Is it radical or is it our duty?

We were in a study the other day with some friends of mine.  After some discussion, we came to the conclusion that the idea of singing lyrics to God that we don't fully mean or believe is like singing empty praise.  This was a revelation to most in the group but someone, I don't remember who, mentioned that we can't actually ever mean everything we sing/say.  Because "That stuff is like really radical and out there..." right?

I often find moments of small reflection are best found in those quiet moments when I can slip away and think to myself in the shower or laying awake in bed.  And its in these moments, that it haunts me to think that so many today believe lies like this.... That Jesus, his disciples, and some elite few(i.e. missionaries, pastors, monks, etc) are radical followers that were called to live that way, but we are happy in applying God to OUR lives not visa-verse ("We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves." -Quote from the book Radical by David Platt). All to often once we reach the age of adult-hood we abandon the desires of our youth to actually please God.  We start to apply God and his message to our lives like lotion that protects us from the occasion hellfire of sin or misfortune.  We live to the fulfillment of the American Dream instead of understanding the call to give EVERYTHING and be radical.

Often I enjoy the words of "It is well with my soul" the classic hymn, because:

1. I know the story behind it.  It's about a man who after the tragic deaths of his children, wrote these words of comfort and praise for a Divine Being of greater understanding than us in hopes that we would be united again someday.
2. And sing them that I may joyfully with every bone in my being give of myself any and every request my Father makes of me.  So yes I mean those words when they reach my lips.

 So I really wanted to (re)view what it means "to abandon it all for the sake of the call".

• Love
• Love God first and foremost above family and wealth.
• See Matthew 10:37, Luke 16:13
• Love everyone even your enemies and do good towards them.
• See Luke 6:35
• Love is self evident/reveals Christ to others
• See John 13:35
• Love commands obedience to God
• See John 14:24
• Love MUST be sincere
• See Romans 12:9
• To love is to forgive
• See Romans 13:8
• Those who love God will be known by him.
• See 1 Corinthians 8:3
• Whatever you do, do it in love.
• See 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 1 Corinthians 16:14
• Giving
•  When you give, do it in secret.
• See Matthew 6:1-4
• Everything isn't too much for God to ask of you...
• See Mark 10:21 *note the red lettering
• Share everything with those in need
• See Acts 4:32
• Joy
• Be joyful through trials.
• See Romans 12:12, James 1:2
• Joy comes from the Holy Spirit.
• See Romans 15:13
• Prayer
• Pray for your enemies.
• See Matthew 5:44
• Pray to God, not for show.
• See Matthew 6:6-8
• Believe what you pray for.
• See Mark 11:24
• Prayer can accomplish the supernatural.
• See Acts 4:31
• The Holy Spirit prays for us.
• See Romans 8:26
• Be faithful/devoted in/to prayer.
• See Romans 12:12, Colossians 4:2
• Spread the News
• To make disciples and to GO
• See Matthew 28:19-20
• Suffering
• You will have it, but have heart in that.
• See John 16:33
• Suffering produces hope, perseverance, and character
• See Romans 5:3-4
• It's for your glory.
• See Ephesians 3:13
• 
  

Economics & Ethos Part 1

Most of the world today runs its economy on the capitalist ideal.  Some countries use other forms of government, mostly dictatorships/communist which are highly unsuccessful (ie. North Korea) and extremely unpopular (ie. Iran).  Only a small pocket of these are even successful (ie. China).  The idea of capitalism is one of a competitive market.  A plan that essentially, everyone starts with nothing and is "equal" in potential to make their fortune (...the pursuit of Land, Liberty...).

But can you really start at zero, at nothing.  Nobody does, that is insane, and not possible.  You start life in America piggybacking on the teats of your family.  Inheritance, jobs, connections, upbringing, class, all of these are determined from the moment you exit the birth canal.  Whether you are an orphan, a Kennedy, or an immigrant, you are raised with certain assets that cannot be lost only broken or matured.  Don't believe me look it up.  Statistics show your chances for finding a job (and earning an income) are very different depending on your gender, race, background, criminal record, etc.  That is not a fact we like to admit but it is true.  In short the grounds for the capitalist idea of starting equal, is a shaky one at best.

Take a look at the video below and let me know what you think....

The idea of a competitive market brings with it the idea of economic growth.   For those of you mathematicians out there, the economic growth of the capitalist system supports a slope.  The ideal curve, like they talk about in the clip, is a slow rising curve.  The thing about slope and growth is that it rises leaving more on one end and less on the other.  Now the curve in our system is not a slow rising one for various reasons: taxes, standard of living rates, inflation, supply/demand, etc.  The actual economic curve we have is an exponential curve.  For the non-math people out there, an exponential curve climbs leaving everything on the far right or one percent-ers.  Whether it starts out dramatically weighted or evenly divided, it grows exponentially to one side leaving the other one broke.  Essentially this has always been the case we are just now seeing the curve grow out of hand and it can only get worse.

What we have to understand about economics is that it is a limited money system.  Meaning that the government doesn't add or remove large amounts of money because it affects its value and hurts the economy causing huge inflation (History has shown us this doesn't work).  For example if you have an exponential curve and there are 100 apples.  One person, lets say the "Apples CEO" earns 10 apples a day while the minimum wage person earns 1 apple a day.  The CEO's earnings are growing daily, but where do those apples come from?  Well from the pockets of customers like the minimum wage person.   The apples customers cause a huge demand for the CEO's product causing him to raise his prices.  While the minimum wager keeps earning the same he is spending more.  Eventually the CEO will have ALL the apples.  It's like a game of Monopoly, because in a competitive market there can only be one winner.

If this is all true, I believe it is, what direction is America headed in?  Most people don't realize that the United States is currently the oldest established government still around today.  All other governments: Britain, Spain, Russia, etc. have undergone radical change whether it was: the fall of communism, or the change from monarchy to Parliament, these government haven't lasted as long as us.

The question in reality is what do we do?  When the one percent owns +40% the wealth, how do we spread that out evenly again?  Do we take it away from them and spread it out, because that's essentially socialism.  Which is bad for some reason...   But how do we fight a system built to have a winner?

How, as Christians, do we fight a greedy system?  With sharing or community?  I am always encouraged when I see God's people thinking outside the box (ie. The Simple Way, Medi-Share).  So my question is what is our solution socialism, community, barter/trade system?  C.S Lewis was a strong believer in Christians being involved in every aspect of the secular world to be leaders, this included economics.  So please tell the world your thoughts comment below I love to hear from you about your experience or ideas.