I am absolutely fascinated by Occupy Wall Street (or as they hashtag it on The Twitter – #OWS). People of all ethnicities and socio-economic classes are standing in the street, holding up signs that read “We are the 99%” and “People Before Profits” and they are desperate for something or anything or everything to change in our economic system. The top 1% in this system grows richer and the rest of us – nevermind the truly impoverished and desperate the world over – are the 99%. Somehow, this leaderless movement without an articulated agenda other than “this current system is unbearable” is growing, spreading to the cities across the United States and even headed northward to my nation, too. The media is in three-ring-circus-mode, the talking-heads are frustrated without soundbites for mindless consumption, the labels aren’t sticking and should we be afraid? Are they communists? Socialists? Revolutionaries? Or just regular folks like us? What exactly is happening and what do they – we? – want?
I love a good protest. I admit it – I love to stick it to The Man. I’m a true western Canadian kid, always a bit distrustful of the establishment and the elite, throwing my lot with the underdog and the outsider every time. I do like being a bit on the edges of things but Occupy Wall Street is fascinating me for an entirely different and deeply spiritual reason.
At the heart of the protest, I believe that what the protesters are calling for is repentance. They are holding a mirror up to our corporations, our governments, to the 1% wealthiest and to those of us in the 99% and saying: Look here at what our greed has done.
Look at how greed has robbed us all. Look at how the greed has robbed the world, our environment, our humanity, our old and our young, our brothers and our sisters. Look at how our greed has robbed us of compassion and humility. Look at how our mindless consumption has harvested our education, our wisdom, our attention, our creativity, our worship. Look at how greed has disenfranchised us all, making our votes and our voices worthless in the face of corporate greed.
Unlikely and eclectic prophets with cardboard signs using port-a-potties, perhaps, but their call to repentance isn’t just for government or for the 1% or a particular political persuasion – it’s for us all. Accountability is a beautiful, terrible thing.
I want to hold the 1% accountable but I want to hold myself accountable, too.
As followers of Jesus, is this our economic awakening? Is this our time to speak out prophetically about the Christian values of contentment, faith in God’s provision and our responsive generosity? Are we making choices with our own money that affirms our allegiance to God’s way of doing things first? Are we living the economics of love? The truth is that we are all part of the problem when we capitulate to our culture’s fascination with greed, materialism, consumerism, entitlement, irresponsibility, their assertions that we are what we own (or charge on the credit card, at least).
I am inspired by those men and women in positions of leadership that make the choices for people before profits – for instance, the businesses that provide adequate health care, maternity leave, sick leave and a living wage to their employees. And I’m inspired by people who live more simply in our world today, the ones that truly trust God and live content.
Because I want to be one of them.
I want to trust God more, I want to say that my money demonstrates my love and trust for God just as much as my marriage, my mothering, my politics, my community, my friendships, my writing, my work. The call to repentance on Wall Street and Bay Street is a call to repentance for me, too. The golden calf (or bull, whatever) of Wall Street demands worship. I am learning to choose faithfulness, contentment, responsibility and generosity in the rhythms of a life dedicated to the ways of Jesus and real personhood, affirming our Maker as creator and giver and sustainer of it all.
God’s economic system sets us free from the love of money. God speaks of his people living lives of gracious and generous giving, of prudent and wise decisions (something never very popular in our culture), our time and money and love, our lives, a sowing towards life.
In our family, we are learning to make choices with our money that affirm our allegiance to God’s way of doing things. I’m learning – and I have so far to go – about living the economy of love, making the loving choices on everything from our coffee to housing, food to entertainment, debt eradication and generous giving. Ethical and sustainable, fair-trade and handmade are buzz words but I believe that they are God’s words because, at their heart, they are about people and life instead of power and loot-piling. It starts small, here, in my own house and budget.But #OWS started small and the thousands are there, all ages, all races, all classes, now waking up and speaking out.
And I hear that it’s a pretty good way for truth to spread, from person to person, from choice by choice, each of us making space for God every day, accountability yes but the repentance is the turning away from the old ways and instead travelling on The Way.
Since we have found that your comments are often the best part of the post here at Deeper Story,what has been your own economic awakening? How are you choosing to spend or direct your money in a way that reflects your values? What are some changes you have made in your own finances to demonstrate God’s priorities? And how are you holding the 1% – and the 99% – accountable?
