum. I wish we'd stop feeling greedy and be pleased with what is necessary- appropriate housing, food enough for the family, and workable transportation.
3) A sense of community. With the stopping of suburban sprawl and greed, maybe this one will come out on its own. Do we know our neighbors? The people that live right next to us? Sure, Jesus asked about "who is your neighbor," in the Good Samartian parable (with his emphasis that even enemies are neighbors), but I always hear suburban evangelical churches reaching the interpretation beyond who is your next-door neighbor. Well, it also includes them. It especially includes them. I hope this economic recession helps teach us that we can do so many things together. We can change violence in the neighborhood. We can spend time with one another over a good board game for entertainment without spending money. We can enrich our lives by having a floor potluck and thereby culling resources to feed many people (a good potluck is the capitalistic epitome of specialization). I hope we learn this in this recession. And if we don't learn it because of the recession, I hope we learn it anyway.
What lessons, I wonder, will the great downturn of 2008 teach our children? Obviously, the answer depends on how bad things get. This is a global cataclysm that's more vivid in the headlines than in most people's pocketbooks. Unemployment remains below 7 percent, and gas prices and mortgage rates are down. The crisis is still more like a dark thundercloud than a pelting hurricane.....
What would be the lessons of such a "near-miss" world? The first precept would be that bad behavior brings a rescue. If Wall Street investment banks can get away with it, why not auto companies? And if auto companies, why not the guy who bought a house he couldn't afford, or who maxed out his credit cards without a hope of repaying the debt? What the heck? We're all living in bailout nation. As a prominent foreign investor observes: "In America, loans have gone from 'something to be repaid' to 'something to be refinanced.' "
Ignatius has some good thoughts here. I know of some Christians that wouldn't mind a long-term depression because people would think more about deeper things than poverty (which might be generally true and totally go against Maslow). I know of some Christians that hope America retains its economic greatness so that it can be a blessing to the poverty of the world. Either have noble ends, I suppose. But we don't get the luxury of being omniscient, and we humans are left to taking whatever we're dealt with. So, what will be the lessons? How do we respond to history? Some suggestions:
1) Stop suburban sprawl. This mess started with a housing crisis. Americans felt they were entitled to a house, and went and put one up where there wasn't one before. I know the counterargument, though: "It's cheaper to live in the suburbs than it is in the city." Well, we Americans live under the mind-numbing hubris that there will always be enough water (which I didn't fully appreciate until I lived in the American West- also see Las Vegas declining water supply) and that there will always be enough gas (somebody's gotta drive to work from those suburbs). Maybe living smarter and less greedy will cost us, but someone's has got to preach about sacrifice. Perhaps C.S. Lewis was prophetic when his vision of hell in The Great Divorce had the most evil people moving far away from each other (everybody lived in a suburb, or far away from everyone else, because self-interest was the ruling principle in hell).
2) Stop greed. Ignatius said it best above. We all feel entitled to security, safety, health, and wealth. Americans feel entitled. We are owed a good job, and then we're owed all the trappings of what rich people have: nice cars, houses bigger than we need, expensive vacations, high definition tvs, high-speed internet, ad nauseum. I wish we'd stop feeling greedy and be pleased with what is necessary- appropriate housing, food enough for the family, and workable transportation.
3) A sense of community. With the stopping of suburban sprawl and greed, maybe this one will come out on its own. Do we know our neighbors? The people that live right next to us? Sure, Jesus asked about "who is your neighbor," in the Good Samartian parable (with his emphasis that even enemies are neighbors), but I always hear suburban evangelical churches reaching the interpretation beyond who is your next-door neighbor. Well, it also includes them. It especially includes them. I hope this economic recession helps teach us that we can do so many things together. We can change violence in the neighborhood. We can spend time with one another over a good board game for entertainment without spending money. We can enrich our lives by having a floor potluck and thereby culling resources to feed many people (a good potluck is the capitalistic epitome of specialization). I hope we learn this in this recession. And if we don't learn it because of the recession, I hope we learn it anyway.
12/20/08
Quote from Calvin
I've been reading through a condensed version of John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion and ran across this the other day. It's thought-provoking.
Of course ivory, gold and wealth are God's good gifts, permitted, indeed designed by His Providence for man's use. Laughter, good food and drink, possessions and music have never been forbidden. But wrong use can be made of them all if we wallow in luxury and constantly seek new pleasures. God's gifts must be used in moderation, without pride or arrogance. Moderation allows legitimate use: without it even ordinary pleasures can become excessive. A proud mind can live in modest clothes, and true humility be cloaked with fine linen. So everyone must remember that God's gifts are fore life, not luxury.
