Reflections on Christopraxis

How shall we then live?

Many times in recent months I have heard people compare our economic times as "the worse since the Great Depression."  While many parrot such things, the real numbers are quite different.

According to Jeffrey Sachs, in his book The End of Poverty, roughly a fifth of the world's population (about 1.1 billion) live in extreme poverty -- the kind of poverty that kills people.  Two generations ago, about half of the world's population was in extreme poverty.  I offer this out because most of us will never see that kind of poverty, but it shows just how far the world has come since the Great Depression.  Also, it illustrates the fact that most of us who complain about the economy are a part of the four-fifths of the population that can count on surviving another year.

During the Depression, they had about four times today's unemployment rate.  Some people predict we might see as high as 11 percent unemployment before the economy turns around, which is still less than half of what they had during the Great Depression.  During the Depression, when banks failed, there was  no FDIC to insure your savings.  Now, we just have to worry about the devaluation of the dollar, resulting from the Federal Reserve printing more money to "solve" our problems.  (Cause enough to worry, but at least we still will have something.)

Actually, we are much better off than when Reagan took office forty years after the Depression.  At that time, we had higher taxes, higher unemployment, double-digit inflation, and double-digit mortgage rates!  During the Depression, many refused government assistance, today, the government is the first place we go to for assistance.  It is telling how uninformed and soft we have gotten when today's economy is compared to the Great Depression. 

That said, there is plenty to be concerned about.  Everyone who has any knowledge of the economy expects things to get worse before they get better.  The honest ones will tell you that our politicians (of both parties) will likely make things worse trying to fix things.    While interest rates are relatively low, most of us cannot afford to sell our houses at today's market values.  It is good that 93 percent of us have jobs, but 7 percent do not, and their ranks are growing every month.  Investments are sinking, or are already under water.  Those with work are finding that companies are cutting back on their benefits. 

After reviewing the "signs of the times," Francis Schaeffer asked in his book by the same title, "How shall we then live?"  That is the question on my mind at this time.   Walter Brueggemann writes in his book, The Prophetic Imagination:

"...prophetic ministry consists of offering an alternative perception of reality and in letting people see their own history in light of God's freedom and his will for justice."  p. 116ff

This is what the Church should be doing in every age, and I think it provides a clue to how we are to answer Schaeffer's question.  Sadly, I think Brueggeman's assessment of the contemporary American church is also spot-on.

"The contemporary American church is so largely enculturated to the American ethos of consumerism that it has little power to believe or act" p. 1

We compare the current times to the Great Depression because we have been lulled into sleepy inaction and unbelief.  We lose sight of the larger picture, and as a result, we will likely not notice the real problems. 

It is easy to stand in criticism of today's culture, but it is harder to energize toward the alternative of "God's freedom and justice."  We have to do little to criticize.  We can criticize even while enjoying the benefits of the dominant culture.  But to energize toward an alternative -- especially toward God's alternative -- that requires us to take action.  Yet, isn't that what Christ asked of us?

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?  Luke 9:23 – 25

So, "How shall we then live?"  This dove-tails well into my reflections on the Church. 

A New President is Elected

Today our nation elected a new president, a man named Barack Obama.  I tend to be politically conservative, so I supported the other guy, though he was not as conservative as I would have preferred.  As a result, my first reaction was to cling to Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."  This was partly a serious response and partly tongue-in-cheek. 

Politics are far from perfect, and I make no pretense that the power-over ways of this world will achieve true freedom and justice.  The way of the Kingdom of God is the way of the cross.

Yet, as I listen to the candidates make their speeches, a different feeling came over me.  McCain made an honorable speech -- one that did not make me ashamed to have supported him.  Obama made another masterful speech that seemed to suggest he was coming to grips with what it means to be the leader of a whole nation, not just the left or the right, the black or the white.

Above all, I am struck with the fact that this is a powerful event in the lives of every African-American.  My daughter and I were talking the other day about how Obama getting elected as president will be a powerful act of justice and reconciliation for them.  Hopefully they will realize that they no longer will have to listen to the the old lies of the oppressor. 

