Sunday, October 28

Intentional Generosity


I just finished reading someone’s thoughts that challenged me, and I wanted to share the challenge with you.

Remember back to the Old Testament when Moses shared God’s vision for the people of Israel.  God asked the people to do certain things that go completely against our culture today.  Now, there were many things that would fit that category, but I’m referring to practices that allowed for the poor and seemingly forgotten to be cared for.

For instance, when they harvested their fields, they were to leave the corners so that the poor, the widows, the foreigner, could come and get the crops for food for themselves.  While harvesting, if they dropped any, they were to leave it so there would be something for the poor to get.

Now, in today’s world, we talk about efficiency and productivity so much that we have figured how to get as much as we can out of whatever we are doing.  We make our money go as far as we can so that nothing is wasted.

There is talk about not giving money to those who ask because we don’t know what they’re going to do with it.  We may see the same man in the same three spots asking for the same thing with the same sign, and because we see him so much we don’t take his request seriously.  There is talk about not giving money to certain people because they are lazy and don’t get off their butts to get a job for themselves.

I get it.  I understand those arguments.  I believe in the principles behind the arguments that keep us from giving to these people.  I am with you on that.

But what if God was asking the people to do these things because it keeps the people of Israel from feeling entitled to money or land or food or clothes or whatever?  What if God was asking the people to think about others because it is what God did for us—hearing us in our sin and coming to our rescue through Jesus?  What if God was asking the people to give unconditionally because it would set both groups of people free?

But I don’t really do this.

I mean, we sponsor a child through Gospel for Asia, but we switched to this agency because it was cheaper than Compassion.  (There’s more to that story as well, because we didn’t just stop sponsoring one kid to go with the cheaper one.)  But there’s still that truth to it.  And I don’t even remember that we sponsor her because it just come right out of our account.  I’m not really even involved in it.

As far as other ways of carrying out this principle, I’m having a hard time of even stretching things to come close to fitting it.  I haven’t done anything in a while to do this.  Yes, I feel stirred to act on behalf of others, but I don’t always actually do anything.  Yes, I get excited about standing up for those who can’t or those who need assistance, but I lose the excitement and do other things once the novelty wears off.

So here’s my challenge: God asked the people of Israel to build into their lifestyle a way to care for the poor and oppressed.  I believe that God is still asking people to live in such a way that we take care of our ‘neighbor’, whether we know who we’re doing it for or not.

I want to live intentionally.  I like to do things on purpose.  Sure, I like routine and whatnot too, but why not set up some routines that help others?

What about you?  Are you doing something, even a small thing, to help stand up for someone or provide for someone in such a way?  Please share.  If you have ideas, whether you’ve started doing them or not, please share.

It can be as small as always buying fair trade coffee to make sure those farmers who grow it are paid and treated fairly.  It can be as big as sponsoring 10 kids through Compassion and getting to see each one once a year and writing to them once a week and having an active role in their lives.

So whatever it is for you, tell us.

-mister-

Wednesday, October 10

Value System


[I found myself thinking about this yesterday, and I wanted to share some thoughts.]

Does everything belong to you?  What makes you the owner of the things in your house, in your life?  Why is it so important to consider yourself the owner?  Is it to make us feel better about having something that someone else does not?  Or even to have the same type of thing that someone else has?
Where does our value as a human being come from?  Is it from having things?  Is it from where you work?  How much money you make?  Is it the type of work you’re in?  Or is it something else?

Does your value as a human come from what you look like?  What about the type of clothes you wear?  How you talk?  How refined your lifestyle is?

What if your value wasn’t based on any of those things?  Would it be easier?  Would there be less guilt for what we do or wear or think or conduct ourselves?  Would we treat others differently?

What if your value as a human was based on the fact that you are alive?!

That’s it.  You are alive, therefore you have value.

It doesn’t matter what your name is, if you can even spell your name, what language you speak, or how many, where you live, what country you’re from, what religion you practice, how many are in your family, what your job is, what you wear, how many possessions you have, or any of that stuff.

Your value is important because it shapes how you see yourself and others.

Now, shouldn’t it be that way?  I feel as if humans, in my culture and much of the ‘civilized and developed world’ have misplaced how to value life.  We’ve placed it on those lists, instead of letting it be because of the breath in our lungs.

I feel as if I could contemplate all of that for a long time, and I would have many years of working it out as I struggle to replace that value system with the one that has been force-fed to me by my culture.