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Sarah-
Thank you so much for this thoughtful and inspiring post. Godly economic budgeting is right where my family of 5 is right now. We are in the middle of “NO SPEND OCTOBER” in an effort to teach our children that we CAN live without the extras and that spending less is a family affair. Our goal this month is to spend nothing that isn’t a need and get our family debt free faster so that we can be more free to bring Heaven to earth. I am going to use your words as my fb status today (with a link to this page) and am so thankful that there are others out there who have the same goals as we do! God bless.
I have been so interested in the No Spend months. I think we’ll have to try that soon. And thank you!
Even though I’m not a particular fan of the Occupy Wall Street crowd (not because they’re wrong about Wall Street, but because so many are uninformed about everything else they’re cheering about, and are just jumping on the bandwagon….but that’s another story), I love how you’ve drawn something so insightful out of protest season. I lived in or near Berkeley for the past 5 years so I’m fairly immune to protesters (you’ve seen enough, you start to just walk on by…sensory overload!), and I’ve forgotten how much we can learn from even those we disagree with. Good share!
On another point, I actually did a One month spending freeze in April, because I felt a call to be a better steward. I was in a church where people constantly complained about not having enough money, but they ate out most of their meals, made big payments on nice cars, etc. My eyes were opened in a whole new way to the difference in want and need! (I managed to make it through without running out of TP, too, lucky me!) At this point, (well, ok, once I find a new job!) my goal is to pay off my debt so that I can live in financial freedom, and really be able to choose to give, or to serve in a church that can’t pay me. My debt means that making some of those choices would be poor stewardship, and God has called me to COMPLETE service to him, which means making the hard choices about money now so that slavery to debt doesn’t hold me back from total service to the King.
Thanks for writing about this. I think I’m starting really small in just seeking to be aware of national and even international news. I want to be aware for the first time in my life. Hopefully the life changes that need to occur will happen after I understand my part in it all. It’s much easier to tune out than be an active part. This community at Deeper Story, and posts like yours today, make it hard to ignore that I can make choices that effect a greater whole.
You’re right – it’s much easier to tune out because when you start to listen, you start to feel responsible. Gah. That’s just daunting. But the active part saves some part of me somehow. And thank you, luv.
I love this post, Sarah… for so many reasons. I can feel the love of the savior pouring out of your heart and I know you’re genuine. I, too, am aiming to bring my life in line with my means and to view EVERYTHING I have as God’s and not mine… to ask myself how much I’m supposed to keep for myself and what He would have me do with the rest. I want to caution you, though, that the entire system is corrupt… the 1% but also the 99%. These are unrepentant hearts calling for unrepentant hearts to change. They all need Jesus. They all need truth and love and real justice that only He can give. The bible speaks of an uprising before the Man of Lawlessness is revealed. The economic situation worldwide is foretelling of trade wars, holy wars, one world currency, and uprising – all of which are prophesied – and these things are happening now. As Christians we must not get caught up. We must consider what we are called to do and who we are called to be and to stand firm. Love people but obey the authorities, help people but give Jesus all the glory, build people up with hope and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Amen.
I wrote about this far less eloquently yesterday. I am troubled by the “I earned this” attitude that some of my friends are espousing in response to the protesting. Maybe you did work really hard, but God had financial favor on you as well.
Yes. We usually can’t recognise that simply by our birth that we were a few rungs up the ladder already.
When Enron went belly-up, I thought, “The top guys need to get as much as the guy who cleaned the place.” Nothing, plus a prison time. And then comes Bernie “Made-Off-With-the-$$$.” But of course, the little guys end up holding the bag. You are right, we need repentance. To help out a family member, I paid for them to attend Dave Ramsey’s 13-week “Financial Peace.” After attending a couple of sessions myself, I realized I need this class too. Even though I felt I managed my money fairly well, I felt really humbled listening to Ramsey, because I realized how much I really needed to learn. For me, first step was recognizing I need help from older-wiser mentors and the Holy Spirit.
I have learned a lot from Dave Ramsey as well. Great man.
Yes and yes and yes. I hadn’t really thought much about the Wall Street protest…but now that I have, I totally agree with you. Things can’t keep going like they are without some kind of devastating repercussions, and these people are pointing to that truth. Thank you for writing about it so eloquently…and thank you to the protestors!
