Thursday, April 23, 2009
Mole the Gardener
Jeff Strong who works at Anawim is a bold gardener, and he likes to get into dirt. Touch it, whatever. Reminds me of a certain character in Atlantis, a Disney film.
Some Thoughts On Reform
A lot of people are interested in reforming the church, and I am certainly one of them. Perhaps we don’t all agree at exactly what this reform looks like, but we agree that it must be done. There is a lot of talk here, but little action. It is time to make some changes.
But what is the most effective agent for change? What is the catalyst that will bring about the necessary reform? Let’s look at some of the reforms of the past and see how it happens:
-We could begin with one small group of reformers and live radical lifestyles. Of course, by the next generation (or possibly even before that) the radical lifestyle will be compromised to such a degree as to be un-radical. And besides, people will just exalt us as “special” or “a saint” and so separate themselves from the change they need to have. (Francis of Assisi)
-We could train the poor the truth of living radically for Jesus and let them preach openly. We just need to hope that they don’t start a war. (John Wycliffe- Lombards; Peter Waldo- Waldensians)
-We could begin a really successful writing campaign that stirs the hearts of angry young men and women until they cause an upheaval in churches around the world. Of course, we had better not get politically involved or else we might find ourselves on one side of a battle. (Martin Luther)
-We could go from congregation to congregation, teaching a single, unified message that becomes an underground movement (John Wesley; missionary movement)
-We could have a top-down decision to make some radical Jesus changes. (Vatican II, Desmond Tutu in South Africa)
-We could take to the streets, to show mass support of our important cause (MLK Jr.)
-We could teach a message that is threatening to the powers that be and have them kill us, which will plant the seed for a future generation to make the changes necessary. (Jesus, Anabaptist reformers)
There are so many ways for it to be done successfully. We don’t want to hang our hopes on just one. Reform is multifaceted and powerful and it can be done in many ways.
However, there is one component that is necessary for reform to happen. We need to have a mass of people—not a majority, mind you, but a good amount—knowing that change is necessary and is ready to make sacrifices for the change. Every reform happens in seasons of discontent and usually oppression.
How can we have reform amidst complacency? How can we have reform amidst people who feel that writing on a blog is their contribution to real change? How can we have reform when cable, DVDs, and preachers keep us entertained and satisfied with our lives? Yes, oppression happens, and our answer to it is to “click here”, and so we feel that we’ve done our part.
There is slavery in the world, the oppression of the poor, AIDS is an epidemic, the U.S. is continuing to stir up war to solve their economic woes—and the only thing we can get stirred up about is medical insurance? Just to give you a hint—the people on the street don’t care about medical insurance. They want a safe place to sleep where they won’t be bothered by the police. The people in Darfur aren’t concerned about medical insurance so much as having their family members survive. And Jesus himself is less concerned about medical insurance as he is about equity between the wealthy and the poor—which the Mennonite church seems to have forgotten about. As well as the Methodists, the Waldensians, the Unitarians and whoever else.
There’s plenty to reform. But it won’t happen until we FEEL the anger. God Himself is yelling at the world leaders, saying, “How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked…. You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High. Nevertheless you will die like men And fall like any one of the princes." And the psalmist replies, “Arise, O God, judge the earth!”
But we, the wealthy of the world are too caught up in our economic slowdown and the latest events on American Idol to feel the anger of God. We Mennonites are so fearful of experiencing that anger, of facing conflict, that we would rather take medication or slave-harvested chocolate to calm us down instead of changing the world as it should be changed.
This is why reform won’t happen. Not because of a wrong method. But because we lack empathy for the poor. And, as much work as I do for the poor, I have to admit that I am part of the problem myself.