Yet I bring this up because I was thinking about the upcoming election, and I was recalling a conversation I had the other day.

Where I live, many Christians tend to vote Republican.  It’s almost an unwritten rule in my circles that you aren’t really a Christian if you don’t side with the Republicans.  There are some things that I agree with in the Republican party, but there are some things I don’t, as well.  Abortion—I tend to be against it, but I don’t think it should be mandated policy that no one, ever, should be allowed to have an abortion again.  Will Rachel and I choose to have one if a birth defect or something should be discovered with one of our future children?  I highly doubt we’d opt for an abortion.  But, I’m not going to say that I need to mandate that policy for everyone in our country.  Yes, I would suggest having the baby and allowing for adoption instead of abortion, but I don’t know.  There’s also the issue of the mother possibly losing her life if she tries to give birth or even carry the baby full term.  We have c-sections and lots of equipment to keep a premature baby alive, but it may be a serious question for a mother to face.  So I’m not going to say that abortion would never be an option for someone.  For it to be an option based on convenience for the mother or trying to hide a ‘one night stand mistake’ or something like that—yes, I think that would be wrong.  So I would, again, recommend adoption instead.

Another thing that I tend to agree with the Republicans is the general issue of hard work and earning your own money.  I think everyone should work if they are able, instead of living a life of dependence on a substance or system or taken-advantage-of-family-member.  But I don’t think that describes a certain ethnicity in our country!  Get out of your cozy life and meet some people if that’s what you think to be the case.

Yes, I agree with the principle ‘He who doesn’t work, doesn’t eat,’ to an extent.  Children don’t need to get a job, disabled people (not to be read only as mentally disabled; it includes someone losing a leg or arm, etc.) aren’t always able to find a job, elderly people aren’t always able to continue working as their bodies slow down and begin dying.  Yet I’m pretty sure most people would agree with those three examples too.  (I feel like I’m leaving this topic undeveloped, but my mind is working quickly as I get to the point of this whole post!)

Where I’m going with this post is this: many people don’t want the government to redistribute the money they earn to those who don’t work or can’t work.  I think this ties back in to the value issue.
It seems to me that the real issue is how we value people.

Here’s why: our value system is set up to give certain people more value if they have a certain job, or make a certain amount of money, or have a certain type of lifestyle that’s at least similar to ours.  We tend to give less value to those who make less than we do, or who live in a house that’s not kept up as nicely as ours, or who wear thinner, older, out-of-style-in-a-very-noticeable-way, dirty, not-the-correct-size, rattier type of clothes.  Why in the world do we do this?

Because it’s a pride issue.  We feel more important and better and worth more if we can compare ourselves with someone else and come out ahead, at least in our own head.

So why are so many people against this issue?  I think it’s because people value people improperly.  I’m guilty too, but I want to point this out so we can help each other with this.

What if we started being intentional about not being tied to stuff?  What if we gave away money to people who don’t deserve it?  What makes that money yours anyway?  What if we met and became friends with people who don’t make enough money to own a car?  What if we invited poor people into our lives, into our homes, and shared conversations and laughs and tears and food and things?  What if we started sharing now?

If the government wants to make it happen anyway, why not figure out a way to enjoy it.  It’s somewhat a subversive act, in that regards.  And if there’s part of you that still wants to be a rebel in some way, you can join me in figuring this out.  We can be rebels together.

Now, the practical step.  I am a dreamer.  I tend to think of something and imagine what it could look like.  I really enjoy it.  It's part of who I am.  I'm not so good at actually carrying it out.  Most of my dreams are still in my head, with very few steps taken in the real world.  So, this is where I need your help.  I am definitely pointing to my own lifestyle and choices and comfort as I think about this issue.  I don't like that I point stuff out in others that I still see in myself, but I'm reminded that I have a lot of work needed in my own life too.

So, share your thoughts.  How could we make this work?  What steps could we take?  I don't think I know very many people who vote differently or make less than I do or wear the clothes that don't match the standard in my foolish brain.  So what's something practical that I can do to take a step toward this?

(Now, in closing, I’m not trying to say which way you need to vote.  That has nothing to do with why I’m posting this.  I won’t be upset whichever way you vote, and I think I’ve decided which candidate I’m voting for.  So don’t try to tell me which way to vote either.  We can talk in person, but not online.  Also, please share your thoughts about the value issue.  That’s the point of the post.  Once you’ve shared on that, then feel free to add to the other issues or bring something else up.  But only after addressing the point of this post.  Thanks!)

-mister-