Yes, thank you to each of them.
My pastor is pretty radical, and he talked recently about how we are all enslaved to this system that puts profits before people and tried to challenge us to step out as much as we can. I went to talk to him about it more and he gave me a LOT of books on the subject. The first one I’m reading is called Mindful Economics. The author is not religious, and he makes no secret of his dislike of pure capitalism, saying that it was always designed to increase the disparity between that 1% and that 99%. I’m not endorsing it wholeheartedly, but it has certainly made me think about how much we take inequality for granted and how much our deepest dreams revolve around money.
Yes, even though the Gospel says, “You cannot serve both God and Money” (in Luke AND Matthew), so often I choose to be preoccupied with money. I think I “must” make a certain amount or I cannot survive. I am not talking about greed, but also anxiety over the future, which in my mind is far more subtle and dangerous. For many of us in the 99%, the temptation is to give our lives away to the god of Money because of worry that we won’t have “enough.” Even though our Scripture says, “Do not be anxious about anything,” many of us let our anxiety about money rule our lives. The world considers anxiety about the future to be sensible and normal, but God says hoarding is pointless.
And then there are others who are SO poor that it’s not even anxiety anymore, but real fear for survival that drives them back to the system, often taking the jobs with the worst conditions out of desperation. I think that is the most shameful thing of all. In the early Church there was no poverty, because early Christians shared all things in common and supported each other so they wouldn’t have to fear for their livelihood without taking up money as an idol. I hope we can find the courage to emulate them, to show the world a better way at a time when so many are hurting.
Thank you for this thoughtful post. I truly do feel that this movement is a form of prophecy. Hopefully it will be a wake-up call for many of us, especially Christians. And now… I have to go to my day job.
Just in case anyone was thinking I seemed to be getting on a high horse… nope, I have no right. I know how hard it is. I don’t have the answers. But I love that we as a society are starting to question the way things are.
I am absolutely with you. This is a great comment- thank you for sharing your heart and wisdom with all of us. I’ll have to pick up that book. Praise God for uncomfortable prophets, eh?
Thank YOU for sharing! Do pick up the book; it’s very thought-provoking. If you’d like to hear more about the wonderful (and rather massive) reading list my pastor gave me, I’m starting a blog about it (see link above). No entries yet, just a space to watch.
Bless you for initiating dialogue on this. Praise God for prophets, indeed.
My personal wake-up call came about when I read Radical last year. I’ve always budgeted for giving and tithing but the notion of a lifestyle cap really got me thinking. How much money do I actually need to live well? We’ll always be prone to want a little more but the wanting never ends. So really, what do we need? Right now, I’m making less money so there’s no surplus to deal with. However, I still need to make wise decisions with what I do have, as well as work on paying off my student loan. In the past year, I’ve limited my book and music purchases to a set amount per month and chosen to only buy clothes from thrift stores, unless I have a gift card. This has been a good and surprising discipline. I’ve made better choices as a result, as well as saved a ton of money. I didn’t realize before how easy it was to snap up 5 CDs at Best Buy or grab a new shirt whenever I’m at Target.
I haven’t had a chance to go to Nashville’s OWS yet but I hope to soon. I love seeing people unite for this purpose. And Sarah, I loved what you said about viewing this as a call to repentance. We all play a part in this and we would be wise to remember this as we seek to change the system.
I quite liked that book. But yes, I love that idea of “what do I need to live” lifestyle cap and then all surplus is given away. Love it.
Not quite sure that I agree with everything you said, however I do respect and appreciate your opnion. I guess my main thought and concern is where are the people protesting and crying out for the LORD…not a government or lack of. The United States of America government is supposed to be “We The People”…given our freedoms by our CREATOR ALONE. Where are those signs? Where is that Voice? Our spirits are being stirred, but always remember there is a prince of the kingdom of darkness who is a counterfeit and comes to steel and destroy the people whose hearts are wholly for HIm. I’m not trying to sound gloom and doom and repeating some memorized Bible verses (please know that)..if we place our trust in God’s written Word, we MUST take him at His Word. Our vote should ALWAYS reflect the One True God. Our culture is completely numbed by reality shows, Oprah, “In Touch” Magazine and Hollywood. Unless we are PROTESTING for the ONE who really matters…it is meaningless. We all know God wins…so that’s enough for me. I pray every 24 hours to be in His Perfect Will. Please please pray for our country and our world we live in. Let’s not be blinded by the counterfeit. Protesting and questioning is a good thing…but let’s listen to the voices…what are they really saying? Is it like it Daniel– ‘I am and there is no other besides me?’ We Americans created this government of (We the People) which we now appear to so despise. Our trust should never be in them (us), but in God alone.
