"Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."
- From Luke 3
John the Baptist was conducting a ministry of repentance. He called on people, basically, not to be so full of themselves.
Crowds of people, not unlike a modern #metoo or #resist movement, followed him. They loved hearing him condemn the wealthy and privileged, but then were shocked as he pronounced them (the crowd) a "den of vipers."
John knew that people that join a crowd are more joiners than they are courageous, or particularly principled. People like being part of something big. But this counts for nothing when it comes to the most serious matter: eternal life or death. He gave them what few modern crowds ever get: the truth.
The crowds were moved, and asked John "What then, should we do?"
John the Baptist replied:
"Join a political movement. Get the government to raise taxes to help the poor. Put lots of bumper stickers on your chariots. Shout down anyone that disagrees with you, and call them anti-Samaritans. Unfriend anyone that questions or challenges you. And then lets get the right people elected to the government in Rome. Forget about the Judean government - that's not where the action is."
No, actually, John's message to them was summarized in the Scripture sample, above.
Share with the people that have less food, and less clothing, than you do.
When the problem is a lack of fairness, the solution is for you to even the playing field for others, in a sacrificial way.
You do something about it. You.
Your political solution just gets people mad at each other, and encouraged people to do their good works in private.
Votes, and advocating for higher taxes helps no needy person. But it might make you look good to half the population (while making you completely unpersuasive to the other half).
The world is not fair. We want it to be fair. And the only person over whom you have any control, that can do anything about it, is you.
You.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Fairness IV
Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
- From Philippians 4
We come to a bit of practical advice when it comes to the subject of fairness, and how it impacts out daily lives.
We all want things to be fair. We want a level playing field. We want our employer to be fair .We want our grades to be fair. We want government to enact laws that are fair.
One of the earliest concepts that a child learns (close on the heels of learning to say "NO!") is the idea of "That's not fair!!"
Which may indicate that an obsession with fairness is a childish trait. You can't make life fair. You can't force others to be sincerely fair, that don't sincerely want to be.
But you can be fair. And if you're fair, and people know it, you will have influence that will shine forth to others, that want to follow your example. The way to make the world more fair is for you to be fair.
Paul writes, to make your gentleness known to everyone. There's an appeal to fairness right there! Have no favorites! Let everyone see you being gentle, all the time! And a gentle person is not a partisan person. A gentle person does not insult (true - - - there are a lot of people that speak softly and smile a lot. But their voice hides an arrogance and guile that slowly rushes others; and their smile grows wider, the larger their knife).
Be gentle. To everybody.
That's how to make the world a more fair place.
- From Philippians 4
We come to a bit of practical advice when it comes to the subject of fairness, and how it impacts out daily lives.
We all want things to be fair. We want a level playing field. We want our employer to be fair .We want our grades to be fair. We want government to enact laws that are fair.
One of the earliest concepts that a child learns (close on the heels of learning to say "NO!") is the idea of "That's not fair!!"
Which may indicate that an obsession with fairness is a childish trait. You can't make life fair. You can't force others to be sincerely fair, that don't sincerely want to be.
But you can be fair. And if you're fair, and people know it, you will have influence that will shine forth to others, that want to follow your example. The way to make the world more fair is for you to be fair.
Paul writes, to make your gentleness known to everyone. There's an appeal to fairness right there! Have no favorites! Let everyone see you being gentle, all the time! And a gentle person is not a partisan person. A gentle person does not insult (true - - - there are a lot of people that speak softly and smile a lot. But their voice hides an arrogance and guile that slowly rushes others; and their smile grows wider, the larger their knife).
Be gentle. To everybody.
That's how to make the world a more fair place.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Fairness III
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing . . .
- From Isaiah 12
Our perspective is so limited. The difference between the perspective of an eighteen-month old baby, and an octogenarian, is nothing compared that of an eternal being to one of us. We are not eternal yet. When we are relaxing on the deck of Cafe Omega, with a view of eternal waters, we will reflect at how ignorant we were, during our finite years. "What was I thinking?"
Our behavior belies people that really do not believe they are destined for immortality. We act like we have to cram in everything into these seventy years! Time is of the essence! We have our bucket lists that have to be checked off!
I don't have a bucket list. Those things can all be done in eternity. I only have now, and what's presently before me.
