Chicago (3): Life that is truly life & 1 Timothy 6:17-19

A house we helped rennovate, to be used to raise funds for a local Christian school.

In my previous Chicago posts, I've been reminded that God desires to respond to the needs in our world, but he has decided to respond through his people (his sovereignty plus our frailty make that seem kind of crazy, but it's true). That excites me...and makes me feel a bit overwhelmed at times.

So, what is one way that we are to respond? A couple simple words found in 1 Timothy challenge our motives and thoughts as we consider this question.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Some questions stemming from this passage...

Who are the rich in this present world?
Are we putting any of our hope in wealth?
Do we believe God provides us with everything for our enjoyment?
Are we truly generous and willing to share? Everything?
Are we taking hold of the life that is truly life? Do we believe that life is as good as promised?

You see, I was convinced after spending time in this passage in Chicago, that 1 Timothy 6:17 is speaking directly to us. We quickly say that can't be us...but what does it mean to be wealthy? A thought...being broke does not equal being poor. I am not saying that the current financial struggles of so many in America are not serious issues, but the reality is that many of us still have relative wealth (maybe easy for me to say, I know).

A challenge to our view of wealth. Here are some things that make me wealthy, that may be a bit contrary to our normal view of wealth:

• Education
• Health
• Options
• Stability
• Sense of hope
• Past experience
• Friends
• English
• Literacy
• Network
• Spiritual Life

I have these things...even if I lose all my money. Specifically, my faith in Jesus provides a hope and life that so many don't have. But, the most interesting one to me was the network that I have (and the network that many of you have). Think about the people you know. The doctors. The teachers. The businessmen. The construction workers. The financial advisers. If you have a question about how to get something accomplished (i.e. how to do taxes), you probably have someone you can ask.

My point: Our network, in a serious sense, makes us wealthy. The exciting thing relating to the command in the passage in 1 Timothy to be "generous and willing to share" is that we can share these other aspects of our wealth. We can share our NETWORK. We can creatively connect those who have less wealth with people in our network who can help them. If we can't help them, we probably know someone who can. Our network is just one example. Think about how you can give away these other things in your life. We were created with spiritual gifts...for the good of others (1 Corinthians 12). This applies to EVERYTHING we have. How can you share your gift of English with someone else?

Bottom line: Around 40% of the world lives on $2 or less per day. The fact remains that we have to be out interacting with the world (everyone in the world) to have chances to make these connections. We have to connect in relationship with people who are different from us.

How can I embrace the life that is truly life by sharing generously ALL that the Lord has blessed me with? How does being wealthy affect my spiritual life? Questions I'm pondering. What are your thoughts?

Many of these thoughts come straight from Joel Hamernick with my interpretation.

Chicago (2): Micah 6:8 - Poverty and Our Response

"There will always be poor people in the land." Deuteronomy 15:11a

I have on occasion heard this verse mentioned as a reality I should consider before I get too gung-ho about attempting to solve the world's poverty crisis. And, you know what, I believe this verse to be true to an extent, but I do not believe it to be an excuse to turn a blind eye. In fact, a quick glance at the words on either side of this sentence talk about the importance of giving generously (kind of funny how we purport verses to fit our leanings at times...I'm sure I'm guilty of it). I also cannot reconcile the reality that Jesus talks consistently about the poor among us.

Yet, I am still left with an overwhelming feeling. Where do I even begin?

There are three main roots of poverty:

1. Tragedy
2. Oppression/Injustice
3. Consequences of Sin

And again, the church has the responses to poverty. Micah 6:8 provides the framework.
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Key phrases:

• Act Justly
• Love Mercy
• Walk Humbly

What do people who have experienced tragedy need? They need mercy. They need the tenderhearted to come around them and care for their emotional needs as well as their physical needs. They need unselfish, unconditional compassion poured out on them and their family in their time of need. We cannot provide genuine compassion for a lot of people for an extended period of time...but by the grace of God working powerfully through us, his people. We can give mercy.

What can be given to a person who has experienced oppression and injustice whether intentionally or not? They need justice. They need someone who will speak on their behalf when they are unable to speak. They need someone to stand up and go against the systems or structures which perpetuate these injustices. They ultimately need the giver of justice (Psalm 9:16). Does God not pour out justice through his people? We can give justice.