Jürgen Moltmann observes, when discussing Liberation Theology, that when the oppressed are liberated, the oppressors are also liberated.  The vision of Obama standing in front of a crowd of supporters from all racial and ethnic backgrounds is truly a vision of freedom, which has inspired millions of people who live in this nation, or seek to live here.  Perhaps in an imperfect way, it is an echo of the time when people from every nation will stand before our Creator and God, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

So with this in mind, I rejoice with Barack Obama and every African-American tonight, for what this day represents to them.  And I stand with the people of this nation and world who hope that this man can humbly embrace the potential that God has put before him in serving as president of these United States of America.  The realities of this imperfect world will settle in soon enough.  My prayer is that for now people will see each other as we are; each uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, and each as equally precious to God. 

A Good Ruler

A couple weeks back I watched the Science Fiction Channel's version of Frank Herbert's Dune and Children of Dune.  These movies do a good job of catching the main plots from the books (Dune, Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune), though Herbert's genius is impossible to capture in the time span of even a mini-series.  As I watch these movies, I am always struck about how the socio-political themes relate to our contemporary times.  Plots within plots.  Things are never as simple as we like to pretend they are.

In the USA right now we are in the midst of a presidential election.  The candidates are working to present themselves to the people in a way that will get themselves elected.  It is within this context that I found the insight of the character, Leto, in Children of Dune, to be profoundly applicable.  He says:  "A good ruler doesn't need to be a prophet... not even god-like.  A good rule has to be sensitive to the ones he rules."  The dialog goes one to suggest a ruler should be a servant of the community. 

This concept of leadership is not typical of what we find in society today, but it is very much in line with what Jesus taught about leadership.  I wonder what our politics would look like if our leaders took these principles of service to the community and sensitivity to all the people to heart?

Thinking it Through

I read an interesting series of articles in this week's issue of The Economist about "Unhappy America."  One of the things that caught my attention is that while the majority of the people feel the pressure of higher energy and food prices, most are relatively content with their own situation -- their work (which most have), etc.  Yet, people feel like things are going badly.  I wonder if they are responding to the dreary picture painted by the media, or maybe they are reacting to the uncertainty of life.  There seems to be a desire to have someone give them assurance.  Will it be McCain or Obama? 

In a recently news articles I read about LA city wanting to ban new fast food restaurants in an attempt to combat obesity.  Having traveled around it is hard to deny that Americans are obese.  However, is banning McDonalds and not subway going to solve that problem?  I think not.  That ignores several things.  First, McDonalds is already putting more healthy items on their menu, and not all things at Subway are better for you.  Second, what is to stop a person from going to a sit-down restaurant and eating something unhealthy?  All of this ignores the basic problem of people over-eating in the first place!  What is needed is not a parent-state to tells us what to eat, but inner self control and determination to change the way we live.  Here lies the problem.

American has been promoting democracy around the world, but does that solve our problems?  Will it give us freedom.  Abraham Heschel observes:

"Is liberty alone, regardless of what we do with it, regardless of good and evil, of kindness and cruelty, the highest good?"

While society admittedly has a lot of problems, many of our problems lie in mans greed and selfishness.  They have moral roots.  The Bible teaches us that on our own, we are helpless to change ourselves.  Mankind's need is for God working in our lives.

It seems that the call to make disciples of the nations (Matt 28:18-20) is as relevant as it was 2000 year ago.  We need to learn to die to self, as Jesus taught, and to love God and our neighbors.  Political factions seeking power for the party do not promote this kind of love.  It is a work of the God who is Creator, Savior, and how is Himself love.

Evangelical Manifesto

A friend of mine drew my attention to the Evangelical Manifesto web.  It is an attempt to clarify, moderate, and refocus our attention to what it means to be a follower of Jesus.  I personally think it does a great job, and is much needed at this time in America.  

Christmas Time Reflectiions

Greetings from snowy Minnesota!  Is it ok to say, "Merry Christmas"?  That won't offend you, will it?  Maybe I should throw in a "Happy Hanukkah" or a "Merry Solstice."  The other day, I heard about a school in Canada that tried to sensor the word "Christmas" out of the song, "Silver Bells."  They tried to change it to say "Holiday  time is here," in an attempt to be "sensitive."  The outcry was so great that they "relented" and let the kids sing a rousing chorus of "Frosty the Snowman."  Too much "Christ" in the word "Christmas," I suppose.  Personally, I think such political correctness is rooted more in issues individuals have than with really trying to be pluralistically sensitive. 