We're all headed to the grave. All of us. That's fair. None of us gets it easy. Yes, life may be more comfortable for some of us. But some of will die like all the rest.
With the knowledge that everything is fair in eternity, I can jettison all of my anger about injustice, and who deserves this and that. I can focus on excellence in the moment.
Yes - life requires planning. To say I live in the moment doesn't mean I don't have a long-term purpose. But I strive to align my purpose with what really counts eternally. I can make life fair for those around me, insofar as it is within my power to do so. To help even the playing field for others, I am going to probably need money.
And I have learned that people with money are taken more seriously than people without. This is the chief reason I want money. I can do more good with it. Wealth is wasted on people with bucket lists.
And so therefore we can focus on . . . will I even have water, today? What a doable goal. What a valiant aspiration: Water for me, and water for others. And if Flint, Michigan needs clear water, what can I do, today? They need water, today. They need it now. And so that should be my focus. Anger about politicians has its place. But that alone doesn't quench thirsts.
In eternity, when you live forever anyway . . . water will be the delightful enhancement to our experience. And the water itself will be Life.
What a splendid image of where we should direct our focus, today. A glass of water to those that need it. That's all. And that's everything. And that's fair.
Let's go.
- From Isaiah 12
Our perspective is so limited. The difference between the perspective of an eighteen-month old baby, and an octogenarian, is nothing compared that of an eternal being to one of us. We are not eternal yet. When we are relaxing on the deck of Cafe Omega, with a view of eternal waters, we will reflect at how ignorant we were, during our finite years. "What was I thinking?"
Our behavior belies people that really do not believe they are destined for immortality. We act like we have to cram in everything into these seventy years! Time is of the essence! We have our bucket lists that have to be checked off!
I don't have a bucket list. Those things can all be done in eternity. I only have now, and what's presently before me.
We're all headed to the grave. All of us. That's fair. None of us gets it easy. Yes, life may be more comfortable for some of us. But some of will die like all the rest.
With the knowledge that everything is fair in eternity, I can jettison all of my anger about injustice, and who deserves this and that. I can focus on excellence in the moment.
Yes - life requires planning. To say I live in the moment doesn't mean I don't have a long-term purpose. But I strive to align my purpose with what really counts eternally. I can make life fair for those around me, insofar as it is within my power to do so. To help even the playing field for others, I am going to probably need money.
And I have learned that people with money are taken more seriously than people without. This is the chief reason I want money. I can do more good with it. Wealth is wasted on people with bucket lists.
And so therefore we can focus on . . . will I even have water, today? What a doable goal. What a valiant aspiration: Water for me, and water for others. And if Flint, Michigan needs clear water, what can I do, today? They need water, today. They need it now. And so that should be my focus. Anger about politicians has its place. But that alone doesn't quench thirsts.
In eternity, when you live forever anyway . . . water will be the delightful enhancement to our experience. And the water itself will be Life.
What a splendid image of where we should direct our focus, today. A glass of water to those that need it. That's all. And that's everything. And that's fair.
Let's go.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Fairness II
. . . but God will bring them back to you . . .
- From Baruch 5
The world is not fair. We are all convinced of that, at least from the purview of our own narrow, self-interested world-view. Someone else got what I wanted. I worked harder for it. But I didn't get it. It's not fair.
In a perfectly fair world, the woman that I am most attracted to, would be equally attracted to me.
Isn't romance and love . . . really . . . at the root of our violence and wars? (It's not religion . . . I contend that romantic love has started more wars than religion). And if that is the case, isn't it in humanity's interests, for all people to find a love for life, and to find that love early, and to guarantee that no person in love ever experiences frustration from its lack of reciprocity?
See what a big problem we have here?
We proclaim our understanding of what's wrong with society. We know that we must ensure fairness for all people. But when we take it to its logical conclusion, it gives us all kinds of problems.
In my own experience, those times when I have been treated unfairly resulted in enhanced virtues within my heart. An unfair world makes us less envious, less selfish, less bitter . . . if we respond correctly.
I know a young person that had always been told she had a beautiful singing voice and should go into music in college. But it took her three years to finally get accepted into a good program. She was three years older than her peers. But the faculty and staff, and other students, fell in love with this person that did not take her position for granted. She had learned a very hard work ethic, and valued her professional calling that much more highly.