But what is the most effective agent for change? What is the catalyst that will bring about the necessary reform? Let’s look at some of the reforms of the past and see how it happens:
-We could begin with one small group of reformers and live radical lifestyles. Of course, by the next generation (or possibly even before that) the radical lifestyle will be compromised to such a degree as to be un-radical. And besides, people will just exalt us as “special” or “a saint” and so separate themselves from the change they need to have. (Francis of Assisi)
-We could train the poor the truth of living radically for Jesus and let them preach openly. We just need to hope that they don’t start a war. (John Wycliffe- Lombards; Peter Waldo- Waldensians)
-We could begin a really successful writing campaign that stirs the hearts of angry young men and women until they cause an upheaval in churches around the world. Of course, we had better not get politically involved or else we might find ourselves on one side of a battle. (Martin Luther)
-We could go from congregation to congregation, teaching a single, unified message that becomes an underground movement (John Wesley; missionary movement)
-We could have a top-down decision to make some radical Jesus changes. (Vatican II, Desmond Tutu in South Africa)
-We could take to the streets, to show mass support of our important cause (MLK Jr.)
-We could teach a message that is threatening to the powers that be and have them kill us, which will plant the seed for a future generation to make the changes necessary. (Jesus, Anabaptist reformers)
There are so many ways for it to be done successfully. We don’t want to hang our hopes on just one. Reform is multifaceted and powerful and it can be done in many ways.
However, there is one component that is necessary for reform to happen. We need to have a mass of people—not a majority, mind you, but a good amount—knowing that change is necessary and is ready to make sacrifices for the change. Every reform happens in seasons of discontent and usually oppression.
How can we have reform amidst complacency? How can we have reform amidst people who feel that writing on a blog is their contribution to real change? How can we have reform when cable, DVDs, and preachers keep us entertained and satisfied with our lives? Yes, oppression happens, and our answer to it is to “click here”, and so we feel that we’ve done our part.
There is slavery in the world, the oppression of the poor, AIDS is an epidemic, the U.S. is continuing to stir up war to solve their economic woes—and the only thing we can get stirred up about is medical insurance? Just to give you a hint—the people on the street don’t care about medical insurance. They want a safe place to sleep where they won’t be bothered by the police. The people in Darfur aren’t concerned about medical insurance so much as having their family members survive. And Jesus himself is less concerned about medical insurance as he is about equity between the wealthy and the poor—which the Mennonite church seems to have forgotten about. As well as the Methodists, the Waldensians, the Unitarians and whoever else.
There’s plenty to reform. But it won’t happen until we FEEL the anger. God Himself is yelling at the world leaders, saying, “How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked…. You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High. Nevertheless you will die like men And fall like any one of the princes." And the psalmist replies, “Arise, O God, judge the earth!”
But we, the wealthy of the world are too caught up in our economic slowdown and the latest events on American Idol to feel the anger of God. We Mennonites are so fearful of experiencing that anger, of facing conflict, that we would rather take medication or slave-harvested chocolate to calm us down instead of changing the world as it should be changed.
This is why reform won’t happen. Not because of a wrong method. But because we lack empathy for the poor. And, as much work as I do for the poor, I have to admit that I am part of the problem myself.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
What Does It Mean To Be Poor
Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away. Being intentionally poor is telling others where to get their tooth fixed for free.
Being poor is going to the restroom before you get in the school lunch line so your friends will be ahead of you and won’t hear you say “I get free lunch” when you get to the cashier.
Being poor is living next to the freeway in the most toxic part of the city. Being intentionally poor is doing so on purpose so you can live with your poor neighbors.
Being poor is wondering if your well-off family member is lying when he says he doesn’t mind when you ask for help.
Being poor is getting toys for your kids for free, from out of a dumpster or from the dollar store. Being intentionally poor is doing so with joy.
Being poor is a heater in only one room of the house. Being intentionally poor is welcoming that one room to the homeless outside your door.
Being poor is hoping your kids don’t have a growth spurt.
Being poor is not enough space for everyone who lives with you. Being intentionally poor is when you do get a place, it fills up right away.
Being poor is relying on people who don’t give a damn about you.
Being poor is stopping the car to take a lamp from a stranger’s trash. Being intentionally poor is regularly going through dumpsters in order to find good food for all those you know in need.
Being poor is people angry at you just for walking around in the mall.
Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to yours. And secretly being glad about it.
Being poor is hoping you’ll be invited for dinner. Being intentionally poor is inviting others to diner to share the poor fare you have.
Being poor is your kid’s teacher assuming you don’t have any books in your home. Or enough money to buy your kids decent clothes.
Being poor is crying when you drop the mac and cheese on the floor.
Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere. Being intentionally poor is knowing your work is doing some good.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually stupid.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually lazy.