Book Three, part ten, chapter 19
The truth of these ramifications are visible daily. I know so many Christians that live to excess on either side, to legalism or to license. It comes through with use of time, use of drink, use of media, and use of language. The legalistic person thinks all time must be dedicated to work, that no one should drink alchoholic beverages, that watching just about any movie or television show should be barred, and that many many words are out of bounds. The licentious person thinks it's okay to be lazy, drinks any beverage at any time, watches whatever they please, and uses whatever language they wish. The wise person treads the middle path.
Of course ivory, gold and wealth are God's good gifts, permitted, indeed designed by His Providence for man's use. Laughter, good food and drink, possessions and music have never been forbidden. But wrong use can be made of them all if we wallow in luxury and constantly seek new pleasures. God's gifts must be used in moderation, without pride or arrogance. Moderation allows legitimate use: without it even ordinary pleasures can become excessive. A proud mind can live in modest clothes, and true humility be cloaked with fine linen. So everyone must remember that God's gifts are fore life, not luxury.
Book Three, part ten, chapter 19
The truth of these ramifications are visible daily. I know so many Christians that live to excess on either side, to legalism or to license. It comes through with use of time, use of drink, use of media, and use of language. The legalistic person thinks all time must be dedicated to work, that no one should drink alchoholic beverages, that watching just about any movie or television show should be barred, and that many many words are out of bounds. The licentious person thinks it's okay to be lazy, drinks any beverage at any time, watches whatever they please, and uses whatever language they wish. The wise person treads the middle path.
12/17/08
Religious News of the Year
Time does a decent job of reflection, which is generally a lost art in our culture. So they reflect on the previous year, most notably in the Person of the Year. No surprise this year. But they also do a List Issue, reflecting on a various list of Top 10s from the mundane to the fantastic, from global news to pop culture. Here's their list of the top 10 religious news stories of the year. Some commentary provided.
1. The economy trumps religion in the election.
I suppose we saw this coming. Generally, the American public cares a lot more about money than God. The odd thing is: when many people don't have money or it is taken away, many are prone to pray more. Does our culture really need God? Truman said a recession is when your neighbor loses his job and a depression is when you lose yours. I, on the other hand, guage economic security/insecurity by how many more people feel like they need God. I'd say the economy's fine based no that guage. See number 8 below.
2. The Mormons are a powerful force in culture shaping (see: California's ban on gay marriage)
Evangelicals are generally the most culturally powerful religious group in the country, because generally they have the largest voting bloc. So generally the media covers them (see 7 below). But the Mormons have money, and lots of it. This is proof that money wins elections (see 1 above and Obama's campaign coffers).
3. The Pope's visit to the US goes well.
It was great to see the Pope offer apologies in humility to those who were victimized by the sex scandals here.
4. The worldwide Anglican meeting every 10 years was a non-event with many conservatives no-showing. American Episcopals continue to defect.
Generally speaking, church division is a bad thing. But sometimes it purifies the church. Paul cared as much about truth as he did church unity. Sometimes this is a delicate balance. Other times its obvious. In my opinion, defection to African bishops is obvious (see the whole Bible).
5. The big Pew Research poll back in the summer.
I don't think this study is as revealing as people think it is. Catholics, mainline, and evangelicals are all classified differently. As an evangelical, do I think that Catholics and mainline folks can have a relationship with Jesus? Yes. So on this study that means that I think others can go to heaven outside of my belief system. And there are plenty of "unaffiliated" folks that go to church and believe in Jesus. This wasn't that revealing then.
6. Tibetan Buddhist monks protest against China.
7. The birth of the New Evangelicalism.
The media gobbles stuff like this up. "Ooh! Evangelicals care about the environment and the poor (hint: we always have and we've generally done a better job than most at it). Maybe now those darn evangelicals will take up the lead of Sider, Wallis, and Campolo (all of whom spoke or will speak at Denver Seminary) and care about the things we care about," says the media. Of course, we can't forget about the unborn, who are still dying at an enormously high rate. But I don't want to belittle this movement, because evangelicals can change the face of the African continent, for example. Let's focus on what is true, and not on what will make those around us happier with our views.
8. The challenge of recession on church budgets and ministry.
I have a conflict of interest here. I work at a church. But maybe this recession will challenge churches to engage mission in a different way than before. I go to a local pub and meet people every week. It doesn't cost that much. I didn't have to put on a big event. Maybe our mission will be more intentional, regular, and relational from now on. We could stand to learn the lesson.
9. The bust of a kosher packing plant in Iowa.
10. The Vatican's announcement that if extraterrestrials exist, they may already be saved.
1. The economy trumps religion in the election.
I suppose we saw this coming. Generally, the American public cares a lot more about money than God. The odd thing is: when many people don't have money or it is taken away, many are prone to pray more. Does our culture really need God? Truman said a recession is when your neighbor loses his job and a depression is when you lose yours. I, on the other hand, guage economic security/insecurity by how many more people feel like they need God. I'd say the economy's fine based no that guage. See number 8 below.