Perhaps we should just live for the moment, and find someone nearby, who is not feeling very fairly-treated today, and make their load lighter. Perhaps we should support young artists and teachers that are talented and devoted enough, but have been on the wrong end of hiring decisions. There's a lot we can do to make the world a more fair place, but it requires that we actually . . . do . . . something.
But in the end . . . when God promises to bring "them all back to us," it reminds us that He remembers, and He knows. When all is made right some day, you will appreciate it all the more.
- From Baruch 5
The world is not fair. We are all convinced of that, at least from the purview of our own narrow, self-interested world-view. Someone else got what I wanted. I worked harder for it. But I didn't get it. It's not fair.
In a perfectly fair world, the woman that I am most attracted to, would be equally attracted to me.
Isn't romance and love . . . really . . . at the root of our violence and wars? (It's not religion . . . I contend that romantic love has started more wars than religion). And if that is the case, isn't it in humanity's interests, for all people to find a love for life, and to find that love early, and to guarantee that no person in love ever experiences frustration from its lack of reciprocity?
See what a big problem we have here?
We proclaim our understanding of what's wrong with society. We know that we must ensure fairness for all people. But when we take it to its logical conclusion, it gives us all kinds of problems.
In my own experience, those times when I have been treated unfairly resulted in enhanced virtues within my heart. An unfair world makes us less envious, less selfish, less bitter . . . if we respond correctly.
I know a young person that had always been told she had a beautiful singing voice and should go into music in college. But it took her three years to finally get accepted into a good program. She was three years older than her peers. But the faculty and staff, and other students, fell in love with this person that did not take her position for granted. She had learned a very hard work ethic, and valued her professional calling that much more highly.
Perhaps we should just live for the moment, and find someone nearby, who is not feeling very fairly-treated today, and make their load lighter. Perhaps we should support young artists and teachers that are talented and devoted enough, but have been on the wrong end of hiring decisions. There's a lot we can do to make the world a more fair place, but it requires that we actually . . . do . . . something.
But in the end . . . when God promises to bring "them all back to us," it reminds us that He remembers, and He knows. When all is made right some day, you will appreciate it all the more.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Fairness
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low . . .
- From Luke 3
The first thing we all want, for our society, is for a society that cares. We want a caring culture, a caring government, a caring community, a caring neighborhood. Caring comes first, and caring is godly love that is totally selfless and that looks out for others. It is a rarity in any human structure - and yet it is highly prized as something to be desired.
The next element in our ideal culture is that it must be fair. We want a level playing field. But some go beyond that . . . they want level outcomes as well. To them, evidence that society is fair, is found when the results of all of our efforts are equivalent.
But nature itself isn't fair. Even if we could eliminate all murder and death by accident, still our lifespans would be different. Some would not make it to twenty. But others would last beyond a century. But even if we all lived to our seventieth birthday, and then expired on the next day . . . our experiences would be different, naturally. We would each have different experiences with illness.
We do not all get to marry a person that melts our heart while providing for our every needs. Our spouses do not all make us very happy and never consider divorce.
It's not fair, not matter what we do. We cannot make it fair.
But would we even want to? Isn't that element of risk and of mystery part of what makes life so wonderful?
We can't make it right. But God can. And God does.
A redeemer of humanity was promised. But . . . a redeemer of, what?
Christ redeems us from death . . . and death is our penalty for sin. Sin is our willful, selfish behaviors that do not build up others. We all die. In that, we are all equal, and the method is equitable. In eternity, whether or not we lived five years, or fifty, will not matter much.
The Promises about Christ are replete with descriptions of valleys being filled, and of mountains being brought low. Everything gets leveled out. And so . . . in eternity we find ourselves in some setting, with everybody else - - - or at least all of those we would like to be together with. We're enjoying each other for as long as we want. As deathless beings, we will not crave the stupid, obsessive indulgences that drive our decisions in this life.
It will all look silly.
Fairness is something that we all want. But when we force our sense of fairness onto others; whose values may be different, well . . . that's not fair.
All you can do is treat everybody with whom you come into contact, as fairly as you possibly can. And leave the rest up to God. Because he's going to make it right.
- From Luke 3
The first thing we all want, for our society, is for a society that cares. We want a caring culture, a caring government, a caring community, a caring neighborhood. Caring comes first, and caring is godly love that is totally selfless and that looks out for others. It is a rarity in any human structure - and yet it is highly prized as something to be desired.