Being poor is a six-hour wait in an emergency room with a sick child asleep on your lap. Being intentionally poor is that same wait with a mentally ill friend.
Being poor is picking the 10 cent ramen instead of the 12 cent ramen because that’s two extra packages for every dollar.
Being poor is needing to shop at Winco because it’s cheaper, but not being able to drive there because the gas or bus fare is too much.
Being poor is getting a fare hike on the bus to pay for a million dollar train to take the white collars to work.
Being poor is needing to buy a 800 dollar car with poor environmental quality and then being preached at because the car is “ruining the environment”. Being intentionally poor is having to make the decision between two sets of values.
Being poor is meeting everyone you know at the soup kitchen at second half of the month when you all run out of food stamps.
Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful. Being intentionally poor is being grateful to God for what little you have.
Being poor is knowing which service worker is sincere, which is judging you and which hates her job.
Being poor is losing your job and getting an increase in your rent the same month, and so losing everything. Being intentionally poor is still having options when that happens.
Being poor is getting yelled at by the phone company because you can’t pay your bill and are calling to make arrangements.
Being poor is a cough that doesn’t go away. Being intentionally poor is giving your homeless friend a couch when the hospital tells him to leave the day after his surgery.
Being poor is working harder for less. Being intentionally poor is giving what little you have to those who have even less.
Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.
Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so. Being intentionally poor is actually choosing poverty and knowing why.
Being poor is seeing how few options you have. Being intentionally poor is choosing to live with fewer options so that those who have no options may have some.
Being poor is going to the restroom before you get in the school lunch line so your friends will be ahead of you and won’t hear you say “I get free lunch” when you get to the cashier.
Being poor is living next to the freeway in the most toxic part of the city. Being intentionally poor is doing so on purpose so you can live with your poor neighbors.
Being poor is wondering if your well-off family member is lying when he says he doesn’t mind when you ask for help.
Being poor is getting toys for your kids for free, from out of a dumpster or from the dollar store. Being intentionally poor is doing so with joy.
Being poor is a heater in only one room of the house. Being intentionally poor is welcoming that one room to the homeless outside your door.
Being poor is hoping your kids don’t have a growth spurt.
Being poor is not enough space for everyone who lives with you. Being intentionally poor is when you do get a place, it fills up right away.
Being poor is relying on people who don’t give a damn about you.
Being poor is stopping the car to take a lamp from a stranger’s trash. Being intentionally poor is regularly going through dumpsters in order to find good food for all those you know in need.
Being poor is people angry at you just for walking around in the mall.
Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to yours. And secretly being glad about it.
Being poor is hoping you’ll be invited for dinner. Being intentionally poor is inviting others to diner to share the poor fare you have.
Being poor is your kid’s teacher assuming you don’t have any books in your home. Or enough money to buy your kids decent clothes.
Being poor is crying when you drop the mac and cheese on the floor.
Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere. Being intentionally poor is knowing your work is doing some good.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually stupid.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually lazy.
Being poor is a six-hour wait in an emergency room with a sick child asleep on your lap. Being intentionally poor is that same wait with a mentally ill friend.
Being poor is picking the 10 cent ramen instead of the 12 cent ramen because that’s two extra packages for every dollar.
Being poor is needing to shop at Winco because it’s cheaper, but not being able to drive there because the gas or bus fare is too much.
Being poor is getting a fare hike on the bus to pay for a million dollar train to take the white collars to work.
Being poor is needing to buy a 800 dollar car with poor environmental quality and then being preached at because the car is “ruining the environment”. Being intentionally poor is having to make the decision between two sets of values.
Being poor is meeting everyone you know at the soup kitchen at second half of the month when you all run out of food stamps.
Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful. Being intentionally poor is being grateful to God for what little you have.
Being poor is knowing which service worker is sincere, which is judging you and which hates her job.
Being poor is losing your job and getting an increase in your rent the same month, and so losing everything. Being intentionally poor is still having options when that happens.
Being poor is getting yelled at by the phone company because you can’t pay your bill and are calling to make arrangements.
Being poor is a cough that doesn’t go away. Being intentionally poor is giving your homeless friend a couch when the hospital tells him to leave the day after his surgery.
