Rosie O’Donnell, the former Queen of Nice, raised some eyebrows when she recently said “Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam.”
That got me to thinking about radical Christians. Here are a few:
* Sister Leonella Sgorbati, who was recently murdered outside a hospital where she worked as a missionary in Somalia. The 65 year old nun lived and worked with the starving and sick in Kenya and Somalia for 38 years in Africa.
* Mother Teresa committed her life to the dying untouchables in India.
* Martin Luther King, Jr. led the fight for civil rights for people of color in America.
* William Wilberforce was not martyred but he did give 44 years of his life to lead the fight to abolish slavery in England.
* St. Patrick was so radical that he returned to the Irish tribe that had once enslaved him to teach them about the love of God.
* The Apostle Paul endured beatings, prison and death threats to teach gentiles about Christ.
There are so many others and, also, there are ordinary Christians who gave so much money in response to the tsunami in India, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquake in Pakistan. Come to think of it that’s kind of radical, too.
Maybe radical Christians are dangerous. They willing give their lives as a “living sacrifice” to show God’s love to the world in tangible ways. Dangerous, maybe, but to whom?
Monday, September 25, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
Another look at prosperity
While wealth is not an indicator of spiritual health, the Bible does have much to say about work ethic and social justice. Proverbs is full of wisdom like this:
“He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!” Proverbs 28:19 (NKJV)
“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” Proverbs 29:7 (NIV)
There are many provisions for taking care of the poor in the Bible. A church is not out of line in helping its members and people in the community better their lives. One big issue in many churches is debt. Teaching our members to spend money wisely, live within their means and save for a rainy day will improve their lives and allow them to bless others with their finances.
Some in our churches and community lack the skills to get a decent job. Even the smallest churches can offer training in how to dress for business and conduct yourself in an interview (maybe, even, provide some clothes) and help prepare a resume. Churches with greater means can provide literacy classes, basic math, computer training, etc.
On a larger scale churches can pool resources to provide affordable housing through groups such as Habitat for Humanity or clean up a neighborhood.
On a political level, churches can ensure that government provides equal opportunities and does not allow the disadvantaged to be exploited.
“Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:9 (NIV)
“He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!” Proverbs 28:19 (NKJV)
“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” Proverbs 29:7 (NIV)
There are many provisions for taking care of the poor in the Bible. A church is not out of line in helping its members and people in the community better their lives. One big issue in many churches is debt. Teaching our members to spend money wisely, live within their means and save for a rainy day will improve their lives and allow them to bless others with their finances.
Some in our churches and community lack the skills to get a decent job. Even the smallest churches can offer training in how to dress for business and conduct yourself in an interview (maybe, even, provide some clothes) and help prepare a resume. Churches with greater means can provide literacy classes, basic math, computer training, etc.
On a larger scale churches can pool resources to provide affordable housing through groups such as Habitat for Humanity or clean up a neighborhood.
On a political level, churches can ensure that government provides equal opportunities and does not allow the disadvantaged to be exploited.
“Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:9 (NIV)
Friday, September 15, 2006
Prosperity preaching v. the gospel
This week’s TIME cover story asks, “Does God Want You To Be Rich?” It looks at a number of prosperity preachers who teach that faith in God can lead to material blessings. Remember Jim Bakker?
Saying that God wants you to have nice things does have a nice ring to it. How can the gospel compete with that? Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself…” (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34 & Luke 9:23) He told a rich young nobleman to rid himself of all riches (Mark 10). He called a prosperous businessman a fool for focusing on the material rather than the spiritual (Luke 12:16-21). One of his most well-known stories is about a wealthy man and a poor, sick beggar. The prosperity preachers of that time would have us believe that God smiled down upon the rich man, while the beggar, Lazarus, was paying for some sin. Jesus taught that the opposite was true. Lazarus went to heaven, while the rich man went to a place of suffering. (Luke 16). This is but a partial list of Jesus’ condemnation of materialism.
If God wants his people rich, why was Jesus poor? Why were the apostles poor? Do the prosperity preachers know something that our Lord did not? I don’t think so. Prosperity preaching plays well to the greedy, materialistic American society but it won’t play in Sudan.
It’s not just the wealthy who are obsessed with money. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned us not to worry about food or clothing. We are to rely on God for our daily bread.
I must admit that living by Christian principles can lead to a measure of prosperity. Giving your employer an honest day’s work can lead to a promotion. Staying out of debt can put interest in your savings account instead of the credit card company. Owning a home and putting your children through college are good things. The accumulation of material things for the status they bring and extravagant luxuries while others suffer is not.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19 - 21 (NIV)
Saying that God wants you to have nice things does have a nice ring to it. How can the gospel compete with that? Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself…” (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34 & Luke 9:23) He told a rich young nobleman to rid himself of all riches (Mark 10). He called a prosperous businessman a fool for focusing on the material rather than the spiritual (Luke 12:16-21). One of his most well-known stories is about a wealthy man and a poor, sick beggar. The prosperity preachers of that time would have us believe that God smiled down upon the rich man, while the beggar, Lazarus, was paying for some sin. Jesus taught that the opposite was true. Lazarus went to heaven, while the rich man went to a place of suffering. (Luke 16). This is but a partial list of Jesus’ condemnation of materialism.
If God wants his people rich, why was Jesus poor? Why were the apostles poor? Do the prosperity preachers know something that our Lord did not? I don’t think so. Prosperity preaching plays well to the greedy, materialistic American society but it won’t play in Sudan.
It’s not just the wealthy who are obsessed with money. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned us not to worry about food or clothing. We are to rely on God for our daily bread.
I must admit that living by Christian principles can lead to a measure of prosperity. Giving your employer an honest day’s work can lead to a promotion. Staying out of debt can put interest in your savings account instead of the credit card company. Owning a home and putting your children through college are good things. The accumulation of material things for the status they bring and extravagant luxuries while others suffer is not.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19 - 21 (NIV)
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