I am the daughter of a man who served 20 years in prison, and 5 of those years were in Alcatraz. My Daddy was an alcoholic and very abusive to my Mom and five brothers and sisters. I am 39 years old and it’s taken me years to forgive him and God for the life I was born into. However, depravity and desperation is a beautiful thing…all the questions eventually bring answers. Never let anger be a motivator in anything you do. There’s a purpose for all things…even these protests. Let’s just make sure our hearts are in the right place before God before we begin demanding what we thing we deserve (“I am and there is none besides me”)-spoken from someone whose been there and prays every day not to go back.
With Love,
Leann Ford
Leann Ford
I agree, Leann – great thoughts. Let’s make sure our heart is for redemption, not anger.
Thanks for this, Sarah. I’ve been pondering these things quite a bit lately, and I agree that we all need to repent of our greed. Recently a married couple we’re friends with had their car stolen, and the husband remarked, “It’s just a thing, right?”…I think he chose to focus on what was not taken, and that no person was harmed, and that really stuck with me.
I’m trying to practice contentment these days. I think I’m addicted to buying stuff, to the feeling that comes with buying stuff. Now, I’m trying to replace that with the satisfaction of making things with what’s already here. It’s amazing how much there is, when you just look.
Also, we recently made the decision to adopt, and that has put money in a new light. Extra money can go into the adoption fund, or it can go to buying more things we don’t really need. This new priority really simplifies things for me.
For Christmas the past few years, we’ve made efforts to change the way we do things. It’s hard, with extended family and traditions, and not wanting to disappoint people. We really just want to make Christmas about blessing others more generously than we bless ourselves. Because, really, we have everything already. There’s a phrase my pastors use, “giving our very best to those who have the very least” that has shaped a lot of this for me.
Praise God for your wisdom. Giving our best to those who have the least – that’s good stuff. And praying for your adoption – many blessings!
Well put. I believe Jesus would be proud.
THANK YOU for so eloquently giving words to the heart of it all.
This was lovely.
I have found a strange but deep appreciation of having …. less. My possessions are in a constant state of reevaluation and whittling. The urge to purge (forgive me) mystified me at first, but now I see what it’s done. I no longer care about possessions. Well, I’m almost there…I’m close…closer, anyway. (My apartment is laughably bare.)
Now I feel free…and somewhat bored. Waiting for something more meaningful to fill in the absence.
The Occupy movement has been highly convicting to me too. I’m not rich- I don’t even have an income right now and am forced to live simply. But I know how I act when I do have money. It’s like a drug- I always need more. I can’t give any way because what if I need it later? I am selfish and obsessed with getting STUFF.
But the Occupy movement makes me want to change. It reminds me that I am not a lofty 1%. I am part of the 99%, and we 99%ers are in this together. How I spend my money isn’t just about me.
I’m glad you brought up that the accountability needs to be for us all. I’ve been worried, since the start of this protest, that we’re in danger of believing that the 1% are the only corrupt, the only ones not managing resources well (by God’s standards). I’m glad to see that there seems to be quite a few people holding the mirror to their own faces.
I think we, the 99%, need to first take a long, hard look at how we’re managing OUR OWN resources. And if we can safely say that we’re doing all we can, that we’re not blaming other people for what’s our own responsibility, that we’re managing our few Talents well (or if we haven’t been doing that before that we WILL from this day forward) THEN we can worry about what the 1% is doing with their (too many) Talents.
Thank-you for this comment. I’ve been thinking this ever since I first read the original post a few days ago, but didn’t know how to put it into words. What’s happening in big business is a reflection of American culture as a whole, and we ALL need to reevaluate. Didn’t Jesus say something about removing the plank from our own eye first…?
-Emily
Thank you Sarah you made me take a whole entirely different look at what is happening on Wall Street….I don’t agree with it through political eyes but you made me take my eyes off politics and look at it through with the eyes of Christ. You made me realize how often I throw money around just to appease my discontentment, my wanting of more and just the general casualness of how I spend and think of what God has blessed me with…much more thinking on this is need to be done by me…thanks for making this 59 year old think outside the box for a change!
