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Jeff McMullen preached in church today. His text was Mark 7. In the first part of Mark 7, Jesus is criticized by the pharisees for the fact that his followers ate food they considered unclean. Jesus pointed out to them that food is not unclean before it goes in to a man. He went on to point out that it is not what goes in to us that makes us unclean, rather what comes out. In other words, we are responsible for our own actions. I have used this before to teach about our attitudes towards the arts. Jeff, as he does so well, turned it inwards. He said that we always blame others for our problems. One application he made of this was to our attitudes towards government. I have a long time to think about that today as I am snowed in with the kids (see picture). Among other ways this stuck me is the fact that this would have made a great ending for my post on social tension. In it I argued that we must take responsibility for our own situation. I think this is what Christ was telling the Pharisees. Rather than blame our problems on Democrats, Republicans, the mass-media, our HOAs, or whatever, we should allow societal problems to be a wake-up call. If we see a problem, perhaps we should begin by asking what have I done wrong? If you disagree with abortion, what have you done to redeem people's attitudes towards the dignity of human life across the board? If you dislike minimum wage, perhaps consider paying your employees a fairer wage. If you dislike outsourcing and the loss of manufacturing jobs to overseas workers, have you considered paying a bit more to shop somewhere that will prevent those things? If you dislike the portrayal of Christians in the media, perhaps you should consider the way you represent Christ to the non-believing world. It is particularly ironic that many people making these complaints are people who advocate small government. If you don't want the government to control your life, make the world a better place without them. I recommend the Sermon on the Mount as a good place to begin. I am including links to several websites that present ideas for practical ways to make a difference in the world.
transfair usa - organization that seeks to guarantee that farmers are paid fairly by certifying products as fair trade.
the one campaign- seeking to eliminate poverty in an age when it does not need to exist
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3 comments:
After looking at that picture, i think the snowflakes look different on the east coast than they do here in Michigan. That may sound crazy.
There is one thing I know for sure, and that is that snow is certainly perceived differently here. It sure would be nice for Calvin to have a snow day at least once every 30 years or so.
When I was a senior at Messiah (1995), they closed due to snow for the first time in the history of the institution. I would imagine the snowflakes look different because there are many more of them in GR. The snowflakes were huge when I took this, and therefore showed up nicely ina picture. I wish I could hasve got out to take more, but I was alone with the kids.
The Sermon on the Mount as a place to start for making a difference in the world in which we live--well there you go.
I can't help but imagine how the church would be different if we viewed the beatitudes as our charter for existing in this world. I think that's what Jesus meant it to be. They're revolutionary-- diametrically opposed to the values of the kingdoms of this world. Why is it the church looks and acts just like the world with just a different agenda?
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