The next element in our ideal culture is that it must be fair. We want a level playing field. But some go beyond that . . . they want level outcomes as well. To them, evidence that society is fair, is found when the results of all of our efforts are equivalent.
But nature itself isn't fair. Even if we could eliminate all murder and death by accident, still our lifespans would be different. Some would not make it to twenty. But others would last beyond a century. But even if we all lived to our seventieth birthday, and then expired on the next day . . . our experiences would be different, naturally. We would each have different experiences with illness.
We do not all get to marry a person that melts our heart while providing for our every needs. Our spouses do not all make us very happy and never consider divorce.
It's not fair, not matter what we do. We cannot make it fair.
But would we even want to? Isn't that element of risk and of mystery part of what makes life so wonderful?
We can't make it right. But God can. And God does.
A redeemer of humanity was promised. But . . . a redeemer of, what?
Christ redeems us from death . . . and death is our penalty for sin. Sin is our willful, selfish behaviors that do not build up others. We all die. In that, we are all equal, and the method is equitable. In eternity, whether or not we lived five years, or fifty, will not matter much.
The Promises about Christ are replete with descriptions of valleys being filled, and of mountains being brought low. Everything gets leveled out. And so . . . in eternity we find ourselves in some setting, with everybody else - - - or at least all of those we would like to be together with. We're enjoying each other for as long as we want. As deathless beings, we will not crave the stupid, obsessive indulgences that drive our decisions in this life.
It will all look silly.
Fairness is something that we all want. But when we force our sense of fairness onto others; whose values may be different, well . . . that's not fair.
All you can do is treat everybody with whom you come into contact, as fairly as you possibly can. And leave the rest up to God. Because he's going to make it right.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Caring X
I thank my God every time I remember you . . .
- From Philippians 1
The Apostle Paul was probably the most tireless worker of his era. He gave up a comfortable calling as a Pharisee, to live as a wanderer and frequent prison inmate. He became a man on the run, keeping one step ahead of the authorities so that he could present the Gospel in the seat of the Empire.
He served others.He laid his life down for others - for people he knew and people he didn't know.
He was not a political animal. His methods were the opposite of what it takes to gain political power. His answer to feeding the hungry was to preach the Gospel of Eternal Life to them. And he could feed them if he wanted to. He clothed, healed, housed, and educated a needy generation with the Love of God.
And yet . . . in the end, he overflowed with appreciation for them. It was as if, by serving them, he was being served by them. (The meaning of Christmas?)
Paul was the exemplary of the virtue of "caring." He really cared . . . because he was more than sacrificial; way beyond expecting anything in return. He really, truly, loved those he served.
And this is what "caring" is all about.
Research has shown that, in our modern times, both people on the Right and the Left, politically, are motivated by the virtue of "caring" when they make their voting decisions. We all sincerely want to help others. We just have different methods. Some show their care by electing people to government that will take care of the poor for them. Others show their care by volunteering and anonymously doing good works of service, directly, to the needy.
But they all care. We all care.
And we are wrong, even wicked, when we draw comparisons here and try to paint others as wrong, or evil, because they do not show their care as we would like them to. It's just plain wrong.
But even though we all care, it turns out that "caring" is not what we thought it was. It's more than a platitude, or a tenet in our belief system.
In looking back at this ten-blog series on "Caring," it is clear that caring is work, sacrificial, selfless, and is beyond the reach of most people. Our goal should be to grow as people that care. Our goal should not be to just say we care and leave it at that.
And our goal absolutely should not be to criticize others, because they may not appear to care as much as we do.
There's more to it, than our eyes can see . . . and the truly caring do so in secrecy and anonymity.
The good news is that we are a species of people that care.
The bad news is that we have divided ourselves over meaningless differences in what that means.
So let's take this one off the table, of issues that divide us.
Go help somebody.
Next: Fairness
- From Philippians 1
The Apostle Paul was probably the most tireless worker of his era. He gave up a comfortable calling as a Pharisee, to live as a wanderer and frequent prison inmate. He became a man on the run, keeping one step ahead of the authorities so that he could present the Gospel in the seat of the Empire.
He served others.He laid his life down for others - for people he knew and people he didn't know.
He was not a political animal. His methods were the opposite of what it takes to gain political power. His answer to feeding the hungry was to preach the Gospel of Eternal Life to them. And he could feed them if he wanted to. He clothed, healed, housed, and educated a needy generation with the Love of God.