2. The Mormons are a powerful force in culture shaping (see: California's ban on gay marriage)
Evangelicals are generally the most culturally powerful religious group in the country, because generally they have the largest voting bloc. So generally the media covers them (see 7 below). But the Mormons have money, and lots of it. This is proof that money wins elections (see 1 above and Obama's campaign coffers).
3. The Pope's visit to the US goes well.
It was great to see the Pope offer apologies in humility to those who were victimized by the sex scandals here.
4. The worldwide Anglican meeting every 10 years was a non-event with many conservatives no-showing. American Episcopals continue to defect.
Generally speaking, church division is a bad thing. But sometimes it purifies the church. Paul cared as much about truth as he did church unity. Sometimes this is a delicate balance. Other times its obvious. In my opinion, defection to African bishops is obvious (see the whole Bible).
5. The big Pew Research poll back in the summer.
I don't think this study is as revealing as people think it is. Catholics, mainline, and evangelicals are all classified differently. As an evangelical, do I think that Catholics and mainline folks can have a relationship with Jesus? Yes. So on this study that means that I think others can go to heaven outside of my belief system. And there are plenty of "unaffiliated" folks that go to church and believe in Jesus. This wasn't that revealing then.
6. Tibetan Buddhist monks protest against China.
7. The birth of the New Evangelicalism.
The media gobbles stuff like this up. "Ooh! Evangelicals care about the environment and the poor (hint: we always have and we've generally done a better job than most at it). Maybe now those darn evangelicals will take up the lead of Sider, Wallis, and Campolo (all of whom spoke or will speak at Denver Seminary) and care about the things we care about," says the media. Of course, we can't forget about the unborn, who are still dying at an enormously high rate. But I don't want to belittle this movement, because evangelicals can change the face of the African continent, for example. Let's focus on what is true, and not on what will make those around us happier with our views.
8. The challenge of recession on church budgets and ministry.
I have a conflict of interest here. I work at a church. But maybe this recession will challenge churches to engage mission in a different way than before. I go to a local pub and meet people every week. It doesn't cost that much. I didn't have to put on a big event. Maybe our mission will be more intentional, regular, and relational from now on. We could stand to learn the lesson.
9. The bust of a kosher packing plant in Iowa.
10. The Vatican's announcement that if extraterrestrials exist, they may already be saved.
12/11/08
Think Long-Term
With the unfortunate news that the House of Representatives is going to bail out the Detroit auto industry (note: notice how Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and many other companies that make cars in the US don't need a bailout), I think it's time to reflect a little bit on the national debt. Obama is talking about an even larger stimulus package, different from the over-7 billion dollars already committed to the financial industry. So, here's my claim:
Debt isn't always good. Here's Michael Kinsley's analysis of it:
But is there a downside here at all [to a larger stimulus package]? Maybe these economists (and the Economist) think the downside is obvious, but it obviously isn't obvious, or we wouldn't have run up what seemed until a few weeks ago to be the very large deficits of the past 30 years. Unless there is a downside, why stop at a trillion? Why choose between cutting taxes and spending on infrastructure? Heck, let's do both. Party on!...
The answer is yes, there is a downside. Even though amounts this large inevitably seem like toy money, it's a real trillion dollars we are talking about spending. Even if we spend the money wisely (on bridges to somewhere), we or future generations will still have to pay it off, with interest. Or, more likely, we will inflate it away, along with the life savings of those who were foolish enough to save all their lives. It's just that the downside of doing nothing is worse. It's an easy choice, I guess. But let's not pretend that it's a happy one.
Agreed. Debt isn't always good. Maybe it does have some upside, and a down economy affects us all (churches get less tithing, retailers get less shoppers, many people lose jobs). I'm certainly not a macro-economist, and so I concede that a new public works project may benefit many as today's Denver Post editorial acknowledges. Public works bring jobs and renewed infrastructure, to be sure. But I'm not so sure we're selling away our future. Where is true wisdom in this mess? I appeal to some thoughts from Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:9 (NIV)
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.
"Firstfruits" imply that money to God comes first. It isn't a luxury. It isn't a mere 10%. It's the best we have to offer and we do it first.
Proverbs 21:17
He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Watch out, America! This is a good reminder for the Christmas season.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Who is America going to be a servant to now? China, inflation, Mid-East oil companies?
Proverbs 11:28
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
This is a helpful reminder to us all.
Proverbs contains a lot of wisdom about the topic of money. It's littered throughout the book. Check it out.
Debt isn't always good. Here's Michael Kinsley's analysis of it:
But is there a downside here at all [to a larger stimulus package]? Maybe these economists (and the Economist) think the downside is obvious, but it obviously isn't obvious, or we wouldn't have run up what seemed until a few weeks ago to be the very large deficits of the past 30 years. Unless there is a downside, why stop at a trillion? Why choose between cutting taxes and spending on infrastructure? Heck, let's do both. Party on!...
