Hot Topic Tuesday - Consumed with Consumerism

Though you'd imagine that it goes without saying, I've changed a lot since my childhood and teenage years. Now, granted, I still have a lot more growing to do (something that will also go without saying), but at the moment, I find myself looking around and feeling a bit dissatisfied. It sounds like a terrible thing to say, particularly in the middle of the Advent season with Christmas less than two weeks away... but I cannot help the way I feel.

I think I started noticing it when I was young, though I did not recognize it then. It almost seemed as if, the older I got, the less magical Christmas became. For awhile, I equated that feeling with my growing up. Now, however, I think I attribute this lack of 'magic' to the over-commercialism and saturation of Christmas with the capitalistic manifesto.

To a degree, we all buy into this attitude - we lavish presents on friends, family, and co-workers... and, even this year, I've done just that. It's one way to express love for those around us. In a consumer-driven culture, like the one we all live in, it is often the easiest and most convenient way, though not necessarily the best.

Having a conversation with a couple of my fellow teachers yesterday over lunch yielded some interesting tidbits about the differences between Europe and America - particularly as urban areas are concerned. In Europe, most cities exist only over the course of a couple of miles... and the larger ones have excellent public transport. Most everything is within walking distance. Not so in the States. Cars are a necessity. I live at least 20 minutes driving distance (if not more) from both my place of employment and my place of worship. Seems absurd, no? (Perhaps the scary thing is that it really doesn't seem all that absurd...)

One of the teachers mentioned that this space was largely in part to the culture of consumerism we've fostered in America. Rather than keep everything intimate, we've spread out, consuming land and resources as we've gone until we are scattered from one another, losing our sense of community and comradery.

Christmas has no remained unaffected. In an effort to show our love for one another, we find ourselves bustling all over town (or, in my case, all over the Internet) in search of the best deal rather than spending time with those loved ones. It seems a pity, no?

Here's a video I saw a few weeks ago at Indy First's Fall Retreat. It's definitely stayed with me since I've seen it. Check it out:




Definitely something to think about. Times are tough all over, not just here. I, for one, have committed to giving a sum of money to this charity. I hope that you can find it in your heart (if you have the means) to give as well. Check out the Advent Conspiracy website at www.AdventConspiracy.org.

Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." We live in the wealthiest nation on Earth. If you have access to a computer, chances are you're living in the wealthiest 1% of the world's population. So... you've been given much. Are you living up to His expectations?

Hot Topic Tuesday - Christ & the American Dream

*NOTE* - I got this image from a blog called Rain and the Rhinoceros. Apt for what I wanna talk about today.

Christ & The American Dream

...or perhaps I should call it "Christ vs. the American Dream." This is one I've been contemplating over the past year or so. When I first began thinking about it, I couldn't help but think of how the concept of the American Dream seemed so contrary to what Christ has to say in Scripture.

(By the by, when I speak of the American Dream here, I'm talking more of its current meaning of material prosperity than I am of the right of every individual to live and work in freedom. Why? Two reasons. 1. There is nothing in Scripture that overtly contradicts the latter and 2. I've found the previous definition to be more culturally relevant in present society - which makes sense, given that it's the current 'going' definition.)

So, here's the question: What does Christ have to say about a topic like the American Dream?

• Matt. 6:19-21 - "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."
• Matt. 19:23-24 - "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
• Matt. 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Some translations substitute 'Money' for 'Mammon,' an abstraction, a personification of material wealth. Mammon gained particular fame as a demon in John Milton's classic Paradise Lost.)
• I Tim. 6:10 - "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (Yes, I know these were the words of Paul and not of Christ, but Paul himself encourages others to follow his example as he followed Christ's - I Cor. 11:1. I would encourage you, however, to read the whole passage (vv. 3-10). Most people just know that verse - and not accurately, I might add - and I think the whole thought is an important one.)

This is of course to say nothing of Christ's view on taxes (Matt. 22:15-22) or on giving (Mark 12:41-44) or any of the other various teachings throughout Scripture on the same or similar topics. The Bible has much to say on money and the harm that can come from it.

And I think that we, as Christians, should be cognizant of that. Does that mean we shouldn't have money? By no means. What I think it points to is a question of stewardship.

Dictionary.com defines a 'steward' as "a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others" (italics added). By definition, a steward is not an owner of any particular thing. Americans are obsessed with possessions (or, as my high school friend Josh Bernardin once said, "We long for possession, not possessions" - implying that we only want; the object of our want is secondary), but the joke is on us - we own nothing!

Read through Psalm 50 if you get a chance. Verse 10 is a pretty popular one (at least one that I've heard repeated often), but the entire passage speaks of God's lack of need for sacrifices - it's already His! If you or I 'have' anything, it is on loan from its Original Owner.

What does that say about us as Americans? Should our concern be for our own wellbeing? Obviously, I think we need to be taken care of... but what of those who are less fortunate? Consider James 1:27 or Acts 2:45. Or, possibly even more condemning, check out the Book of Amos!

Amos was a shepherd from Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel) called to give testimony against Israel (the northern kingdom). At this time, Israel was going through something of a Golden Age - they were amid several trade routes and were doing quite well for themselves. However, while they were prospering economically, they were dying spiritually. Sin had not become taboo, theoretically from the presence of so many foreign (read: pagan) influences. They were a living example of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called "cheap grace" - it didn't matter how many times they sinned; they'd just up and sacrifice an animal and start all over again!

Amos 4 is a stinging rebuke. Amos calls the women 'cows,' claiming that they oppress the impoverished and make demands from their husbands (a cultural no-no in ancient Israel). God's response to their behavior? "The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks" (Amos 4:2). Ouch!