Being poor is working harder for less. Being intentionally poor is giving what little you have to those who have even less.
Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.
Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so. Being intentionally poor is actually choosing poverty and knowing why.
Being poor is seeing how few options you have. Being intentionally poor is choosing to live with fewer options so that those who have no options may have some.
STOP HOBOPHOBIA!
Countless times a day, homeless people are rejected, falsely accused, harassed, ticketed, and even beat up, all for the "crime" of not having a roof over their heads or of being dirty or of carrying all their possessions in a backpack. The homeless are treated as the outcast of society, as those at the bottom of the economic ladder. Yet the homeless are not the cause of the evils of our society. Nor are they necessarily the outcome of our evils. The homeless are people—people who want to live and love and hope and work, just like you do. Let us not continue to punish those who are lowly in our society, but help them.
Battle the cliches of the homeless
The homeless are "us", not "them"—Many of the homeless are good Christians or children of important citizens. Many of our neighbors and friends have been homeless at one time or another. Homelessness is not an evil, or even necessarily a tragedy—it is a stage of life that many of us have gone through.
The homeless DO work—While most do not have jobs, they do work hard, some harder than people who have "regular jobs". It is not easy to get up at 6am to get to dumpsters before anyone else and climb in many of them in order to get recycled cans. Other homeless volunteer at free hot meals and shelters.
Not all homeless are alcoholics—In general, about one third of the homeless have alcohol or drug abuse problems. Many more have mental health or social difficulties. Many have had tragedies that have overwhelmed them, such as a loss of a job or the suicide of a spouse or family member.
Not all homeless are criminals or violent—Most homeless abhor the crime and violence done by the few homeless who do because it gets them accused. The homeless have the same percentage of theft and violence as those who are housed.
Teach your children and the community not to hate the homeless.
The majority of violent crimes against the homeless are done by middle class youth who feel that they have the right to violently fulfill the prejudices of their parents and community. If our youth and community learn that the homeless are human—people like us—then such crimes will be reduced, even eliminated.
Meet and listen to homeless people
Find out the times and locations of local free meals and sit at the table with the homeless. Find out their real motivations and hopes and desires. You may find that they do not differ that much from your own. Be patient with a homeless person’s oddness—you seem just as odd to them.
Include the homeless in social events
Invite the homeless to community and church functions. However, because many of them do not believe that they would be welcome, certain assurances must be made:
It is not necessary to be well-dressed for the function.
It may be necessary to provide transportation to and from the event.
An announcement may be necessary to make sure that everyone is accepting of the homeless.
Support benevolence organizations that assist the homeless
Volunteer at a free meal, give to an organization that helps the homeless, give blankets and clothes to a shelter. Call a local church to find out where you can help the homeless. As you give and volunteer be a friend to those you are helping—seeing and meeting them— not a distant, nameless Benefactor.
Provide opportunities for the homeless
Provide what the homeless REALLY need—opportunities to shower, socks, clean clothes, an address, a chance to work for money, a chance to do volunteer work for others. Be a friend to the homeless and help them get the resources they need.
Battle the cliches of the homeless
The homeless are "us", not "them"—Many of the homeless are good Christians or children of important citizens. Many of our neighbors and friends have been homeless at one time or another. Homelessness is not an evil, or even necessarily a tragedy—it is a stage of life that many of us have gone through.
The homeless DO work—While most do not have jobs, they do work hard, some harder than people who have "regular jobs". It is not easy to get up at 6am to get to dumpsters before anyone else and climb in many of them in order to get recycled cans. Other homeless volunteer at free hot meals and shelters.
Not all homeless are alcoholics—In general, about one third of the homeless have alcohol or drug abuse problems. Many more have mental health or social difficulties. Many have had tragedies that have overwhelmed them, such as a loss of a job or the suicide of a spouse or family member.
Not all homeless are criminals or violent—Most homeless abhor the crime and violence done by the few homeless who do because it gets them accused. The homeless have the same percentage of theft and violence as those who are housed.
Teach your children and the community not to hate the homeless.
The majority of violent crimes against the homeless are done by middle class youth who feel that they have the right to violently fulfill the prejudices of their parents and community. If our youth and community learn that the homeless are human—people like us—then such crimes will be reduced, even eliminated.
