FOUND WANTING
This week we begin our annual Tranzsend Self-Denial appeal. This year the theme is "found wanting". This week's message is based around the theme they (the poor) are found wanting support. I did quite a few history papers in my theology degree. What struck me most in reading about the church's history is how often we separate personal morality from systemic morality. For example, we're quite happy to shout and yell about what goes on in the bedroom (sexual ethics) and homosexuality but we're often silent on issues of war, poverty, famine and justice. It's interesting to notice how much air time the Civil Unions Bill got in the Baptist (our deniminational newspaper) compared to how much air time the issues in Zimbabwe (or AIDS or Fair Trade or atrocities in Sudan or poverty in Africa or even the G8 summit) got. There were pages and pages of debate on the Civil Unions and our silence screamed on these other issues. When we turn to look at Jesus we find that he said a little bit about sex and nothing explicitly about homosexuality! And this was in a culture where homosexuality was rife and would make our society today look very Victorian! On the other hand, Jesus' favourite topic was the Kingdom of God and he spoke most about poverty and money. Now, I don't want to open up the can of worms that surrounds homosexuality but I do want us to consider the fact that often what's important to us wasn't important to Jesus and what was important to Jesus sometimes isn't important to us. Perhaps this Lenten season part of us realigning ourselves with God's purposes means realigning what's important to us with what's important to Jesus. Any thoughts? And especially any thoughts on how we might support the poor and needy - those who are found wanting.
2:00 PM
Daryl, I think it's a both/and rather than an either/or. We need to be serious about mission a home. To support and care for people in our own neighbourhood in credible, transformative ways and the same is true for overseas. If we say 'let's look after our own backyard' then we leave the huge issue of AIDS in Africa to African people who don't have the resources we have in the West to help with that problem. Similarly, we leave concern for the poor to poor people who don't have the resources to alleviate poverty - whereas we do. If we Western Christians denied ourselves from living lavishly (as Gilbert says - I could have a coffee or meal at home etc) and used that money to give in aid support, it would make a significant difference to poverty. I can't be separated from just economic policies or attempts to overcome corrupt governments overseas but it would certainly make a significant difference.
2:06 PM
Gilbert, I agree that Christians should speak up about politics but I worry that there's Christian political correctness about how we speak about politics. As I said the focus on the 'goodness' of a political part tends to be their stance on the Civil Union Bill rather than their stance on wiping out 3rd world debt. Often Christians choose not to talk about politics because there's too much at stake. Behind our views on politics are deeply held beliefs about God and the world and when we argue about which party to vote for etc we are also arguing about views on God and the world. But, as you say, the glue that holds our community together isn't uniformity but the grace of Jesus and the love of God.
8:16 PM
Daryl, I wonder if the 'start at home' arguement isn't a rather popular cop-out? I'd put money on the fact that there are far more needy folk in many countries than people in New Zealand. Sure, our mission field is where we are at - work, the supermarket, school, wherever. Often tho, it seems I am equally ineffective here as I am 'over there'.
It was great to get a wide range of differing strategies posted on the banner on Sunday. The challenge is to change some of these ideas into reality! I confess to being somewhat horrified at one suggestion that 'we should only give to christian charities'. I guess when we open ourselves up to making suggestions - we are going to get the whole range! Gilbert your suggestions are practical as ever, and almost attainable - although missing a cafe coffee and a meal out occasionally may be going a bit far? There you go - there's my cop-out! Is it, like politics, all about compromise. Somehow I think Jesus might have something to say about that...hang on - he did a bit of wining and dining too didn't he?