This is exactly why this movement isn’t what we “think” it is–What we think may be pure in nature, really isn’t.
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/10/figures-nazi-party-throws-support-behind-occupy-wall-street-movement/
I wish I could just let this lie…..but really? REALLY? The Nazi party makes a fairly obvious bid for attention by endorsing OWS, so therefore OWS is….what, now totally invalid? Same thing for the Communist Party, whoever they are. There are all kinds of fringe groups condemning and endorsing OWS in their own bids to get attention by the media. It doesn’t mean that OWS has anything to DO with these groups.
My husband and I recently went to a human trafficking conference where we learned about tradeasone.com where you can buy fair trade items as a way to help break the cycle of poverty that causes many to become entrapped as human slaves.
We still have room for growth but we don’t have cable, and we try to cut other expenses as a way to free up more money to give to causes that are dear to God’s heart, such as needy children. I can easily become overwhelmed at all the needs so I regularly ask God to show me what He wants me to do. I ask for His wisdom because I don’t have it. The world and the issues are too complex, and my head and heart often hurt when I try to figure it out.
Thanks for a great post!
Thank you. I think God touched me through you, here – I feel supported by him suddenly even though this call is as much for me as anyone else, I am just as out of whack and bad at handling money in the way we are meant to use it. It’s not that I’m righteous, it’s just that my perspective was adjusted properly for a moment. So I just want to say hey, you said something that needed to be said at the right time and brought someone a bit of peace and awakeness.
Important and sobering thoughts. We all need to look at what we think we need. I think these protests are a good wake up call for all of us about where our priorities are.
I just see a lot of darkness and a spirit of rebellion in these protests, however. There is much bellyaching amongst many of these protestors that the so-called 1% owe them. That it’s not fair that they went out and worked hard and earned the cash. That although they personally did nothing to earn it, they deserve a piece of someone else’s pie. I don’t see this as a godly attitude and something to be glorified and honored. This is the attitude of the sloth in Proverbs. Railing against Wall Street while driving there in their GM cars, using their IPhones, eating at McDonald’s, shopping at The Gap is the height of hypocrisy.
So your blog was thoughtful…made me look through this madness at the protests and back at myself. How has my attitude been wrong? Lots of ways.
I know there are people who panic if their bank account goes lower than a grand of if their 401K takes a tumble. Me? My panic issues are buying milk and gas. Paying school fees. Buying winter clothing for my children. Keeping the lights on. Wondering if I can afford to bring a 2 liter to the potluck on Friday. We have received very generously from our church. It’s a humbling thing to accept help. Very humbling.
My anxiety issues are with making it from day to day. Praying for 2 years without an answer to my husband’s employment situation. Praying for Christmas…oh Christmas. And struggling with just a tad bit of righteous indignation mashed with a dash of bitterness when other Christians I know complain about which car they want to buy or which mall they like to shop at more or wondering if they can get all their Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving or not. Heck..I don’t know if we can buy a damn turkey!
So my issues are the day to day. Trusting God with literally every dollar. Every bill. Every need. And do I trust him?
Mary:
I don’t think it’s fair to characterize the protesters as saying it’s not fair the 1% worked hard and earned cash. I think they’re saying it’s not fair that much of the 1% didn’t work hard and still got cash but pretend they did. They gambled with others’ money, made poor decisions, drove the banks (and economy) into the ground…and then got paid a big load of dough in response. Certainly for some, they were born already wealthy, and so had privileges the rest did not (such as a private school education, good tutors, etc. and that’s not even getting into demographic privileges). Meanwhile for many of the protesters, they did work hard, study hard, etc…and were rewarded with unemployment or underemployment. And I’d say the schools aren’t blameless in this either. Law schools will tell potential students that there’s an 85% employment rate for people with JDs. They’re including minimum wage jobs at McDonalds in that figure–jobs that will never provide enough to pay off their law school bills.
As to the post:
I’m working on simplicity in my life. I would, someday, like to get to the point that all my sweaters and such were hand-knit or hand-crocheted by me. I’d like to see more self-sufficiency in the world. I’m also trying to make sure that garments I make for myself are 100% natural fibers, not petroleum products.
