Curtis started off SNC with a question regarding the best method for keeping our stuff safe from thieves. The question elicited a variety of answers (as listed in the title), but I believe Curtis crowned Pastor Rick as the winner with the answer "don't have nice things and don't have things worth stealing." Curtis' solution to his question was along these lines...you can't rob the willing. Curtis’ has been skirting around the theme regarding rights and entitlements the last couple weeks. I believe that the reason Curtis has needed to continually work through the topic of rights is because we are trained as Americans to have this engrained sense of unalienable rights (something to do with living in the top 5% of the world). Curtis has been combating the engrained teaching but sharing how we serve a different kingdom and are called to be slaves to Christ.
Personally, I have been grappling with the implications of serving the true kingdom, as a citizen in Christ. It has been really hard! It has been difficult because, as Curtis’ detailed, the Christian faith is one of downward mobility. The downward mobility that calls us to the deepest, darkest places to serve others. Being part of the top 5% in the world (I believe Curtis used 3% or 1%...I have heard different percentages) it is hard to leave our plush lifestyle and serve. “To be honest” as Curtis would say, I often feel the tug of entitlement where I think I deserve things more than others (or in general). It is assumed that if we work hard then we get what we deserve, and it is ours because we have worked for it. I look through a distorted lens that which I think that for some reason I have received the blessings I have from my doings; instead of seeing that everything is from God. I am working on a practical way to implement the reminder that everything we have is from God (still working out what I would like to do…I will probably post my plans when I decide).
In closing I wanted to throw something out there. As Curtis was working through Ephesians 4:28 I started to think of this book by Max Weber called The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. The book deals with the ethics that must be dealt with in capitalism, and how Calvinists played a role (through the idea of hard work) building up capitalism. The book does not directly deal with the second part of verse 28 which has to deal with giving and generosity, but it deals with how capitalism seeks the end goal of profit, which can be seen, and is seen by Christians as a virtue. All this said to point out that it is easy to read the first part of the verse which directs thieves to stop stealing and work hard. The second half of the verse is just as important, if not more, to give generously because it has been given by God (all of it is God’s anyway…wish I could really understand this complex statement). I am curious what it would look like if Christians did give more than 3% (statistically) for a tithe? How could we change the world?
2 comments:
Thanks for this post Matt. It is so easy to get caught up in the world. It is sad actually. I came from very little, and at one point lost everything, material possessions and relationships at a young age. I am reminded everyday that the possessions I have, the children i gave birth to, my husband, are all God's and they are just on loan to me. I know what it is to have nothing, and I know how quickly it can come and go, therefore realizing, I have no rights, and what I do have is God's. With that said for people that have "had" or not felt true loss this concept can be much harder, and there may come a point where they feel entitled. I know Steve struggles with this, as he is use to a certain way of life. I would be happy in an apartment with my family, Steve on the other hand insists we need a house. (this is what he knows) Your life can change dramatically once you understand that what we have in this world doesn't even belong to us. Money, materials, people. So why do we make idols out of it all? Now I am not saying go out and get rid of it all. Use it in a way that is pleasing to God. Give freely with no motive. Not just money but time. I too am guilty of what Curtis expressed in his post and it saddens me. In the end when there is nothing left possessions wise all we will have is time! So the way I see it the most valuable possession you will ever own is faith.
Thanks Cia for joining us in communal dialogue over the internet! I will confirm your opening line, I get caught up in the world way to much...and it is sad that I struggle with what my priorities are. I am one of those people who have never really lost that much. I have to really remind myself to be thankful because I have some much! I take my wife, kids, family, health, etc for granted. It is sickening how I can come to expect or think it is owed to me to have these things at my beckoning call...or to make a fuss over spilt milk. I would love to live a simpler life...but ironically “things” always get in the way. Shane Claiborne's "The Simple Way" finds it easier to just go without, to live in community, sharing, meeting everyone else’s needs first...every time I try a form of his radical living my free time or item that I gave up seems to be replaced a couple weeks later with something else. There always is contiunual gardening work and pruning when it comes to life.
Thanks for contributing!
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