So I'm blogging, yeah and it feels good.
Let me begin with something that I read today, I've been reading a book by a curious man called Shane Claiborne who with a group of like minded others founded a community called the "simple way" in America, he talks about his story and the journey he's been on what he's learnt along the way yada yada... Anyway he speaks of his passion for the poor and his experience of living and working with truly poor people all over the world. Now everything I've seen and learnt in the past few years have taught me how important the poor are, that we are all poor to some degree and in some particular way, I know that the God I claim to follow values the poor and has a special passion for them, clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus.
So I'm reading this stuff, and agreeing with it, being inspired by this guys life and then today he says something that forces me to put down the book and just dwell on this one truth that makes me think... hmmm.
He says... " "When I fed the hungry, they called me a saint. When I asked why people are hungry, they called me a communist." Charity wins awards and applause, but joining the poor gets you killed. People do not get crucified for charity. People are crucified for living out love that disrupts the social order, that calls forth a new world. People are not crucified for helping the poor. People are crucified for joining them."
Hmmm. If you think about it he's got a point. A lot of the time charities (when they're recognised) are praised and people give money to them, which makes them feel good.
The majority of people who give to charities are those who can afford to... well der! bleedin obvious quote of the day!
but when we look at how Jesus lived, he wasn't really into all this charity bizz, for him and those who followed him it was a lot deeper than that, his life and mission would never have worked if he had lived in relative comfort and given advice from above or money to good works. No. He lived with the poor, he was one of them, they were his friends and he experienced life with them, he dreamt with them of a better life, a better way of doing things, is this what we mean when we talk about the kingdom of God?
When Jesus spoke to the rich young man about giving away his riches to the poor he immediately goes on to invite him to follow him and his way of life, living alongside the poor as one of them, give up this lifestyle you have its disconnecting you from the life I have for you, its a messy life, you won't be comfortable, sometimes you will be hungry and it will most likely end in a stickier way than you may have had planned. But it is true life. With the one and only person who has ever lived life in all its fullness.
There's no try before you buy and it costs a lot. But those who make that leap are the ones who make a difference, who change the world, we remember those few down the years that follow, when their life and love is truly recognised. Its a challenge. think on it.
Let me begin with something that I read today, I've been reading a book by a curious man called Shane Claiborne who with a group of like minded others founded a community called the "simple way" in America, he talks about his story and the journey he's been on what he's learnt along the way yada yada... Anyway he speaks of his passion for the poor and his experience of living and working with truly poor people all over the world. Now everything I've seen and learnt in the past few years have taught me how important the poor are, that we are all poor to some degree and in some particular way, I know that the God I claim to follow values the poor and has a special passion for them, clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus.
So I'm reading this stuff, and agreeing with it, being inspired by this guys life and then today he says something that forces me to put down the book and just dwell on this one truth that makes me think... hmmm.
He says... " "When I fed the hungry, they called me a saint. When I asked why people are hungry, they called me a communist." Charity wins awards and applause, but joining the poor gets you killed. People do not get crucified for charity. People are crucified for living out love that disrupts the social order, that calls forth a new world. People are not crucified for helping the poor. People are crucified for joining them."
Hmmm. If you think about it he's got a point. A lot of the time charities (when they're recognised) are praised and people give money to them, which makes them feel good.
The majority of people who give to charities are those who can afford to... well der! bleedin obvious quote of the day!
but when we look at how Jesus lived, he wasn't really into all this charity bizz, for him and those who followed him it was a lot deeper than that, his life and mission would never have worked if he had lived in relative comfort and given advice from above or money to good works. No. He lived with the poor, he was one of them, they were his friends and he experienced life with them, he dreamt with them of a better life, a better way of doing things, is this what we mean when we talk about the kingdom of God?
When Jesus spoke to the rich young man about giving away his riches to the poor he immediately goes on to invite him to follow him and his way of life, living alongside the poor as one of them, give up this lifestyle you have its disconnecting you from the life I have for you, its a messy life, you won't be comfortable, sometimes you will be hungry and it will most likely end in a stickier way than you may have had planned. But it is true life. With the one and only person who has ever lived life in all its fullness.
There's no try before you buy and it costs a lot. But those who make that leap are the ones who make a difference, who change the world, we remember those few down the years that follow, when their life and love is truly recognised. Its a challenge. think on it.
I guess this doesn't mean we all have to sell all our possessions and houses etc... but it should affect the way in which we think about our poorer neighbours shouldn't it? do you give out of charity? how many really poor people do you know? is there an us and them mentality in your giving or attitude?
you don't have to look very far to find real hardship and poverty, shall we open our eyes and our hearts and get involved? shall we join them?
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