“Ethical and sustainable, fair-trade and handmade are buzz words” <– Gandhi freed India by teaching people to handmake.
I loved this post. I have been fascinated with the Wall Street Occupiers, too. But you articulated the need that all Christians share to live sensibly, repent, and let Christ occupy our hearts, completely. Thanks for a great post.
A friend sent me this post as I was working on the sermon I preached last weekend. The post and the comments that followed inspired and challenged me as I wrote. I thought I’d share my sermon with you below. Attempting to walk faithfully, Gretchen.
Rev. Gretchen Roeck
Oct. 16th, 2011
Season after Pentecost, Proper 24, Year A
Trinity Episcopal Church, Excelsior, MN
Biblical and historical scholars describe the world Jesus was born into as a place where “gleaming cities were rising in some places and children went hungry in others … a world where no luxury was enough for some,” and also a world where others struggled to find basic necessities. A world where life was very good for a few, and intolerable for most. (Horsley and Silberman, 2). This was the world of the early Roman Empire and Jesus and his Jewish community were on the loosing side of the bargain.
The Roman Empire maintained its power and wealth through heavy taxation. Taxation that left most communities burdened with debt and struggling for survival. Underlying Rome’s heavy taxes was the notion – the belief – that the emperor was the supreme owner and savior of the world (Horsely and Silberman, 83). The Jewish community – along with other minority groups conquered by Rome – lived only by the grace and goodness of the emperor.
So when Jesus is asked if it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, he is standing on contentious ground (Matt. 22:11-20). To publically oppose Roman taxes was tantamount to rebellion against the empire. And the empire did not tolerate sedition. Remember what happened to John the Baptist when he spoke out against the government?
Jesus unwaveringly responds to the question by saying, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” To Jesus’ followers and contemporaries, Jesus’ message would have been clear.
The people owed nothing to the emperor. The emperor was not the supreme owner and savior of the world, God was. God ruled with justice and goodness, with care for the poor and the powerless. God did not demand taxes but faithfulness and generosity. Jesus and his followers owed the emperor nothing, but they owed God everything.
Jesus’ world does not sound so distant from ours. We too live in gleaming cities with hungry children. We too live in a world with a few very rich and too many very poor.
Do you own a car? Only 8% of the people in this world own cars. That applies to all cars, not just the nice ones. 92% of the people in our world look at those of us who own cars and think, “Rich” (Nooma, “Rich”).
Did you sleep in your own home last night? Each night approximately 13,000 Minnesotans are homeless, and 3,251 are children with parents. That 13,000 looks at us and thinks, “It must be nice to be rich” (Wilder Research, “2009 Minnesota Homeless Study Fact Sheet”).
To provide everyone in the world with clean water, and basic health and nutrition it would cost 20 billion dollars – which is how much Americans spend in one year on ice cream (Nooma, “Rich”).
We are rich. So rich. But maybe you have this sense that you don’t have much because you see people around you who have even more. That is the danger with confusing “our world” with “the world” (Nooma, Rich).
I read in a blog recently, “the temptation is to give our lives away to the god of Money because of worry that we won’t have enough” (Rachel, October 14, 2011 at 7:26 am, http://deeperstory.com/money/). Isn’t that so true? How many of us have worried about having enough in the past week? I have. And it’s so easy to do. Right? We are constantly being bombarded with the latest styles and the newest models.
The new iPhone 4s just came out this past week. The iPhone 4s has a Dual-core A5 chip. An all-new 8MP camera and optics. The iOS 5 and iCloud and Siri. It’s the most amazing iPhone yet. And don’t we all want the most amazing?
The world tells us that if we have “the most amazing,” “the best,” “the latest” that we will be happy. But the problem with “the most amazing” is that there will always be something more amazing a few months later.
There is nothing wrong with money and stuff. But God made us for so much more than just our stuff.
The god of Money tells us that there is never enough. The God of Life tells us that there is enough. Enough to share. Enough to be content, to be responsible, to be generous.
Jesus and his followers believed in the God of Life. They molded their lives around God’s commands – what the earliest Hebrews called “mitzvot.” The Jewish community believed – and still believes that when we follow the commands of God – when we do good deeds – we’re helping to repair and restore the world (Nooma, “Rich”).