Ultimately, the northern kingdom was subjagated by the pagan nation of Assyria, to be followed only a few years later by Judah (who were taken by Babylon). These things happened as a result of them turning from God and His law.

"So... what exactly are you saying, Stephen?" I hear you ask from afar.

America is a great nation... but it is a nation consumed with consumption. We desire material wealth to great extent. And, often, it can consume our focus to the point where the things we should be focusing on (i.e. the Kingdom of God - Matt 6:33). It is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven... but not impossible. God granted that many men in Scripture should be wealthy: Abraham, Jacob, Job, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea, among others.

Actually, let's look at the focuses of two of those men - Solomon and Job.

Solomon was granted wealth as an extention of his request for divine wisdom (I Kings 3:10-14) and he accomplished many things with and through it. The most well-known, of course, would be the construction of the Temple, which was to be the permanent placement of the Ark of the Covenant (rather than the tent-like Tabernacle constructed during the Exodus). However, Solomon also amassed for himself many wives (something prohibited in the Law - Deut. 17:14-20, sp. v. 17 which also warns against amassing wealth), many of them political marriages from among Israel's pagan neighbors. Between giving his focus largely to these two vices (lust and greed), Solomon faltered in his kingly duties and, after his death, Israel was divided into two northern and southern kingdoms (the aforementioned Israel and Judah).

Job, however, is another story. Job was a wealthy man, having several children as well as many servants, flocks, and herds (in a time where these rather than gold and silver is what measured wealth). God took all of it away from Job in the span of a day. On top of it, he was inflicted with all manner of boils and sores. Not only was he emotionally devastated, but was subject to crippling physical pain as well. Job's own wife (who was, at this point, about all he had left) told him to curse God and die. Job's response? "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" What I find to be one of the most powerful parts of Job, however, is his statement in Job 3:15: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face." Despite being wracked with doubt and confusion, Job remained faithful to God... and was rewarded for his faithfulness. Job 42:10-17 speaks of how Job was blessed more in the second half of his life than in the first - given more children, servants, and herds than he'd had previously. He was wealthy... but despite his wealth, remained faithful.

And I think that's how we need to handle money. If we had none, would we still be faithful to God and to His purpose? Perhaps we should look at that question objectively. The answer, I think, has the potential to surprise us.

Thoughts? Comments? Counter-rants?

Hot Topic Tuesday - Deus Ex Machina Politica

I had wanted to start something like this last week, but just ran out of time, what with school starting up next week and all. The point of Hot Topic Tuesday is that most (hopefully) Tuesdays, I'll post my thoughts on a topic I've been thinking about - more than likely usually dealing with religion or politics or something else of that nature - and allow you to post your thoughts, should you feel so led.

This topic came from a conversation we had in the junior and senior Sunday School class at church on Sunday and I've had it in the back of my mind since. I call it:

Deus Ex Machina Politica

...which, translated from Latin, means "God from the Political Machine". The question I'm basically addressing here is, "How should Christians be involved in the political spectrum?" This, of course, opens up a variety of other questions: How should Christians vote? Should Chrisitians vote? Which issues are more important when choosing a political leader - moral or societal?

A number of years ago (I think it was during the last presidential election, actually), I posted a rant on Xanga called "God is not a Republican or a Democrat." I firmly hold that to be true. Whereas a few of my friends (perhaps one or two more than others) may find God to be incredibly Republican, I honestly don't think so...

One of the things that I find frustrating about the way Christians vote, by and large, is that there are really only one or two issues that concern them as a whole - abortion and gay marriage. If a candidate is not against both of these things, then he is either (a.) not a Christian, (b.) not getting their vote, or (c.) both. Christians tend to be pretty judgmental a lot of the time - particularly regarding these topics. I was once a part of a conversation where the other party said (and I'm paraphrasing here, since I don't remember it word for word), "If a candidate isn't about the rights of the unborn, then I don't want to listen to anything else they have to say."

I was a bit flabbergasted when I heard this to say the least. Mainly because I believe that abortion is not the only issue that Christians should be concerned with! There are the number of other issues: the environment, the death penalty, the War on Terror, social justice - both at home and abroad, foreign policy, the economy, education... the list goes on and on. And while a Christian may care about a number of these issues, it seems fair to say that most if not all of them take a back seat to the Big Two - abortion and gay marriage.

The thing is, both of these issues are moral issues rather than societal issues. In my mind, a candidate's morality shouldn't play as big a role as it has in the last few elections. After the outrage of the Lewinski scandal, it appears that many Christian Americans would rather have a president that is morally upstanding than a president who would make a strong leader. I'm not sure that the two are mutually exclusive, myself.

The junior/senior Sunday School teacher made a great point Sunday morning. He said that societal issues are more about how the country is being run now. Getting us out of present crises like the current economic crunch or the War on Terror. Moral issues are about the countries future and how the 'moral barometer' of the nation will tilt. Moral issues didn't really concern the Founding Fathers... mainly because they were on the same page about a lot of things. It was assumed that everyone believed in God and, for the most part, would behave a certain way.

Over time, that's changed. For good or ill? I'll leave that up to you.

I think both moral and societal issues are important. That may not have come across in this 'rant,' but it is true. I think that Christians, however, should have a consistent ethic. They should be of a like mind of Christ. That might mean going back and reading through the gospels and then asking some hard questions: How can killing prisoners or soldiers be okay and killing babies be wrong? Is it okay to be the wealthiest nation on earth while people in other countries are dying of disease and starvation? Are religion and science mutually exclusive?

These are tough questions, to be sure, but - I feel - definitely worth thinking about and, should the inclination strike you, answering.

Thoughts? Comments? Counter-rants?