Ironically, some Christians struggle with the fact that during this time of the year that there is often not enough Christ in Christmas. The solution isn't to insist school children sing Silver Bells the with the original words.  The solution to this issue is a personal one.  We each have to work it out for ourselves.  Every year I and my family try to navigate our way through this season, searching for the right balance. 

It is not surprising that I would be posting on Christmas after Christmas.  I took some days off work, and am just beginning to feel like I am catching up with life.  During this time of year I like to reflect on where I have been, and to look ahead to what I hope to do for the following year.  It is a time of refocusing for me. 

Post Election Thoughts

The fervor of the elections is dying down, and the pundits are trying to figure out what it all means.  It seems good to remember what Pastor Greg says about the Kingdom of God not being the same as the Kingdom of the World.  I always have believed that you cannot change hearts with law.  As such, I have not been one of those politically energized Christians.  On the other hand, I know that we have a privilege in being able to vote and have a say in how our country is governed, even though sometimes it does not aways seem like it matters what we think to the politicians. 

I tend to vote Republican.  Ideologically, I tend to be conservative.  The frustrating thing is that the political parties, and even the political ideologies, do not really reflect my thinking.  One has to take the better of the two evils, and we each need to decide what that is.  I  vote Republican and my friend Earl votes Democrat.  Earl is a happy camper now.  I have never been someone who needed to be agreed with on every point, so I have not treated politicians that way.  I admire the politicians that have integrity and principles.  Isn't the idea that you vote for someone who will represent you in office?  If so, then I think we need to choose representatives that are willing to take a principled stand. 

The heavy Democratic win this year does not bother me much.  I have been listening to some of the conservative talk shows and most of the pundits I respect were not very pleased with many of the Republicans in office.  They see this as a wake up call.  One insightfully said that going through a humbling experience and having to admit you were wrong can be a very healthy thing.  I found that to be true in my own life.  By the way, you can be wrong because you did not know the right thing to do, and you can be wrong by not doing the right thing. 

I am 50 years old and have see a number of changes in the political landscape.  The world did not end.  When Regan was elected President, many of thought he would end it.  We're still here.  I think it is healthy to have the two parties.  If there were only one party, I think it would corrupt the government.  There would be no scrutiny, so I think they would get careless with legislation.  As I said, there are no political parties I agree with on all points.  I think the diversity is a good thing, though sometimes it can be maddening.

We avoided big legal battles over various races.  I am glad for that, and I applaud those Republicans who chose to concede gracefully.  People who feel like everything must be contested in court make the whole process nearly impossible.  It all comes down to a matter of manipulating the system, or worrying about whether the other guy manipulated the system.  You can never do enough.  We  vote, count the votes, and then you get the results.  If you win, you try to do the right thing, and if you lose, you try to do better next time.  With all the rhetoric out there, in America, for the most part each person gets a chance to vote, and each of their votes gets counted.

My fear is that the people are not really interested in the things that make a difference.  I am afraid people just want to live in a bubble where everything is sunny and bad things do not happen.  They want to live in the "Truman Story" (check out the movie).  Perhaps some will think that if we ignore the terrorist, that they will leave us alone.  I wonder if people know the difference between a constitutionalists judge and one who legislates from the bench.  Do people know the difference between living under national laws, and being subject to a "world law"?  The distinction can be signficant if you life in a nation like America.  I wonder if some people realize that the same freedom that allows me to worship the God I choose, and to attempt to convince others to worship him, is the same freedom that allows the pornographer to sell their wares.  Why did God give us the ability to choose?

The movie "V for Vendetta" depicts a government that in some ways could be any number of existing governments today.  Would we give absolute power for peace?  People have done so before.  Yet, Iraq and the old Soviet Union shows us that merely setting people free is not enough.  There must be something bigger than our own individual peace and pleasure otherwise anarchy will give way to chaos, and then some totalitarian power will come in to asset order.  It is the way of the world.

Thank God that His Kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world!  Thank God that the Kingdom of God is based on love, service, giving, and bringing healing, restoration, and true freedom.  (cf. Isaiah 61:1-3)