Meet and listen to homeless people
Find out the times and locations of local free meals and sit at the table with the homeless. Find out their real motivations and hopes and desires. You may find that they do not differ that much from your own. Be patient with a homeless person’s oddness—you seem just as odd to them.
Include the homeless in social events
Invite the homeless to community and church functions. However, because many of them do not believe that they would be welcome, certain assurances must be made:
It is not necessary to be well-dressed for the function.
It may be necessary to provide transportation to and from the event.
An announcement may be necessary to make sure that everyone is accepting of the homeless.
Support benevolence organizations that assist the homeless
Volunteer at a free meal, give to an organization that helps the homeless, give blankets and clothes to a shelter. Call a local church to find out where you can help the homeless. As you give and volunteer be a friend to those you are helping—seeing and meeting them— not a distant, nameless Benefactor.
Provide opportunities for the homeless
Provide what the homeless REALLY need—opportunities to shower, socks, clean clothes, an address, a chance to work for money, a chance to do volunteer work for others. Be a friend to the homeless and help them get the resources they need.
What The Bible Says About The Poor
No matter how great you think you are, if you oppress the poor, God will crush you and make you die. (Psalm 82)
Those who oppress the poor will die at God’s hand, but the righteous poor will be given the wealth of the wicked. (Psalm 37)
The society that listens to God’s word and provides for the poor will have no poor among them. However, because of the disobedience of his people, the poor will always be among the people. (Deuteronomy 15:4-11)
While many love the rich, even the neighbor of the poor hates them. If you hate your neighbor in need, you sin, but if you help the poor, God blesses you. (Proverbs 14:20-21)
The Creator will punish the one who mocks the poor. (Proverbs 17:5)
Sell what you have and give to the poor. (Luke 12:33)
Invite the poor to your parties and events. (Luke 14:13)
Associate with the lowly, treating them as equals, and so love your neighbor as yourself. (James 2:1-8)
The one who is kind to the poor is giving a loan to God and God will repay in time. (Proverbs 19:17)
Until the poor are assisted, God will not listen to our prayers. But after we do justice to the oppressed, then the Lord will answer our cries. (Isaiah 58:6-11)
The economics of God is that those who have more than what they need give to those who have need, so that everyone’s need is met. At another time, one who was given to will give to those who gave, so all give and all receive in their need. (II Corinthians 8:12-15)
When you give, give out of compassion and care for the other person’s need, or it does you no good. (I Corinthians 13:3)
When you give to the poor, do it for God’s sake, not for your own benefit so others will be impressed or give you benefit for your giving. If you give to be rewarded by men, you will receive nothing from God for your work. (Matthew 6:1-3)
Those who oppress the poor will die at God’s hand, but the righteous poor will be given the wealth of the wicked. (Psalm 37)
The society that listens to God’s word and provides for the poor will have no poor among them. However, because of the disobedience of his people, the poor will always be among the people. (Deuteronomy 15:4-11)
While many love the rich, even the neighbor of the poor hates them. If you hate your neighbor in need, you sin, but if you help the poor, God blesses you. (Proverbs 14:20-21)
The Creator will punish the one who mocks the poor. (Proverbs 17:5)
Sell what you have and give to the poor. (Luke 12:33)
Invite the poor to your parties and events. (Luke 14:13)
Associate with the lowly, treating them as equals, and so love your neighbor as yourself. (James 2:1-8)
The one who is kind to the poor is giving a loan to God and God will repay in time. (Proverbs 19:17)
Until the poor are assisted, God will not listen to our prayers. But after we do justice to the oppressed, then the Lord will answer our cries. (Isaiah 58:6-11)
The economics of God is that those who have more than what they need give to those who have need, so that everyone’s need is met. At another time, one who was given to will give to those who gave, so all give and all receive in their need. (II Corinthians 8:12-15)
When you give, give out of compassion and care for the other person’s need, or it does you no good. (I Corinthians 13:3)
When you give to the poor, do it for God’s sake, not for your own benefit so others will be impressed or give you benefit for your giving. If you give to be rewarded by men, you will receive nothing from God for your work. (Matthew 6:1-3)
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