We are rich. And because we are rich, we have power. We have power that we can give in service to the God of Life who tells us that we have and are enough. We have enough to share. We have enough to help repair and restore our broken world.
Or we can hand over our power to the god of Money, a god who rules by maintaining a culture of fear and anxiety. A god who tells us that we are not enough, but that money and things will make us better, happier people. It is hard to share when we believe that the ultimate goal is to have more.
Does the way you choose to spend and save your money reflect your faith in the god of Money or the God of Life?
God of Life asks hard questions. And they are harder still to answer. I am working on a better answer for myself. I am tempted by the god of Money. I walk with you as I attempt to believe in and live by the God of Life. To give to God what is God’s.
Our reading from first Thessalonians gives us a closing blessing. Please pray with me.
May we be imitators of Christ.
May we live a life of joy inspired by the Holy Spirit.
May we be an example to others.
May we serve the Living and the True God.
Amen.
– 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Works Cited
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, “Homeless children in Minnesota and their families”,
Wilder Research, 2009 Minnesota Homeless Study Fact Sheet, available:
http://www.wilder.org/download.0.html?report=2315; Internet; accessed 15 October 2011.
Flannel, Nooma Rich, 013 Rob Bell (http://nooma.com/).
Horsley, Richard A. and Silberman, Neil Asher, The Message and the Kingdom: How Jesus
and Paul Ignited a Revolution and Transformed the Ancient World (Minneapolis,
MN: Augsburg Fortress , 1997).
Why am I commenting on this post now? Because it has taken me this long to organize my thoughts. And why am I commenting at all? Because I feel compelled. I really love how you say you are learning to choose contentment because for me, that is the heart of this issue. The Occupy protests haven’t been sitting well with me and it took me a long time to figure out why. Aside from demonstrating a right to free speech (wich I strongly believe in), I find protesting something like corporate greed a waste of time. Well, a waste of time until we can eradicate greed from our own lives. How many of those protesters can say they are completely honest? How many carry a balance on their credit cards NOT because they were down on their luck but because they wanted the stuff before they could pay for it? How many have ever taken an opportunity to get ahead (be it getting a promotion or refusing to give up a subway seat) at the expense of others? It all smacks of pot… kettle…black. Or for me, mote in your eye, beam in mine. In the end I think these people are protesting themselves. I absolutely feel for those investors Bernie Madoff bankrupted… but wasn’t it their OWN greed that led them to invest more and more of their money in the first place? Corporate greed is horrible, but let’s not sit in our glass houses and throw stones. I don’t mean to sound judgmental, but I would never attend an Occupy protest unless I felt deep down in my own skin I lived my live without greed. But we do. We are human. So let’s make a REAL change in our own lives. In my humble opinion, these protests have produced nothing more than fodder for evening news headliners. No real change, just much ado. I too will work on learning to be content. Because even with the 1% getting richer, I have all that I need.
What an absolutely communist post. Christ taught about personal charity – from one’s self, not from forcing others to give through taxation. I’m a Christian and I reject the “occupy” movement and all of its anti-freedom tenets. So should you.
Lanny, Jesus taught His disciples to pay their taxes, and He taught that if a man had two coats, he should wear one and give the other to him who had none.
Here in the United States, the government is WE the PEOPLE, and if WE the MAJORITY decide that Americans should give some of our surplus to the poor via the tax system, that’s perfectly legal and Biblical to boot…. and seeing as how Jesus told His followers to pay the Roman tax, which funded the Emperor’s wars and gladitorial games and perverted orgies, how much more willing we should be to pay taxes that we the people have enacted, taxes that go to help the poor, which Jesus said we ought to do anyway!
That being said, though, the Occupy movement is not all it’s cracked up to be – it has come to light that it was begun by the internet hacker’s group called “Anonymous”, whose logo is the Guy Fawkes mask that has been turning up at Occupy gatherings everywhere; this group also claims to have facilitated the recent unrest in Chile, as well as the Arab Spring revolutions. These guys are more interested in promoting anarchy and lawlessness than in actually helping the poor, and they hate Obama as much as they do the various right wing politicians; and, they brag that they will use their internet hacking skills to bring this country to its knees PRIOR TO THE NEXT ELECTION.
If they are able to do that, I wonder who they have waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces and reorganize the country…. because you can bet your boots that behind every “anarchist” there’s a would be dictator waiting to step into the vacuum created by revolution.