The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 6a (p 155-169)
Economics of Rebirth
I've been on the road for the past 5 weekends plus a number of days in between, so please be patient with my problem of tardiness. I should have asked Travis to write again. But here I am now.
(a) "Faith-based nonprofits.... can too easily merely facilitate the exchange of goods and services, putting plenty of professionals in the middle to guarantee that the rich do not have to face the poor and that power does not shift." The reign of God "did not spread through organizational establishments or structural systems. It spread like disease--through touch, through breath, through life. It spreads through people infected by love" (p 159).
This totally reminds me of a quote by another revolutionary a few years ago, Ellen White. In The Ministry of Healing, she said:
"Everywhere there is a tendency to substitute the work of organizations for individual effort. Human wisdom tends to consolidation, to centralization, to the building up of great churches and institutions. Multitudes leave to institutions and organizations the work of benevolence; they excuse themselves from contact with the world, and their hearts grow cold. They become self-absorbed and unimpressible. Love for God and man dies out of the soul.
"Christ commits to His followers an individual work--a work that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and the poor, the giving of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees or organized charities. Individual responsibility, individual effort, personal sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel.
"'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in,' is Christ's command, 'that my house may be filled' (Luke 14:23). He brings men into touch with those whom they seek to benefit. 'Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house,' He says. 'When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him' (Isa. 58:7). 'They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover' (Mark 16:18). Through direct contact, through personal ministry, the blessings of the gospel are to be communicated" (p 146-148).
How have I been relying on organizations? What can I do personally today? When might collective efforts (i.e., organizations) be able to deal with issues that individuals cannot?
(b) "The poor will always be among you" (p 16).
A pastor friend of mine even used this verse with me. "Jeff, don't waste all your energy fighting poverty. It will never be eradicated. Jesus said there will always be poor people."
But this conclusion is the opposite of Jesus' teaching. He said we would always have the opportunity to help the poor, so it was acceptable for this lady in this instance to do something generous personally for him. He wasn't saying, "You'll never overcome this entirely, so don't even try." The empire, bad decisions and bad luck will always make people poor, and we get to lend a hand, to demonstrate God's love for them.
Being poor is a fairly normal stage in life. We help people in need, and someone helps us when we have needs, and they help someone else when they get on their feet and have extra to share. And the more interdependent we become, the more often we can meet each other's needs.
Are there poor people in your faith community? Do they have truly equal status with those with bank accounts?
(c) "Simplicity is meaningful only inasmuch as it is grounded in love, authentic relationships, and interdependence" (p 163).
I friend helped us move recently, and he called me out. "You talk big about living simply, but you have boxes full of books, CDs and clothes." I'm blessed to share an authentic relationship with him.
(d) "True generosity is measured not by how much we give away but by how much we have left, especially when we look at the needs of our neighbors" (p 164). And to me, this is why the widow's might was a more amazing gift than all the others. Do I need to pray for more love so I can freely share with my neighbors?
And that quote about murdering the hungry child... Hraugh! (good luck pronouncing that)
(a) "Faith-based nonprofits.... can too easily merely facilitate the exchange of goods and services, putting plenty of professionals in the middle to guarantee that the rich do not have to face the poor and that power does not shift." The reign of God "did not spread through organizational establishments or structural systems. It spread like disease--through touch, through breath, through life. It spreads through people infected by love" (p 159).
This totally reminds me of a quote by another revolutionary a few years ago, Ellen White. In The Ministry of Healing, she said:
"Everywhere there is a tendency to substitute the work of organizations for individual effort. Human wisdom tends to consolidation, to centralization, to the building up of great churches and institutions. Multitudes leave to institutions and organizations the work of benevolence; they excuse themselves from contact with the world, and their hearts grow cold. They become self-absorbed and unimpressible. Love for God and man dies out of the soul.
"Christ commits to His followers an individual work--a work that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and the poor, the giving of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees or organized charities. Individual responsibility, individual effort, personal sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel.
How have I been relying on organizations? What can I do personally today? When might collective efforts (i.e., organizations) be able to deal with issues that individuals cannot?
(b) "The poor will always be among you" (p 16).
A pastor friend of mine even used this verse with me. "Jeff, don't waste all your energy fighting poverty. It will never be eradicated. Jesus said there will always be poor people."
But this conclusion is the opposite of Jesus' teaching. He said we would always have the opportunity to help the poor, so it was acceptable for this lady in this instance to do something generous personally for him. He wasn't saying, "You'll never overcome this entirely, so don't even try." The empire, bad decisions and bad luck will always make people poor, and we get to lend a hand, to demonstrate God's love for them.
Being poor is a fairly normal stage in life. We help people in need, and someone helps us when we have needs, and they help someone else when they get on their feet and have extra to share. And the more interdependent we become, the more often we can meet each other's needs.
Are there poor people in your faith community? Do they have truly equal status with those with bank accounts?
(c) "Simplicity is meaningful only inasmuch as it is grounded in love, authentic relationships, and interdependence" (p 163).
I friend helped us move recently, and he called me out. "You talk big about living simply, but you have boxes full of books, CDs and clothes." I'm blessed to share an authentic relationship with him.
(d) "True generosity is measured not by how much we give away but by how much we have left, especially when we look at the needs of our neighbors" (p 164). And to me, this is why the widow's might was a more amazing gift than all the others. Do I need to pray for more love so I can freely share with my neighbors?
And that quote about murdering the hungry child... Hraugh! (good luck pronouncing that)
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