The answer is yes, there is a downside. Even though amounts this large inevitably seem like toy money, it's a real trillion dollars we are talking about spending. Even if we spend the money wisely (on bridges to somewhere), we or future generations will still have to pay it off, with interest. Or, more likely, we will inflate it away, along with the life savings of those who were foolish enough to save all their lives. It's just that the downside of doing nothing is worse. It's an easy choice, I guess. But let's not pretend that it's a happy one.
Agreed. Debt isn't always good. Maybe it does have some upside, and a down economy affects us all (churches get less tithing, retailers get less shoppers, many people lose jobs). I'm certainly not a macro-economist, and so I concede that a new public works project may benefit many as today's Denver Post editorial acknowledges. Public works bring jobs and renewed infrastructure, to be sure. But I'm not so sure we're selling away our future. Where is true wisdom in this mess? I appeal to some thoughts from Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:9 (NIV)
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.
"Firstfruits" imply that money to God comes first. It isn't a luxury. It isn't a mere 10%. It's the best we have to offer and we do it first.
Proverbs 21:17
He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Watch out, America! This is a good reminder for the Christmas season.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Who is America going to be a servant to now? China, inflation, Mid-East oil companies?
Proverbs 11:28
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
This is a helpful reminder to us all.
Proverbs contains a lot of wisdom about the topic of money. It's littered throughout the book. Check it out.
12/9/08
Why Evangelicals Need Advent
Pastor Don Sweeting offers some advice on why evangelicals need a time of preparing for Christ.
In this busy season, we need to be quiet more, not do more.
In this busy season, we need to be quiet more, not do more.
12/5/08
Straining for Pro-Life Language
We can talk about the law and voting all day long, but it wasn't until this Colson article did I really reflect on the fact that somebody has to perform murder, so long as the practice is legal.
So, how consistent are you? If you think it should be legal, would you perform the procedure yourself? And if you wouldn't, would you make exceptions for when you would?
So, how consistent are you? If you think it should be legal, would you perform the procedure yourself? And if you wouldn't, would you make exceptions for when you would?
12/4/08
Justice is Inevitable
Justice is inevitable. Read the words of Amos 5:21-24.
5:21 “I absolutely despise your festivals!
I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies!
5:22 Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings, I will not be satisfied;
I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves.
5:23 Take away from me your noisy songs;
I don’t want to hear the music of your stringed instruments.
5:24 Justice must flow like torrents of water,
righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.
I've done some exegesis on this passage recently for some coursework. Verse 24 can also be taken as "justice will roll down" or "let justice roll down," as God speaks to the nation of Israel. And my prof. consistently tells us to look for the conversations that may arise from the text. It's not that the text gives us definitive answers in our context, but it can speak to our issues in a unique way.
So I begin to think and converse back and forth with Amos.
1) Do you hate our religious festivities of Christmas? What do we do that's in vain? Asking these questions makes me think of the Advent Conspiracy.
2) Will justice really roll down and heal our land? What must we do or not do to ensure this happens? I woke up this morning enjoying the snow, but then thought of the hundreds and thousands of homeless that are barely surviving the cold. When will they get justice? Do they deserve justice? Amos has a lot to say about the oppression of the poor.....
3) Righteousness still matters. Real, righteous acts can be performed. It isn't an abstract concept. It looks like something, but what will that look like in my life?
Lots of conversations, and Amos still speaks.
5:21 “I absolutely despise your festivals!
I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies!
5:22 Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings, I will not be satisfied;
I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves.
5:23 Take away from me your noisy songs;
I don’t want to hear the music of your stringed instruments.
5:24 Justice must flow like torrents of water,
righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.
I've done some exegesis on this passage recently for some coursework. Verse 24 can also be taken as "justice will roll down" or "let justice roll down," as God speaks to the nation of Israel. And my prof. consistently tells us to look for the conversations that may arise from the text. It's not that the text gives us definitive answers in our context, but it can speak to our issues in a unique way.
So I begin to think and converse back and forth with Amos.
1) Do you hate our religious festivities of Christmas? What do we do that's in vain? Asking these questions makes me think of the Advent Conspiracy.
2) Will justice really roll down and heal our land? What must we do or not do to ensure this happens? I woke up this morning enjoying the snow, but then thought of the hundreds and thousands of homeless that are barely surviving the cold. When will they get justice? Do they deserve justice? Amos has a lot to say about the oppression of the poor.....
3) Righteousness still matters. Real, righteous acts can be performed. It isn't an abstract concept. It looks like something, but what will that look like in my life?
Lots of conversations, and Amos still speaks.
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