And yet . . . in the end, he overflowed with appreciation for them. It was as if, by serving them, he was being served by them. (The meaning of Christmas?)
Paul was the exemplary of the virtue of "caring." He really cared . . . because he was more than sacrificial; way beyond expecting anything in return. He really, truly, loved those he served.
And this is what "caring" is all about.
Research has shown that, in our modern times, both people on the Right and the Left, politically, are motivated by the virtue of "caring" when they make their voting decisions. We all sincerely want to help others. We just have different methods. Some show their care by electing people to government that will take care of the poor for them. Others show their care by volunteering and anonymously doing good works of service, directly, to the needy.
But they all care. We all care.
And we are wrong, even wicked, when we draw comparisons here and try to paint others as wrong, or evil, because they do not show their care as we would like them to. It's just plain wrong.
But even though we all care, it turns out that "caring" is not what we thought it was. It's more than a platitude, or a tenet in our belief system.
In looking back at this ten-blog series on "Caring," it is clear that caring is work, sacrificial, selfless, and is beyond the reach of most people. Our goal should be to grow as people that care. Our goal should not be to just say we care and leave it at that.
And our goal absolutely should not be to criticize others, because they may not appear to care as much as we do.
There's more to it, than our eyes can see . . . and the truly caring do so in secrecy and anonymity.
The good news is that we are a species of people that care.
The bad news is that we have divided ourselves over meaningless differences in what that means.
So let's take this one off the table, of issues that divide us.
Go help somebody.
Next: Fairness
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Caring IX
. . . that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.
- From Luke 1
Caring involves a healthy portion of providing protection.
Caring is hard work! Caring requires us to be alert to the dangers around those that are in our charge. If we have been caring for someone else; a person that has needs that only we can fulfill, then it's possible we have built up some resentment against this person. Can't I have my own life?
We may hear middle-aged people complaining about having to care for their aging parents. But don't they want to be cared-for, too, when they are old? At all steps of life, we always need perspective that we desperately lack!
Caring takes sacrifice! You must trust that there is an eternal place of rest! You must have the balanced view of this present life: It is transitory. It will end, sooner rather than later.
So take care of people!!
The shepherd does not rest well. If he rests at all, it is because he has worked hard to build effective barriers against predators. So it is with us. The ministry of "care" is very demanding, and very rewarding. But it isn't easy.
How are the people around you? Are they affirmed? Do they feel safe? Do they feel they matter?
We only have these mass political movements of angry people, because too many people in the lives of too many people, didn't listen, and didn't care.
Your political passions may play out right there in your own daily life, among your family, friends, and co-workers. And your neighbors. It's right there in front of you. It has no bumper stickers and no editorials. Tax dollars will not help those people. Someone else is not going to step in and fix things.
It's you.
Be so busy helping people you actually know, that you know longer get so worked up over today's headlines. Your close, and current problems, are the only real ones.
Care.
- From Luke 1
Caring involves a healthy portion of providing protection.
Caring is hard work! Caring requires us to be alert to the dangers around those that are in our charge. If we have been caring for someone else; a person that has needs that only we can fulfill, then it's possible we have built up some resentment against this person. Can't I have my own life?
We may hear middle-aged people complaining about having to care for their aging parents. But don't they want to be cared-for, too, when they are old? At all steps of life, we always need perspective that we desperately lack!
Caring takes sacrifice! You must trust that there is an eternal place of rest! You must have the balanced view of this present life: It is transitory. It will end, sooner rather than later.
So take care of people!!
The shepherd does not rest well. If he rests at all, it is because he has worked hard to build effective barriers against predators. So it is with us. The ministry of "care" is very demanding, and very rewarding. But it isn't easy.
How are the people around you? Are they affirmed? Do they feel safe? Do they feel they matter?
We only have these mass political movements of angry people, because too many people in the lives of too many people, didn't listen, and didn't care.
Your political passions may play out right there in your own daily life, among your family, friends, and co-workers. And your neighbors. It's right there in front of you. It has no bumper stickers and no editorials. Tax dollars will not help those people. Someone else is not going to step in and fix things.
It's you.
Be so busy helping people you actually know, that you know longer get so worked up over today's headlines. Your close, and current problems, are the only real ones.
Care.
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