What does someone entrenched in the consequences of their sin need? They need humility. And they need to see humility modeled. They need humble servants of Christ to walk beside them, to bend down and sincerely walk with them. They need modeled a humble walk with Christ. It is only through Christ that true redemption can take place (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14). With Christ, we can model humility.

Too simplistic? Maybe. Is their truth here? I think so. How can we better respond to the realities around us?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, critiques, questions, and clarifications of this model.

Chicago (1): God's Heart for the Poor & Psalm 113

Does God even care?

I look around, and as I've mentioned before, I see hardship, toil, poverty, sadness, sickness, death, war, famine, and on and on. Granted, I see a lot of beauty as well, but when I notice these "tough" issues it is easy to ask God:

Do you really see this? Doesn't it bother you? Why don't you fix it?

Well, I am now completely aware of at least one amazing truth:

God LOVES the POOR. Praise Him.

When we see these tremendous needs facing us square in the eye, our first tendency is to think, "There is no way I can meet that need." Because we do not know what to do with the need, we often walk away from it...overwhelmed.

God doesn't do this.

Psalm 113:4-9
The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.
God is exalted above everything, and he chooses to stoop down to look at us and our needs.
First, he SEES the poor and needy. He is aware of these needs as he comes down to our level.
Second, he RESPONDS by raising them from the dust and the ash heap. He picks them up.
Third, he DIGNIFIES by seating them with princes. He demolishes the hierarchies we set up on earth. And, the cool part about this is that we were dignified at the point of our creation because we were created in the image of God. However, we sometimes have to be reminded of this.

He sees. He responds. He dignifies.

Does he really do this? This sounds nice, but is it happening? I don't always see it.

The problem and answer: He most certainly does it...through the church. He has given us this task. Will we take it? We often blame God for not responding, but are we, as his people, his "hands and feet", responding?

God saves us, through Jesus, by using other people. Crazy? Yes. But, it's true. Isn't it? If you follow Jesus, how were you lead into that relationship? Obviously, God, in his sovereignty, rescued you, but did people play a role? My guess is yes. I pray that my heart would become more like God's.

Questions:
So, if God has a heart for the poor, how should our heart look in regards to the poor?
Are you overwhelmed by the needs of the poor? How does this feel?
What are some ways we can respond as the church? I know people are responding. Are we responding how God would have us respond?

This stuff is courtesy of Joel Hamernick.

Chicago...Lessons Learned.

I just can't stop thinking about Chicago. Our simple Spring Break trip a few weeks ago has ballooned into more than I ever could have imagined.

And, I'm so proud of our students. I've seen them take what they experienced in a short week's time and run with it. Some went back for a unique immersion experience with Emmaus Ministries. Others put together a presentation on what we learned for other Taylor students. Many slept outside during Social Justice Week at Taylor as an act of solidarity. A group of students began going through a curriculum on poverty and God's heart for the poor and oppressed. Still others went and prepared a meal for some homeless people in our community and then sat down and ate with them. The list could go on...

In order to help me continue to process and remember what we learned, I've decided to write about lessons we learned while in Chicago with Sunshine Gospel Ministries. Most of this comes straight from the teachings of Joel Hamernick. Much of the lessons apply to life wherever we are and I am excited to share those on this blog. This new blog series will be called "Chicago".

Jumbled but I must...

My thoughts are completely jumbled, but I must begin to get some thoughts down. I spent last week in Chicago with a group of 21 amazing people (seen above) and I sincerely believe (and maybe naively hope) that we were changed.

As we debriefed on Saturday, I came away with three phrases that I believe summed up my experience:

1. Reshaped/Renewed Eyes
2. Responders not Fixers
3. Role in the Kingdom

I've been back at school (trying feverishly to do work with little to show for it) and I've been thinking a lot about why God sent me to Chicago to learn and experience what I did last week. You see, call me crazy, but I'm convinced that I was only their last week because God intended and foreknew that I be there. I know I learned and I know I see the world at least a little differently, but where to next?

That is what I'm thinking through and that is where my thoughts seem to continue.